32 Best Restaurants in Atlanta, Georgia

Antico offers a big slice of cheesy, saucy, chewy, Naples-style heaven. The communal tables, as well as the Italian opera on the stereo, give the place a convivial vibe. The best seats are inside the kitchen, where you can watch the wood-burning ovens. Try the enormous Pomodorini pie, with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, garlic, and basil. This place is popular, so be prepared for long lines.

When you see the lilac building, you’ll know you’re in the right place. Inside, say hello to the giant neon sign that reads “Fancy Service,” and settle into the eccentric atmosphere. Bon Ton is perfect for a night on the town—starting or capping off the evening with a round of fun cocktails—or digging into Cajun-style food with Vietnamese flair. Try the boiled peanuts appetizer, then indulge in a blackened catfish banh mi. Afterwards, head upstairs to The Waiting Room speakeasy for more unique cocktails.

Here's what pays the bills here: brisket, pulled pork, fried pickles, and an artery-cloggin' take on tater tots, served smothered in Brunswick stew and melted cheese. Try to get a seat on the patio, a great place to soak up sun and sip a cold beer. Unfortunately, you may have to hunt for parking first.

The General Muir is inspired by New York Jewish delis. From the subway tiles lining the walls to fresh-baked bagels made in-house by TGM Bread, it is the ultimate homage. The General Muir thrives during brunch with classics such as omelets and French toast. But they also offer well-known and loved Jewish cuisines—matzah ball soup, latkes, and lox, to name a few. The coffee bar is always ready and able to make a variety of drinks as well.

The narrow wraparound patio is the draw at this buzzing Spanish-inspired restaurant and wine bar. The must-try paella and weekly wine specials help to keep patrons happy. Inside, rich wood tones and classic decor make the place feel a bit upscale, although the menu here is entirely approachable, even a bit indulgent with an emphasis on meats, cheeses, and some deep-fried favorites.

Located in the always bustling Inman Park, BoccaLupo is one of Atlanta’s best, and few, Italian restaurants. Chef Bruce Logue and his team specialize in handmade pasta dishes that truly define what Italian-American cooking is and can be. BoccaLupo's casual vibe easily belies its many accolades. From callouts in The New York Times for one of the “best places to eat in Atlanta,” to a Southern Living shoutout for “best restaurants in the South.” Come hungry.

This bistro that makes you feel like you're hanging out on the sidewalks of Paris. The patio is absolutely delightful when the weather is warm, and the pastries, coffee, and wine are just as satisfying. Wait until later in the morning for the full breakfast menu, which includes delicious omelets and pancakes. A French-style happy hour with select wines ends the day.

Since 1947, Busy Bee Cafe has become a historic staple of Atlanta (even Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ate here). This cozy restaurant was founded by Lucy Jackson, a self-taught cook, and today it still offers delicious Southern cuisine that has molded and shaped Atlanta's food scene. From fried chicken to seafood, and with all the sides you could want, there’s no shortage of choices. Busy Bee is a hop, skip, and a jump away from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It was also awarded the James Beard Classic Award in 2022, and is a 2023 Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient.

This popular spot on the bank of the Chattahoochee River has built a reputation based on such dishes as slow-roasted rabbit with wild mushroom ravioli and Swiss chard. Sunday brunch—with smoked-salmon eggs Benedict, house-made Georgia pecan sticky buns, and other offerings—is superb. The restaurant's tagline, "tucked away, not far away," is no joke—call for directions.

Chattahoochee Food Works is nestled inside an 80-acre, mixed-used development that contains everything from dining to retail. The space—preserved in some of the Westside's historic industrial buildings—is where the sprawling, 31-vendor food hall highlights the best of Atlanta’s food scene. Just outside the food hall is Your 3rd Spot, a social dining experience. Make a reservation and spend hours playing yard and arcade games while enjoying shareable small plates.

For traditional Southern food—think fried chicken, ham steak, and turkey with dressing—insiders head to Colonnade, a local institution since 1927 and a magnet for gay men and the elderly. The interior, with patterned carpeting and burgundy banquettes, is a classic version of a 1950s restaurant.

