My *quick* Atlanta Guide for Visiting Buckeye Fans for the National Championship

(Quick disclaimer, I’m a 25 year old hipster grad student who lives in a Midtown highrise and likes nightlife, so my definition of “fun” may be different than others!)

Hotels:

Mercedes Benz Stadium is in Downtown, situated between two historic neighborhoods in Castleberry Hill and Vine City. Tourists have no reason to hang out in Vine City (you shouldn’t really anyways) but Castleberry Hill has a couple hotels that are basically across the street from the stadium. Castleberry Hill is def a bit grungy, so for most tourists that want to be immediately walking distance to the stadium, id suggest the hotels around Centennial Olympic park (Omni (where the players stayed last time if I’m remembering correctly), Margaritaville, Hyatt, Embassy Suites, Hilton). They just built a flagship Signia Hilton hotel on the stadium’s campus. Super nice.

The denser part of Downtown has the biggest hotels in the city (Westin, Marriott Marquis,  (where they held much of the peach bowl festivities) Ritz Carlton, W Hotel). It an okay area, but Id avoid the GSU area. Not much to do and a lot of blight, although it is considerably better than it was a few years ago.

If you don’t mind being outside walking distance, a lot of the nicer hotels are in Midtown (the city’s true urban center, a lot to do, safer, cleaner, nice restaurants, very walkable and transit friendly, etc), and Buckhead (the city’s ritzier area). Some of the better known hotels in Midtown are: Lowes, Epicurean, The Starling, 4 seasons, and Candler. Buckhead will have all the common chain hotels, both budget friendly and 5 star. Often considered the best hotel in the city (St regis) is in buckhead (they have a stunning restaurant called the garden room too). Visiting NFL teams stay in the JW Marriott also in Buckhead.

*If you are in Midtown, id suggest checking out Georgia Tech’s campus. Its a nicely situated and compact campus that feels almost in the middle of the suburbs, despite being in the densest neighborhood in the city.

Breweries:

In typical hipster fashion, I always love visiting local breweries whenever I travel. I have gone to many OSU bowl games lately, and I always go out of my way to visit that city’s favorite craft beer producer.

Monday Night Brewing (either their normal location or their Garage location)

SweetWater (probably the only brewery in the City that has national recognition, known for their cannabis influenced IPAs. Its the big dog in town)

Atlantucky Brewing (across the street from the Stadium, owned by founders of Nappy Roots, so a cool pitstop if you are a hip hop fan)

Halfway Crooks

Inner Voice

New Realm (okay a quick conversation about NR, the beer is fine. You go here for the location, atmosphere, and the food). Really cool building with a rooftop 2nd bar and a bunch of outdoor space, right across from Ponce City Market (more about that later).

Three Taverns

Wild Heaven

Wild Leap (also walking distance to the stadium)

Also, this doesn’t really count, but Creature Comforts in Athens, just outside of UGA’s north campus, is widely considered the best brewery in the state.

Food halls:

Not sure if this is a common thing everywhere, but Atlanta is obsessed with food halls right now. Highly developed and financially backed as well as smaller ones.

GO TO PONCE CITY MARKET. The original redevelopment food hall in the city, a redeveloped former Sears factory with restaurants, shops, bars, rooftop carnival, speakeasy, etc etc.

Also GO TO KROG STREET MARKET. Smaller, but great restaurants. Both are along the belt line, so direct walking ability between the two (you’ll pass new realm brewing).

Colony Square: right in midtown, next to many of the hotels mentioned. Bunch of good restaurants with a 70s themed speakeasy style bar called JoJos.

The Works, Lee+White, Southern Feed Store, are all good too.

What is the beltline?

By most counts, it is the biggest urban development project in the country. In simple terms, think of a massive paved urban walking trail, a continuous one that loops around the entire city. It connects different neighborhoods and has well developed restaurants, street art, musicians, homes, stores, etc along the side. Basically, you can just get on the belt line and just keep walking to many places you need to go.

Restaurants:

Steakhouses: Marcel, Kevin Rathbun (on the belt line, next to Krog), Chops, Bones, Hals.

Pizza: Antico, I don’t go anywhere else. Neopolitan style, always on the best in America list. Go to the Georgia Tech location.

Wings (atl staple): JR Crickets, Heirloom Market, American Deli, Magic City (and basically every other strip club in town has amazing lemon pepper wings), Clay’s, The Local, and The Bando.

Seafood: The Optimist, Bon Ton, Lure, Atlanta Fish Market (best, in Buckhead).

Soul Food (obviously, very few places do it better than here): Delilah’s (in the Works), Busy Bee Cafe ( civil rights era history, won a James beard award and a Michelin bib), K&K.

Misc:

Rumi’s Kitchen (my favorite restaurant in the city)

Cafe Intermezzo (French style cafe, very nice n romantic)

Kura (authentic revolving sushi)

Aria (very high end bistro)

Gaja (secretive, hip Korean spot. Requires a password to get in. Ill find out what it is now)

Canoe (by the river)

Zyka, Botiwalla (in ponce) (indian)

Quick places to visit with family in town:

College football hall of fame. Self explanatory. Attached to Omni Hotel, walkable to the stadium.

Martin Luther King Historic center. Also self explanatory.

USA’s biggest aquarium.

High Museum of Art

Piedmont park

Porsche center (the HQ is here, really cool place)

Botanical Garden

Beltline

Nightlife:

Magic City (if you like rap, must see)

Hotel Clermont (basement is a strip club, rooftop is an elegant bar)

El Malo (swanky bar)

Johnny’s Hideaway (older crowd)

Havana (latin)

Ormsbys (college style bar with a cave full of arcade games)

Argosy

The Porter (the most beer on tap in the south)

This is particular to me, but maybe a few others in here may be interested in this stuff:

Vintage clothing, streetwear, record stores, and sneaker shops to check out:

A Ma Maniere, Full Circle Atl, Wish Atl, The Clothing Warehouse, Criminal Records, Good Times Atl, Ragorama)

I also like to get an American trad tattoo whenever I visit somewhere (I have roughly 200 tattoos) so here are my two favorite shops: Big Cat and Black Cat.

This is a homecoming for so many of our guys too: Caleb Downs, Jelani Thurman, Kayden Mcdonald, Eddrick Houston, Jordan Hancock, Kojo Antwi, Seth McLaughlin, Bennett Christian).

I have a lot more to say, but once again, a *quick* breakdown. I love this city and I hope y’all can enjoy it too. Go bucks. fuck Notre Dame.