A Foodie Weekend in Atlanta
I moved to Atlanta in 2006 for school but didn’t fully appreciate what it had to offer until moving to Inman Park in 2012. Atlanta has developed into this amazing foodie city which can largely be attributed to the Beltline, a multi-use walking trail that loops around the city.
I get asked a lot about my favorite restaurants in Atlanta or where would I take out of town guests and this is what I came up with. You may be overwhelmed with the amount of places I’m telling you to go to in one day, but just pace yourself, you can do it!
Everything I’ve outlined below can only be found in Atlanta. You won’t find any chains that could be found in other cities (do that in your own city) or that didn’t originate in Atlanta. My guide reflects places that I frequent often and is what I would call more of the “new” Atlanta. So you won’t find a lot of the historical places that Atlanta is known for on my list (e.g., Home Grown, etc.). I will eventually create a separate list for the essential Atlanta spots.
Enjoy!
Day 1 - friday
Neighborhoods - East Atlanta Village, Grant Park & Midtown
1 pm
Land in Atlanta (pronounced Atlannuh) & no don’t call it Hotlanta.
2 pm
Take a Lyft straight to East Atlanta Village (EAV) for lunch a mini food crawl at We Suki Suki
Head into the painted yellow-brick building of We Suki Suki - A Global Grub Collective, a shared food hall in EAV. While there are 4 - 5 places to eat in here, my favorite has to be Mushi Ni for its creative baos & rotis. But you can also check out Lifting Noodles Ramen, Poke Burri, & Marrakech Express if you have a chance. WARNING - This is an “open-kitchen” concept, so your hair and clothes will likely smell, making this the perfect spot to eat in casual plane clothes.
zdapproved bites:
Cauliflower Roti, Duck Confit, Bulgogi & any of the Special Baos at Mushi Ni
Custom Spicy Ramen & Brussel Sprouts at Lifting Noodles Ramen
Falafel at Marrakech Express
4 pm
Relax at your Hotel / Airbnb
I haven’t stayed at many hotels in Atlanta, but I have dined and had spa days, so my top picks would have to be the St. Regis - Buckhead or Four Seasons - Midtown. Or for something closer to the Beltline, checkout the newly renovated Hotel Clermont.
7 pm
Dinner at Gunshow
Gunshow is the most unique restaurant in Atlanta. The entire meal is “dim-sum” style. Each chef presents their own dish and you get to decide if you want to eat it or not. The dishes represent all sorts of cuisine, so I can’t just narrow it down to one category. The vibe is casual with communal tables and loud music, but you are guaranteed a fun time and creative & delicious dishes!
zdapproved bites: The menu changes weekly (sometimes daily), but the Banana Pudding is always on the menu.
11 pm
Second round of dessert at Bar Margot at the Four Seasons Midtown
If you are staying at the Four Seasons, then this is the perfect way to end your night with some coffee/tea & dessert. Make a reservation though!
zdapprovedbites: My favorite dessert is the Oozy Dulce de Leche Cake.
Day 2 - saturday
neighborhoods - reynoldstown, inman park, midtown & old 4th ward
8 am
Breakfast Tacos & Coffee at Muchacho
Muchacho is one of the coolest spots in Atlanta for coffee, tacos & more. There is a lot of outdoor seating, making it perfect during nice weather. Read more about my thoughts on Muchacho here.
zdapproved bites: Latte with Golden Syrup (their signature syrup), Blue Matcha, Ricotta Toast, Breakfast Tacos & the Savory Bowl.
9 am - 11 am
Walk or “Bird” on the Beltline to Old 4th Ward / Inman Park & explore MLK’s House or Historical Site and The Merchant at Krog Street Market. But hold off on your urge (or don’t) to eat at every stall at Krog Street.
11 am
Grab some unique coffee drinks like the Matchapanela or Hercules Hercules (made with bay leaf and olive oil) from Academy Coffee Co. in Irwin Street Market and have a great chat with the owner / barista Connan!
11:30 am
Walk to Ponce City Market via the Beltline & explore the shops, including Citizen Supply.
