Laissez les bons temps rouler! It’s Mardi Gras season. While Atlanta doesn’t have the parade season that New Orleans does, we do have places that embrace the vibes of Mardi Gras.
Literally translated as “Fat Tuesday,” the phenomenon that is Mardi Gras dates back thousands of years and is celebrated around the world as Carnival or Carnaval. Each year New Orleans hosts many Krewes, social organizations that put on parades and balls to fete the season before lent. Everything culminates on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.
Take part in the celebration at one or all of these restaurants, bedecked in purple, gold, and green with special menus to celebrate in the style of The Big Easy.
Mardi Gras at Tapa Tapa
Just as Midtown’s Tapa Tapa transforms during the holidays into Santa’s winter wonderland, it converts to a bar fresh off Bourbon Street during parade season. From now until Fat Tuesday (February 25), every inch of the space exudes Mardi Gras. There are beads and trinkets, jazz and zydeco, and all the food and drink to transport you.
Krewes are a fixture of the Carnival scene, throwing beads, decorating floats, and taking charge of the revelry. Tapa Tapa’s cocktail names draw inspiration from famous Mardi Gras Krewes. Krewe Zulu is a refreshing New Orleans julep sour. Krewe Cadiz Spain is a Spanish riff on a Vieux Carre with rye, brandy, sherry, and creole bitters.
The pop-up’s food menu is chock full of traditional dishes of New Orleans to pair with cocktails. Jambalaya, shrimp po boys, crawfish beignets, red beans and rice, and even boudin balls await. You’ll leave dusted with powdered sugar from warm beignets.
Tapa Tapa (931 Monroe Drive NE; 404-481-5226, popup-atl.com)
Watchman’s is typically a seafood forward restaurant specializing in oysters and nuanced cocktails from Beverage Director Miles MacQuarrie and team. Both the food and drink menus are ever-changing with the ingredients of the season. From now until Tuesday, Macquarrie lists a festive menu of New Orleans classics and some outrageously fun sippers that channel the fun energy of Mardi Gras season.
Barkeeps will be shaking up boozie Hurricanes with overproof rum in the style of the famous Pat O’Brien’s. Atomizers filled with absinthe will be spritzing into the glasses of freshly stirred Sazeracs. French 75s will be poured tableside. A Bourbon Street classic Shark Attack is served in a swizzle glass with a take home toy shark.
Shark Attack at Watchman’s
On Fat Tuesday they pull out all the stops with a one night only menu of New Orleans inspired dishes. Dessert is traditional Mardi Gras King Cake. The guest who gets the baby in a slice will be delivered a free Sazerac. Reservations are recommended. Make them here.
Watchman’s (99 Krog Street NE; 404-254-0141, watchmansatl.com)
Bon Ton always has a sort of revelry atmosphere. They are upping the merriment with a special cocktail menu with libations inspired by classic New Orleans music. Sip on “I Feel Like Funkin’ It Up” or an Iko Iko. Each bartender of the Bon Ton Krewe created a drink for the limited run menu of riffs on classics.
Libations inspired by New Orleans music at Bon Ton
Bon Ton always has their Viet-Cajun fare on the menu. From Po Boys and gumbo to red beans and rice and boiled crawfish by the pound, the good times are always rolling. The everyday cocktail menu features classics like a French 75, La Louisiane, and Sazeracs in case you want to keep celebrating New Orleans’ style beyond Fat Tuesday.
Bon Ton (674 Myrtle Street NE; 404-996-6177, Bontonatl.com)
