Explore Your Favorite Neighborhood in Atlanta
Georgia’s capital city offers a wealth of activities, from world-class arts and major-league sports to top-notch shopping and inventive dining. Even with all the big-city amenities, the state’s largest metropolis also manages to exude down-to-earth charm, thanks in large part to its many neighborhoods.
Where to Eat in Atlanta
Immerse yourself in Atlanta’s international dining scene along Buford Highway: Try Vietnamese pho at Lee’s Bakery, Szechuan dumplings at Gu’s Kitchen and Mexican seafood at Mariscos El Veneno. Make dinner plans at chef Deborah VanTrece’s Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours, a consistent standout in Atlanta’s robust foodie scene for its soul-food-fusion-inspired flavors. Try the blackened chicken wings with Cajun butter sauce, fried green tomatoes served with truffle-burrata cheese, and bourbon-peach cobbler to satisfy your cravings for comfort food.
MICHELIN Star Restaurants in Georgia
The MICHELIN Guide Atlanta gives food enthusiasts a lot more to explore in Georgia’s capital city. In 2023, its inaugural year, five restaurants were awarded a coveted MICHELIN One Star (high-quality cooking that’s worth a stop), two earned MICHELIN Green Stars (for restaurants leading the industry in sustainability efforts), 10 received a Bib Gourmand rating (exceptional quality food for moderate prices), and 30 were named Recommended eateries (above-average food made with high-quality ingredients).
Where to Stay in Atlanta
Rest up at the new Kimpton Shane Hotel, a fresh take on all things boutique and chic in vibrant Midtown, or The Candler Hotel Atlanta, an art deco wonder built in 1906 by Coca-Cola founder Asa Candler.
Things to Do in Atlanta
A stroll or bike ride on the Atlanta Beltline, a 22-mile redeveloped path of former rail tracks circling intown Atlanta, will take you through some of the most storied communities. Explore Old Fourth Ward, home to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. Don’t miss Ponce City Market, either, for hip shopping and towering views of Buckhead, Midtown, and downtown all from the rooftop Skyline Park. Then, experience world-class downtown attractions like the World of Coca-Cola, where you can sip beverages from around the world, guess the ingredients by their scents, and see the hypnotic bottling process.
Experience for yourself what it was like to participate in a lunch-counter sit-in – where demonstrators sat at segregated lunch counters – via a thought-provoking simulation at The National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Note: the center will be closed from January 2025 through August 2025 for expansion construction. Or explore Atlantic Station’s Museum of Illusions for its many magical thrills. You’ll learn about all the ways your brain and vision receptors can play tricks on you via so-called illusion rooms that’ll tilt you, send you into a cosmic vortex, or make you wonder if what’s up is down.
Did you enjoy this feature from the 2025 Georgia Official State Travel Guide? Order your copy for more Georgia travel inspiration!
