Iconic and Famous
Tried-and-true dining experiences
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Atlanta’s dining scene never stands still. New chefs arrive, new concepts open and new flavors take center stage. But some restaurants don’t just trend — they endure.
They’ve weathered economic shifts, neighborhood transformations and changing dining trends — and are still setting tables night after night. These iconic Atlanta restaurants are more than beloved eateries; they are cultural landmarks. They hold the stories of celebrations, civil rights leaders, business deals and Sunday suppers.
To understand Atlanta’s food scene today, you have to know the restaurants that built it.
Meet the Experts
Chris Watkins is an Atlanta-based content creator with a deep love and connection to the Atlanta dining and nightlife scene. In his past life, he was the Atlanta editor for Thrillist, with bylines in Jezebel Magazine, Men’s Book Atlanta, and Where Atlanta Magazine. He currently operates Watkins Branding, a digital marketing and social media agency with a focus on the restaurant and hospitality industry.
Mary Welch is an award-winning writer who has reported on the maturity of Atlanta’s culinary and hospitality scene as well as its growth into a sophisticated international city. Her byline has been seen in local and national outlets such as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Travelgirl, Global Atlanta and American Lawyer, covering topics such as travel, business, cars, law, hospitality and education. She co-authored a book with Chuck Leavell, the Rolling Stones’ keyboardist and a Georgia tree farmer, on the future of the American forest.
HISTORIC ATLANTA INSTITUTIONS
Mary Mac’s Tea Room
Often called “Atlanta’s Dining Room,” Mary Mac’s Tea Room has delivered down-home faves like fried green tomatoes, fried chicken and copious amounts of sweet tea (never order unsweet here; it’s blasphemy) since opening its doors in 1945. Yes, for 75 years, it’s been a legend in Atlanta’s culinary story, and if you ask anyone where to go for a healthy dose of proper Southern cooking, this Ponce de Leon icon will be at the top of the list.
Where: Midtown
The Colonnade
From the outside, The Colonnade may not be much to look at with its vintage wood paneling and retirement community vibes, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts. And inside the Atlanta institution that’s been around since 1927 is a lively and loyal crowd of regulars that live by Cheshire Bridge Road restaurant’s penchant for stellar fried chicken and comforting nightly specials.
Where: Buckhead
The Busy Bee Cafe
Sure, the Busy Bee Cafe has been around since 1947 and has some of the best fried chicken in the area. Its daily meat-and-three plates and Southern specialties are favorites of locals and notables such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Oprah Winfrey. It has now become internationally recognized by the MICHELIN Guide and, as the James Beard Foundation named it, an American Classic that has “timeless appeal and showcases regional dishes.”
Where: Vine City
Paschal’s
With a storied history going back to 1947, Paschal’s has cemented a legacy in Castleberry Hill as one of Atlanta’s foremost destinations for fall-out-of-your-seat fried chicken — it’s that good. After you pick yourself up off the floor and calm your nerves with their award-winning peach cobbler, immerse yourself in the restaurant’s civil rights heritage, where it served as the central meeting place for the likes of Martin Luther King Jr., Andrew Young, Maynard Jackson and more leaders of the movement.
Where: Downtown
LEGENDARY STEAKHOUSES
Bones
Bones, a classic Buckhead Atlanta restaurant since 1979, is known for its legendary steak, seafood and service. From romantic dinners to business lunches and everything in between, patrons will enjoy a true fine dining experience at Bones. The restaurant is frequently found on various lists of best steak houses in the country. Bones is open for dinner; check the website for the dress code.
Where: Buckhead
Chop’s Lobster Bar
You can’t talk about iconic dining in Atlanta without several Buckhead Life Restaurant Group’s concepts coming into the conversation. Just take Chops Lobster Bar, the quintessential steakhouse, driving the ATL’s ultimate fine dining experience for over 30 years. We’re talking the finest cuts of USDA prime steaks, A5 wagyu and all the fixings you’d expect from a Buckhead icon that continues to garner awards to this day. Whether it’s celebrating a birthday, business deal, or you want to be pampered with pristine service, you’ve gotta add Chops to your must-try list.
Where: Buckhead
Atlanta Fish Market
Giant fish outside, big seafood flavors inside — that’s Atlanta Fish Market. As another gem from the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, this sea-faring icon in one of Atlanta’s most upscale neighborhoods has delivered on showcasing the freshest seafood and unadulterated service since it opened in 1993. Featuring Atlanta’s largest selection of wild-caught fish, don’t miss out on the feast of broiled or fried seafood platters adorned with lump crab cakes, jumbo shrimp, scallops and more.
