St. Julep — Restaurant in Atlanta

After my second visit to St. Julep, I will not be returning this bar. On Saturday, my friends and I arrived at this rooftop bar for cocktails and to listen to an amazing DJ set (the music being played was Hip-Hop/R&B). Everyone on the rooftop seemed to be enjoying themselves, including my friend who began dancing to one of the songs. Not even 5 seconds into her dance, the security guard on duty walked past her, hit her with the back of his hand on her arm, and said “No we don’t do that here.” We all stopped what we were doing because, first, he hit her, and secondly, he needed to explain what he meant by that statement. I asked, “We can’t dance to dancing music?”, to which he replied “You can dance, but not like that.” I then asked “Well can you show us what kind of dancing we can do?” He informed us that he would go get a manager to talk to us. When the manager arrived, her first words were “I’m not going to kick you all out but…” Even today, I’m trying to understand how dancing would get us kick out of a bar. She continued: “You all can dance when we reach standing room capacity so we won’t be able to see you all.” At this time, the rooftop was at standing room, there was no available seating, which explains why my friend was standing and dancing. We expressed our confusion and frustration with the security guard’s actions and with her statement. She responded with what seemed like excuses: “Oh, well we get executives up here” (as though to say she didn’t think that we could be said executives and to explain why we should wait until we can’t be seen to dance) and “He’s just on high alert” (I guess to explain why the security guard assaulted our friend). When the conversation was over, we decided to leave since we didn’t feel welcomed anymore. On our way out, we pass by another customer (of a lighter complexion) who was dancing in a similar way my friend was dancing, however, the security guard who was on “high alert” didn’t seem to mind and definitely didn’t go over to hit her and stop her from dancing. I’m not sure if it was elitism or racism, but to see in real time the different reaction and response we received vs what we saw heading out, it does make me wonder. The only positive things I can say about the experience is that the wait staff was very friendly and punctual with my order; the Forever Ever is a good cocktail with a smoky, sweet flavor profile; and the music...

✨ St. Julep Rooftop Review – Atlanta Elegance with Room to Improve ✨

When I checked into the hotel, I was excited to discover that St. Julep had a rooftop. My first impression was pure elegance—the kind of modern Atlanta rooftop that makes you want to linger. Stepping off the elevator, I noticed a quaint bar area that felt a bit confusing in its orientation, but as I walked outside, the depth of the space revealed itself. Plenty of seating, a buzzing rooftop vibe, and even a Bacardi party with intriguing cocktails set the stage.

Here’s the truth: Cody was the highlight of the entire experience. His personality, professionalism, and ability to connect communities truly elevated the night. Every great rooftop needs someone like him.

Unfortunately, the food was standard bar fare—surprising for a space that promised a more elevated dining experience. The service fell flat. Bartenders skipped over me in line multiple times, and since rooftop tables aren’t serviced directly, I had to repeatedly walk back just to order. That lack of attentiveness made it hard to relax and enjoy the atmosphere, especially when spending at this level.

The atmosphere itself is beautiful and modern, but the hospitality has to rise to match the setting. With more intentional service, diverse food options, and attention to customer experience, St. Julep could easily become one of Atlanta’s best rooftop bars.

⭐ Atmosphere: 4/5 ⭐ Food: 2/5 ⭐ Service: 1/5

📍 Perfect for a rooftop photo op, cocktails, and city views—but not yet for those seeking...

Great vibes, friendly welcoming staff and nice view. We’ve been twice in a week , will definitely be back more often.

Edit 10/11/2021

Typically the service here is good but last night’s visit 10/10/21 wasn’t the best. There was a white female bartender with red hair who made our drinks strong the first time I ordered directly from her at the bar then when we ordered with the beverage manager, a black lady with braids, who took our order outside at the table , the drinks tasted full of juice. We went inside to sit at the bar and spoke to the bartender who had no problem making me something else and giving my friend a shot but the beverage manager seemed to have a attitude ( her facial expression and body language showed that) she started saying things like “she watched the bartender make our drinks, the liquor is poured at 2 ounces etc.I ignored her because it was clear she was trying to be sarcastic and confrontational !! Mind you we were very nice to the bartender so I wasn’t sure what the attitude was for. Maybe the beverage manager was just having a bad night but her attitude needs to be left at home. The vibe in St. Julep was just different last night which is odd because I always have a good time...