12 pm
Enjoy a not-so traditional brunch at 8 Arm across the street from Ponce City Market.
You can expect a burst of Meso - American flavors from the revamped 8 Arm. Don’t worry, the old Yelp rating doesn’t reflect the changes to the new menu. 8 Arm uses seasonal ingredients so the menu changes often. FYI: You can’t make any modifications to the dishes (additions or removals). However, you won’t be disappointed and there are plenty of options for vegetarians. Read more here.
zdapproved bites: Menu changes often - Gold Rice (a sophisticated spicy fried rice) & the Peach/Tomato Salad
1 pm
Now that you are officially in a food coma, walk to Piedmont Park via the Beltline and either hang out at the park, or continue walking or Lyft(ing) to the High Museum.
4 pm
Get back on the Beltline and walk to Ponce City Market to enjoy a snack at a sophisticated bakery with Mediterranean flavors - Root Baking Co.
zdapproved bites: Order the Harissa Chicken Sandwich or the Seasonal Sandwich & a Chocolate Shortbread Cookie. Read more on my favorite dishes from Root Baking Co. here.
8 pm
Dinner at Boccalupo for an Italian-ish meal.
Boccaluppo
I say this meal is Italian-ish, because there are influences of other cuisines in the dishes. For example, kimchi in the tagliatelle - it just works! If you can’t get a reservation, then try walk-in service at the bar. They also have a special tasting menu with dishes that aren’t served on the menu.
zdapproved bites: Their menu changes often but they are known for the 20-Yolk Tagliatelle. I also always love their seasonal risottos & panna cotta.
10 pm
Hang out at the rooftop of Hotel Clermont before heading to a late night meal.
12 am
Late Night at Supremo for tacos or Marcel’s for burgers & steak frites
supremo
Supremo has only been open for a few short months, but I already love it. While there is no where to sit, there is plenty of outdoor standing room. The menu is brief but all of the tacos + extras pack a ton of flavor. The tacos are pricier than most, but once you take a bite you will know why. Don’t expect chips & salsa at this place but more authentic tacos with an upscale twist. And they even have options for vegans / vegetarians!
zdapproved bites: Mole Poblano Taco, Aguachile Tostada & the Fried Quesadilla
marcel’s
The wait for the late night burger at Marcel’s can be a long one, but it’s worth it for this burger. It’s not my favorite burger in town, but it’s a good one for sure! And if a burger is not your thing they have several items that are heavily discounted - like Steak Frites for $12 (unheard of!)
zdapproved bites: Burger & Milkshake
Day 3 - sunday
neighborhoods - west midtown, summerhill & candler park
8 am
Workout at Fit 2 Be for Barre or HIIT workouts or Blast Midtown for a “Barry’s Bootcamp” type workout.
10 am
“Light” breakfast at Star Provisions
Everyone I take here, loves it. Not only is it a great upscale fast casual eatery but they also sell home goods products from local and unique vendors. Read more about my thoughts on Star Provisions here.
zdapproved bites: Chia Seed Pudding, Everything Bagel & Lox and the Chicken Biscuit
11 am
Explore the Westside Provisions District - a one mile drive from Star Provisions
Westside Provisions District is filled with restaurants and retailers. For some retail therapy, visit stores like Sid & Ann Mashburn, Anthropologie, Roller Rabbit, Warby Parker & Savannah Bee Company. If you get thirsty, grab some coffee from Mashburn Coffee or Brash Coffee.
1 pm
Lunch at Antico Pizza
No trip to Atlanta is complete without a stop at Antico Pizza. Basically every famous person that has filmed a movie in Atlanta has eaten here. It’s the best wood-fired pizza in town and probably makes the list for top ten in the US. It’s that good. Check out the first location in West Midtown for the original experience.
zdapproved bites: My favorites are the Sophia (mushroom & caramelized onions) & the Margherita pizzas.
