Downtown ATL

I hardly ever go downtown... I have been meaning to come there and check yall's pub out. What's a good night to come on? Yall got a few beers I wanna give a whirl because we don't sell them at the store I work at.

 

The Westside Five Seasons is really not so hard to reach by bus from downtown. Bus 1 leaves from Five Points, stops not far from Centennial etc., goes right by Five Seasons, and runs often enough. Also, the Octane (excellent coffee shop) there always seems to have a pretty nice beer selection, though I've never had alcohol there and they close earlier than a bar would (11?). Ormsby's there has a pretty nice beer selection even though people tell me it can get fratty (I didn't notice when I was there). Hop City is a sweet beer store to pore over if you want, too. Plus that area has a lot of the more famed restaurants in the town, so it might be worth a dinner visit (Bacchanalia is pricey but incredible, The Optimist is supposed to be great). But other than Five Seasons (which I haven't been to) those are just good places to eat and drink and not the magical beer destinations that the Porter or Brick Store are.

The Porter is an absolute must, that's my favorite beer place in Atlanta hands down (and really my favorite beer place anywhere in the U.S.). I also am a huge fan of the Brick Store as has been said. For the Porter and Wrecking Bar, check Google Maps transit directions when you're getting ready to leave, as I think there's a bus (number 3 I think?) that leaves from somewhere downtown and stops in the middle of Little Five Points instead of a 10 minute walk from it like the train station is. Also, the Porter's food is definitely not to be underestimated (I've not eaten at the Wrecking Bar though, only had food). I agree that Leon's is a better spot for dinner than the Brick Store even though the Brick Store has awesome food too -- Leon's is spectacular.

Other places... Taco Mac (local chain) Midtown is worth mentioning even though their selection isn't consistent (they have a gigantic tap selection, but the percentage of their beers that are excellent is much lower than at the Porter or Briickk Store). Plus the food isn't all that and it has a sort of sports bar feel. Cypress Street Pint and Plate is a nice burger etc. spot with some good beers. Tap at Peachtree and 14th has unimpressive food but a pretty nice tap selection and cool look. Midcity Cafe around W. Peachtree and 6th doesn't have a big selection (they have 6 taps), but they usually have a few very good (but not very obscure) beers -- the draw there is the 4 PM - 7 PM half price draft special every day of the week (except Sunday when they're closed), so if you happen to be passing by and thirsty it's a good place to get a pint of Weihenstephaner or comparable beer for two or three dollars. All of the places I just mentioned are right around the corner from one train station or another.

One other note, Monday Night Brewing actually just opened their new brewery and bar today (http://mondaynightbrewing.com/), and they have great beers. Their space is in a weird location but easier to get to than Sweetwater or especially Red Brick -- you could take bus 1 from downtown up Howell Mill and walk 15 minutes or take bus 12 from Midtown Station and walk five minutes. The cab ride would probably only be $15 or $20 from downtown anyway (hell, Midtown to Red Brick was hardly more than $15 when I did it, and Red Brick is effectively on the moon).

 

You probably want to take a cab back to your hotel after a night out at the porter and wreckign bar. I live in that area and swear it seems like someone is getting mugged on daily basis walking through Inman Park. I know it's not that bad, but late at night with a buzz on and you're a target.