Downtown Macon lounge serving ambiance, class and craft cocktails

There are some places you visit for a drink. Then there are places you visit for a feeling.

Tucked into downtown Macon at 378 Second St., The Rose Room is more than a cocktail lounge. It is mood lighting, conversation, craftsmanship, romance, creativity and escape wrapped into one beautifully designed experience. 

Every detail has a purpose. Every cocktail has a story. Every corner feels curated instead of simply decorated. And perhaps that is because for co-owner Jon Sandlin, The Rose Room is personal.

Before opening The Rose Room in April 2024, Sandlin was working at Pearl, now known as Switch in downtown Macon. 

Originally from Thomaston, he spent 12 years living in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina where he immersed himself in restaurant and bar culture before eventually returning to Middle Georgia during the COVID-19 pandemic to reset his life and refocus his creativity.

Then came an idea. 

“The minute I came up with the name The Rose Room, I instantly saw the vision,” Sandlin said. 

That vision became velvet textures, mid-century modern influences, warm leather seating and elevated cocktails. It also became a love story.

His partner, Kate Long, officially joined the business last year. Long spent a decade in Athens working as a teacher before returning to Middle Georgia. The two originally met at a housewarming party in what sounds like a scene straight out of a romantic comedy.

That same artistic personality now lives inside The Rose Room itself. The now-famous pink glitter bathroom, which has become something of a social media attraction, was completely created by Sandlin himself by hand. It was a labor of love designed to surprise people and create something memorable.

What makes The Rose Room especially fascinating is that Sandlin openly admits he never considered himself particularly talented at traditional art. Instead, he sees the bar as his masterpiece.

“This is my art,” he told me. “And I’m good at it.”

Every syrup is made in-house. Fruit is dehydrated in-house. Clarified cocktails are carefully crafted through techniques rarely seen elsewhere in Macon. Some cocktails take days of preparation before they ever reach a customer’s hand, yet the team can still execute them in under 45 seconds behind the bar.

Drinks generally range between $13 and $15, with the “Smoked Old Fashioned” topping the menu at $20. There is also a reserve cocktail menu for true enthusiasts in search of something more elevated.

One cocktail that perfectly captures Sandlin’s philosophy is the “Spruced Up Bourbon,” which features house-made peanut butter infused whiskey. He jokingly describes it as a peanut butter and jelly old fashioned. 

Meanwhile, the “Pornstar Martini” has unexpectedly become the breakout celebrity of the menu. Inspired by a birthday trip to Atlanta, Sandlin and Long became determined to recreate the cocktail themselves. 

The result has become the lounge’s number one seller and a favorite among bridal parties throughout the area. And yes, I tried it and it absolutely lives up to the hype.

For those looking for something more unexpected, Sandlin recommends the “Jakarta Nightcap,” a handcrafted cocktail with warm, almost popcorn-like notes that deserves far more attention than it currently receives.

There are no televisions inside The Rose Room. That decision was intentional. This was one of the first things that I noticed and absolutely loved about it. 

In an era where nearly every restaurant and bar competes for attention with flashing screens, sports highlights and constant noise, The Rose Room feels rebellious in its commitment to atmosphere.

The Rose Room regularly supports local artists, nonprofits and community organizations. Upcoming events include pairing dinners, yoga and wine experiences, singles mixers, nonprofit mentorship events and First Friday art showcases where even Sandlin himself occasionally DJs vinyl records. I thoroughly enjoy this old school vibe! 

One of the biggest surprises about The Rose Room is the transformation itself. Longtime Macon residents may remember the location as the former El Camino Mexican Restaurant. 

Today, the space feels completely unrecognizable. There is even a hidden door leading into a neighboring kitchen, a quirky detail that only adds to the mystique.

For Sandlin, the proudest achievement is simple: the regulars who now view this space as their own escape. Their own tradition. Their own place.

Even with economic challenges impacting luxury spending, Sandlin remains deeply committed to what The Rose Room represents. 

“If I won the lottery tomorrow, I still wouldn’t quit,” he said. 

After spending time inside The Rose Room, I believe him. Macon is lucky enough to experience it one cocktail at a time. Until next time Macon, Let’s sip.

Billy Hennessey is the food columnist for The Melody. Write him an email at newlifenkiss@gmail.com.