Definitely on my top 3 speakeasies of all time. Let’s get into it!
Where it is:
The Red Phone Booth is right in the heart of the downtown area off the Peachtree Center. The speakeasy is on the first floor of Amalfi Pizza and is attached to the pizza place as a joint business.
The phone booth itself sits on Andrew Young International Blvd NE, and if you walk down the street from Peachtree Center, it’s hard to miss.
Reservations?
Not required, but also not a bad idea if it’s a busy weekend.
Price:
It’s a cocktail place. Expect to pay $10-$15 per drink
What To Wear:
The dress code is casual, but nice. Don’t wear jeans and a ratty t-shirt. They won’t let you through the door if you look like you just got off a plane. I tend to wear a decent dress when I go. Have fun with it!
How To Get In:
To get into TRPB, you need to have the right phone number. The number changes on a rotating basis, and unless you’re a member, the speakeasy won’t give it to you.
If you’re not a member, that’s okay too. Ask your hotel concierge if they have the most up-to-date phone number. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t. If they don’t, try another nearby hotel until you’re confident you’ve got the right one.
Once you have the number, mosey on down to the phone booth, go on into it and pick up the phone receiver. Dial the number you think is the right one, and the phone will ring a few times. If you got the right number, the panel in front of you will swing open and waitstaff will help you get seated.
What To Drink:
If you appreciate the finer things in life the way I do, TRPB offers absinthe drips, which is an experience you have to try if you haven’t had it before.
At this cocktail joint, they do it right. A sugar cube dropped into a proper glass portioned with pure absinthe, pulled out and placed on a strainer spoon, lit on fire to caramelize the sugar and put out with an ice water drip.
But not everyone is into drinks as hard as absinthe, or the anise flavor you get with it. The Red Phone Booth staff are some of the best cocktail bartenders in the business. Let’s say you want something that can serve more than one person, well what you want is probably this monstrosity of a drink with a pirate ship made out of fruit in it:
If that’s not your speed, TRPB does offer a full cocktail menu. Their signature drink is a smoky Old Fashioned which was pretty good the one time I had it. Failing all else, give it a try and see what you think!
Ambiance:
The one thing I didn’t love about TRPB is that it’s also a cigar lounge. Being in smokey areas isn’t my most favorite environment to spend time, but the rest of the experience acts as an offset. There are nights it’s better and nights it’s worse, but as long as the drinks are on point, you won’t be wanting for another place to be.
TL;DR Verdict:
The Red Phone Booth is a great place if you’re into speakeasies. The environment is nice, the bartenders are always outstanding and it’s worth it to put aside some time to check it out if you’re in town. Highly recommended!