Evening options in Hiawassee are limited but well suited to the pace of a mountain town. The Yacht Club Boat and Tiki Bar at the Lake Chatuge Marina is the liveliest spot, with lake views, live music in summer, and a crowd of locals and visitors who've spent the day on the water. At the Ridges Resort, the Moosehead Lounge offers cocktails and snacks in a lodge-style room most evenings.
The northern Georgia mountains don't have a deep craft brewery culture yet, but the broader Blue Ridge region does — Copperhill, Tennessee (about 35 miles north) and Blairsville (20 miles southwest) each have small taprooms worth a detour if you're craving something local on tap.