The sultry South will play host to this year’s Jasig-Sakai Conference in Atlanta, GA. But don’t come expecting antebellum columns and Spanish moss — Atlanta is a booming international city with a little something for everyone. From one of the busiest airports in the world to the dazzling city skyline, Atlanta has a truly cosmopolitan feel. Sessions will be held in the Westin Peachtree Plaza. The hotel is right in the thick of downtown and is within walking distance of many local attractions.

Atlanta offers something for every visitor. Metropolitan museums highlight the arts, the US Civil War period, Atlanta and Georgia history, science and technology, and African-American history. Some of Atlanta’s well-known tourist destinations include the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, the CNN Studio Tours, World of Coke, and the High Museum of Art.

Atlanta is an exciting destination with world-class restaurants, a festive nightlife, and an abundance of cultural attractions. Atlanta has developed into the entertainment and cultural center of the South with more than thirty-eight million visitors from around the world each year. It is with great pleasure that Sakai and Jasig welcome you to the city and we sincerely hope that you enjoy your visit.

Please Note: Restaurants in downtown Atlanta are unfortunately known for closing with little notice, often due to current economic issues compounded with the cost of operating in the downtown district. While this list is believed to be accurate, it is always best to call ahead to a restaurant to make sure that they are still in business and to confirm their current operating hours.

EATING (Close to the Hotel)

Price Guide (for average entrée):
$ = up to $10
$$ = $11–20
$$$ = $21–30
$$$$ = $31 and over

Agatha's — A Taste of Mystery
161 Peachtree Center Avenue
404-584-2255
Agatha’s presents original mystery comedy with audience participation six nights a week, served with a five-course dinner with wine and murder. $$$$

Atlanta Grill
Ritz-Carlton Hotel
181 Peachtree Street NE
404-221-6550
Southern-inspired cuisine in a club-like, warm atmosphere. Seasonal seating is available on the veranda overlooking famous Peachtree Street. $$$$
Azio Downtown
Peachtree Center Mall
229 Peachtree Street
404-222-0808
Azio offers a contemporary interpretation of traditional Italian cuisine in a refined yet casual setting. Offering a stunning ambience, a vast selection of Italian fare, and a reputation for great service. $$
BajaFresh Mexican Grill
250 Park Avenue West
404-681-2252
Baja Fresh serves bold, fresh Mexican flavors for lunch or dinner. All entrees are made with never frozen, all natural, hormone free, fire-grilled, chicken, steak, and slow-roasted pork carnitas. Don’t forget the handmade guacamole and salsa bar hosting six salsas made fresh all day, everyday. $
Benihanna
Peachtree Center Mall
229 Peachtree Street
404-522-9629
Japanese steakhouse and hibachi grill

BLT Steak - Bistro Laurent Tourondel
W Hotel Atlanta Downtown
45 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard
404-577-7601
BLT Steak’s design integrates select traditional elements of the French “Bistro” and an American “Steakhouse.” $$$

Collage
Sheraton Atlanta Hotel
165 Courtland St at International Boulevard
404-659-6500
Casual dining. Weekday buffet with a trendy Southern twist. $$$

Cafe Intermezzo
141 Carnegie Way Atlanta, GA 30303
404-844-5577
Café Intermezzo presents over 100 different tortes, tarts, cakes, pies and cheesecakes; scores of coffee beverages and other non-alcohol beverages; many hundreds of beverages with alcohol; and complete, international lunch and dinner menus with a plethora of offerings.

Corner Bakery Cafe
270 Peachtree Street
404-215-9000
Corner Bakery offers mouth-watering sandwiches, hearty soups, crisp salads, and decadent sweets. $

Dantanna’s
One CNN Center
404-522-8873
Aged steaks and fresh seafood in a comfortable and energized upscale environment. $$$

Durango Oak Fire Steakhouse
230 Peachtree Street NW
404-222-0103
Steaks, chicken, ribs, and seafood are grilled on a real oak wood fired grill to quickly sear in the natural juices and flavor. $$

