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    El Malo

    3.5 (84 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    El Malo Photos

    Business Info

    EL MALO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Romantic
    DJ
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - El Malo

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    Nadine A.

    Finally checked this cocktail bar off my list!!! It's so pretty in there. Mel was our server and she was so nice. She had great recs for choosing our dishes and cocktails...the cocktails were amazing!. We had the aguachile, the shrimp roll and rope vieja! Delicious!!!! Def check this bar out. They have a DJ later in the night. Cool spot and easy parking.

    Simone H.

    This place is nice!!! I've added this to my Saturday night places to go. Beautiful inside. Great service. The crowd is cool, the back is away from the busy main area if you want a chill place to eat and drink on a date and talk. We went to the back first, ate, then went to dance in the main area. Music was good, it was packed. You should have a reservation and don't be late for it. They will give your table away. They also stop serving food at a certain time, maybe 10pm or 11pm I can't remember we got there late. I've been here a few times now. Always a great time. The parking was weird. We had to park in the deck then walk on memorial drive a good way to get to the door. The drinks were strong! He ordered a smoky coffee drink, I had a martini, definitely easy to get wasted here. 2 drinks is my cut off. Love this place.

    Ashley O.

    I came here for a birthday recently. This is an interesting place to me for sure. It has gotten very popular in Atlanta so clearly a lot of people love it. I just have mixed feelings towards it, though I think the set up of it isn't completely ideal to me. I will start off by saying that it is very beautiful..the decor and all of that is really nice and upscale, but it just feels like the bar area is really small and there's not very much seating and so that is what kind of makes it an iffy experience for me. The music usually is really good though and you can definitely tell people are genuinely having a good time and that's very important of course. I just think the set up is just not for my personal preference. The service is also I would say just alright and nothing amazing about it. I feel like the waitresses and bartenders that I've interacted with were not rude but not exceedingly friendly either. However, I know a lot of people like it so I'm sure there are others out there that could enjoy it too.

    Miley W.

    It's kind of cool in here, but it was a $10 cover before 11pm and then a vodka sprite was $18. The vibes were fine, I guess. Nothing worth noting, I would try coming here again.

    bar
    Julia C.

    El Malo is sooo cool!! Take someone here you want to impress. This dark room has the coolest cocktails and atmosphere. The bartenders are great about sharing their favorites and making you something you will love. The bar is kind of hard to find. Look for other photos of the door on yelp. It is a hidden large door at the Dairies! Definitely add this to your night out.

    Green room pic with the girls!
    Ash T.

    Jk came back and witnessed the most disrespectful front door security. He was a guy (about 5'4) wearing all black and big beads with locs (if that helps y'all find him). He was so rude, yelling in peoples faces, requesting extra money from people that clearly bought tables that night, and even asked someone if they had IEP in school (this has to be an ADA violation). I was so disgusted I just left bc that is not how you treat people. I'm just disappointed bc el malo is such a cute establishment and he is NOT a good representation of the inside/overall vibes. Maybe get someone else that is more level headed and easier to respect at the door. Also this style of crowd control was causing fights. I saw 2 fights in less than 20 minutes between women and men. I was actually afraid for my safety and that just doesn't make sense for such an "upscale" interior

    This Bistec Encebollad was 10/10

    I didn't even know that El Malo served food but this sandwich was so good!! And drinks were amazingggg!!

    Allyson G.

    I always have a great time here! I like to go before it gets crowded so I can actually enjoy the drinks, but it's so pretty inside and the bones are great so I usually end up staying! The service is fast and the lighting definitely sets the mood. Give it a try!

    Jordan H.

    This cocktail bar had a vibe that is one of a kind, with unique drinks that fit every palate. You won't find your ordinary everyday cocktails here, but you may discover flavors that you didn't know you liked. I had a mezcal based drink with Asian fusion. It had hints of soy and gave off a savory sweet taste. The cocktails coupled with the great DJ and service makes for a great time! The only issue I had was parking. Apparently they no longer validate in the deck, so that's another expense.

    Leonardo D.

    It is somewhat hard to find but you'll know once you see the door. Very fun speakeasy and intimate spot for date nights, with your friends, and for some fun dancing. Service was good but it is hard to reach the bar once it gets crowded. Definitely expect to be spending on the higher side $$$. I came here on a weekend night thinking mostly Latin music would be played and that was not the case, great music was played but name of this place is a little misleading. Overall a great experience and would recommend coming here for a fun night out.

    Carter Girls Night Out
    Keshia C.

    We went on a Thursday night before the crowd so there were maybe five people in the entire restaurant. The vibe was still great. The drinks were okay as was the food. The thing that did it most for me was the atmosphere and the friendly staff. Our waitress was super sweet and made good recommendations, although I can't remember her name. I would like to go back when there are more people and the live Dj is playing.

    Andrea C.

    My best friend brought me to this cute, modern trendy spot for my birthday! It's a restaurant then turns into a club-like thing at night. For the food we decided to try some tapas, drinks and desserts. We both had the dos mundos I believe, we choose whatever had tequila and for food we tried the aguachiles (not pictured), plantain chips, and then the guava pastelito for dessert. I'd definitely come back! The service was quick and I'd recommend making a reservation. I'd definitely come for a celebration, or a date!

    Espresso Martini

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Ambiance, service, and drinks were great! Didn't get to try the food, but maybe next time.