Where: Buckhead
Kevin Rathbun Steak
There are steakhouses, and then there are steakhouses. The latter is the incomparable fine dining experience you’ll receive at Kevin Rathbun Steak. Chef Kevin Rathbun’s celebrated ode to all things steak in Inman Park is one of the top steakhouses in the United States. Sizzling sides and sauces play well with impactful appetizers, but you’re here for the steak — and Rathbun’s savory selections of USDA dry-aged cuts are the thing dreams are made of. This ATL icon sits right on the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside trail.
Where: Inman Park
NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED FINE DINING
Aria
Aria is nothing short of essential fine dining in Atlanta, with contemporary updates on classics and immaculate service. It’s a place where memorable meals happen, and culinary passion is front and center in thoughtful, meticulously-crafted dishes that read more like works of art than simple appetizers and entrees. And in the more than 25 years Aria has called Buckhead home, the James Beard Award “Outstanding Service” finalist has painted the picture of what bespoke dining in ATL is all about.
Where: Buckhead
Bacchanalia
Bacchanalia has a well-earned reputation as one of the city’s most celebrated restaurants — and for good reason. Opened in 1993, it features contemporary American cuisine from owners/chefs Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison, with many organic ingredients sourced from their farm. The four-course, prix fixe menu changes slightly each evening, but some selections might include crab fritters, lamb, a cheese selection, and pineapple upside-down cake. This Atlanta staple is the only restaurant in Atlanta to hold a One-MICHELIN Star and a Green Star.
Where: Westside
Canoe
Tucked along the banks of the Chattahoochee River, the peaceful serenity of the riverside restaurant Canoe is only enhanced by its fine-dining moxie. Consistently featured on national lists for its pristine New American cuisine and romantic environs, take a relaxing before/after-dinner stroll through their lush garden. Step outside your comfort zone with bites of their signature house-smoked salmon and peppercorn-crusted kangaroo loin.
Where: Vinings
La Grotta
Located in the heart of Buckhead, La Grotta has been an Atlanta fine dining tradition since 1978. The basement-level Italian restaurant oozes old-world charm and romance amplified by classic pasta dishes like goat cheese ravioli, penne bolognese, pappardelle lobster and more comforting offerings. And there’s just something special about black truffles shaved tableside, taking your meal to the next level. Don’t say “when.”
Where: Buckhead
The Optimist
Located on the Westside, The Optimist brings coastal charm to Atlanta with its oyster bar, wood-fired dishes and relaxed yet refined atmosphere. The nautical-inspired design, outdoor patio and mini-golf course add a playful touch, while the seafood program keeps it firmly among the city’s most acclaimed restaurants.
Where: Westside
Miller Union
Miller Union helped define Atlanta’s modern Southern movement with its vegetable-forward approach and simple, seasonal preparations. The warm, understated dining room reflects the philosophy on the plate: thoughtful, unfussy and deeply rooted in regional ingredients. It remains a favorite for diners who appreciate refined cooking without excess.
Where: Westside
Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar and View
Perched atop the Westin Peachtree Plaza, the Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar and View serves seasonal, contemporary American cuisine for brunch as well as lunch and dinner. Enjoy a fine dining experience at Sun Dial with a menu that makes the most of the city’s local, farm-to-table ingredients, while taking in some of the most breathtaking views of the city. You will also find an exquisite dessert and drink menu. The restaurant features such favorites as she crab soup, Iberico pork tenderloin and smoked pork belly.
Where: Downtown
Polaris
Polaris, located in the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Downtown, opened its doors in 1967. Atlantans and visitors alike were excited about dining in a rotating restaurant. Today, the sentiment remains. The Polaris offers a variety of handcrafted cocktails that celebrate the Golden Age of spirits and libations. It is the only restaurant in Atlanta with its own bee garden, where more than 60,000 honeybees buzz about in hives under the roof of Polaris. The honey is used daily in drinks and dishes. The rooftop garden also grows tomatoes, beans, herbs, flowers and other produce. Try the crispy Dr. Joe duck leg & cassoulet, sous vide wild boar and sweet potato gnocchi, and the Southern pecan tart.
