Whiskey Bird: A Virginia Highland Restaurant

Whiskey Bird is a neighborhood restaurant in Atlanta's Virginia Highland corridor, serving Pacific Rim inspired dinner and brunch with craft cocktails at 1409 North Highland Avenue. Since opening in 2017, we've become one of the most loved spots on North Highland Ave, known for bold flavors, a friendly team, and an atmosphere that feels like the neighborhood itself: laid back, welcoming, and always a good time.

Our corner of the neighborhood

If you've spent any time walking North Highland Avenue, you know the stretch. Tree-lined sidewalks, local shops, people out with their dogs, neighbors stopping to catch up. Virginia Highland has been that kind of neighborhood for decades and it's exactly why we chose to open here.

Whiskey Bird sits in Morningside Village, right where Virginia Highland and Morningside meet. We're about 2 miles north of Ponce City Market, a few minutes from Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and an easy walk from the Eastside BeltLine. Close enough to everything but just far enough from the congestion of Ponce De Leon and Monroe that getting here doesn't feel like a chore. We're also fortunate to have a surface parking lot across the street and behind the restaurant, which anyone who has tried to park in this part of town can appreciate.

But the real reason we're here goes back to before we ever opened. When Chad was scouting locations in 2016, he came across the space at 1409 North Highland and called with that kind of excitement you can hear through the phone. Anthony flew down from New York the next day. They spent the next few days walking the neighborhood, eating at the local spots, sitting outside of Alon's watching people go by. Within 72 hours, without knowing much about Atlanta at all, they knew they had found the right place. Not just the right space for a restaurant, but the right community. That feeling hasn't changed.

How Whiskey Bird came together

Anthony Vipond and Chad Crete met their freshman year at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration in 2003. Years later, the idea for Whiskey Bird came from Anthony's childhood. Growing up, he spent time in Hong Kong, Japan, Southeast Asia, and along the West Coast of North America. Those cities and their food cultures stuck with him. When it came time to build a menu, the inspiration was personal. Not trendy.  Just the flavors and dishes that felt like home, adapted for a neighborhood restaurant in Atlanta.

We opened in 2017 and have been continuing to grow and adapt since. Anthony and the team have continued to push the menu forward, keeping things creative and bold while making sure the food is always approachable. The idea from the start was to make a restaurant where you could come once a week and not get bored. Where the regulars know the team by name and new guests feel welcome the second they walk in.

What we serve

Our food is Pacific Rim inspired, meaning we pull flavors from Tokyo, Hong Kong, Baja, the West Coast, and Southeast Asia. It's bold, it's fresh, and there's something for everyone.

Dinner is served Tuesday through Sunday. The menu features yakitori skewers charred over the grill, Hong Kong chicken sliders, a vegan Korean BBQ tofu bowl, crispy gyoza tacos, and entrees that change with the seasons. Our cocktail program leans classic with a coastal twist: think a Whiskey Bird Sour, a Paper Plane, a Brown Derby, and seasonal frozen cocktails. See the full dinner menu here.

Brunch is served every Friday (lunch only), Saturday and Sunday from 10:30am to 2:30pm. This is where the Bao Benedict, Hong Kong chicken and bubble waffles, spicy tuna "toast" on crispy hash browns, and our famous okonomiyaki loaded Japanese street fries live. Paired with frozen cocktails, mimosas, Thai basil palomas, and shaken coffees. See the full brunch menu here.

Happy Hour runs Tuesday through Thursday from 4:00 to 6:00pm and Friday through Sunday from 3:00 to 5:30pm. We keep it interesting with a seasonal menu of $10 cocktails and shareable bites. It's the kind of happy hour that's actually worth rearranging your schedule for.

Taco Tuesday is our weekly special. The menu revolves around crispy gyoza and flour tortilla tacos you won't find anywhere else in Virginia Highland. And because no Taco Tuesday is complete without chips and queso, we've got that too, naturally, with a Whiskey Bird twist.

Part of the Virginia Highland community

This is something that matters a lot to us. Being a neighborhood restaurant isn't just about geography. It's about being woven into the fabric of the place where you operate.

