You guys!! I can’t even believe I’ve been living in the ATL for SIX years!! I moved to Marietta, Ga when I was 7 years old, but never much ventured into the city. I really really wanted a city landscape for when I attended medical school and Atlanta has been such a sweet sweet surprise! The midnight runs to Krispy Kreme on Ponce, all things done for the culture in the Atlanta University Center, the 12 different variations of Grandma, Mama, and Auntie’s mac n cheese all over the city…I digress. I have truly grown to love this place. It’s the perfect atmosphere if you’re interested in city living, but just wanna get your feet wet! Cleaner than most other major cities with the suburbs just circling about the perimeter. Especially because of Surgery And The City, I have explored my beloved Atlanta through and through; finding the best places to eat, stay, shop, praise & play! There is something for everyone on this list. I hope you all enjoy!
Where to Stay:
Hotel Clermont – Beautiful vintage vibes and interior design to 😍 😍 😍 for! In the heart of Midtown
The Georgian Terrace – One of the most elegant hotels I’ve ever seen! Also located in Midtown
Loews Hotel – This hotel is perfectly situated in the heart of Midtown, right at 11th and Peachtree St NE. The location is so convenient and allows for easy access to restaurants at a walking distance. The views of the city are incredible. The in-house spa will leave you feeling impeccably relaxed. And the food? *Chef’s kiss.
Ellis Hotel – This hotel is downtown in the heart of Peachtree Street. There is quite an interesting story about how this hotel had a fire in the 1920s and made it through the tragedy. The original spiral staircase is still standing!
W Atlanta – The rooftop pool. Wow! Located in the downtown area
Crowne Plaza Hotel – The prices here a just a bit lower. Located in Midtown
Hyatt Place Atlanta Downtown – This one sits right on Peachtree Street in the downtown area. Also has a great price point
Where to Eat:
Slutty Vegan – Y’all. I am Stunned by how good this vegan cuisine is! These vegan burgers (and everything else on the menu) are amazing!! I would not believe it’s all vegan if I had not been told. They even have vegan bacon. The Super Slut and Dance Hall Queen are definitely my faves!
The Municipal Market – The Municipal Market sits right in the heart of Sweet Auburn—a historically Black Atlantan neighborhood inextricably linked to Civil Rights—and houses 30 local businesses. There, you can find bakers, butchers, soul food, seafood, and so many other cuisines from around the world. Also known as The Curb Market, this edifice sits literally three blocks away from my med school teaching hospital…let’s just say I’ve been a time or several! Metro Deli Soul Food is. my. jam!
BQE Restaurant & Lounge – The chicken + red velvet waffles!!
Kelz Kitchen– Coastal Carolinas cuisine. Get the Geechee Shrimp Po Boy + mac n cheese. Thank me later
South City Kitchen – The cutest restaurant with the perfect nooks and wonderful Southern cuisine! My favorite location is on Crescent Ave
Mary Mac’s – Love love this restaurant. One of my go-to’s when I have a taste for soul food, but don’t feel like making my own
Lady Bird – This restaurant has rustic nods to campground living, complete with smorgasbords of food for family style eating!
Takorea – Mexican-Korean fusion! Taco Tuesday, anyone? Order the Prickly Pear, KFC taco, and sesame fries. Thank me later!
Busy Bee – THE BOMB!!! I can’t believe it actually took me 5 years to make it here. Voted best Atlanta soul food restaurant for a Reason! I tasted the greens and almost lost my mind! I get the veggie plate
Pearl Lounge – Beautiful venue with a very sexy ambiance. The food is Amazing! Perfect place to also grab drinks! This lounge sits right in the heart of Peters Street – Mecca of black business in Atlanta
Baltimore Crab and Seafood – This is the sister restaurant to Pearl Lounge. Very similar menu with a more seasoned crowd. They do turn up after hours lol
Local Green Atlanta – Gosh I love their mission and their menu! Located in the Westside neighborhood of Atlanta, this black-owned restaurant aims to provide healthy and affordable options to local residents. They offer vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian options. The salmon philly blew my mind!
No Mas! – Some of the best Latin cuisine I’ve had in Atlanta! The décor is so fun! Order the quesadillas and tall mango margarita. Thank me later!
Negril Village – Gives me NOLA vibes! They have a great brunch with jazz playing in the background
Poor Calvin’s – Super fancy with amazing ambiance! Perfect for date night!
