The menu here features traditional German pub foods such as brats, pretzels with mustard, and strudels. German beers are on draft like Weihenstephan, Warsteiner, and Spaten. There may or may not be live music on any given night on the patio.

The Atlanta Breakfast Club has been drawing big crowds since opening its doors on Ivan Allen in 2016. Look for comforting breakfast dishes of chicken and waffles, peach cobbler French toast, and breakfast tacos with smoked bacon and scrambled eggs. Prices hover around $10, which makes a morning meal here that much better.

The two-story Park Bar near Centennial Olympic Park is where to head for pre- and post-game eating and drinking or to watch Atlanta United and the Falcons play for those without tickets. Park Bar’s menu is all about comfort food — burgers, patty melts, chicken tenders, and potato skins — but with options to order a New York strip steak or grilled Mahi Mahi. This bar takes its very large whiskey and bourbon selection (over 60 bottles) and beer offerings seriously, too.

Located in the Fairlie-Poplar district of downtown Atlanta, Baraka serves up plates of kebabs, gyros, falafel, shawarma, hummus, and tabouli. All food served here is halal, too.

This small, counter-serve spot is easily walkable from Centennial Olympic Park and nearby hotels. It serves Creole dishes like shrimp jambalaya and gumbo, along with shrimp and grits and mac and cheese bowls mixed with barbecue and chicken and grab-and-go foods. Open for breakfast on weekdays.

Big Dave’s on Forsyth Street Downtown serves up messy and meaty cheesesteaks on its menu. Try the Dave’s Way beef or salmon cheesesteak stuffed with three types of cheese, sweet peppers and banana peppers, mushrooms, and onions. Make sure to order the cheesesteak egg rolls here, too. Owner Derrick Hayes has also added a food truck to the mix, a second location in Doraville, and opened a vegan counter-service spot called Dinkie’s inside Slutty Vegan owner Pinky Cole’s new Ponce City Market spot.

This New York-style deli is where to head in Downtown Atlanta for a classic Reuben, a hot pastrami, and even a liverwurst sandwich. Open for breakfast.

A truly unique experience in Atlanta, the iconic Sun Dial restaurant atop the Westin Peachtree Plaza gives diners a birds-eye view of the city skyline from 723 feet above the street.

Soccer fans often find themselves here on Saturday mornings to watch matches, cheer their team, and sip beer. The Irish pub is located in the old Macy’s department store building on Peachtree Street and is an ideal place to grab a pint and bite to eat, like the classic fish and chips or shepherd’s pie.

Located Downtown on the corner of Peachtree Street and Baker Street, White Oak Kitchen is casual fine dining serving contemporary spins on Southern comfort foods like seared duck breast with turnip and bok choy or catfish with butternut squash. Expect a solid list of whiskey cocktails as well as reasonably-priced, by-the-glass and bottles of wine.

Red Phone Booth and Amalfi Pizza owners Stephen de Haan and Greg Grant, along with master sushi chef Saito Saito, finally opened their long-awaited restaurant Saito Sushi, Steak, and Cocktails. The restaurant resides in the lobby of the century-old Regenstein’s department store building on Andrew Young International Boulevard. Saito Sushi includes an outdoor terrace and features a menu of sushi using fish flown in daily from Japan as well as omakase options and steaks. Some cocktails incorporate rare Japanese whiskeys and sakes served over double-reverse osmosis ice pressed into a sphere using a Taisin ice mold. Take a look at the menu here.

This downtown food gem is deceptively hidden in the mall at Peachtree Center. While more of a food court than a mall, make a beeline to this Mediterranean food stall filled with dishes served by the delightful chef Kameel. Aviva by Kameel also has a location in Midtown at the Collective at Coda.

This family-owned and run Chinese restaurant has been a downtown staple since 1989. Located in Peachtree Center, Hsu’s is easily walkable from several area hotels and can accommodate large groups. The menu offers everything from lo mein and pan-fried noodles to spicy basil chicken and salt and pepper shrimp. But, come here for the three-course Peking duck, served with soup, Chinese crepe, and the star attraction, the crispy roast duck in a sweetly salted honey soy sauce. It feeds two.

This Memphis favorite opened in downtown Atlanta in 2015, and it’s been a hit ever since with its spicy, extra-crispy fried chicken. Plates come with baked beans, slaw, and white bread. Gus’s has other locations in Chamblee, Sandy Springs, and Kennesaw.

On the border between Midtown and Downtown, this vegan establishment bills itself as a restaurant serving “pan-Asian” dishes. Many lunch, brunch, and dinner items are also gluten-free like the glazed, crispy king oyster mushroom.

Atlanta is home to one of two Trader Vic’s outposts remaining in the United States and the only one still associated with Hilton Hotels. This classic Atlanta restaurant offers half-off Mai Tai cocktails and live music on Thursday nights, too. Trader Vic’s is often full of both tourists and Atlanta residents seeking a vintage, Polynesian pop culture infusion paired with extremely strong tiki drinks.

Nashville-based Helen’s opened in downtown Atlanta in 2020. Beyond hot chicken on the menu, there’s also lobster tails, fried whiting, and shrimp all given the fiery hot chicken treatment here. For smaller bites of Nashville heat, try the wingettes which come in packs of 12, 16, or 24 and can be ordered as all flats or drums.  

Founded in 1918 as an open-air market, Sweet Auburn Curb Market on the edge of downtown Atlanta features 30 local shops and food stalls offering everything from fresh produce, seafood, and meats to baked goods, sweets, and counter-service restaurants. Food stalls here can often change, so check online before heading over to see what’s available.