Pull Up to the Palomar: A Daily Happy Hour

By Summer Stanley.

After a long workday, in the midst of Atlanta’s rush hour traffic, there exists a happy alternative to stalling on Interstate 75 or winding slowly down Peachtree Street.  Midtown’s Hotel Palomar, located on West Peachtree Street across from the staple Biltmore Hotel, is the eye of the urban grind storm, offering a complimentary happy hour between 5 and 6 p.m daily.  Including validated valet parking, the Palomar eliminates any possibility of frustration usually associated with parking in the city.

Whether your preference is red or white wine, the Palomar offers generous pours of either, rotating different varieties depending on the day of the week.  A knowledgeable attendant serves the wine, should you have questions about the grape, vineyard, etc.  The hotel restaurant, Pacci Ristorante, listed amongst Esquire’s best of 2009, pairs the tasty hors d’oeuvres placed around the lobby.

I choose red wine and settle in for a read by a couple that is here for a romantic evening away from the kids. Aside from this couple imbibing in their vintage between themselves, there is a gathering of cheerleaders anticipating an upcoming competition.  A group of posh professionals discuss the day in earnest tones before the hotel’s marble fireplace while others, like myself, browsing a magazine or listening to an i-pod, sip solo.

What a lovely indulgence that check-in time also coincides with happy hour!  Guests may drop their baggage at the lobby’s front door and be handed a glass of their preference.  Upon entering the Palomar, one has arrived.

The aforementioned Pacci Ristorante extends to the Palomar’s second-story rooftop bar, Alto-Rex, complete with open-air fire pits and a view of the classic Biltmore.

Eminently gracious, the young wait staff could not have been more unpretentious despite their snazzy surroundings.  Without giving too much away, they dish on celebrity sightings, a personal thrill for this entertainment reporter, and their anticipation of Summertime when the bar will be railing-to-railing with a scantily clad, affluent, and increasingly famous crowd.

Ever accommodating to all visitors, the Palomar staff is meticulous in their event planning, especially when it comes to the holidays.  Valentine’s Day was completely booked, with a preceding week of tarot-card readings for two and a special menu from Pacci.  Keep an eye on the hotel’s website for the forthcoming St. Patrick’s Day if you prefer to down your cocktails in style.

Though saving the experience of a full meal at Pacci for a luxurious date, I can’t keep from sampling their refreshing Avocado Citrus salad as well as their mouth-watering Anson Mills Polenta- made sweet and savory by its combination of mascarpone cheese and honeycomb.  This is definitely a restaurant geared toward the refined palate.

Take an hour for a glass of wine, spend the evening for a few more, or escape for the weekend and enjoy all the Hotel Palomar has to offer.  Oh, and did I mention there’s a Wii in the lobby?  Never has playing it appeared more suave.

Checkout our photo gallery of the place:

Tags: Atlanta, bar, free drinks, happy hour, Hotel

More articles by Summer Stanley

This article was published on Sunday, February 28th, 2010 and is filed under Attractions, Drinks, Food, Fun Stuff, Pubs, Clubs, Bars, Restaurants, Things To Do. You can follow any comments to this article through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.