3 pm
Soft Serve at Big Softie
Make the trek to Atlanta’s newest neighborhood, Summerhill, for some amazing soft serve. In my opinion, Big Softie is the hottest spot in Atlanta right now. Best soft serve in all the land and worth the visit. Very high quality with bougie toppings & buttery waffle cones. It’s owned by the team behind the best pastries in Atlanta, Little Tart Bakeshop (next door), where you will be stopping by on Monday morning.
zdapproved bites: The coffee soft serve (made with Counter Culture) is my fave. I love all the toppings, but I lean towards the pink praline, dulcey drips and waffle cone bites (waffle cone in some form is a must).
4 pm
Watch an Atlanta United game or Atlanta Falcons game at the Mercedes Benz Stadium.
8 pm
Time to spend your paycheck at Lazy Betty.
Lazy Betty is all the buzz in Atlanta these days. While we do have a few restaurants that offer tasting menus, this one is unlike any other. It will cost you around $125 to $165 per person (including tax and gratuity - excluding drinks) but will be a meal to remember. However, if you don’t want to spend that much, they have a first come first serve (limited seating) a-la-carte “snacks” option. Do not skip dessert! To read more about what to expect at Lazy Betty read about my entire meal here.
Or save some money and check out one of the best new restaurants to open in Atlanta - Southern Belle.
Do you ever go to a restaurant and they just get everything right? Well that was my experience at Southern Belle - an innovative small plates concept by the former chef at Gunshow, Joey Ward. A zero-waste restaurant working on innovative small plates is right up my alley. Don’t skip dessert, because it’s made table-side on a Delta beverage cart! Yup, that’s right. They don’t take reservations, but go early and hopefully you’ll get a table!
zdapproved bites: Everything! But if I had to pick - the Pumpkin Bread, Blue Crab Beau Monde & Szechuan Sweet Potatoes.
Day 4 - monday
8 am
Grab some pastries & coffee to go from Little Tart Bakeshop’s Summerhill location for your flight.
I’m sending you back home with the best pastries in all of Atlanta. It’s as close to Paris as you can get. While I enjoy more traditional pastries, the possibilities at Little Tart are endless. Their Counter Culture coffee is great as well. They have several locations, but the Summerhill location is the place to be. And maybe you will be lucky enough to get teddy bear latte art by Heesoo. Read more on my favorites here.
zdapproved bites: Chocolate Pistachio Croissant, Matcha Latte, French Lavender (go light on the syrup) Latte, English Muffin Egg Sandwich & honestly everything!!
See ya next time!
other favorites
Although the following restaurants didn’t make this itinerary, they can easily be swapped out for the meals above or added to your list for next time.
good for coffee
Ebrik Coffee Room - Decatur | Known for Middle Eastern Drinks - the Turkish coffee with milk is my favorite!
Gilly Brewing Co. - Stone Mountain | Known for Seasonal Speciality Beverages - Their “elixirs” & syrups change seasonally and are served in creative ways. A fun spot if you happen to be in the area.
Good for Brunch
Bread & Butterfly - Inman Park| Known for French-American Cuisine | Read More Here
El Tesoro - Kirkwood | Known for Authentic Breakfast & Other Tacos
Tiny Lou’s - Midtown | Known for French Brunch & Desserts | Read More Here
Good for Lunch
Alon’s Bakery - Virginia Highlands | Known for Pastries & Deli-Style Gourmet Sandwiches & Meals
Falafel Nation - West Midtown | Known for Casual Falafel Stand
Snackboxe Bistro - Buford Highway | Known for Laotian Food - Get the Nam Khao & Nam Van
Wood’s Chapel BBQ - Summerhill | Known for Barbeque - Don’t skip on the sides like the Cornbread
Good for Dinner
8 Arm - Midtown | Known for Farm-to-Table Mesoamerican Brunch or Dinner - Great for Vegetarians
Kimball House - Downtown Decatur | Known for Oysters & Small Plates - Get the Hawaiian Rolls & Oysters
Rumi’s Kitchen - Sandy Springs | Known for Upscale Persian Food - Get the Sultani Kabob + Green Chili Chutney
Sushi Hayakawa - Buford Highway | Known for High-End Sushi with Omakase Option
Umi Sushi - Buckhead | Known for High-End Sushi - Try the Miso Cod or Otoro Caviar Nigiri & Dessert
