Midtown/Downtown
Home of some of Atlanta’s most recognizable landmarks –from the rainbow crosswalk and Fox Theatre in Midtown to the World of Coke and Georgia Aquarium in Downtown – the heart of Atlanta is a tourist favorite.
While Midtown boasts some of Atlanta’s best gay nightlife, Downtown is the perfect locale for a day trip: stop by the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, take a ride on Skyview, the 20-story Ferris wheel overlooking Centennial Park, and catch a Falcons or Atlanta United Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
With the 2026 Fifa World Cup coming to the Benz in June and July, Downtown Atlanta has been undergoing a revitalization effort by the City. New additions to the neighborhood include Crates, a record store specializing in Black-dominated genres like Neo Soul and Acid Jazz; sushi and burger restaurant Bottle Rocket; Thai restaurant Tyde Tate Kitchen; and Spiller Park Coffee.
If you’re in Midtown, swing by the brand-new Museum of Illusions, an edutainment museum all about optical illusions – you won’t believe your eyes! Then, head to the rainbow crosswalk (at the intersection of 10th and Piedmont) to stop by Boy Next Door Menswear, the place to shop for gay men. They offer an expanding selection of brands for men’s activewear, undergarments, and swimwear – they’ve got everything you need for any occasion, from Sunday brunch to circuit parties.
Regardless of your plan, Midtown and Downtown Atlanta host a myriad of restaurant and retail options, offering something for everyone. Start your day with breakfast (or brunch) at one of Atlanta’s favorites, Mary Mac’s Tea Room. Established in 1945, Mary Mac’s offers Southern favorites like chicken and dumplings, collard greens with crackling bread, and Georgia peach cobbler.
If you haven’t yet gone, every Atlanta tourist has to stop for lunch at least once at The Varsity, the largest drive-in in the country. The food is simple – hot dogs, hamburgers, and PCs (Google it) – but the fun of The Varsity experience is unmatched.
As for dinner, some of our favorites include Casa Almenara (formerly 10th and Piedmont, it’s located at the former home of LGBTQ landmark Outwrite Bookstore) for delicious Mexican fare, Campagnolo for Italian and Mediterranean, Poor Calvin’s for Thai fusion with Southern influences, Mediterranean Grill, and Papi’s Cuban and Caribbean Grill. If you want to splurge on an upscale meal, head to The Sun Dial at the top of the Westin Peachtree for 360-degree views of the city skyline.
If you’re seeing a show at the fabulous Fox Theatre, pair the evening with dinner and drinks at Livingston. Located in the Georgian Terrace Hotel just across the street from the theatre, Livingston is the perfect place for cocktails and a bite to eat before or after catching a show.
Looking to do some shopping? Atlantic Station is your one-stop shop, with mall favorites including H&M, Bath and Body Works, and Victoria’s Secret as well as the Falcons and United Team Store, Target, IKEA, bowling, and a Regal Cinema.
Midtown and Downtown are Atlanta’s gay nightlife hot spots. Gay men, make sure to stop by Blake’s on the Park, located just off of Piedmont Park; Bulldogs for house music, hip-hop, and heavy-handed bartenders; and Flex, a gay bathhouse complete with sauna, steam room, pool, sun deck, and private rooms. Lesbians can find their folks at My Sister’s Room, the longest-running lesbian bar in Atlanta, and everyone will enjoy dancing the night away at Future Atlanta, a 14,000-square-foot cabaret and dance club.
FUN FACTS
- The intersection at 10th and Piedmont, where the rainbow crosswalks are currently located, was the location of Outwrite Bookstore and Coffeehouse, Atlanta’s first LGBTQ bookstore.
- In 1971, the Georgia Gay Liberation Front held Atlanta’s first Gay Pride March through Midtown, from Peachtree Street to Piedmont Park.
- Midtown residents are more than twice as wealthy as the average American; the average household income is about $120k, compared to about $52k.
- Downtown traces its roots back to 1826, when railroad surveyors began looking for a route from Milledgeville to Chattanooga. As a result, a town named Terminus was founded in 1837 in what is now Downtown Atlanta.
- Auburn Avenue was once called “the richest Negro street in the world” and is now home to Black historical sites like Apex Museum, Auburn Avenue Research Library, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, the King Center, and Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King preached.
- Downtown Atlanta was home to the Atlanta Daily World, the first Black daily newspaper. It was in publication from 1928 to 2008. You can still see the Atlanta Daily World sign at 145 Auburn Ave.
