Red Phone Booth makes you work for the door, and that is the appeal: a 1920s speakeasy and cigar lounge entered through a real British phone booth in downtown Atlanta.
The bar sits at 17 Andrew Young International Blvd NE downtown, behind an authentic red British K6 phone booth that hides the entrance. Award-winning bartender Stephen de Haan opened it in 2016, and the gimmick is real: you need a phone number to dial inside the booth before the door opens. The Infatuation has covered the downtown location as a craft cocktail and cigar destination, and the theatre of the entrance sets the tone for the room.
The room
Inside, the lounge runs full 1920s, with dark wood, leather, and the haze of a working cigar bar. The space is built for sitting and staying, not for a quick drink at a crowded rail. As a former bartender, I note that the cigar program shapes the whole room, so plan for the smoke as part of the experience rather than a surprise.
What to order
Start with a craft cocktail from the classic-leaning list, since the bar built its name on a serious cocktail program behind the theatrical door. If you smoke, pair it with a cigar from the humidor, which is a core part of the concept rather than an afterthought. Keep the order classic, because this is a room that does the old-school template well.
The crowd and best time to go
The crowd is downtown professionals, date-night couples, and out-of-towners chasing the phone-booth entrance. Thursday through Saturday is the peak, with a later 1am close, and reservations matter most on those nights. A weeknight visit after the 4pm open is the calmer window, the better bet for a seat and a slow cigar. Getting in takes a step most bars skip, since you dial a number inside the booth to release the door, and the code circulates through the bar's site and socials. Have it ready before you arrive, because the downtown sidewalk is no place to fumble for a password on a busy night.
What regulars say
Across more than 700 Yelp reviews at the downtown location, the entrance, the cocktails, and the cigar selection carry the praise. The Infatuation has covered it as a craft cocktail and cigar destination, and regulars treat the phone-booth code as part of the night rather than a hurdle. The recurring note is that the room delivers on its theme, since the 1920s setting is committed rather than half-built.
The common complaint is the cigar smoke, which fills the lounge and is not for everyone, plus prices that sit at the high end. Reserve ahead on weekends and decide up front whether smoke is a dealbreaker. The reward is a first round with more theatre than any other bar downtown.
Who it is for
This is for the drinker who wants a theatrical first round, the cigar smoker who wants a real lounge, and anyone out to impress a guest with the entrance. Skip it if cigar smoke is a dealbreaker, because it defines the room. See more in our guide to the best cocktail bars in Atlanta, the citywide cocktail bars index, and the full Atlanta bar guide.
The verdict
Red Phone Booth wins on theatre and follow-through, pairing a genuine hidden entrance with a cocktail and cigar program that backs up the show. The 1920s room rewards anyone who came to settle in rather than rush a drink. Get the entry code ahead, book a weekend table, and order a classic to start. For a smoke-free craft cocktail benchmark across town, compare Kimball House.
Sources: Red Phone Booth official site (2026); Yelp reviews; The Infatuation; Discover Atlanta.
