Whether you’re in town for business, a convention like MomoCon or DragonCon, or attending a game or concert at Mercedes-Benz Stadium or State Farm Arena, Downtown Atlanta includes dozens of dining and drinking options. While big brands and restaurant chains dominate the landscape in this part of Atlanta, you’ll also find several locally owned and operated restaurants, many catering to office workers, Georgia State University students, and residents living in and around the neighborhood.
Check out this list of places to eat and drink like a local the next time you’re visiting Downtown Atlanta.
Aviva by Kameel
756 W. Peachtree St.
Located in the food court at Peachtree Center, Aviva by Kameel serves halal dishes from countries throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Expect wraps stuffed with shawarma and falafel, savory soups and zesty salads, and comforting plates of 12-spice rosemary chicken with sides of hummus and grilled vegetables. Don’t be surprised if you see owner Kameel Srouji working the line at his original location or telling his customers that he loves them, many of whom have supported Aviva by Kameel since it opened in 2012. There’s also a location at the Collective at Coda in Midtown and off Piedmont Road in Buckhead.
The Food Shoppe
123 Luckie St.
Check out this Creole restaurant for jambalaya, gumbo, red rice and beans, or bowls of mac and cheese topped with barbecue. Add bread pudding for dessert. Need breakfast? Order a shrimp omelet with a side of Creole-spiced potatoes. Consider taking your food to go for a picnic in nearby Centennial Olympic Park.
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Pepper’s Hotdogs
84 Peachtree St.
Gourmet hot dog pop-up Pepper’s Hotdogs, owned by Tarina Hodges, opened a permanent location at the Flatiron Building on Peachtree Street. The Downtown location features an expanded menu, including premium hot dogs, a turkey burger, melts, sides, and options for building your own hot dog. Be sure to check out Pepper’s hot dog of the month, too.
Cafe Momentum
200 Peachtree St.
While the restaurant includes locations in Dallas, Denver, and Pittsburgh, the mission behind Cafe Momentum remains wholly local. As a restaurant also functioning as a nonprofit, Cafe Momentum employs local youth who have spent time in the juvenile justice system. The kitchen serves as a way for these teens to build professional skills through training and mentorship in the hospitality industry. The menu in Atlanta features everything from smoked fried chicken pho and pan-seared salmon to roasted beet niçoise tuna and a Wagyu burger.
Polaris
Hyatt Regency, 265 Peachtree St.
It’s hard to miss this Downtown Atlanta restaurant with its conspicuous blue dome atop the Hyatt Regency. Opened in 1967, Polaris makes a full rotation every 45 minutes and includes ties to the Civil Rights movement and famous figures like Sammy Davis Jr., Harry Belafonte, and Gladys Knight. Located on the 22nd floor, Polaris offers more than just a spectacular view of Atlanta. Head here for steak Oscar or pan-roasted grouper before indulging in desserts like a blue-tinted cocoa butter dome of chocolate mousse and caramel honey. You’ll find everyone from office workers to tourists to locals grabbing dinner and drinks at this iconic Atlanta restaurant.
Park Bar
150 Walton St.
Sports fans of all stripes often tailgate here before heading to The Benz or State Farm Arena to catch a game. But Park Bar is equally as popular with fans just looking to watch games on TV with food and drinks or regulars catching up with each other at the bar. Spread out over two floors, enjoy burgers, patty melts, and entrees of New York strip steak paired with a beer or a cocktail. Park Bar also features an extensive collection of whiskey and bourbon.
Baraka Shawarma
68 Walton St.
This Fairlie-Poplar district staple serves a variety of Mediterranean fare, including kebabs, falafel, gyros, and its namesake, shawarma. Great for a quick lunch or when grabbing takeout for a hotel room picnic in the evening.
Trader Vic’s
Hilton Hotel Downtown, 255 Courtland St.
Trader Vic’s offers diners Polynesian pop culture, food, and drinks in a space that’s barely changed since opening day in 1976 at the Hilton in Downtown Atlanta. It’s the only location still associated with Hilton, and one of two locations still open in the United States. Dine on crab rangoon, volcano shrimp, and oven-smoked rack of lamb paired with tiki classics like the Mai Tai, Zombie, and Painkiller. Mai Tais are $7 each on Thursdays, with live music starting at 7 p.m.
