The Old Pal — Restaurant in Athens-Clarke County Unified Government

Although there is one fantastic bartender (Shiraz) here that truly values customer service and making a great drink, the rest of the bartenders are mediocre and lack common service skills. They are not attentive and like to socialize with their friends instead of serving their customers. On top of that they use international music to culturally appropriate and look “cool”. “Jaan peechan ho” literally in our Hindi means what is your heart, what is your identity. Taking that music and trying to use that as their identity is not truly truthful for what this establishment is. This is a review coming from you minority colored person and the only colored person frequently in the room at Old Pal that truly wanted to love this place because of Shiraz but after multiple experiences...

The best pure cocktail bar in Athens and surely one of the best in the Southeast. Matt is a student of the craft of cocktails, and Daniel is as accomplished a practitioner of that craft as you could hope for.

But all of the staff are what you want in a great cocktail joint - knowledgeable without being haughty, conversational without being intrusive, and always attentive and upbeat.

No visit to Athens without a stop at the Old Pal is complete, if you have the slightest interest in a good...

Wowie zowie, what an absolute GEM of a spot! Classic cocktails, a dark interior, and there is even a BOAR on the wall! I wish I could live here full-time too! Bartender Elspeth is the best in town and is super knowledgeable and friendly while getting everyone served in a speedy manner. I recommend coming at happy hour and getting a Negroni while watching the sun go down. I love knowing that they are keeping us all safe with the vaccination proof requirement....