Things To Do & Places To Eat

Georgia Museum of Art

Free museum

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Beautifully maintained botanical gardens with riverside nature trails. Also the wedding venue!

Athens Farmers Market

Perfect for the early riser! Bishop park hosts the Athens Farmer’s market every Saturday morning. Enjoy fresh produce, baked goods, handmade soaps, and even live music!

Sandy Creek Nature Center

Georgia Theatre

Music venue

40 Watt Club

Famous music venue that is credited with giving many well-known bands their start

Terrapin Beer Co.

Brewery with indoor/outdoor seating

Creature Comforts Downtown Taproom and Brewery

Brewery with indoor/outdoor seating, typically home to food vendors and live music

Ciné

Ciné screens films from all different genres, eras and countries, which makes it an extremely unique spot in downtown Athens. It’s much smaller than a run-of-the-mill movie theatre, but it’s coziness gives it character. They also have a bar/cafe for when you get those mid-movie munchies!

Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail

Bear Hollow Zoo is home to a variety of non-releasable wildlife residents. These animals have encountered a challenge that they could not overcome, either physical or behavioral, and have been placed here to live out their lives serving as ambassadors for their species. They are here to educate our visitors about the wonderful wildlife with which we share space.

University Golf Course

If you like to play golf, try snagging a tee time at the University Golf Course. You can play on the same golf course that notable alum like Bubba Watson and Chris Kirk once played on… How cool is that? The 18-hole course is open to the public, so don’t sweat it if you’re not a Bulldawg!

The Sandbar Kayaking and Zip Line Canopy Tours

Grab a cooler and kayak down the broad river! It’s a bit of a drive at about 20-30 minutes outside of Athens, but well worth it!

South Kitchen + Bar

Fresh & Local food in the heart of downtown!

Thai Spoon

Downtown Thai food!

Last Resort Grill

Downtown, fine dining

The National

Downtown, fine dining

Dawg Gone Good BBQ

Legit Deep South BBQ in the heart of downtown! Hole in the wall with great food and good service...not much ambiance. A local treasure.

Weaver D's Delicious Fine Foods

A little out of the way, Weaver D’s is a hole in the wall jewel in the crown of Athens. They are credited with being the inspiration for the name of R.E.M.’s album “Automatic for the People”.

LRG Provisions

Downtown feeling a little too crowded for you? Act your age and head up to Five Points for a relaxing evening of good food & laidback atmosphere. LRG Provisions is one of our personal favorites and a Five Points staple. I highly recommend the Ropa Vieja

The Royal Peasant

Another Athens Classic! This cozy little pub has ultra-fresh, fancy free food that is authentic enough to fool anyone from across the pond! Looks are deceiving when it comes to this Five Points hidden gem. Home to plenty of townies and soccer fanatics. Not too rowdy but just rowdy enough!

Donna Chang's

Hungry for some high-class Chinese food? New to Five Points, Donna Chang’s has elicited nothing but rave reviews from the locals.

Cali N Tito's

In the mood for outdoor Cuban food? Don’t forget to stop by the ATM because this cuisine is cash only.

Condor Chocolates

Love chocolate but not high fructose corn syrup? Condor chocolates has got you covered! This slightly pricey chocolate shop is a sweet treat that you can walk to after your meal in Five points!

The Place

Southern food with a twist! Downtown. My vote for best Chicken & Waffles in town.

Five and Ten

Fine dining in Five Points.

George's Lowcountry Table

Right outside of Five Points on the way to the 10 loop (Athens Perimeter Highway).

The Expat

Upscale French cuisine in Five Points. Most people praise their bar more than their food.

Automatic Pizza

Craving New York style pizza? This is as close as you’ll get in Athens! Come on over to where the townies hang out in Normaltown! Yes that’s really what we call it, look it up.

Hi-Lo Lounge

Feel like bar food that you won’t regret the next day? HiLo is an ultra-cool bar with some of the best bar food in town. Almost everything on the menu can be made vegetarian or even vegan! But don’t worry, they have a mean Chili cheese dog too!

White Tiger Gourmet LLC

The King of the hole in the walls, White Tiger is well hidden in the suburbs of Normaltown! Burgers, BBQ, and veggies too! Super fresh and all homemade, indoor/outdoor seating in a peaceful part of town.

The Grit

The Vegetarians’ paradise! Get some Veggie Nachos at this classic townie watering hole. Normaltown, USA.