James Beard Semi-Finalist With a Speakeasy Downstairs
Marietta Square · Atlanta · Wine Bar / Global Small Plates · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · February 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Marietta Proper’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
This Art Deco, Great Gatsby-inspired wine bar and restaurant is a newcomer earning serious attention, including a James Beard semi-finalist nod. The concept is dual-level: an upstairs refined wine bar with an exceptional by-the-glass program, and a downstairs Prohibition-themed speakeasy. The wine focus is on small-batch wines from eclectic producers and regions, curated for pairing with globally inspired small plates.
Short ribs, shrimp and crab ravioli, and fried chicken salad on the food side. Regular wine dinners, mixology classes, and happy-hour wine tastings on the events side. Reservations recommended for dinner, but bar seating is first-come, first-served. The Marietta Square location adds walkable charm.
A James Beard semi-finalist wine bar with a Prohibition speakeasy downstairs on Marietta Square is the kind of concept that should not exist outside a major city center. That it does, and that it has already earned national recognition, makes it the most exciting wine destination on the northwest side of metro Atlanta.
The Bottom Line
Marietta Proper is a James Beard semi-finalist wine bar with a speakeasy downstairs and small-batch wines from around the world. The most exciting wine newcomer outside the city limits.
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
Hal's delivers a competent, Napa-forward bottle list that does exactly what a steakhouse wine program is supposed to do — just without much surprise or value mercy. Send a friend here if they want a reliable big-red experience; warn them to leave the credit card breathing room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Fast Casual
Nando's is here for the chicken, and the wine list knows it — eight uninspired labels that exist to check a box, not to enhance your meal. Order the Vinho Verde, enjoy your peri-peri, and don't overthink it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Stemless Casual
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Italian
Bici's wine list won't knock you sideways, but it's honest, Italian-focused, and fairly priced — a reliable partner to the food. We'd send a friend here and tell them to skip the Sauvignon Blanc and go straight for the Greco.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Southern
SouthernNational is doing something genuinely unusual — running a tight, Europe-forward wine list inside a Southern kitchen, and mostly pulling it off. If you're tired of the same Sonoma Pinot and overpriced Malbec at every restaurant in town, this list is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Caribbean-inspired / New American
Apt 4B is a vibe-first spot where the wine list feels like an afterthought that got handed to a brand manager. Come for the food and the atmosphere — but if wine matters to you, order a cocktail instead.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
New York Prime's wine list is exactly what it needs to be for its audience — safe, recognizable, and priced for expense accounts. If you know what you want and don't mind paying for it, you'll be fine; just don't come looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.