If you’ve ever wished you could bottle the feeling of a Southern summer night—cold drink in hand, nowhere particular to be, and good music drifting through the air—Joey Ward is about to do just that. This summer, the James Beard-nominated chef behind sibling Michelin-recommended restaurants Southern Belle and Georgia Boy is expanding his Poncey-Highland footprint in the most logical direction: outside.
Belle Bar will debut at Southern Belle’s existing Ponce de Leon address as an open-air patio concept with a raw bar, a cocktail program built around a partnership with Atlanta’s own ASW Distillery, and live music on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Unlike Ward’s other concepts, this one is meant for casual weeknight hangs, operating on a first-come, first-served basis.
“It’s the kind of place where you can drop in, share a few oysters, have a great drink, and stay longer than you planned,” says Ward.
The patio sets the scene: layered area rugs, picnic tables, and warm string lighting give the feel of a well-appointed in-town backyard. A pink neon “Bless Your Heart” sign—which also closes out the printed menu—punctuates the space. Jazz nights (Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m.) and throwback DJ sets (Thursdays, same hours) provide the soundtrack.
For those who show up to find the patio packed (as is bound to happen in this neighborhood), standing high-tops are available to claim with a drink while you wait. The whole package is designed to feel, as Ward puts it, “relaxed, welcoming, and a little more spontaneous.” If Southern Belle is your grandma’s dining room, Belle Bar is your cool aunt’s backyard.
Ward had fun with the menu, too. House-made chicharrones arrive in a “flavor of the moment” format that will rotate on a whim. The French onion dip with house salt and vinegar chips comes with a menu note that reads: “Add Caviar??? Why not…”
The raw bar anchors everything with oysters and crudo, and Ward says he’s most excited about the rotating weekly specials he’ll develop around it. He’s already ideating on spicy tuna and chili crisp lettuce wraps with black garlic aioli, and oysters with a calamansi and cucumber mignonette. Back on land, the char siu chicken skewer—nuoc cham caramel, black garlic aioli, crispy shallots—is a good reminder that Ward’s cooking has never been bound by a single tradition.
The A-Town Burger, a double-meat, double-cheese situation with griddled onion, house pickles, and Belle Sauce, makes an appearance for those who aren’t feeling quite so adventurous. And the dessert section, cheekily titled “Sweeter,” is equally playful. A strawberry tart built on Georgia-sourced fruit is a nod to Ward’s commitment to local ingredients. An ube cheesecake with magnolia sorbet and a chocolate cream pie finished with bruleed bananas and coconut cream round it out.
The cocktail list leans into its Atlanta identity. ASW’s Bustletown Vodka anchors what Ward describes as an adult Capri Sun riff; Smoked Green Egg Whiskey shows up in a Smoked Peach Smash. Wine is available too, kept deliberately simple.
“What’s not changing is our commitment to quality,” he explains. “The difference is less about what’s on the plate or in the glass and more about creating a casual, social environment that encourages guests to settle in and enjoy themselves.”
A pink neon sign that says “Bless Your Heart” and a menu that asks “Add Caviar??? Why not…” seems like a pretty good start.
Belle Bar at Southern Belle opens this summer at 1043 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. No reservations required.
Belle Bar, 1043 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta
