Things To Do
JCT. Kitchen & Bar
This Westside gem has the best truffle fries and among the best fried chicken and craft cocktails in the city. This was our second date! Sit upstairs on the deck for a breezy view, or enjoy the gorgeous downstairs interior for full service. We dined here on our engagement night. The chef and staff congratulated us with well wishes on a signed and dated menu. Before or after lunch/dinner, stroll around the Westside Provisions complex as well - lots of cute shops and cafes to explore in this converted meatpacking station.
Muchacho + Golden Eagle
Enjoy coffee, tacos, Mexican pastries, horchata, poke bowls, and gourmet toasts in the building where we had our first date! Muchacho (open til 4:30pm) and its grown-up sister restaurant/hipster, lounge lizard meetup point, Golden Eagle (dinner only), now stand steps off the Eastside Beltline Trail, where our favorite and first date spot - H Harper Station - used to be.
Nam Phuong Restaurant
If you love Vietnamese food, this is your place. We fell in love with this BuHi treat and successfully aspired to become regulars. The staff knows us and our order: cabbage salad #25 with chicken, two orders of salt and pepper squid (Why two orders? Because this is the one thing we do not share well.), and taro bubble tea. The banh x'eo crêpe is pretty amazing, too. Trust us on this one (we have been to Vietnam a combined three times, and can vouch for the authenticity of this joint).
Bread & Butterfly
Our favorite spot in Inman Park Village gets its own shoutout. Brunch is what this cozy French brasserie is known for (quiche + pancakes, trust), but dinner is among the best in the city. Francophiles will do the French equivalent of gushing. (Lazily smoking a cigarette and shrugging shoulders, secretly fawning inside.) *Incroyable!* Bonus tip: Voga Gelato around the corner from this place is seriously awesome. Tiffany is a big fan of the Fig and Ricotta flavor (if it’s not in the display case, ask if they have it in the back - apparently they can accommodate requests sometimes. Tiffany learned this lesson the hard way one evening, when she hastily placed an order without checking for additional flavor options...).
Revolution Doughnuts & Coffee
Amazing doughnuts, coffee, and pastries -- including gluten free -- one block from our house. Enjoy a stroll in Inman Park while you nibble your maple bacon glazed doughnut and sip espresso. Stephen claims they have the best apple fritters in the state (which he also says is the only way to properly judge the quality of a doughnut shop).
Krog Street Market + Atlanta Beltline
Our go-to! Restaurants, food stalls, and legit hipster watching three blocks from our home. We recommend Richard's Southern Fried chicken (get it spicy; also GF), Recess' Super Bowl, date oatmeal bar (valrhona chocolate) and toasts, Gu's dumplings and blistered peppers, Ticonderoga Club's chuck wagon (3 pounds of gorgeous beef), Little Tart's cortado, Bar Mercado's pinxtos and Jeni's Ice Cream. The Shouk bowl from Yalla is also quite good, though Stephen is currently boycotting them because of a stingy portion of halva he received one evening about a year ago. He does not forgive easily. Afterwards, hop across the street and hit the east side trail of the Beltline, which is former railway corridor converted into a walkable/bikeable/skateboardable pathway connecting Old Fourth Ward and Midtown. Check out the cool street art and the lively scene as you stroll up towards Piedmont Park.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
Located in Krog Street Market, Jeni's deserves its own listing. Trust us. There are other intown locations, so anytime you need ice cream in Atlanta, check to see where the nearest one is. Decatur Square, Westside, burbs...
Ponce City Market + Atlanta Beltline
If Krog Street Market wasn't hipster chic enough, do PCM. The heart of the Eastside Beltline, this renovated industrial monstrosity offers a city block of restaurants (Bottiwalla Indian, Minero Latin, Holeman + Finch Burger, King of Pops, WH Stiles Fish Camp and Oyster Bar, El Super Pan Latino Sandwiches, etc.), shopping (Lululemon, Madewell, Williams Sonoma, Frye, Posmans Books), rooftop deck with putt putt, and shows at City Winery. Parking is a legit nightmare. Lyft, walk, or bike.