The Farsi word delbar translates to “heart, captured,” and that’s exactly what this restaurant intends to do. The interior is elegant and striking, and the cuisine's color and flavor is equally enthralling. Delbar’s menu is based on food that owner Fares Kargar made and ate growing up in Iran, as well as inspiration from all over the Middle East. If you want an intro to Persian cuisine, try the tahdig, or crispy rice. No matter what you choose, a reservation is a choice decision.

Live music and a twist on the standard date night keep this place bustling on weekends. The menu consists of tapas such as patatas bravas con romesco (potatoes with olive oil and a spicy sauce) and ceviche. The only real entrées are a roasted whole fish and a traditional paella overflowing with fresh seafood, chicken, and chorizo. The restaurant is at the very end of the Miami Circle design center.

Don't fill up on the tortilla chips at this Tex-Mex joint. They are so tasty that you might miss the rest of the menu, which includes vegan and vegetarian options, as well as standards like fish tacos and fajitas. A big patio makes this a big sunny-day draw, especially with the organic margaritas featuring rotating flavors fresh from local farmers' markets.

In a neighborhood flush with craft beer options, Leon's introduced an inventive specialty cocktail menu (as well as its own long list of craft beers). The food menu is full of fun snacks to share while drinking, including fries served with an array of sauces. For an entrée, try the pan-roasted trout. The restaurant borders a popular patio on one side and is lined by a busy bocce court on the other.

Inspired by Jarrett Stieber’s pop-up, Eat Me, Speak Me at S.O.S. Tiki Bar in Decatur, the restaurant is named after his dog, a Great Pyrenees. Located beside the old Turner Field stadium that now belongs to Georgia State University, Little Bear boasts creative and themed menu items and unique cocktails. Stieber won the 2023 Young Chef Award from Michelin, and the restaurant achieved Bib Gourmand status. 

Local celebrities and ordinary folks line up for the country-fried steak and fried chicken here. In the Southern tradition, the servers will call you "honey" and pat your arm to assure you that everything's all right. It's a great way to experience Southern food and hospitality all at once.

It's fun to come sit at the oversized bar and sample any number of the smaller plates on this happening Italian eatery's menu. The pastas are delicate and delicious, and the pizzas are thin, charred, and chewy. For a view of the kitchen, request a seat facing the wood-fire oven and watch the pizzaiolas (pizza guys) slide fresh pies in and out of the oven.

For top-notch seafood, head to this restaurant in a dazzlingly refurbished warehouse space. You can slurp raw oysters on the half shell from the oyster bar or dive into the seafood gumbo, which has dark, complex gravy and is full of meaty hunks of crab. The restaurant has a lively atmosphere (there's a putting green out front) and can get a bit noisy in the middle of dinner.

ATLiens (both meat eating and vegan) were delighted when this popular food truck expanded to a brick-and-mortar Westview location in 2019. The mission behind its coquettish name is to prove that plant eaters can still indulge in good, rich food, and, with a menu of charbroiled Impossible Burgers loaded with special sauce, vegan cheese, sweet plantains and more, Slutty Vegan achieves just that. Lines out the door at this fun and lively place mean long waits and a fairly limited menu, but the food is worth it.

For an adventurous take on Italian cuisine, visit this former commercial space that hops with young, hip patrons dining on seafood risotto, spaghetti with sun-dried mullet roe, and utterly perfect panna cotta (custard).

Vegan comfort food and plant-based barbecue dishes are served up in a no-frills diner setting, with mac and cheese (made with soy cheese), cauliflower and tofu steaks, and kalebone (a wheat-gluten protein) topping the menu. The original location (on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard) serves similar fare but buffet-style, with more limited daily choices.

The culinary traditions of South Carolina inspire the dishes served at this cheerful restaurant. This is the place in the city to try out Southern staples like fried green tomatoes, she-crab soup, and buttermilk fried chicken. In the heart of the Crescent Avenue entertainment district, the spare, art-filled restaurant attracts a hip crowd.