Sarah & Rob
Things To Do
Inman Park
A bit quieter than other neighborhoods, Inman began its life as the first planned suburban area in Atlanta (all the way back in the late 1800s). Now, it is a favorite spot for the city's foodies. Check out One Eared Stag, BeetleCat, The Porter, and Barcelona Wine Bar just to name a few. You won't want to miss Krog Street Market, either.
Old Fourth Ward
Formerly an exclusively industrial area of the city, Old Fourth Ward is now a hip and (understatedly) trendy neighborhood for food and drink. Among the best are Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall (great for outdoor drinking), Joystick Game Bar (old and new arcade games abound), and Ponce City Market.
Virginia Highland
Perhaps the most approachable of Atlanta's hip, quirky neighborhoods, Virginia Highland is one of the city's most consistently fun areas. Must hits include Fontaine's, Atkins Park, Moes & Joes, Dark Horse Tavern, and Bookhouse Pub.
Little Five Points
Teeming with quirky, off-beat storefronts - this is the place to go for all-things vintage, vinyl and eclectic. Some of the cities best dive bars are here - headlined by the Euclid Avenue Yacht Club. If you fancy a cheap concert at a truly majestic, intimate, and perfectly grimy venue head to Variety Playhouse. If burgers and dogs with highly suggestive/inappropriate names are more your speed, saunter over to The Vortex. Or if you're just looking to have a few beers you might struggle to find elsewhere, belly up to the beautiful bar at Wrecking Bar Brewpub (inside an old Victorian mansion).
Decatur
Technically it's own municipality outside the city of Atlanta, if you're thinking of venturing a bit further afield you'll be rewarded by heading here. Decatur Square is a lovely cluster of bars and restaurants. And some of our favorite places are located in the area: Leon's Full Service, Brick Store Pub, Victory Sandwich Bar, S.O.S. Tiki Bar, Kimball House, Twaines...
Leon's Full Service
A former gas station turned modern eatery and cocktail haven, Leon's is one of our favorite spots in the city. Go early for cocktails and stay for a seriously delicious dinner. This place does drinks and food together as well as anywhere inside the perimeter. The classic cocktails here are nothing short of killer, and their house concoctions are equally impressive. If the Old Fashioned has home turf in Atlanta, it's surely at Leon's. Plus there's bocce ball in the courtyard out back.
Victory Sandwich Bar
Dirt cheap sandwiches that'll knock your damn socks off. These sammies belie their prices. And to wash it all down they've got beer for pennies on the dollar that they would be in other cities. This place is never not a good time. And now S.O.S Tiki Bar is attached to it, if you fancy a bit more tropical vibe.
Wrecking Bar Brewpub
Housed in the basement of an early 20th century Victorian style mansion, this is a beer drinker's paradise. Brick floor, big granite columns, and established by an ambitious home brewing couple - if you find yourself there, check out the especially cozy Coal Room with its plush leather couches.
Monday Night Brewing
One of the newest additions to the Atlanta brewing scene, Monday Night was actually born out of a small Bible study, of all things. They brew their beers specifically to pair with food. And they now have a second taproom called The Garage on the southwest side of the city that focuses on more experimental brews - funkier, barrel-aged, and sour beers abound here.
SweetWater Brewing Company
Established in 1997 by a couple of college buddies from UC-Boulder who, as they say it, "had more a hankering for beers than books." The brewery is named after kayaking trips the two used to take down Sweetwater Creek, a tributary of the Chattahoochee River. Sweetwater runs one of the most environmentally conscious business in the brewing industry - they donate to community and environmental causes, have highly sustainable day-to-day operations, and have even invested in direct carbon offsets to reduce their carbon footprint. Oh, and their beers are freakin' delicious too.
The Varsity
What'll ya have? What'll ya have? Whatever you do, do yourself a favor and get a frosted orange. And bring your antacid of choice. This is the largest fast food drive-in restaurant in the world, and they've been shouting orders and slinging chili dogs since 1928. New York has Shake Shack, L.A. has In-n-Out. But Atlanta trumps them both with the Varsity. The food hasn't changed a damn bit since the place was founded - and it shows. Take that statement for what you will.
Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail
The dirty south's response New York's highline, the Atlanta Beltline is a former railway line turned multi-use trail and walking corridor. It makes for a beautiful stroll through some of Atlanta's best neighborhoods: Virginia Highlands, Piedmont Park, Old Fourth Ward, Little Five Points, Cabbagetown, Edgewood. Bars and restaurants are continually popping up along the path as well.
Krog Street Market
12,000 square feet of markets and restaurants. Think LA's the Grove, New York's Chelsea Market, or Philadelphia's Reading Terminal Market - but somehow with more character.
Ponce City Market North Northeast
Built by the same brain trust behind Chelsea Market in New York. Head to the rooftop for a really good time - where you can grab drinks and play a round of mini golf.
World of Coca-Cola
Do you like soda that tastes like fermented foot fungus? Are you looking to come away from your trip to Atlanta with type 2 diabetes? Do you have kids you're looking to get jacked up on sugar?
Georgia Aquarium
We're as sympathetic as anyone to the controversies around aquariums and zoos. But the Georgia Aquarium not only conducts vital research and contributes to key conservation efforts (locally, nationally and globally), but the aquarium itself is truly stunning to behold and educational for both adults and children alike.
Breweries
Scofflaw Brewing - 1738 MacArthur Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA Second Self - 1311 Logan Cir NW, Atlanta, GA Monday Night - 670 Trabert Ave NW, Atlanta, GA Orpheus - 1440 Dutch Valley Pl NE, Atlanta, GA Wild Heaven - 135 Maple St, Decatur, GA Three Taverns - 121 New St, Decatur, GA Sweetwater - 195 Ottley Dr NE, Atlanta, GA Atlanta Brewing (formerly Red Brick) - 2323 Defoor Hills Rd NW, Atlanta, GA