Live Like a Local

Recommendations from Atlanta Locals (or former Locals) on where to eat, what to see and what to do while you are visiting.

Getting Around:

Someone who knows Atlanta will not usually think of downtown - where the conference hotel is located - when they think of good places to eat, or locations to visit. You're better off going elsewhere, and that probably means using MARTA, the Atlanta subway system. Happily, the neighborhoods with some of the best, walkable options are within 15 minutes of downtown by MARTA. The two MARTA-accessible areas to focus on are Decatur and Midtown. The nearest MARTA stop to the hotel is Peachtree Center. A few stops north and you'll be in Midtown. If you go one stop South (Five Points station) you'll be able to switch to a train running eastward to Decatur, 6 stops away.

If you're really committed to seeing the best Atlanta has to offer, however, it's probably fair to say that a step up in the transportation budget is called for. A $15-$20 cab ride can get you out to NW Atlanta, which has become a haven for foodies and mixologists in recent years, as well as a preferred spot for boutique shops, galleries, etc. A similar distance north on Peachtree will also bring you to some of Atlanta's best restaurants and museums. Instead of a cab, you might also make friends with a local (see below) and bribe their transportation services with a dinner date.

Atlanta's downtown and midtown districts have good Zipcar coverage, if you have a membership (or are willing to start one).

Downtown

How to get here: if you're at the conference hotel, you're already there!

Bars:

Very close to the hotel is Meehan's which is an Irish pub.

Taco Mac is a sports bar with just okay food, but more importantly...over 100 beers on tap and in the bottle.  They have several locations throughout the metro area, but this is the one downtown: Philips Arena, 100 Techwood Drive and the one in Midtown (2 MARTA stops away to Midtown stop): 933 Peachtree St NE.

American (New):

Lunacy Black Market is about .3 miles from the Five Points Marta station, I haven't been yet but it's been highly recommended. It doesn't look like they can accommodate large groups though.

Tourist Attractions:

The world's largest aquarium with more than 8.5-million-US-gallon (32,000 m³) of marine and fresh water housing more than 120,000 animals of 500 different species including four young whale sharks, four beluga whales, eleven Bottlenose dolphins, three Great hammerhead sharks, and four manta rays. Is about a half mile walk from the Dome-GWCC-Philips Arena-CNN Marta station.

Across from the aquarium is the World of Coca-Cola which at times feels like a giant advertisement, but is packed with pop-cultural artifacts ranging from the original equipment used to invent Coca-Cola, to letters from American soldiers, to paintings by Andy Worhol and Norman Rockwell. You can walk through a fully functional bottling plant and taste Coca-Cola products from all over the world in the tasting room.

Decatur

How to get here: from the Five Points MARTA stop, take an eastbound train to Decatur, which is six stops away. 

Bars:

"My personal favorite though is Brick Store Pub, it's right next to the Decatur Marta train station and has a tremendous selection of Belgian beers. Their food is good too, but The Iberian Pig is also right across the Decatur Square for excellent Spanish tapas (they also have a nice bar)" (Stuart Freeman)

Midtown

How to get here: take a northbound train just a couple stops to 'North Avenue' or 'Midtown'

Restaurants:

Empire State South is a little tricky to find, but well worth it.  It's a casual environment with authentic southern dishes, creative cocktails, and a bocce ball court out back.

Local Three focuses on fresh ingredients and supporting local farmers and businesses.  They change their menu seasonally and the flavor combinations melt together in your mouth.

The Varsity is an Atlantan institution and credits itself as the world's largest drive-in. The Midtown location is on more than two acres and can accommodate 600 cars and over 800 people inside. The food is your standard 1950's hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries and fried pies.  Maybe worth seeing from the outside, but buyer beware: you must have a tough stomach to handle this food!  It's located just West of the North Avenue Station. 

Bars:

Publik is a tiny spot just east of the North Avenue MARTA stop on Peachtree.  Wonderful selection of brews and unique cocktails, just don't go before or after a show at the Fox Theatre because it will be packed.

Virginia Highlands

How to get here: $20 cab ride from downtown, or a $10 cab ride from Midtown.  You can also take a bus directly there from $2.50, #16, Noble-Executive Park.  Please see MARTA for more details.

Details: One of Atlanta's most popular neighborhoods for shopping, dining and nightlife.  The Highlands, as it is more commonly referred to, is a pretty casual neighborhood with a plethora of dining options to choose from, some of my favorites are outlined below.  There are also local boutique shops in between the restaurants.

Restaurants:

Atkin's Park Tavern - Atlanta's Oldest Restaurant and Bar.  Great, simple food; very local spot for drinks, but a bit smokey when it's packed.

Blind Willie's - Blue's Club.  If you like listening to the blues, this is the spot for you.  Small admission fee and a live band.

DBA BBQ - BBQ restaurant with a southern flair.  This is less than .5 mile from the intersection of Virginia and Highland.  Get the creamed corn!!

Fontaine's Oyster House -Love their baked oysters and lobster bisque

George's Bar - Voted Atlanta's best burgers

Goin' Costal - Seafood and fish flown in daily; dinner menu set on what is fresh for the day.

Highland Tap - Steakhouse.  Martinis are served in your own

La Tavola Trattoria - Fine dining Italian

Murphy's - New American Bistro and Wine Bar

Noche - Spanish Tapas

Surin of Thailand - Voted best Thai food in Atlanta

Other Neighborhoods

Bars:

"A bit farther away from the hotel (~2.5 mi) reachable by bus or a slight hike (~1 mi) from the Marta train is Manuel's Tavern, which is more traditional American, and something of an Atlanta institution." (Stuart Freeman)

BBQ:

"Fox Brothers BBQ is the place to go, it's about .3 miles from the nearest Marta station (Inman Park) though, and not the nicest part of town, so I'd recommend finding a ride if possible." (Stuart Freeman)

Restaurants: Rosebud is a neighborhood restaurant located in Morningside, just outside of Virginia-Highlands, features a menu of local and regional ingredients with a twist on southern dining. 

Baseball:

The Braves have the following home games scheduled during the conference and pre/post session days:

• 6/10 vs. Blue Jays
• 6/11 vs. Yankees
• 6/12 vs. Yankees
• 6/13 vs. Yankees
• 6/15 vs. Orioles
• 6/16 vs. Orioles

There's a free shuttle service from Marta to get to and from the stadium. "The Braves Shuttle will depart from the Underground Atlanta/Steve Polk Plaza beginning 90 minutes before each game and will run every 15 minutes throughout the game until one hour after the final out. The shuttle will return to the Underground Atlanta/Steve Polk Plaza up to the seventh inning.  After the seventh inning, the shuttle will return riders to the Forsyth St. entrance of the Five Points MARTA Station.  The shuttle is free when you transfer from any MARTA Bus or rail station with a valid Breeze Card."

Locals

Stuart "Stu" Freeman, Georgia Tech

• Atlanta Local Since: 1982
• My Favorite Atlanta Neighborhood: NW Atlanta (Underwood Hills, Blandtown, Howell Station)