Atlanta can be a daunting city to visit.
For starters, it’s enormous, especially when considering the entire metropolitan region. Visitors will likely need a car, and the summers can be hot.
As a result, for many people, Atlanta is merely a connection point on a flight, rather than a destination. Not surprising, considering transportation led to the creation of Atlanta, a city not situated on a river or a significant body of water.
The city’s location was selected because it was at the end of a major rail line (hence the city’s original name: Terminus). But the city has a great history.
From the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement to the 1996 Summer Olympics, the “Gate City” has always found itself at the forefront of global events. Despite its size and geographic footprint, it is possible to take in the city’s must-see attractions over a long weekend or a few short days, but visitors can explore it for as long as they would like.
Perhaps best of all, it’s home to incredible food.
1911 Biscuits & Burgers
4 Way Lunch
Fred Garrison established 4 Way Lunch in 1931 when he took a sack full of meat and packages of buns to an empty old saloon at the corner of Main Street (GA 61/113) and Gilmer Street in downtown Cartersville. There, he started cooking burgers.
At the time, the Dixie Highway was a popular route, and both visitors and residents frequently stopped by for breakfast and lunch. Garrison’s son, Ernest, who grew up in the business, took over in 1972 and continued its operation until he died in 2004.
The restaurant survived racial tensions during the Civil Rights Era and a destructive fire in 1993. 4 Way Lunch is open between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. It only accepts cash.
Antica Posta Tuscan Restaurant & Bar
Bagel Boys Café
The idea for Bagel Boys started when owner John Lamb was 15 years old and working in a Philadelphia-area bagel delicatessen. After working for a decade at a national bagel shop, he struck out to realize that dream. The first Bagel Boys Café opened in 2005. In 2010, the company opened a second location on Kimball Bridge Road in Alpharetta. A third store in Sandy Springs opened in 2016.
Bernie’s Social Bar
Bistro Niko
Bones Restaurant
Bones opened in 1979 with a mission to offer the best service, steaks, and seafood. Since then, it’s been acknowledged as the top steakhouse in Atlanta and, according to many, the best in the country. It serves prime beef, fresh seafood, Maine lobster, and regional delicacies.
Bones is widely known for hosting business lunches and dinners. For the past 16 years, Bones has received the Best of Atlanta Steakhouse Award every year. Zagat has recognized Bones with the highest rating for food and service of any steakhouse in the country.
Boone’s
Overlooking the scenic Bobby Jones Golf Course along Tanyard Creek in Buckhead, Boone’s offers high-quality service and new American cuisine in an inviting atmosphere. Executive Chef Jason Stern creates changing, approachable menus defined by local availability and feature health-focused, sustainable ingredients. Guests can explore Boone’s curated and signature cocktails, a wide variety of craft beers on tap, and a distinctive wine-by-the-glass and bottle list from around the world.
Canoe
Chef Gerry Klaskala, Ron San Martin and George McKerrow opened Canoe on the banks of the Chattahoochee River in Vinings in 1995.
It has evolved into one of the best restaurants in Atlanta.
Cooks & Soldiers
DaVinci’s of Smyrna
E. 48th Street Market
Falling Rabbit
Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
Hal’s The Steakhouse
Heirloom Market BBQ
Jack’s New Yorker Deli
Jack’s New Yorker Deli was established in Vinings in 2002 to create a New York-style deli with a Southern Charm twist.
Initially, its menu was simple, serving Reubens and cheesesteaks with pickles and chips. Over time, as its popularity grew, the restaurant expanded its menu to include various options, such as tasty breakfast dishes and gourmet salads.
Joey D’s Oak Room
Kevin Rathbun Steak
Local Three Kitchen and Bar
Chris Hall, Todd Mussman, and Ryan Turner, the brains behind Local Three Kitchen and Bar, first met in 2005. At the time, Hall was a chef at Sundial restaurant, while Mussman and Turner had just opened Muss & Turner’s in Smyrna.
They soon developed the idea for Local Three.
Initially, they planned to open in 2008 in the Medici building across from their current location. However, the recession caused the government to seize the building, and progress halted. Over the next few years, the trio searched for a new space and eventually took over Joel Brasserie, formerly Joel Restaurant, in 2010.
With the help of local architects Ai3 and Tracy Hartley, they spent the summer and fall renovating the dining room. Local Three opened in December 2010 and has consistently ranked as one of the best restaurants in Atlanta, serving fresh food and boasting a top-notch bourbon bar.