Where: Downtown
Nikolai’s Roof
Located in the Hilton Atlanta, Nikolai’s Roof was one of the first restaurants to introduce sophisticated European dining to the city. When it opened in 1965, Atlantans, perhaps for the first time, experienced exotic items such as piroshki, borscht and foie gras. Nikolai’s Roof also boasts more than 900 wines. The vodka flights are worth a try.
Where: Downtown
Nakato
Japanese fare doesn’t get any better than Nakato. As the oldest Asian restaurant in Atlanta, it’s been the luxe neighborhood of Buckhead home for more than 45 years and is still going strong, welcoming a new generation of sushi and omakase lovers. The real star of the show is the authenticity of technique and service, where time-honored traditions of private tatami dining, high-flying hibachi and razor-thin cuts of sashimi impart elements of wonder that keep patrons coming back for more.
Where: Buckhead
CASUAL CLASSICS
Manuel’s Tavern
Manuel’s Tavern has always been a burgeoning destination for beers and bright conversations. After opening in 1956, it became the foremost neighborhood bar and meeting spot for politicians, journalists and locals to either catch a sports game or debate the latest politics. The latter was its claim to fame. Even former President Jimmy Carter was a regular, and if you take a look around at the slices of nostalgia adorning the walls, you’ll see why this Eastside establishment is so highly revered. It now sits on the National Register of Historic Places (if that tells you anything about the Poncey-Highland mainstay).
Where: Poncey-Highland
Johnny’s Hideaway
Catering to an older crowd as the go-to destination for marathon dancing and bar-driven eats like tater tots, nachos and wings, Johnny’s Hideaway has lived a storied history in Buckhead for 50 years. The old-school disco with little pretense has welcomed countless celebrities, served as the backdrop to Hollywood movies, and reinvented itself over the years by offering a mix of classic hits and modern tunes to draw in younger patrons. Based on its long-standing reputation as the place to dance like nobody’s watching and to fill your spirit with nostalgia and great vibes, it’s a vital piece of old Atlanta’s story.
Where: Buckhead
Murphy’s
Bring on the brunch! A Virginia-Highland staple for over 40 years, Murphy’s has earned its legacy as one of the most beloved destinations for weekend breakfast/lunch feasts. Park yourself in front of signature favorites like the chilaquiles, crab cake Benedict, banana-covered French toast and more hits that will have you making a standing appointment at this Atlanta icon.
Where: Virginia-Highland
The Varsity
You’ve heard the rally cry from eager carhops ready to serve. “What’ll ya have?” isn’t an easy question to answer when there’s so much to choose from at The Varsity, the world’s largest drive-in restaurant. This downtown Atlanta institution has been keeping college students, sports revelers and locals fed with coma-inducing chili-cheese dogs, onion rings and more fabulous fast food since 1928. And don’t get us started on the Frosted Orange shake. The Varsity is an Atlanta icon like no other.
Where: Downtown
Grand China
Far East flavors from China, Japan and Thailand combine for a global melange at Grand China. Since 1978, the Buckhead institution has been a neighborhood favorite featuring an extensive menu that would take weeks to eat through. Whether you’ve got a taste for Peking duck, shrimp lo mein, beef pad Thai, sushi or ramen, Grand China has you covered no matter the mood.
Where: Buckhead
The Silver Skillet
Atlanta loves a good diner, especially for breakfast, and The Silver Skillet has been the go-to since 1956. That’s a long time, and the Midtown eatery is still bursting with 1950s nostalgia. Its vintage decor has made it a top filming location for many tv shows and movies. The Silver Skillet can be seen in “Traveling Man,” “Remember the Titans,” “I’ll Fly Away,” and many more movies, TV shows, and music videos. For folks looking for an essential Southern breakfast, you can’t go wrong with their famous country ham with red-eye gravy, country-fried steak and cheese eggs. Top it all off with their signature and award-winning lemon icebox pie and you’re already ahead of the game.
Where: Home Park
Majestic Diner
Serving up “food that pleases,” Majestic Diner has been a long-standing fixture in Poncey-Highland since 1929. As one of Atlanta’s oldest restaurants, the time-tested greasy spoon brings many quality breakfast and lunch options daily. You’ll find everything from burgers and sandwiches to omelets, pancakes and waffles.
Where: Poncey-Highland
What kind of food suits your mood? From bakeries to brunch to barbecue, Atlanta’s dining scene is superb.