Staplehouse + Paper Crane Lounge
Our favorite restaurant, maybe anywhere. Bon Appetit and Food + Wine both named it the Best New Restaurant in America 2016. Biking distance from our house! Make reservations well in advance, or the patio is first come, first served (and it’s almost never full because nobody knows you can sit and eat there without a reservation...shhh!). Paper Crane Lounge, a cozy little bar that serves a rotating menu of creative craft cocktails and a limited amount of small food items, is upstairs. Tasting menu in-house, a’ la carte menu on the patio. Beautiful background story. Pricey but absolutely worth it. If you go, make sure to try Grandma Lillian’s Potato Bread, which is a $5 side item but so worth it (fresh baked balls of potato sourdough bread made using a fifteen year old starter). You’re welcome.
City Church Eastside
Our home church. If you'd like to attend services while in town, you'll find a warm and welcoming (and very casually dressed) community here. Services at 900 and 1045.
Inman Park Neighborhood and Village + Atlanta Beltline
Hang out in our neighborhood! Stroll the Beltline and enjoy Barcelona for wine and tapas, Bartaco for tacos and cocktails, Fritti for wood fired pizza, Hampton & Hudson for an upscale sports bar experience (get there early if it’s a college football Saturday!), Victory Sandwich Bar for inventive sliders and Jack and Coke slushees, and The Albert for a laid back neighborhood dive. Want a massage or pedicure? Passion Nails and Rebalance are fantastic. Get the Head to Toe massage at Rebalance. If you like deep tissue, ask for Michael.
Treat Your Feet Buckhead
Foot and body massage. Affordable. Reflexology. I take my birthday off work to go here. Trust. There's also a BuHi location - if you're on Buford Highway, go have Nam Phuong, El Rey del Taco, bubble tea, or dim sum, and follow it up with Treat Your Feet BuHi. If you like deep tissue and are at BuHi, ask for Kevin.
Cooks & Soldiers
Pinxtos. Cocktails. Can be pricey but worth every penny. Westside - in a super cool new area with neat shops, like Crafted (where Stephen buys lots of presents for people...seriously, if you’ve ever received a gift from him, there’s a better-than-decent possibility you’ll see it at this store).
Local Three Kitchen & Bar
SO GOOD! Pig-forward, bourbon-focused, and among the very best service in the city. We celebrated our first birthdays together at their whole pig roast. Sunday brunch is our favorite -- it's served buffet style through the kitchen, so take a tour through a fabulous French cuisine setup while the staff jam out to Motown. We really love this place. Tricky to find, call them if you get lost.
Antico Pizza
Easily the best wood fired pizza in Atlanta; among the best pizza Tiffany has ever had, even in Italy. Owners, chefs, equipment, methods, atmosphere, and ingredients all hail from Naples. Super casual. Fra Diavolo is the burning hot spiciest and just plain best. In the words of a fellow foodie, "Me gusta pero me asusto." ("I like it but it scares me.")
World of Coca-Cola
Because Atlanta.
CNN Studio Tours
Also because Atlanta.
Georgia Aquarium
Great for kids. "Oooooooo" factor for grown ups, too.
College Football Hall of Fame
Because the South, and because college football. Super cool interactive experience. And all the Chick-fil-A you could possibly eat!
High Museum of Art
Iconic Atlanta. Permanent folk art exhibit includes Finster. Check their website for events like Friday Jazz at the High and special exhibits.
The Fox Theatre
Also iconic Atlanta. Tours available, show schedule online.
Sun Dial at the Downtown Westin
Touristy but a spectacular place to have a cocktail and watch the sun set, from the 360-degree rotating lounge on the skyscraper's top floor. The glass elevator ride up is spectacular. Take a time lapse video if it's a clear day. Savor "night falling on the city/ quite something to behold/ don't it look so pretty/ this disappearing world." -David Gray
Virginia Highland Neighborhood
Walkable, fun neighborhood anchored around shops, restaurants, and parks. We recommend Murphy's, Surin Thai, La Tavola Trattoria, and Tipple + Rose Tea Room (high tea is amazing and may require a reservation). Late night (10:30pm-3:00am), go to Metalsome full metal band karaoke at Dark Horse Tavern. 🤘 Giddy up!!!