The Varsity – What’ll you have?! One of Atlanta’s oldest and longest standing drive-in restaurants. Nostalgia on a 100 trillion. Burgers and shakes, anyone?!
J R Crickets – I have lived up the street from the original location! I know most people go here for the wings, of course! AND Try the chicken and waffles too!
Dat Fire Jerk Chicken – Bomb jerk indeed! The colorful restaurant also makes for a great photo opp!
Old Lady Gang – Kandi Burruss’s restaurant! Her Aunties definitely make appearances and they definitely play Real Housewives of Atlanta on all the tv’s Sunday nights. Ha! Great southern cuisine and even better marketing!
Doc Chey’s Noodle House – My girl Lea (what up, Lea!) introduced me to this place back in 2009 before I even moved to the city. OMG it’s so good! I always order the vegetable pad thai—a regular Friday night treat in the Dr. Bazz household!
Sometimeitarian – Absolutely delicious vegan options here!! Gotta love a restaurant that feeds you what’s healthy! Definitely check them out!
Soul Vegetarian – More vegan options…soul food style! Only in Atlanta ha!
Endulge Cupcakes – Ok y’all. They have alcohol infused cupcakes! They have non-alcoholic ones too, but you can tell which ones are my fave. So good. Blew my mind!
Cami Cakes – Been going here for years! The red velvet is a must. It just is
Two Urban Licks – The ambiance here is so beautiful! The brunch is amazing. Love love the pecan waffle!
Flying Biscuit – My Saturday morning (I ain’t got to study today!) fave. Such a treat! My usual order: 1 pancake, 1 egg fried hard, 2 turkey sausage patties. The McClendon Ave location has a special almond butter to go on the pancakes. Go there!
Sun Dial Restaurant – This restaurant is actually on my ATL bucket list! It sits atop the Westin Hotel and actually rotates ever so slightly as you enjoy your meal! Get it?! Sun Dial!
Best Views of the City Skyline/Most IG-Worthy Locations:
Ponce City Market – One of my favorite and most eclectic places to shoot! It features shopping, a food hall, and a beautiful and nostalgic rooftop with boardwalk games
Hotel Clermont Rooftop – A beautiful view of the city! Free entry and the cutest rooftop igloos during winter. Try the Rosé cider!
LottaFrutta – This area!! It’s definitely one of my favorite places to shoot because of allll the tropical vibes! Take a trip there & you’ll see! Right next to MLK’s neighborhood. Grab a mango smoothie while you’re there!
Piedmont Park – The largest park in Atlanta! Beautiful city views all over
Jackson Street Bridge – Such a fun place to visit. Runs right over the highway with the cityscape in the back!
Switchyards Downtown Club – Has a dope “Made with Soul in Atlanta” sign in red lights
Peachtree Center – Right in the heart of downtown area! Features a really amazing reflective fountain. Makes for beautiful photos!
The Varsity – One of the most popular drive-in restaurants in the world! Great photo opps here especially because of one of the 1996 Olympics Atlanta torches in the background!
Sky Lounge – I really want to go here! The views of the city are beyond. I tried to have my graduation party here and let’s just say…it was not in the budget. Ha!
The Beltline – So much beauty, so many great murals here! And it connects directly to Ponce City Market. You can catch a photo opp and take a break at the King of Pops stand afterward
Little 5 Points – So much eclectic beauty here. Poised in East Atlanta, this area houses multiple eateries and novelty shops. Great for edgy photography
Centennial Olympic Park – Houses our ferris wheel! Go to Luckie St Parking Garage (100 Luckie St) for a great photo with the ferris wheel in the background!
The Georgian Terrace – THE. BEST. For all the elegant photos your hear desires. You can find me and Tina on the terrace, on the staircase, in their parking lot. Ha! Perfection!
Just about anywhere on Peachtree St – I love a good crosswalk photo and this street—the historic main thoroughfare of ATL—never disappoints!
Where to Shop:
Ponce City Market – Sooooo many options here! Plus a food hall for when you need a break!
Westside Provisions – Love this location. But I think my favorite part is the Jeni’s Ice Cream. The Gooey Butter Cake – WHAT?!?!
Atlantic Station – One of the first Atlanta retail centers I ventured to back in high school. They even have subway-like steps leading up from the parking garage. Love this take on city living!
Lenox Mall – Has become just a tad ratchet in the past few years lol! You may catch a celebrity or 2
Phipps Plaza – Now this is where you’ll find the luxury retailers! Our Atlanta Kate Spade lives here! Need I say more?