Mac’s Chop House
Minato Japanese Restaurant
MTH Pizza
MTH Pizza is a neighborhood pizzeria inspired and founded by three Smyrna locals — Todd Mussman, Ryan Turner and Chris Hall. It opened in October 2019 and has quickly earned a reputation as one of Atlanta’s best pizza joints.
Muss & Turner’s
Muss & Turner’s opened in Smyrna/Vinings in February 2005, aiming to be the type of place its proprietors, Todd Mussman and Ryan Turner, wanted to go to themselves.
Muss and Turner worked at The Food Studio, part of Fifth Group Restaurants. Turner left to be F&B Manager at East Lake Golf Club, while Muss became the Executive Chef at Sala.
In 2002, they decided to build a restaurant they wanted to go to, the first iteration of which opened in 2005. The second iteration opened the following year, and in 2010, they partnered with Chris Hall and launched Local Three Kitchen & Bar.
The third iteration of M&T opened in May 2012 with a renovated space and a hidden bar, Eleanor’s. Named after their friend, Eleanor’s represents all that is great about a remarkable woman.
“A big part of our premise was let’s remove this veil of pretense that exists around really high-end food,” Turner told Sightseers’ Delight in September 2023. “Even 20 years ago, if you go back to look at the restaurant scene, if you wanted to go get an elevated food experience, you had to go to a white tablecloth restaurant.
“…We said well, ‘Why can’t we bring all the elements of fine dining as far as how you source and how you cook and all of that and treat people with a high level of hospitality, but not wrap it with all the pomp and circumstance and not charge as much,’” Turner added. “And so that really struck a nerve, and it really more so got magnified during the Great Recession.”
Novo Cucina
Novo Cucina in 2015, bringing a fresh and independent concept to Dunwoody – and an entirely new way to eat Italian.
O4W Pizza
Old Hickory House
The Tucker location of the Old Hickory House opened in 1974, and it is the only Old Hickory House remaining.
Pisano’s Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen
Ray’s on the River
Rev Coffee Roasters
Roshambo
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Ross’s Diner
Since 1945, Ross’ Diner has served up old-fashioned dining such as chili, steak and gravy, and hamburgers to hungry patrons who belly up to its U-shaped lunch counter.
Harold “Hal” Ross owned and operated the restaurant from 1988 until he died in 2014.
The Best of Enemies, starring Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell, was partially filed at the diner in June 2017.
Seed Kitchen & Bar
Siracusa’s NY Pizzeria
Smyrna Beer Market
Spring (Marietta)
Spring is a restaurant in the Historic Marietta Square serving New American cuisine. The restaurant is owned and operated by Chef Brian So and Sommelier Daniel Crawford, who are both friends. Its focus is on serving thoughtfully sourced dishes in season, accompanied by natural wines. Spring are committed to supporting and honoring local farmers, artisans, and winemakers who have dedicated their lives to their craft. Its goal is to provide guests with a memorable experience that they will cherish.
Taqueria Los Hermanos
Taqueria Los Hermanos is owned by three brothers (Miguel, Roel and Raul) and their sons. The restaurant opened its doors in 2001, its recipes are influenced the owners’ years on the southwestern Mexican coast and experience with California and Georgia cuisine.
The Corner Taqueria
The Dwarf House
The Dwarf House, originally named the Dwarf Grill, is where the famous Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich was first invented by Truett Cathy in 1946.
Cathy asked his customers to test the boneless chicken sandwich until he perfected the recipe in 1964. The restaurant was named the Dwarf Grill because of its small size, and it has always been located at 461 Central Avenue.
Over the years, the Dwarf House has undergone various renovations, including adding a porch and chimney stack with the restaurant’s name in 1957. The original building was demolished in 1967 and replaced with the Hapeville Dwarf House, which served customers until March 2021.
On February 17, 2022, a newly designed Dwarf House opened its doors, paying homage to all the previous buildings. The new building features reclaimed bricks from the 1967 building, a front patio where the original 1946 building stood, a stone chimney honoring the 1957 building, and entryway lanterns reclaimed from the 1967 building.
The Iberian Pig
The Third Door
Viking Alchemist Meadery
Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q
Wrecking Bar Brewpub
Zucca Bar & Pizzeria
Zucca Bar & Pizzeria, located in the heart of the Smyrna Market Village, offers New York style pizza.
- Deep history covering the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement
- Relatively decent weather yearround
- Some of the best restaurant options in the country
- Marietta Museum of History (Marietta)
- Southern Museum of Civil Way & Locomotive History (Kennesaw)