After one of the longest winters we can remember, it’s about time to hit the patios and revel in Atlanta’s best season–spring. And we can’t think of a better way to spend a spring afternoon (or evening!) than at one of the new pubs and taverns that have popped up around town. They’ve got cold beer on tap, good food on the menu and atmospheres that are all about having fun. So head out, and have a cold one. That’s what springtime in Atlanta is all about, right?

Ormsby’s

Emily Post always taught us never to play with our food. But ever since Ormsby’s opened its doors late last year in West Midtown, that’s exactly what diners there have been doing. OK, we may be exaggerating a bit. But the tavern in the booming White Provision complex does make it cool to play classic arcade games like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Frogger and Centipede–not to mention old-school pinball games, shuffleboard, pool, bocce ball and darts. But Ormsby’s doesn’t just speak to the geeks still residing in so many of us; it also caters to the adults we’ve become with its sophisticated bar menu of delish items–think hand-dipped corn dogs with Sriracha mayonnaise, pot roast braised in Guinness and maple sugar cotton candy–plus a selection of draught and bottle beers like Duvel, Allagash White and St. Bernardus 12.

1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 20, 404.968.2033 or ormsbysatlanta.com.

Meehan’s Public House

If the third time really is a charm, Downtown Atlanta just got lucky. That’s because Meehan’s Public House just opened the doors to its third Irish pub, and this one’s located right on Peachtree Street in the former Macy’s building. The space is huge (4,300 square feet) and filled with unique and recycled pieces, including 100-year-old heart-pine floors from a cotton mill in Thomaston, an old courtroom table and an antique shoeshine booth. Of course, the space also includes high-definition LED flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi, so you can watch the game and stay on top of e-mail and social networking. But Meehan’s is an Irish pub, so it’s the beer and food that really matter, and Executive Chef Jordan Wakefield is in charge of the menu here. He’s a proponent of the farm-to-table philosophy, and many of the dishes reflect that. There’s no shortage of craft beer, high-gravity or Belgian brews–and, of course, Guinness, Smithwick’s and Harp are all available on draught.

180 Peachtree St., 404.214.9821 or

meehansdowntown.com.

Hobnob

These days it seems like some coffee houses are closing their doors faster than they can brew another pot of joe. But even we were surprised to hear about the demise of the Caribou located at the prime corner of Piedmont Avenue and Monroe Drive. That passed, though, when we realized brothers Sean and Gilbert Yeremyan were taking over the space for their second neighborhood tavern, Hobnob. It finally opened at the end of February after they revamped the space and created an open dining room and custom bar, all but erasing any evidence of the former coffee house. And thank goodness, because nobody’s coming here for a latte. Instead, they’re coming for the high-gravity beer–think Delirium Tremens, Chimay and Ommegang Three Philosophers–and the food. Comfort pub grub like poutine gravy fries, pork shank braised in SweetWater 420, and several burgers and pizzas are already favorites.

1551 Piedmont Ave., 404.968.2288 or hobnobatlanta.com.