Atlanta United Football Club @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta's Major League Soccer team! Winning and showy, games are an awesome and exhilarating experience. There's a game on Saturday, September 22 -- find tickets online. MB stadium itself is an experience not to be missed, too.
Atlanta BeltLine
Stroll, jog, or bike the miles of intown walking trails that interconnect Atlanta's neighborhoods, parks, restaurants, and shops. What began as a Georgia Tech dissertation has become the globally-awarded development that bolstered Atlanta's intown renaissance. We bike the Beltline from home to Wholefoods, Trader Joe's, Inman Park Village, Ponce City Market, Krog Street Market, Piedmont Park...
Atlanta Braves Baseball at SunTrust Park
We haven't been. But you might want to. We hear it's great inside but traffic is a nightmare.
An Hour North of Atlanta: North Georgia Premium Outlets
An hour north of Atlanta via GA400, this is great outlet shopping: Lululemon, Banana Republic, J.Crew, Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, Pandora, Coach, Kate Spade, Ralph Lauren... but be prepared for a very slow and trafficky drive back into the city, especially on weekends. Use Waze.
Upbeet
Healthy, casual, super cool spot on the West side, a trendy emerging area in Atlanta, and close to Summerour, our wedding venue! Bowls, toasts, salads, tonics in a bright, minimalist, modern spot. Observe the I'm-25-and-just-came-from-barre-and-crossfit crowd. Smugly relish the freedom of your twenties being over. Lines can be long, but it's worth it.
La Calavera Bakery
Artisanal Mexican bakery in an industrial area. Their super sourdough ferments for an entire week and is to die for. At $9 per boule, still totally worth it and definitely possible to consume the whole thing in a single day by accident. I mean, rumor has it... Also, ginger cookies are unbelievable (and gluten free, though I have no idea how).
Your Dekalb Farmers Market
Tiffany's happy place. Massive warehouse full of fresh produce, dry goods, homemade breads, amazing fresh baked desserts, spices, live fish, and all kinds of culinary adventures yet unexperienced. Hear a multitude of languages spoken and tingle with excitement and warmth for this great big, delicious, diverse world of ours.
Buford Highway Farmers Market
Featured on Anthony Bourdain's The Layover! Bright, massive grocery with foods from all over the world. Live fish and shellfish, octopus, house made fresh morcilla (when you're lucky), fruits and veggies that look like sculpture, delectable house made halva (sesame with chocolate). Tons of samples on the weekend. Dry foods are organized by region of origin, so good for learning where food is from!
El Rey Del Taco
Unbelievable, authentic tacos on Buford Highway. Massive portions, so be hungry. REALLY hungry. Still order only half of what you think you need (Stephen strongly disputes the last sentence...he says to order a full portion. Live your best life.). Pro tip: watch your step as you enter the restaurant. For some reason, the floors are ALWAYS slippery, as if they’re in a perpetual half-mopped state. You’ve been warned. Also, you may sense a theme here - or at least notice that the words “Buford Highway” come up quite often in these recommendations. Simply put: if you want some delicious ethnic cuisine in Atlanta, start searching on BuHi first. You can find almost anything on this long stretch of commuter road, whether you’re looking for a heaping pile of mofongo, some refreshing halo halo, savory soup dumplings, quality banh mi, or a gigantic bandeja paisa. It’s like a foodie playland!
SweetWater Brewing Company
Brewery. Fun. Don't float the main stream.
Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall
On the Beltline, good food and cocktails, kid and pet friendly grassy outdoor space. An intown "it" place for patio weather.
Eventide Brewing
Brewery. Laid back. Fun.
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Exquisite, iconic Atlanta. Stroll through the gardens and don't miss the orchid house. Careful - the gift shop is intriguing and dangerous.
Piedmont Park + Park Tavern in Midtown
The heart of Midtown! Enjoy the park, dog park, and have a snack or drink at Park Tavern. Connects to the Beltline, so use this as a jumping off point or a stop along your Beltline exploits.
