Downtown - Eat, Drink and Sing

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.