Anthony serves on the board of the Virginia Highland District Association, working alongside neighbors, business owners, and community leaders to help keep this neighborhood the kind of place people are proud to live, work, and eat in. We've been a part of VaHi Summerfest, Porchfest, Winterfest, and other community events since we opened. We partner with organizations like Paint Love, an Atlanta nonprofit that brings art therapy to children facing adversity. The murals throughout our restaurant were painted by Atlanta artist Christina Kwan, whose work gives our space a look and feel that is rooted in this city.  We also believe in supporting our schools and contribute to both Virginia-Highland Elementary and Morningside Elementary.

We also serve on the board of the Georgia Restaurant Association, because we believe restaurants have a responsibility that goes beyond the four walls. Being part of the larger restaurant community in Georgia helps us be better at what we do and helps support the industry as a whole.

When you eat at Whiskey Bird, you're supporting a restaurant that is genuinely invested in Virginia Highland, Morningside and the people who make it what it is. That's not a marketing line. It's just how we think about this place.

The space

We have three distinct areas to dine in, and each one has its own feel.

The dining room is where you'll find Christina Kwan's murals, an open kitchen, and the energy that comes with watching the team put plates together in real time. It has a Pacific coastal vibe: warm, bright, and casual.

The covered front patio faces North Highland Avenue. It's the spot for people watching, catching up with friends, and soaking in the neighborhood. On a nice evening or a Sunday morning, this is where you want to be.

The enclosed, heated back patio is the quieter side. It overlooks the treetops and is comfortable year round thanks to heating in the cooler months. Both patios are dog friendly.

For private events, our Canopy Room seats up to 16 guests, the Back Patio can hold up to 30, and our Front Patio is available for cocktail style events with up to 25 guests. We also offer full restaurant buyouts. Custom menus depend on the event, so just reach out and we'll work with you. Learn more about private dining here.

Hours and location

Dinner
Tuesday through Thursday: 4:00pm to 9:00pm
Friday and Saturday: 4:00pm to 9:30pm
Sunday: 4:00pm to 8:00pm

Brunch
Friday (lunch only), Saturday and Sunday: 10:30am to 2:30pm
We stay open between brunch and dinner with a limited menu.

Happy Hour
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 3:00pm to 5:30pm

Address: 1409 North Highland Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Phone: (404) 500-0575

We're located in Morningside Village at the corner of North Highland Avenue and Lanier Boulevard, between Midtown and Emory. About 2 miles north of Ponce City Market, just past Virginia Highland as you continue up North Highland Ave. Surface parking is available across the street and behind the restaurant.

Reservations are strongly recommended for both dinner and brunch, but we always keep tables available for walk-ins.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of food does Whiskey Bird serve?
Pacific Rim inspired New American food. Think bold, flavorful dishes that pull from the food cultures of Tokyo, Hong Kong, Baja, Southeast Asia, and the West Coast. We serve dinner, brunch, yakitori, tacos, burgers, sliders, salads, entrees, and craft cocktails.

Is Whiskey Bird in Virginia Highland or Morningside?
We're right on the border. Technically we're in Morningside Village, but we sit on the Virginia Highland corridor of North Highland Avenue. Most people know us as a Virginia Highland restaurant and that works for us.

How far is Whiskey Bird from Midtown Atlanta?
About 2 miles north. It's a quick 5 to 10 minute drive or rideshare from Midtown.

Does Whiskey Bird take reservations?
Yes. You can book through OpenTable or give us a call. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Is Whiskey Bird good for groups and large parties?
Yes. We accommodate large parties and have private event spaces for groups of up to 30. We also offer full restaurant buyouts for bigger events.

Is the patio dog friendly?
Yes. Dogs are welcome on both of our patios.

Does Whiskey Bird have brunch?
Yes. Brunch is served every Friday (lunch only), Saturday and Sunday from 10:30am to 2:30pm.

Does Whiskey Bird have happy hour?
Yes. Happy hour is Tuesday through Thursday from 4:00 to 6:00pm and Friday through Sunday from 3:00 to 5:30pm, with $10 cocktails and seasonal bites.

Is there parking at Whiskey Bird?
Yes. We have a surface parking lot across the street and behind the restaurant.

How long has Whiskey Bird been open?
Since 2017.

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