Atlanta City Guide
Summer in a Southern City
Sometime last winter, Kyle and I decided to plan our summer trip and we had the perfect place in mind. It had been a few years since we’d spent time together in Atlanta and we were itching to get back, this time in the summer so we could enjoy the city in all it’s humid and sweltering glory. I grew up in Atlanta and so am somewhat familiar with the neighborhoods and hidden gem spots, but so much has changed since I moved away seven years ago and I was eager to play tourist and do some exploring myself.
The big perk of visiting your hometown is of course, spending quality time with family, which I got to do plenty of! This trip was the perfect combination of laid back family time and long days exploring. We managed to tick off some of my personal must-do activities and even discovered some awesome new places around town that I will definitely be revisiting in the future.
Some Dining Recommendations
Like many big cities, Atlanta has quite a bit to offer in terms of delicious eateries. Be prepared for a Southern-style twist to some of your usual meals, but really Atlanta has all types of foods and flavors to offer. And just so you know, all of these places are pretty low-key, casual spots with great menus, my ideal type of dining. Here are a few of my favorites from this trip, including some that I scouted out beforehand via Instagram and a couple of solid recommendations from my brother!
Sun In My Belly
This is a quaint little breakfast and lunch spot, with a rustic cottage-y feeling. It’s located in Kirkwood, one of the many sweet little neighborhoods of the city, away from the overcrowded streets, and with its own distinct vibe. They had a delicious brunch menu with lots of hearty eggs and challah bread dishes, and of course shrimp and grits. I went with the savory french toast and my first sweet tea of the trip!
Leon’s Full Service
One of our first stops, fresh off the plane is this cool spot located in downtown Decatur, another recommendation from my brother. This place was converted from an old car garage (hence the name) to a beautiful, modern restaurant with lots of outdoor seating. I’ve been once before for dinner, and this time around, went for drinks and appetizers, and was very impressed both times. One of my favorite things is the fry basket with dipping sauces like garlic aioli and massaman curry.
W.H. Stiles Fish Camp
Located in Ponce City Market (more on that later), this oyster bar and seafood restaurant was a favorite of ours. We tried the oysters of course, a sandwich, calamari, and corn muffins, and everything was delicious. This restaurant itself has a great vibe and reminded me of Atlanta’s own take on the iconic Grand Central Oyster Bar in NYC, if it were in a busy market.
Muchacho
This is a cafe that I found while browsing Instagram several months ago and made sure to bookmark it for later. I’m so happy that I did because it turned out to be one of my favorite spots of the trip. A strange combination in my mind, they are a coffee and taco shop, but have an all around great brunch menu. We opted for the avocado and smoked salmon toasts, coffee and watermelon agua fresca. The giant outdoor patio is perfect for people watching, as it’s located right on a popular trail called the Beltline. Maybe it was the 70’s and 80’s West Coast vibe of the decor, but I just loved everything about this place!
And Some More Options
There are a ton of restaurant options in Ponce City Market so no need to limit yourself to one. A couple of other places that were on my list, which I didn’t make it to this time around include Brezza Cucina for Italian food and Botiwalla for Indian street food. Once you’ve eaten yourself into a food coma, stop by Spiller Park Coffee for a little pick me up. A couple of other places that I didn’t get to try, but which are high on the list for next time, are Bread and Butterly, a gorgeous french bistro in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood and further north, The General Muir for a New York style deli meal.
To Add To Your Itinerary
One thing to keep in mind when visiting Atlanta is that it’s a commuter city, really spread out without a great public transport system. We opted to rent a car to get from one area to the other quickly. And we definitely took advantage of the summer weather by walking and biking a lot too. There are so many different neighborhoods that make up the city, and some of the best sightseeing can be done on foot if you know where to go.
Ponce City Market
This is one of those places that I got to discover as a tourist, as it wasn’t around back in my day as an Atlantan, which is frankly unfair because it’s really cool! Housed in what was formerly an old Sear’s building, it’s now a vibrant and busy market for shopping and eating (as I mentioned earlier). Apart from the big West Elm at one end, there are a ton of cool smaller shops, my favorite being Citizen Supply, a curated and artisan market. They have some great small and sustainable brands and vendors, curated vintage and even a bar right in the middle of the store. How cool is that?
My favorite vendor in CS is The Victorian, a plant shop that I found on Instagram. I even managed to pick up a plant pot, which I proceeded to transport back on the plane via my carry on bag. No souvenir is too cumbersome. Another cute little spot is Quick Quick, a newsagent and boutique bodega carrying the best selection of hard to come by fashion and lifestyle magazines.
Piedmont Park
One of the oldest attractions of the city, and a favorite of mine growing up, is the massive park located in the center of Midtown. Kyle and I spent a couple hours biking around and we only managed to see about half of it. There’s a funky little bike shop at one of the entrances called Skate Escape that has been there forever, if you’re not keen on tracking down a Citi Bike. There is also a farmers market on the weekends, where you can find King of Pops for a little refresher. The Atlanta Botanical Garden borders the park too, which is definitely worth checking out.
The BeltLine
Another newish feature to Atlanta, making it feel even more like the NYC of the South, is the BeltLine. A former railway system that encircles the city, it’s now a beautiful green space for walking and biking, littered with cute places to stop along the way. Kyle, my family and myself rented bikes to get from Piedmont Park to Ponce City Market along the BeltLine and it was such a fun experience.
The Georgia Aquarium
This is the only really touristy attraction that I want to suggest and for good reason. I had visited the Aquarium growing up and knew it was pretty cool but when Kyle convinced me to go with him, I was reminded of just how incredible it is. It’s one of the largest in the world, with three whale sharks, giant stingrays, and every other little sea creature you can imagine. Their biggest tank has a tunnel so that you can walk right through it and it truly is breathtaking watching a whale shark swim right over your head. It’s also a solid excuse to get out of the heat and humidity for a couple of hours.
Little 5 Points
One place that I didn’t spend time at on this trip, but which I feel any Atlanta City Guide is incomplete without is the Little Five Points neighborhood. This is a funky little area with cool restaurants and great shopping stores. I would recommend Rag-O-Rama for a mixture of new and old threads and the Clothing Warehouse for the most organized vintage selection you’ve ever seen. Wax ’N’ Facts is a great record shop, that I’ve also been known to pick up souvenirs from while in town.
One for the Books
Every time I go back to Atlanta, I feel like my relationship with it changes a little bit. It’s so nice to be able to see the city with new eyes, as things change rapidly, while still enjoying the familiar parts of it that I’ve loved for years.
The beauty of this city is its diversity, its hidden gems and personality, its lush greenness, and the friendliness of the people. I hope this guide helps you discover some places off the beaten path and feel a little more like a local. Whether you live a few hours drive away or a plane ride away, I can’t recommend it enough, to see and experience a seriously underrated destination city.