As temperatures drop, paradise stays inside attain for these exploring Atlanta’s Westside.
Photographs by Andrew Thomas Lee
Strangers in Paradise, the ‘80s resort-inspired cocktail bar from the group at Electrical Hospitality, affords an escape the place the seasons don’t matter—simply good drinks, nice firm, and an environment that seems like a everlasting trip.
Surrounded by lush greenery, classic postcards from dreamy locations, and nostalgic resort trinkets, Strangers in Paradise invitations visitors right into a world of thriller and journey. Whether or not you’re sipping on a tropical-inspired cocktail or soaking within the effortlessly cool vibes, it’s a spot the place tales are shared, and winter woes soften away.
We chatted with proprietor Michael Lennox to dive into his journey within the hospitality business, the inspiration behind Strangers in Paradise, and what makes this cocktail vacation spot a must-visit.
Speak to us about your background within the business.
I labored as a server and a busboy for a number of months in school however apart from that, my main background is beginning and opening Ladybird on the BeltLine in Atlanta in 2014. I used to be primarily the Normal Supervisor there for the primary couple of years after which we began to develop fairly a bit and I opened a number of extra eating places – Muchacho and Golden Eagle – in 2017. Following that, I then fashioned Electrical Hospitality, which is our total administration group and hospitality firm, and have opened a number of different ideas since then, together with Strangers in Paradise in 2024.
Speak to us about Strangers in Paradise.
Strangers in Paradise is a very enjoyable, late 80’s/early 90’s Florida-beach-inspired cocktail bar. We actually went in depth on being deliberately kitschy with the idea, the look, and the texture. We tried to make it in order that you might droop your disbelief, and really feel such as you’ve been transported to the seaside once you come to Strangers in Paradise, despite the fact that we’re positioned in Atlanta, GA and we’re within a meals corridor on the southwest a part of the BeltLine path.
What sort of expertise can visitors count on whereas visiting?
Strangers in Paradise is actually supposed to be a pure, enjoyable expertise in an “excessive” means. The whole lot within the bar is vivid, loud, and tropical, and the employees is tremendous pleasant and heat. We attempt to have a superb, high-positive power always and the drinks form of share that spirit in a means. They’re all vivid and colourful and we’ve enjoyable glassware, huge garnishes, and enjoyable surprises throughout service that visitors can interact with.
One instance is the Cheeseburger in Paradise that’s based mostly off of the ever present Jimmy Buffett track. If somebody orders it off the menu, you’ll get a big punch bowl that’s formed like a cheeseburger, and it’s meant for anyplace from 2-4 visitors. It’s loaded to the hilt with a pleasant rotating tropical punch after which our employees will put Jimmy’s track on and are available out from behind the bar with complimentary plastic retro sun shades, Hawaiian leis, they usually’ll sing the track and make a complete spectacle out of it!
They’ll then take polaroid footage to commemorate the expertise. We give polaroids to the visitors that have been there and we additionally cling them up across the house, in order that we’ve received a rising wall of polaroids of oldsters who’ve loved the complete Cheeseburger in Paradise expertise. That’s only one instance however there’s loads of enjoyable available once you come hang around on the bar at Strangers.
What’s the cocktail program like?
The idea is a real cocktail bar. We don’t serve meals; it’s primarily high-quality, enjoyable cocktails impressed by that retro Florida-beach feeling that I discussed earlier.
What impressed the menu?
We tried to base our menu on traditional resort drinks and take it in a extra crafted, modern path by leaning into higher sourced spirits, inventive garnishes, and contemporary juices…so on and so forth.
Which cocktail is your favourite and why?
I’d say my favourite cocktail in the meanwhile at Strangers in Paradise is The Shark Chew. It form of captures the whole lot enjoyable and playful that we’re making an attempt to do with the idea.
The cocktail itself has Tequila, Curaçao, a Rhubarb Ginger Syrup that’s house-made, a splash of Lemon Juice to stability all of it out, and it comes on this actually enjoyable open-mouth Nice White Shark mug that we apply just a little little bit of grenadine to, to make it look like the shark simply took a chunk out of one thing, and is in the course of its feast. It’s nearly unattainable to order that drink and never have a superb again and again, it truly is the embodiment of the whole lot we’re making an attempt to get throughout at Strangers in Paradise.
