Atlanta restaurant shake-up: Star Bar to close, Mastro's set to open
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Mastro's Ocean Club's winter frost Wagyu ribeye with asparagus and an Old Fashioned. Photo: Courtesy of Mastro's Restaurants
The Atlanta restaurant scene is always changing. Here are some of the latest headlines that you may have missed.
Star Community Bar announced it will close after 35 years in Little 5 Points. According to the AJC, which reported the news first, Red Light Café will relocate from Amsterdam Walk to the space Star Bar will vacate.
- The restaurant said on its website Red Life Café signed an agreement to take over the space, and the deal is expected to close in January.
- "The raw, rebellious spirit stays," Star Community Bar said. "The Little Vinyl Lounge stays. Elvis stays. Red Light is bringing its jazz, burlesque, improv and fellow weirdos along to help keep Little Five weird."
- Star Bar's last day is Dec. 31, AJC reports.
- "We're incredibly excited about what's ahead and honored to help carry forward 35 years of Star Bar history," Red Life Café said on Instagram.
Mastro's Ocean Club, an upscale steakhouse and seafood restaurant, will open Friday, Nov. 6 on the ground floor at The CTR in Downtown, Atlanta magazine reports.
- According to its website, Mastro's diners will have their pick of "expertly prepared USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, signature seafood towers, sushi, handcrafted cocktails, and an award-winning wine list."
- Mastro's opening follows The CTR's announcement that Live-K Karaoke signed a lease to open in the space formerly home to Dantana's.
- CP Group, which owns the former CNN Center where The CTR is located, said Live K Atlanta is expected to open in fall 2027.
In Sandy Springs, two restaurants have also signed leases to open in a new mixed-use development under construction near City Springs.
- Salted Melon and Chastain Creamery will open at Hillcrest, the 8.1-acre redevelopment under construction at the corner of Mt. Vernon Highway and Sandy Springs Circle.
Zoom in: This will be Salted Melon's second Atlanta location. The Charlotte, N.C.-based eatery, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, opened its first Atlanta location in Buckhead earlier this year.
- Chastain Creamery, which is also based in Buckhead, will offer dozens of handcrafted ice cream flavors at its second location.
- Hillcrest, which will feature 362 apartments, 30 for-rent townhomes and more than 19,000 square feet of retail space, is set to open in summer 2027.