Natural wine bar Side Saddle Wine Saloon opens in Boulevard Heights

Finca to Filter and Side Saddle Wine Saloon will open soon in Boulevard Heights. Owned by Kayla Bellman, the coffee shop and natural wine bar take over two repurposed buildings at the Penman apartment complex, sharing a patio along the Southeast corridor of the Beltline.

But after announcing the openings for May 3, a last-minute permitting snafu caused Bellman to walk back the date. The postponement means Finca to Filter is only open for to-go orders, and service at Side Saddle remains on hold while Bellman works to resolve the permitting issue.

The 411

Located on Hamilton Avenue, Finca to Filter opens early in the morning for coffee, espresso, and baked goods made in-house by Emily Davis. As Finca to Filter sunsets later in the afternoon, Side Saddle opens for wine, cocktails, and food from veteran Atlanta chef Carla Fears.

Fears, whose resume includes working alongside chefs like Taria Camerino, Zeb Stevenson, and Todd Richards, was operating pop-up Gourmet Street Food when Bellman asked her to develop the menu for Side Saddle. Fears isn’t afraid to push boundaries, and Bellman likes that she brings fresh flavors and perspectives to the dishes at Side Saddle. The menu features everything from antipasti of olives and pickled vegetables, charcuterie, and salads to confit chicken wings, a cheeseburger, and a Monte Cristo PB&J.

Chef Carla Fears sits at a table with a cocktail in hand and burger smiling in a red tee shirt and black bucket hat at Side Saddle Wine Saloon in Atlanta. — Chef Carla Fears. (Courtesy of Rebecca Carmen)

A glass of white wine and clear colored cocktail sit on a table with pate and bread, tomato salad at Side Saddle Wine Saloon in Atlanta. — Courtesy of Rebecca Carmen.

Expect events at Side Saddle and Finca to Filter, including winemaker talks and tastings, pop-up markets, drag shows, outdoor jazz, and weekly trivia. Bellman plans to allow seating in both spaces during the evening, using Finca to Filter as a spill-over area for more lively events like trivia.

But that’s not all Bellman has planned at the Boulevard Heights complex. This summer, Bellman will also open a frozen dessert stand selling frozen bananas, chocolate bars, and other sweet treats.

“We want this all to be a welcoming environment for everyone to hang out throughout the day,” said Bellman, who proudly celebrates her businesses as queer- and woman-owned.

Side Saddle Wine Saloon

Bellman first opened Finca to Filter five years ago inside the taproom of Wild Heaven Beer in West End, followed by a location at Create ATL in neighboring Adair Park. Both locations closed in 2024, but not before Bellman could open another location in the Old Fourth Ward, where business is booming.

Like Finca to Filter, Side Saddle continues Bellman’s mission to support women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community in every aspect of the business, from the staff, beverages, and food to events and other services.

Bellman named Side Saddle for the antiquated seated position women were made to endure when riding horses in heavy skirts. The saddle forced the rider to sit sideways rather than astride, deemed an appropriate position to protect a woman’s modesty.

The name, Bellman said, represents the societal challenges and constraints women and other marginalized people face and work to overcome. It’s important to Bellman that supporting marginalized communities isn’t just lip service at Finca to Filter, and now at Side Saddle Wine Saloon.

Bellman and her staff will provide Plan B and Narcan upon request at the Boulevard Heights businesses. Across Atlanta, bars, restaurants, and coffee shops like Finca to Filter regularly carry Narcan, a life-saving drug that reverses the effects of an overdose.

A group shot of the staff of Side Saddle Wine Saloon and Finca to Filter in Atlanta holding cocktails and wine smiling for the camera around a table. — The staff at Side Saddle and Finca to Filter in Boulevard Heights. (Courtesy of Rebecca Carmen)

The wine and cocktails

As with the coffee at Finca to Filter, the beverage list at Side Saddle heavily features wine and spirits produced by women, people of color, and small estates and distilleries, focusing on sustainable and low-intervention production.

“Our house wines are made by a B Corp-certified producer that uses recycled glass for bottles and paper for labels. We have boxed wine that is sustainably produced, helping to educate people on reducing the glass bottle carbon footprint,” said Side Saddle wine director Jett Kolarik. “I’m happy to offer wines by producers who incorporate fair labor practices, sustainable winemaking, and taking care of the environment into their business models.”

A wine consultant and educator, Kolarik worked for Sarah Pierre at 3 Parks Wine Shop and under sommelier Steven Grubbs at Commune in Avondale Estates. Bellman brought Kolarik on last summer to run the Thursday wine nights at Finca to Filter, which became a proving ground for Side Saddle.

Most wines by the glass average around $16, with nothing over $18 per glass. People can order flights of three half pours for $15. Look for half-off wines and weekly specials, including women winemakers highlighted on Wednesdays and funkier, more esoteric wines offered on Fridays.

“The buzz outside of Atlanta is big. One importer I spoke to recently said Atlanta is quickly becoming one of his favorite wine cities because it’s so diverse and people are bringing new ideas and events to the table,” said Kolarik of Atlanta’s wine scene. “Women and people of color are leading this industry here. It’s exciting to be a part of this right now.”

A hand swirls a glass of ruby red wine next to a bottle of wine on a white marble table at Side Saddle Wine Saloon in Atlanta. — Courtesy of Rebecca Carmen.

Side Saddle Wine Saloon wine director Jett Kolarik smiles while swirling a glass of white wine beside a spread of pate and bread. — Jett Kolarik. (Courtesy of Rebecca Carmen)

As with Kolarik’s wine list, affordability factors into the cocktails from general manager and bar manager Flemming Love. Side Saddle features four regular house cocktails for $12 (Ranch Water, Margarita, Kentucky Mule, and Dirty Shirley), with $10 drink specials on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Bellman gave Love runway to get weird with the cocktails at Side Saddle like a cold brew riff on Long Island Iced Tea and the Horse Girl made with mezcal, amaro, sour cherry liqueur, and egg white. One drink even includes lettuce-infused olive oil with a Negroni-infused olive. With access to Finca to Filter’s coffee and syrups, Love is also able to whip up plenty of non-alcoholic mixed drinks.

“I see Side Saddle and Finca as community hubs, and we must keep these spaces welcoming and our menus, service, and events inclusive,” Bellman said. “We’re super proud of the people we’re partnering with, and we want people to know it.”

680 Hamilton Ave., Boulevard Heights. Finca to Filter open daily, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Side Saddle Wine Saloon open Monday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., and Sunday, 12-5 p.m.