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The old Southern ambience at Vinings Inn (3011 Paces Mill Road, Atlanta) connects with contemporary culinary and cocktail sense. Valentine's Day is a good excuse to treat yourself or a sweetie to a White Chocolate Martini. White chocolate liqueur, chocolate-flavored vodka, creme de cocoa and Amarula Cream do the trick. Or go the whole nine yards and follow a pre-dinner cocktail with the restaurant's prix fixe Valentine's Day dinner. The special his-and-her menu begins at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 14 and costs $80 per guest plus tax and tip.

TAKE A SIP

Vinings Inn (ENLARGE)
Flavored vodka and liqueurs add to the swirls of fun in the white chocolate martini.
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Coffee lounge Sip the Experience (528 Main St., Atlanta) at Lindbergh City Center isn't just about rejuvenating on java. Sip owner April Phillips collaborated with Brandi Barnes, owner of local tea purveyor Just Add Honey, to create a series of drinks that puts the tea in martini. The drinks feature some of Just Add Honey's homemade teas. Jasmine Pearls tea, vodka, blueberry sorbet and a garnish of blueberries form the Sip Blue Pearls. For the Sip Fruit cocktail, J's Fruit Basket tea, vodka and raspberries merge. Champagne, Berries! tea and a frozen raspberry garnish deliver the Sip Champagne. Rather just drink the tea? Just Add Honey's teas can be ordered online at www.justaddhoney.net or by phone at 404-725-5286.

LOVE THRIVES

Thrive (101 Marietta St., Atlanta), the hip yet easygoing restaurant and lounge with a late-night sushi bar in Centennial Tower, has a pair of drinks that suit the impending romantic holiday. The Thrive Velvet Rope blends Herencia de Plata Blanco tequila, Aqua Perfecta raspberry liqueur and grapefruit juice. Bartenders finish it off with a topper of fresh berries. Belvedere vodka, Pama pomegranate liqueur and Castello Banfi Rosa Regale sparkling wine inject some festivity into the Pomegranate Friz.

MORE V-DAY HOOCH

A slew of restaurants and bars can't seem to dodge Cupid's arrow. At Beleza (905 Juniper St., Midtown), bartenders are using K Chocolat, chocolates tinged with herbs and spices from the Brazilian rainforest in its Happy Ending cocktail. According to the staff, this brand of confection has aphrodisiac powers. Things get a little saucy at Pura Vida (656 N. Highland Ave., Poncey-Highland) with the Sex in Santiago. The Cosmo goes Latin with brandy-like pisco meldings of sour mix, egg whites and the bar's secret "aphrodisiac juice." Rosa Mexicano (245 18th St. N.W., Atlantic Station) stays in step with its Passion Fruit Margarita. Homemade pineapple-infused vodka, pineapple juice and sparkling wine bring the Flirtini to life at Aqua Blue (1564 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell).

— Jon Waterhouse

IN THE DRINK

Vinings Inn White Chocolate Martini

1 oz. Godiva white chocolate liqueur

1 oz. Van Gogh Dutch chocolate vodka

1/2 oz. light creme de cocoa

1/2 oz Amarula Cream liqueur

Chocolate syrup

Drizzle empty martini glass with chocolate syrup. Mix ingredients in shaker, shake vigorously and pour into glass.