Shops at Buckhead – More luxe life here! Makes for great photo opps too!
Where to Praise:
Turner Chapel AME – This church is AME, but just a bit less traditional than most. Amazing Worship Arts Ministry and a wonderful place to raise a family!
The Path Church – So many young adults here! The Word is so convicting and the service is efficient
Worship with Wonders – If you want to get SLAIN in the spirit and cry out to God and have a supernatural God experience…yea, go HERE!!
The Gathering Oasis Church – I really want to visit here! They have some pretty great ministries and women’s groups! Pinky Promise
For Kids:
Centennial Olympic Park – The ferris wheel is definitely one of our greatest attractions and there are always activities going on in the park!
Georgia Aquarium – I’ve never met a kid who did not enjoy this!
World of Coca Cola – So many fond memories of school and camp field trips here! What’s that drink everyone is tricked into trying? The Beverly??
Fernbank Museum – So much to explore here! And there’s a little something for the adults too: Fernbank After Hours?? Science and Adult Beverages, Honey! Owwwwww!
High Museum – Wonderful exhibits here! They always have something great to see!
For the Culture:
MLK Birth Home/King Center – the Quintessential Atlanta experience! Tour the center and see his beautiful birth home. I don’t know anything more Atlanta than that.
Fox Theater – Talk about luxe living! This theater is so gorgeous inside and out! The always have a wide array of musical guests, comics, and plays
Castleberry Art Stroll – I have yet to do this, but I really want to! Every 2nd Friday, local artists feature their art throughout the Castleberry neighborhood and you walk, eat, and appreciate greatness
High Museum – Wonderful exhibits here! They always have something great to see!
Hammonds House Museum – So much beautiful black art here! They also host events!
Trap Museum – For. The. Culture. Features the lives, musicality, and realness of trap artists
Where to Night Life:
Suite Food Lounge – For the Grown and Sexy! Great food and music too!
Boogalou Lounge – Love the atmosphere here. It’s a smaller venue, so nice and cozy. The bar swings are my fave!
Bars on Edgewood Ave – PERFECTION if you want to bar hop! The Georgia Beer Garden has so many ales I like! I’m not a beer person, so this is saying something! There’s also karaoke at Church and MOTHER. Bar hopping on Edgewood is always a good time!
Sugar Factory – Sweet and elaborate drinks here! So extra, so ATL!
Sky Lounge – Some of the best views of the city. Amazing night life experience
Tin Lizzy’s – Good vibes! Good drinks! Always. My favorite location is the Crescent Ave one
Compound – I’m pretty far removed from the club scene these days lol! BUT I still hear people talk about this one
So there you have it, folks! My ATL faves! I am so glad I was able to live here and soak up…Everything. I had my first apartment here. I paid my first real bills here. I ended my 20s and entered into my 30s. I found God (some more). And I grew up here. Whether you’re visiting or coming to stay, I hope you love it as much as I do. Forever I love Atlanta!
xx,
Photos by Tina Smith
I love this post! I’m saving to add all places I haven’t been to my list! I loveeeeee BQE and can’t wait to go back. Every time I try to go to Busy Bees the line is ridiculous! I’ll keep trying though. And it’s sad to say I have yet to visit the MLK Center. I can’t wait to visit everything on your list with my free time!
Author
Yay!! There’s sooooo much to do here! Enjoy! Had the best time putting this list together🍑🙌🏾
SO PROUD OF YOU. The best is yet to come.
Author
Thank you so much Ms. Lynette!!❤️❤️❤️
This is an amazing compilation….thank you for offering it to your readers!
Author
Yay!! Thanks for reading! So glad it’s helpful!🍑🧡🙌🏾
Hi, Thanks for this post. It gives me a lot of great ideas. I am also wondering if you have any thought on best places to live in Atlanta. I’m moving there in a few months and it seems that everytime I think I’ve found an apartment community I like, I go to the reviews and see a bunch talking about break ins and even deaths. These are buildings that are considered luxury. Is there any safe area you would recommend to someone new to the state? Somewhere a woman can feel safe to take long walks as if she has no care in the world? – Thank you.
Author
Hi Andrea, of course! I really like midtown, west midtown, cabbage town, Smyrna, Marietta as places to live. Anywhere can have its issues, but I lived in midtown for 6 years and had no problems ever. I lived at Crest midtown. I hope you find the best place for you and love the city!!