The Irish Exit, a New York-based Irish bar from the team behind Dead Rabbit, is opening in the Centennial Yards development on June 12.
The bar is in the plaza at Centennial Yards with an entrance facing State Farm Arena. It comes from the popular New York hospitality group that founded and operates the Dead Rabbit, a modern pub named the world’s best bar in 2016.
Atlanta will be the Irish Exit’s second location and its first outside New York. Pierce White, a Wexford, Ireland, native and current Atlanta resident, will lead the concept as managing director.
Guests can expect Irish-inspired food offerings like a hot dog with Ballymaloe Irish relish; a ham and cheese toastie; and a late-night Irish staple, the spice bag, which is traditionally a takeout bag filled with fries, chicken, peppers, onions and seasoning.
Credit: Courtesy of the Irish Exit
Credit: Courtesy of the Irish Exit
On the drink menu, there will be pints of Guinness and a selection of other beers, wine and cocktails, including the Dead Rabbit’s popular Irish Coffee, according to a news release.
During its opening, the Irish Exit will challenge guests with its “Split the G, Drink for Free” promotion, where customers can order a pint of Guinness and attempt to take a first continuous sip until the liquid aligns with the middle of the “G” on the Irish Exit’s Guinness pint glass. If they succeed, they get that pint for free.
Credit: Courtesy of the Irish Exit
Credit: Courtesy of the Irish Exit
The Irish Exit’s 4,735-square-foot space includes an indoor and outdoor layout with a selection of art from Irish and Atlanta-based artists and storytellers, featuring a 45-foot mural by Irish illustrator David McMillan as the centerpiece.
The mural both “traces the story of Atlanta’s culture and history” and represents the culture of Ireland, with the two stories meeting in the center, according to a news release.
A mechanical split-flap display board will serve as the room’s main attraction; the informational display, like those seen in old train stations, is integrated with State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium and will provide live updates for scores of all the games held there.
“We’re incredibly excited to finally open the doors of the Irish Exit in Atlanta. When we conceived this concept, our goal was to showcase the breadth, depth and modernity of Irish culture across America, and I can think of no better place than Downtown Atlanta, on the historic grounds of Terminus, for our first Irish Exit outside New York,” managing director of the Dead Rabbit Group, Jack McGarry, said in a prepared statement.
The Dead Rabbit, which is named for an Irish gang active in the 1800s, was founded by McGarry and Sean Muldoon in 2013 in New York City, where it has earned eight Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, including Best New Cocktail Bar and World’s Best Bar. In 2023, the hospitality group opened the Irish Exit in Penn Station.
The Irish Exit will join other tenants coming to Centennial Yards, including Shake Shack, Thai restaurant Khao Thai Isan, concert venue Live Nation, Chops Lobster Bar, a third location of Busy Bee, and Cosm, an immersive entertainment experience.
California real estate developer CIM Group is behind the redevelopment of Centennial Yards. The plans include revitalizing 50 acres of land in downtown Atlanta’s Gulch by adding 8 million square feet of commercial and residential space.
85 Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW, Atlanta. irishexitatl.com
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