Diamond in the Rough

I’ve lived in Atlanta for five and a half years.  As an ITP girl living in Midtown and spending a lot of time in Buckhead, I’ve driven through the intersection at Piedmont and Peachtree maybe three million times.  (If not exactly – then pretty close to that amount.)  Adjacent from that intersection, I’ve passed Beluga Martini Bar about three million times, too.  I’ve always been intrigued by it, but I’ve never actually made it inside.  Something about it just seemed very Lindsay.  And, I love that it also seemed somehow recession-proof when a number of neighboring bars have changed over management or closed down over the past year.  I was intrigued.

After a nice group dinner that LK planned at Pura Vida in the Highlands on Saturday evening + an adorable little meet and greet with this former Top Chef contestant…

Hector Santiago - Pura Vida, Atlanta

Him + Us

… Slick and I made our way back to Buckhead, but we weren’t quite ready to go home.  We didn’t want to skip over to East Andrews and as a personal rule I never go to Moondogs, Peachtree Tavern and the like…so I thought it would be the perfect crisp winter night to finally see what Beluga was all about.  As usual, I was right on.

Beluga Martini Bar, situated across from Sambuca and Bones on Piedmont right before the Peachtree intersection, is quite a gem.  Upon arrival, we valeted Slick’s hot rod and paid a little cover for him to get into the bar.  I think charging cover to go anywhere in Atlanta is kind of ridiculous (who do the bars + clubs think we are – Miami?  No.), so I walked in with a degree of attitude that I immediately dropped once I saw what lied in store for me inside the renovated house Beluga calls home. 

Live jazz, red fringe lampshades, velvet couches and a creative martini menu.  SOLD. 

This place couldn’t have been more me.  I loved the loungy + upscale feeling of the bar – but there was still so much energy.  Slick and I explored the different rooms and decided on a highboy near the back bar to plant ourselves for the rest of the evening. 

What incredible people watching!  Most of the crowd was over 30 – many closer to 50.  Lots of plastic surgery and salt + pepper haired gentlemen smoking cigars.  (Note:  The ceilings are low so the cigar smoke is always a little in your face.  My clothes and hair reeked when I got home, but otherwise it didn’t really bother me.)  Patrons strictly obeyed Beluga’s dress code with plunging necklines and turtlenecks + sport coats - even some “sunglasses at night,” which are among my favorite evening accessories that I’d never wear but love to see on other people.  Most importantly, the drinks were stiff and well-made. 

Not one to ever turn down a martini…

… I ordered a vodka gimlet that was divine.  Slick had his usual dirty martini and was pleased, as well.  A few cocktails later, we decided it was time to head home.  Had we not eaten our weight in delicious + authentic tapas and shared a pitcher of the best sangria in town (I heart you, Pura Vida. xx.) prior to our arrival at Beluga, I would have liked to stay later because it seemed like the party was just getting going when we left around 1:00 a.m. 

If you are like me and have seen the neon blue “Beluga” sign from Piedmont, but never been inside – GO.  It was really fun and a nice spot to break up the predictable Buckhead bar scene.  While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it as a spot to find your Prince Charming, I would definitely suggest Beluga for a girl’s night out or a hot date.  It’s places like this that make me appreciate getting a little older. 

xx, L

Beluga Martini Bar
3115 Piedmont Road NE
Atlanta, GA  30305
404.869.1090
www.belugamartinibar.com

Pura Vida
656 North Highland Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30306
404.870.9797
www.puravidatapas.com