BYOB isn’t typically a staple of Atlanta’s dining scene; most restaurants have their own curated wine programs, and many hold licenses that don’t allow it. But, when you’ve got that reserve anniversary bottle, or a rare find from your last wine trip, knowing which spots will let you pop your own cork is gold.
These restaurants welcome your personal stash for a modest corkage fee, or in some cases no corkage fee at all. Still, it’s best to double-check the details before you show up with a bottle in hand. Call ahead to confirm, because policies can change faster than water mains break in Midtown.
The Mill Kitchen & Bar
Perched in historic Downtown Roswell, this upmarket Southern restaurant is an OTP favorite for slow Sunday brunches and homestyle dinners with a celebratory twist. While the venue offers a fairly robust wine list and full bar, it also allows you to BYOB that special bottle (or two) you’ve been saving for a modest $25 corkage fee. Nab a spot on the spacious patio to sip your chosen vintage along with Georgia-sourced steaks and a side of bourbonyaki Brussels sprouts. 590 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell, themillkitchenandbar.com
Lazy Betty
Dinner at Michelin-starred Lazy Betty is an event, typically reserved for special occasions and celebrations. While the expansive wine list is second-to-none, and the sommeliers have a wealth of wine knowledge, this is the place to share that reserve bottle you’ve been saving. Lazy Betty lets you BYOB for a $75 corkage fee per bottle (limited to two bottles). Just note that bringing selections already on the wine list is not permitted. 999 Peachtree St. NE, Ste. #140, Atlanta, lazybettyatl.com
Palo Santo
This Latin American lounge in the King Plow complex brings the heat with wood-fired meats and bold ceviches that demand equally bold wine pairings. While the cocktail program is stellar, serious oenophiles can bring their own bottles for a $35 corkage fee. Consider something with enough backbone to stand up to black garlic adobo pork belly or chipotle-forward hamachi tiradito—think Malbec, or a crisp Albariño that won’t get lost in the smoke. 955 West Marietta St. NW, Atlanta, palosanto.restaurant
Nam Phuong
This Michelin-recommended Vietnamese restaurant puts the focus squarely on fragrant bowls of beef pho and DIY spring roll platters piled high with vermicelli, herbs, and shrimp. While the beverage menu sticks to Southeast Asian classics like creamy Thai iced tea, the real draw is the bring-your-own-bottle policy with zero corkage fees. 4051 Buford Hwy. NE, Atlanta, namphuongga.com
Marcel
Ford Fry doesn’t mess around when it comes to steaks. His French-influenced West Midtown hotspot, that has been Michelin-recommended, pairs dry-aged beef and butter-poached seafood with vintage steakhouse vibes and white-glove service without pretense. While the wine list impresses, serious collectors can crack open their own bottles for a $40 corkage fee, which covers standard 750 ml pours only, and a 1500 ml cap per table. 1170 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta, marcelatl.com
Azara
At just $15 per bottle, Azara offers one of Atlanta’s most affordable corkage fees. The newly opened Eastside Beltline venue from physician Dr. Raj Pandya focuses on clean eating inspired by the world’s Blue Zones—think hearty homestyle bolognese made with lentils and pistachio-coated wild salmon. Enjoy your BYOB vino across three distinct spaces: a breezy bistro and coffee bar, a greenery-filled main dining room, or a rooftop patio with sweeping skyline views. 550 Somerset Terrace NE, Atlanta, azaraatl.com
The Betty and St. Julep
The Kimpton Sylvan Hotel lets you bring up to two bottles for $25 corkage, split between the Betty’s Southern dining room and St. Julep’s beachy rooftop lounge. Great Gatsby-coded the Betty turns out global plates with a Mediterranean bent—think pan-roasted branzino with olive salsa and balsamic-spiked burrata polenta—while breezy St. Julep keeps things light with tropical tacos and skyline views. 374 East Paces Ferry Rd. NE, Atlanta, thesylvanhotel.com
Fishmonger