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    2 years ago

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - El Malo

    What is the general age range of patrons? What is the vibe on a Friday night vs. a Saturday night?

    The general age from what I can tell is about 25 up into the 50s to be honest, I saw a wide range… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - El Malo

    We tried the plantain chips with the ceviche but another serving of plantain chips was a bit pricy.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    4.6(277 reviews)
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    We had a wonderful experience at Poach Social! I had to change plans last minute for a loved one's…read morebirthday celebration, and when I called two days before I needed a reservation, the staff was so kind and accommodating! We had to make a decision quickly when we were pivoting, and when we came across the great reviews and photos of the food. we didn't think twice about checking to see if we could make it happen. When we arrived, the staff was already preparing our table, so we only had to wait a few minutes before being seated. The space is pretty tight, and you're going to be close to the tables near you, but we were able to sit comfortably. Our server came over quickly to take our drink orders, and afterward she came back to answer any questions. Most of the food was ready at the same time. We appreciated that it came out as it was ready and wasn't left sitting. And everyone enjoyed the food! The only "complaint" one of my friends had was that she thought there was a little too much sauce in her shrimp and grits dish. She felt that the sauce, while it tasted great, overpowered the dish and she would've liked to taste more of the grits flavor. All in all, I'd say we'll likely be back to try something else on the menu.

    Prints were fantastic. Service was super nice…read more Kitchen was slammed...my order came out With green peppers instead of only red. They remade it in record time, but unfortunately, without a balance of spinach and no onions. Egg portion of the omelette was light and fluffy. The grits were fantastic Cute place in a neighborhood but like any restaurant these days the high ceilings created a super loud atmosphere

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    Poach Social - Restaurant indoor. I was the first customer for the day

    Restaurant indoor. I was the first customer for the day

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    Banshee - Charred broccoli caesar salad and XO olives

    Banshee

    4.3(185 reviews)
    0.9 miEast Atlanta Village
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    We came in with a large group of 10, and every single person absolutely loved their drinks and…read moreentrées. The service was fantastic from start to finish, and the seasonal menu was perfectly curated. We started with the fry bread and the olives and focaccia. Both were amazing, but the pepperoni butter that came with the fry bread was everyone's favorite. For my main, I ordered the lamb pappardelle, which was delicious. The pasta was fresh and the ragu was so flavorful. I also got to try the scallop ravioli and the potato parfait that came with the strip steak--all of it was beautifully presented and incredibly tasty. As we were leaving, we noticed they were setting up a DJ booth for some live music. It looks like a really fun spot, and we can't wait to go back!

    BANSHEE | our foodie group's favorite spot for a group outing! It's the perfect place to go family…read morestyle - try one or two of everything and split the bill! Almost the entire menu is seasonal, aside from their classics, like the fry bread (which is a MUST), because that pepperoni butter is EVERYTHING. Some of my favorite dishes over the years include the black garlic mezzaluna, the boar luganega farfalle (super hearty pasta), tagliatelle al tartufo and basically any seasonal crudo on their menu. While you may not find these exact dishes on your next visit, you may find something fun and creative but still satisfying and delicious like these. Cocktails are a must - i tend toward gin cocktails but there is a cocktail for everyone on the menu. And of course you must order one of every dessert because how else can you do it?!? If you're there late over the weekend, it shifts from a packed restaurant to a packed bar with a DJ. I find the cocktails to be not quite as tasty as with dinner, but still a good time to be had.

    Photos
    Banshee - Inside the men's restroom. Toilet, urinal, sink. Clean. High ceilings.

    Inside the men's restroom. Toilet, urinal, sink. Clean. High ceilings.

    Banshee - Little Neck Clam Fettuccine @tiffhuangry

    Little Neck Clam Fettuccine @tiffhuangry

    Banshee - Inside. Back dining room and bar.

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    Inside. Back dining room and bar.

    Stereo - Stage area

    Stereo

    4.1(31 reviews)
    0.6 miInman Park

    Stereo is a really cute vinyl cocktail bar located off of Dekalb Ave. There are some parking spots…read moreup front, but the majority of parking is next door by Lloyd's with an entrance on that side too. I came with a friend around 7pm on a Saturday and the place wasn't too crowded. We were seated immediately. They have both inside and outdoor patio tables. The vibe was chill with music playing at a decent volume, but over the next hour the place got very crowded and the music got louder. By 9pm, the place was quite packed and we were politely asked to close out to give our table to others waiting in line. I was very surprised by the cocktails - in a good way. I was pretty hesitant looking at the cocktail menu because most of the drinks had at least one ingredient that I don't like. However, the drinks were fantastic. I got the Hot in the Shade and my friend got the Fast Idol, which were both delicious. I don't even like gin and yet my drink, which has both gin and vodka, were outstanding. I will definitely be back! It's a great spot for a chill hangout cocktail bar but definitely get there before 7:30 if you want a table.

    Stereo is the new vinyl bar open on the early side of the day for people who need somewhere to take…read morea meeting, work, or just take a break. They also open back up later in the evening closer to the weekend for the night crowd. Service is always cool and helpful although you might feel like it's the epitome of a hipster neighborhood hangout. Excited to see how this place continues growing into itself. I would love to hear some more range of music selections and the volume can be a little bit loud on the early side of the day. All in all it's a great place to check out!

    Photos
    Stereo - Seating set up

    Seating set up

    Stereo
    Stereo

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    El Malo - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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