Courtesy of Archie Bolden
Fares Kargar just wanted a place to hang out. He loves drinking and dining with friends at Delilah and Mila in Miami, but since he runs Delbar and Bibi in Atlanta, he needed someplace more convenient to relax. Enter Eden, “a joyful place of happiness and socializing,” he says. Located in Star Metals on the Westside, Eden is part-restaurant, part-bar, part-speakeasy, and part-rooftop lounge. Created by Kargar and his Nooshe Jan hospitality group, the 5,400-square-foot space is designed to entertain groups for hours on end. Slated to open in March 2025, it will serve Mediterranean small plates prepared with French cooking techniques and cocktails that feature ingredients symbolizing Kargar’s native Iran.
“I wanted a sexy place to hang out. I want to enjoy upbeat, live music but not go to a club,” he says. He tried to do that when he first opened Delbar in Inman Park, but the music was disruptive to the neighbors. He’s designing Eden to fill that hole in the Atlanta market.
Courtesy of Archie Bolden
He describes Eden as dark and moody with different vibes and offerings in each area. It’s inspired by pre-revolution Iran with European influences. A DJ will play nightly—their stage visible from nearly everywhere in the restaurant. Cocktails will play a large role, with 20 options in the dining room, another six or seven in the speakeasy, and 12 more on the roof. Some will include Iranian-style ingredients, such as cardamom and pistachios. Expect Old World and Mediterranean wines.
The dining room will feature low lighting and bold colors with an open kitchen, an island bar, and a big patio. Seating 200 diners, Eden will serve a menu built around socializing and sharing. Items may include champagne and caviar with labneh and fried chips, suckling duck, and a large-format white fish. Though the space is large, the menu will be small—think 12 items, including dessert.
The speakeasy will be in the mezzanine with space for 40 people. Designed to look like a retro movie theater, it will feature four TVs, each playing a different black-and-white Iranian movie. A small menu of snacks will be available. On the roof, dubbed the Garden of Eden, a lush space will welcome guests to sip, see, and be seen. (No food will be offered.)
Courtesy of Archie Bolden