Fire of Brazil
216 Peachtree St
404-525-5255
Brazilian steak house $$$
Gladys Knight and Ron Winans’ Chicken and Waffles
529 Peachtree Street NE
404-874-9393
Calling to mind 1930s-era Harlem, celebrities visiting Wells restaurant in the early morning hours couldn't decide if they wanted dinner or breakfast. The strange but delicious combination of juicy fried chicken with syrupy waffles was born. Open until 4 a.m. on weekends, the musically-themed restaurant serves traditional soul food.
Hard Rock Cafe
215 Peachtree St - Peachtree Center Mall
404-688-7625
Hamburgers and more $$-$$$

Hsu’s Gourmet Chinese Restaurant
Peachtree Center Mall
192 Peachtree Center Avenue
404-659-2788
Hong Kong-style New Cantonese cuisine. Specializing in seafood and Peking Duck in two courses. $$

Legal Sea Foods
275 Baker Street NW - In the Hilton Garden Inn
678-500-3700
The signature dish at Legal Sea Foods – really fresh fish. Make waves in the Oyster Bar or enjoy classic New England fare in the upstairs restaurant overlooking Centennial Olympic Park. Their 19 signature cocktails, 28 wines by the glass and countless varieties of fresh seafood will get you hooked. “If it isn’t fresh, it isn’t Legal.” $$

Luckie Food Lounge
375 Luckie Street
404-525-5825
A modern day American eatery serving food from the evening into the night with outdoor dining, an exotic sushi bar, and an audio-visual experience not to be missed. $$$
Mary Mac's Tea Room
224 Ponce de Leon Ave
404-876-1800
A tradition in southern cuisine and hospitality since 1945. $-$$
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant
190 Marietta Street
404-521-1236
Upscale fine dining with fresh catch. $$$$

Mellow Mushroom Pizza
400 West Peachtree Street
404-577-1001
Mellow Mushroom is the place for pizza, sandwiches, salads, and calzones. A national chain originally founded in '74 by three college students in downtown Atlanta. $
Metro Cafe Diner
Peachtree Center Mall
229 Peachtree St
404-577-1420
24 hour diner with a book size menu, right across the street from the Westin hotel $-$$
Nikolai's Roof
Hilton Atlanta Hotel
255 Courtland St
404-221-6362
Fine dining atop the Hilton Atlanta hotel tower $$$$

Pittypat’s Porch Restaurant
25 Andrew Young International Boulevard NW
404-525-8228
Pittypat’s Porch, downtown Atlanta’s oldest restaurant, has delighted guests for over 40 years with it’s “old southern charm and new southern flavors!” The one-of-a-kind atmosphere, southern hospitality, and homemade southern cuisine make Pittypat’s an ideal dining location. $$

Prime Meridian Restaurant
Omni Hotel
100 CNN Center
404-818-4450
The Prime Meridian Restaurant is a unique dining space that overlooks Centennial Olympic Park and the Fountain of Rings. Enjoy international cuisine in an open kitchen atmosphere. $$

Ray’s in the City
240 Peachtree Street NW
404-524-9224
Ray’s in the City is the best casual dining seafood house offering great price value while delivering the highest level of hospitality in the industry. $$$

Rise Sushi
300 Marietta Street
404-477-0947
Atlanta’s own Master Sushi Chef Tony Wang prepares the freshest sushi, Asian tapas, and offers an array of sakes and soju. $$
Shakespeare Tavern
499 Peachtree Street NE
404-874-9219
The New American Shakespeare Tavern is unlike other theaters. It is a place out of time — a place of live music, hand-crafted period costumes, outrageous sword fights with the entire experience centered on the passion and poetry of the spoken word. With an authentic British pub menu and a broad selection of Irish ales and premium brews, the Shakespeare Tavern is a place to eat, drink, and nourish the soul.