Stone Mountain Park
A really big rock you can hike up, with a park that you, pets, and kiddos can explore. 45 minutes east of Atlanta.
Six Flags Over Georgia
Rollercoasters. Theme park. 45 minutes west of Atlanta.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Museum of Natural History. Beautiful grounds and interior. IMAX theater, kid friendly.
Sweetwater Creek State Park
One of our favorite spots to roam around in the woods, find waterfalls, explore an old watermill ruin, and let the Lucy pup swim and play. About a 30 minute drive, fantastic in pretty weather. Great for kids and photography!
Fat Matt's Rib Shack
Tiffany's favorite BBQ in town. Tiny, crowded spot where you serve your own iced tea and listen to live local blues every night. Get the half slab. For the love, eat with your fingers and your whole face -- whatever you do, don't use a fork. Anthony Bourdain once made an off-color joke likening the simple, messy delights of the food here to certain adult activities...’nuff said. Cash only (at least it used to be.)
Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
A celebrated Atlanta BBQ favorite right in the neighborhood. Long lines, super ‘cue, you def want the tots.
Havana Sandwich Shop
Cuban sandwiches, moros, maduros, papas rellenas, Cuban coffee - this place is THE best. We know someone who sat the Virginia bar and drove ten hours directly to this place for a Cuban sandwich. Worth it. If you're GF, bring your own bread and they'll make you a sandwich (we recommend Pure Knead bread, freezer at Kroger and Wholefoods).
Good Karma Coffee House
Delicious Belgian waffles, French toast, breakfast, and coffee. AND IT'S ALL GLUTEN FREE! Even people who aren't gluten sensitive eat here because it's that good. Check Scoutmob for a free waffle offer.
Home grown GA Restaurant
Iconic Atlanta and a neighborhood favorite. Sunbeam white bread buttered toast, strawberry preserves, scrambled eggs, grits, coffee, in a super casual Southern dive. Pictures on the wall of when Bill Clinton ate there.
Kevin Rathbun Restaurants
Celebrated Atlanta chef's restaurants. At KR Steak, have aged steaks, beef tartar, bone marrow, candied sriracha bacon, strong classic cocktails. Enjoy wine at Krog Bar, and creative American at Rathbun's. Pricey and chic. On the Beltline.
Sweet Auburn Curb Market
Historic Edgewood favorite. Filled with food stalls and history. Eat at Arepa Mia for fantastic Venezuelan sandwiches overflowing with goodness.
The Carter Center
Visit an icon - the Jimmy Carter Center and library. Gorgeous open air market on Saturday mornings.
MLK visitors center
Historic MLK, Junior center. Amazing. Powerful.
Food Tours Atlanta
We haven't done this, but let's be real -- we want to. Go try it out and tell us how it was!
Wild Animal Safari
If you have kiddos, this is the spot! About an hour and a half outside the city in Pine Mountain, drive through a highly interactive wild animal reserve. Giraffe and other gentle beauties come right up to say hi and sniff out a snack. We haven't been, but it comes highly recommended - so tell us about it.
Bird Scooters & Relay Bikes
Super fun way to explore the city! All over intown - Virginia Highlands, Inman Park, Midtown - you can find Relay Bikes and Bird Electric Scooters for rent. The bikes are cruisers and heavy, but fun. You'll need the Bird app for the scooters (free to download). The scooters are not allowed on the Beltline (those little babies can zoom), but they are a super fun way to explore all other areas -- as long as you have a sidewalk. You do not want to take your life in your hands on the streets. Trust.
Manuel's Tavern
Unofficial Democratic headquarters of Atlanta. Enjoy a plethora of beers, burgers, Jimmy Carter + JFK portraits, and progressive talk in this blue institution.
Good Karma Coffee House
Gluten free? Love Belgian waffles? We cannot possibly say enough good things about this place. Non-GF people eat waffles here because *amazing.* Highly recommend. Get the Scoutmob app - they usually have a free waffle on there!