West End Ciderhouse — Restaurant in Athens

My husband and I visit here every chance we get. We’re alumni and enjoy Cider House for the unique vibes and delicious ciders & cocktails, but after today we are second guessing the love we have for this place.

Google said it opened at 2, and we pulled up at 1:57 and saw a woman setting up the patio chairs with the door open so we assumed it was open. After being told “we’re not open yet,” we went back to wait a few minutes in the car. At 2:05 we thought it should definitely be open now especially since she saw us waiting to come in.

The door was locked (we could see her), so we waited outside for a couple more minutes. Then we decide to knock because we’re from out of town and just wanted to get some cans to go and get on our way. The woman working passes the door without a wave or anything, comes back 30 seconds later and said “I was getting the key, Jesus Christ.”

Clearly the bartender didn’t want us to be there, so we will definitely think twice about going back. It’s such a shame having such a terrible experience at what we thought was a...

This place was a referral from another great site in Athens called Jackie O’s. The staff there at Jackie O’s told us we had to try it, and I can’t say enough when a great bar refers to another great bar.

I’m not a huge cider guy, but this bar was fantastic. It’s on the west end of town and has a different vibe. Very mellow and relaxed. I did not have time to try their food, but some excellent-sounding dishes were on the menu. They were the only appetizers I saw, but they had some great-sounding stuff.

Very friendly staff. Chill crowd. Honestly, even though I’m not a huge cider guy, this might be my unwinding spot next time I’m in town.

They do have cocktails and beers, but since they crafted their own cider, I did try their driest cider, which, for me, actually wasn’t bad. My pallet prefers non-sweet and dry, so for me to give it the thumbs up, it...

This’ll be a (maybe not) contentious point: this is the only serious bar in Athens, as far as the bartender’s art is concerned, and the only one you can call (at least partly) a cocktail bar. Well-considered mix of drafts and mixed drinks (and these are real cocktails, actually worth ordering.) Just a glance at what they keep behind the bar will tell you that. They are not just slinging bottles and cans. Far-removed, both literally and behaviorally, from the sloppy “Court Street Shuffle.” More mature and craft-forward, for sure. I would really like to see more generous trays of snacks for purchase, to keep my drunchy gang here after a...