STATS
300 Marietta Street
404-885-1472
STATS offers food America loves to eat. Seasonal ingredients with unique favors that will have you rethinking typical bar food. $$
Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar, and View
Westin Peachtree Plaza
210 Peachtree St., NW
404-589-7506
Voted Atlanta’s Best “Best View of Atlanta,” this restaurant features a thrilling scenic elevator ride, panoramic views of the city, self-guided walking tours, and telescopes to bring distant sights closer. $$$
Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint
200 Peachtree Street
404-230-5853
Live entertainment and great southern cuisine including fried chicken, e'toufee, shrimp & grits, peach glazed salmon, BBQ ribs and more. $$-$$$
Ted’s Montana Grill
133 Luckie Street
404-521-9796
Ted’s Montana Grill features comfort food for the twenty-first century, including bison, beef, fish, and “brick chicken,” in a Craftsman-style bar-and-grill setting. $$
Terrace
The Ellis Hotel
176 Peachtree Street
678-651-2770
Overlooking Peachtree Street and located in the Ellis Hotel, Terrace provides the perfect ambiance for cocktails in lively downtown Atlanta. After downtown sightseeing, savor the Terrace, featuring upscale Southern specialties with a twist, such as Fried Green and Red Tomato Stacks and Southern Style Corn Cakes. $$$
Thrive Restaurant
101 Marietta Street
404-389-1000
Thrive combines the elements of delicious food and extensive drink choices with a luxury, upscale setting. Located in Centennial Tower, this restaurant is a unique blend of sleek, contemporary style designed by renowned architect Bill Johnson of The Johnson Studio. $$$
Truva
60 Andrew Young International Boulevard
404-577-8788
Upscale Mediterranean restaurant in the heart of downtown Atlanta. Lamb, chicken, and beef kebabs will appeal to your senses. $$$

EATING (At the Airport)

One Flew South
ATL Terminal E
Upscale Asian fusion, worth getting to the airport early for, or staying after your inbound flight arrives. $$$$

DRINKING

Fandangle’s Restaurant and Martini Bar
Sheraton Atlanta Hotel
165 Courtland St at International Boulevard
404-659-6500
An Atlanta hotspot featuring innovative American cuisine in eclectic surroundings, including a sleek underlit bar serving Fandangle’s specialty — eight Georgia themed martinis as well as wine, beer, and cocktails.
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
848 Peachtree Street NE
404-870-0805
The Gordon Biersch heritage of superior beer, great food, and good times are now served up in the heart of Midtown Atlanta on Peachtree near the Fox Theater. Hand crafted and brewed to perfection, Gordon Biersch goes to great lengths in serving each guest the freshest beer possible. This commitment to serving nothing but the finest and freshest has led to numerous awards.
Max Lager’s American Grill and Brewery
320 Peachtree Street NE
404-525-4400
Wood-fired makes the difference! Come taste the flavors of downtown Atlanta’s oldest independent brewery restaurant. Wood-fired steaks, seafood, burgers, ribs, and pizza are complemented by signature salads and desserts, hand-crafted cocktails, and beers.
Meehan's Public House
180 Peachtree Street
(404) 214-9821
Those in search of a true Irish pub in the heart of Atlanta, we invite you to join us at Meehan’s Public House. Meehan’s is an authentic Irish eatery that offers a full menu of classic Irish dishes elevated to the gourmet level.
Royal Peacock
186 1/2 Auburn Avenue
404-523-0570
Located in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn historic district, the Royal Peacock Club was once one of the city’s premier African-American music venues early in the twentieth century. Originally named The Top Hat Club, the Royal Peacock Club officially opened its doors in 1938, hosting both local talent and national acts. Today, the club features both live or recorded popular music in a come as you are low-key atmosphere.
Trader Vic’s Mai Tai Bar
Hilton Atlanta Hotel
255 Courtland Street, NE
404-221-6339
You will get a feel of the Pacific islands with this bar’s exotic interior, Polynesian cuisine, and potent tropical cocktails. Famous for its mai tai, Chinese wood-fire oven cooking, and prix fixe luau dinners.

SINGING (KARAOKE)

Metro Cafe Diner
229 Peachtree St. Suite B-17 Atlanta, GA 30303
404-577-1420
Karaoke every night at 8:30
10 High Club
816 N. Highland Ave.
404-873-3607
Monday nights feature the well-known Metal-some Monday live band karaoke, where everyone is given the opportunity to hop on stage and re-incarnate the big hair days. Parking may be hard to find, especially on weekends. However, there is a free lot directly behind the venue at the corner of North Highland Avenue and Greenwood Avenue.

MAIN NAVIGATION

TRAVEL, FOOD AND FUN