This Bib Gourmand-recognized seafood spot keeps things refreshingly no-frills, and that extends to what’s in your glass. Bradford Forsblom’s Poncey-Highland restaurant is proudly BYOB, allowing you to pair your favorite sip with smoked whitefish dip, a yellowfin tuna melt, or the signature blackened grouper sandwich. The communal vibe and in-store seafood market add a dose of neighborhood charm that makes Fishmonger a great catch. 674 N. Highland Ave. NE, Ste. A, Atlanta
Umi
Buckhead’s see-and-be-seen sushi spot has a top-shelf wine and sake list to accompany its sensational fish-focused menu. If you really want to show off, you can bring a bottle from your collection to pop for a $45 corkage fee. It’s a fitting move for a restaurant where the omakase regularly tops $200, and the crowd skews toward expense accounts and special occasions. 2 Buckhead Plaza, 3050 Peachtree Rd., Ste #1, Atlanta, umiatlanta.com
26 Thai Kitchen & Bar
All five full-service Atlanta-area outposts of this local Thai favorite welcome outside bottles for $25 corkage, making it easy to BYOB no matter which neighborhood you’re in. Whether you’re hitting up the Alpharetta, Brookhaven, Buckhead, Midtown, or Perimeter locations, bring something crisp and cold to tame chef Niki Pattharakositkul’s spice-infused plates. Crack open a crisp Riesling to cut through fiery panang short rib or khao soi, or go rogue with an off-dry rosé alongside pad Thai. Multiple locations, 26thai.com
La Mei Zi
This simple Buford Highway staple focuses on the food, so you can bring your beverage of choice for a modest corkage fee. The restaurant charges $10 per table of five or less to BYOB, while the price jumps to $20 for larger groups. An off-dry white, like a Riesling or Gewürztraminer, is a safe bet to pair with sweet and spicy three cups chicken and other fiery favorites. 5150 Buford Hwy. NE, Ste. C-310, Doraville, a-mei-zi.menu-world.com
Little Sparrow
You’ll pay $35 per bottle to bring your own wine to this Michelin-selected Howell Mill bistro, but it’s worth it for the chance to pair your favorite vintages with executive chef Bob Ryan’s Parisian-inspired cooking. The menu leans classic French: gruyère-laden onion soup, duck confit, sole meunière, and bread service with butter. Whether you’re reaching for Burgundy or Beaujolais depends entirely on what you order, but the intimate, warmly lit space makes it an ideal spot to savor that bottle you’ve been hoarding. 1198 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta, littlesparrowatl.com
Rumi’s Kitchen
Persian cuisine gets the fine-dining treatment at Rumi’s Kitchen, where saffron-scented rice and charcoal-grilled kebabs have earned a devoted following across three Atlanta locations. The restaurant welcomes outside bottles for a $25 corkage fee, with a two-bottle limit per table. Bring something fruit-forward to complement the pomegranate-glazed meats and herb-heavy stews, like a Rhône blend or off-dry Riesling. Multiple locations, rumiskitchen.com
Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft
Bring up to two bottles to this Lindbergh spot for a $25 corkage each and let the pairings get creative. Chef DeeDee Niyomkul’s restaurant captures the chaos and charm of Bangkok’s street food scene with bold graffiti murals, industrial-chic installations, and a tuk tuk parked right in the foyer. Fiery basil stir-fries, rich boat noodles, and crispy pork belly demand wines that can keep up, like aromatic whites or fruit-forward reds that won’t shy away from bold Thai spices and funky fish sauce. 1745 Peachtree St. NE, Ste. Y, Atlanta, tuktukatl.com
St. Cecilia
Ford Fry’s coastal Italian gem in Buckhead is the kind of place where you want to linger over every course, from crudo and house-made pasta to whole grilled fish, making it perfect for popping a special bottle. St. Cecilia charges a $30 corkage for your first and second bottles, a reasonable ask given the white-tablecloth setting and impeccable service. The seafood-forward menu practically begs for something crisp and minerally, whether that’s a Vermentino or a proper Chablis. 3455 Peachtree Rd. NE, Ste. 110, Atlanta, stceciliaatl.com
