How To Spend 48 Hours Eating Your Way Through Atlanta

We may be biased, but we think Atlanta is the perfect weekend travel destination, especially for food lovers! Here’s a great Atlanta weekend itinerary for you to spend the most epic foodie-centric 48 hours in ATL! 

Friday

6:00 pm Enjoy dinner in Downtown or Buckhead and drinks afterwards

Chances are, if you’ve booked a hotel you’re staying somewhere in Downtown Atlanta or Buckhead. And both parts of town have plenty of dining destinations that will make for a fantastic first meal in the city. If in the Downtown area, it’s a great idea to try and grab dinner at the historic Busy Bee Cafe, though they close at 7:00pm so it’s best to arrive early. Make Chairs in Hapeville your next stop for dive bar goodness. If you’re in Buckhead, you should go all out with a swanky first night in at Chai Yo Modern Thai, Bones, Bistro Niko, or Umi. End your evening with cocktails at the Garden Room, Willow Bar, or the Blind Pig Parlour Bar. 

Saturday 

10:00am Get some Southern food for brunch

Pick one for brunch! In Buckhead? Buttermilk Kitchen has a great fried chicken biscuit. In the Downtown area? Breakfast at Barney’s is a hot, new, swanky brunch spot, and HomeGrown, just a stone’s throw away, has a comfy chicken biscuit that is totally iconic. Planning to head to the Beltline area later that day? Try out Folk Art for all around Southern goodness. 

2:00pm Go for a walk and grab a drink on the Beltline

A walk, bikeride, or skate session down the Atlanta Beltline is the perfect way to burn some of those calories you just ingested. New Realm has some kickin’ food as well as brews, Orpheus is the best place for sour beers and a great starting point for Beltline fun, Hawker’s has a great patio and open-air bar with super creative cocktails and pan-Asian cuisine, and Ladybird has the most fun campfire vibes.

6:00pm Dinner on a patio on the Beltline

After an afternoon of Beltline fun, you’ll need to fuel up with dinner. A mano is a great neighborhood Italian spot just a stone’s throw away. Alternatively, Beetlecat is excellent for seafood and Barcelona is a must for tapas. And they all have excellent patios! If you’re with a choosy group or want to do something a bit more casual, you can head to Ponce City Market or Krog Street Market food halls for tons of great options. 

9:00pm Well drinks and wings at the Local

After a pretty busy day, a semi low-key night at the Local on Ponce de Leon Avenue can be a good way to end the night. It’s a great, neighborhood-y dive bar. They also boast some of the best wings in town. Depending on how you’re feeling afterwards, you can head on home or for a nightcap at the swanky Hotel Clermont rooftop–or turn all the way up at underground club MJQ or the historic strip club the Clermont Lounge. 

Sunday

11:00am Get some soul food for brunch at Roc South

You’ll need to soak up the alcohol from last night’s debauchery with some more brunch. Roc South is a new, Black-owned spot on Buford Highway with all the soul food goodies. The fried chicken is a must, and the mac and cheese is unreal. You’ll love the sexy interiors with velvet touches and great throwback R&B tunes to accompany your mimosas. 

2:00pm Pick up some food to go from Buford Highway’s hidden gems

You’re going to have to try to find some room after brunch for a Buford Highway crawl. While it may not look like much, Buford Highway is a famous stretch of highway in Atlanta that has all the best hole-in-the-wall, mom and pop shops featuring cuisine from all over the world. If you drove into the city from somewhere else, it may even be a good opportunity to pick up some food for the upcoming week. Get a half-chicken from Pollos Asados Auténtico Sinaloense, some churros and pupusas from Churreria Panaderia & Pasteleria, and some banh mis from Lee’s Bakery to go. 

3:00pm Explore global cuisine at Buford Highway Farmer’s Market

A trip to Buford Highway should also include Buford Highway Farmer’s Market, a truly incredible global grocery store featuring fresh seafood, fruits and veggies from all over the world, and Latin American, Middle Eastern, Japanese, Thai, Indian, and Eastern European cuisine. 

6:00pm Go for a show at Lips Atlanta

It’s a great idea to end your trip on high note with a show at Lips Atlanta, also on Buford Highway. If you’re doing a Bachelorette party in Atlanta, it’s pretty much a obligatory to watch a show at Lips Atlanta. The food is very much not the draw here, but hopefully you’re pretty stuffed by now after brunch and Buford Highway exploration. The drag queens are total athletes, and it’s an unforgettable way to end a weekend in ATL!