Tyde Tate Thai Kitchen
229 Mitchell St.
Sai Untachantr and Bank Bhamaraniyama create many of the dishes served at Tyde Tate from family recipes, including the restaurant’s popular chicken curry puffs, basil chicken, dumplings, and pad Thai. You’ll also find Thai street food dishes such as cheese rolls stuffed with shredded crab, skewers of chicken satay, and sweet chili crispy tofu. The bar serves cocktails, too, like the Passion Fizz with rum and passion fruit nectar. Tyde Tate is conveniently located across the Nelson Street pedestrian bridge from Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Spiller Park Coffee
233 Mitchell St.
Located a couple of doors down from Tyde Tate, South Downtown marks the fourth location of this homegrown coffee shop. Owned by Dale Donchey, the self-proclaimed history buff and ardent baseball fan named the coffee shop for Rell J. Spiller, the owner of defunct minor league baseball team the Atlanta Crackers. In addition to coffee and espresso drinks, Spiller Park also serves toasts, pastries, and sandwich specials, including the must-try Grand Imperial salami sandwich.
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Wild Leap Brew Co.
125 Ted Turner Dr.
Just around the corner from Spiller Park Coffee and Tyde Tate Thai, LaGrange-based brewery and distillery Wild Leap became the first business to open at Centennial Yards, a historic building complex once home to Norfolk Southern Railroad. Two years later, it’s one of South Downtown’s most popular places to drink beer, sip cocktails, or sample the latest spirits from the distillery. Spread out over two levels, the patio behind the building overlooks the Gulch and offers views of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Food trucks are regularly parked here, too.Â
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Dolo’s Pizza
50 Lower Alabama St.
Dolo’s Pizza began as a pop-up based out of Stone Mountain coffee shop Gilly Brew Bar. Owned by Stone Mountain native and Howard University graduate Alyson Williams and Chef Yusef Walker, Dolo’s Pizza quickly outgrew its tiny kitchen space at Gilly Brew Bar. Williams and Walker went on to open a permanent location of Dolo’s Pizza at Underground Atlanta in 2023 where they continue slinging pizzas topped with ingredients like callaloo, roasted tomatoes, and Jamaican ackee sauce. Try the Black Pizza topped with mozzarella, spinach, roasted tomatoes, and charcoal pesto. Look for Dolo’s Pizza to relocate soon to Upper Alabama, where the pizzeria will expand its menu and its hours at Underground Atlanta.
Capolinea
Signia by Hilton, 159 Northside Dr.
Located across from Mercedes-Benz Stadium at the Signia by Hilton, Capolinea serves up charming ambiance, elegant Italian food, and stellar martinis. It also features unobstructed views of The Benz and the Downtown Atlanta skyline. Dine on everything from burrata with roasted beets, pomegranate, and clementine dressing or asparagus topped with guanciale vinaigrette to duck ravioli stuffed with foie gras or a whole branzino. Kick off your meal with brioche or Appalachian sourdough served with cacio e pepe butter and Calabrian chili butter. Order a martini mixed table side from the rolling cocktail cart. For dessert, order a cannoli filled with fior di latte whipped ganache or panna cotta wrapped in chocolate.
Atlantucky Brewing
170 Northside Dr.
On the outskirts of downtown Atlanta proper, in the neighborhood of Castleberry Hill, members of the Grammy-nominated Hip-Hop group Nappy Roots own and operate a brewery. With its name paying homage to the group’s roots in Kentucky and Georgia, you’ll often see Nappy Roots members Fish Scales and Skinny DeVille keeping an eye on things at Atlantucky Brewing. The popular brewery is known for its IPAs and lagers as well as for hosting Black and brown restaurant entrepreneurs and chefs serving food in the taproom. You might even catch an impromptu Nappy Roots performance here. Follow on Instagram for events and new beer releases.
The Municipal Market (known locally as Sweet Auburn Curb Market)
209 Edgewood Ave.
Opened in 1918, and located between Downtown Atlanta and the Sweet Auburn neighborhood, the once open-air market continues serving the surrounding communities. Referred to by locals as Sweet Auburn Curb Market, you’ll find independently owned shops selling seafood, meat, produce, and pantry goods, along with food stalls serving soul food, barbecue, Asian fusion sandwiches, tacos, and Cajun and Creole dishes. Sweet Auburn Curb Market is easily accessible via the Atlanta StreetCar. Looking for pizza? Try the Atlanta-centric pizzas from Phew’s Pies.