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The main dining area at Bread & Butterfly in Inman Park Jonathan Phillips

14 Restaurants for a Quiet Meal Around Atlanta

Restaurants and bars perfect for quiet meals or relaxed conversation over drinks

by Beth McKibben Updated
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by Beth McKibben Updated
Jonathan Phillips

Not everyone wants to dine with music blaring over the speaker system or within the cavernous spaces restaurants and bars seem to occupy these days. Looking for a quiet spot to dine or drink where tunes play softly in the background and the din of nearby conversations is kept to a respectable level? These establishments are perfect for a quiet meal or to meet up for relaxed conversation over drinks.

Don’t see a favorite restaurant for a quiet meal on this list? Send Eater the details via the tipline.

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Spring Restaurant

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The critically acclaimed restaurant features a tight menu of dishes paired with a carefully curated list of natural and biodynamic wines. The small dining room here lends itself nicely to intimate dinner dates for two or foursomes of friends meeting to catch up over bottles of wine and a meal. Reservations highly encouraged.

36 Mill St, Marietta, GA 30060
(678) 540-2777
(678) 540-2777

Also featured in:

Eleanor’s at Muss & Turner's

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Grab a casual dinner on a weekday night at Muss and Turners, then slip behind the cooler door for after-dinner drinks at Eleanor’s, the restaurant’s intimate cocktail bar.

1675 Cumberland Pkwy SE Suite 309, Smyrna, GA 30080
(770) 434-1114
(770) 434-1114

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Cultivate Food and Coffee

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Cultivate is a quiet oasis along busy Howell Mill Road, especially during the week. The menu here offers everything from toasts, parfaits, and omelettes in the early morning, followed by heartier fare, like a fried chicken biscuit, shrimp and grits, and a French toast farm cheeseburger, during brunch. Pop into this European-style cafe for coffee, tea, and sparkling soda concoctions, too. Patio seating available.

1952 Howell Mill Rd NW Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 600-2964
(404) 600-2964

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Volare Wine & Bistro

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Volare brings Southern-French fancy to the “ATL Airport District”. The restaurant mixes elegance in an understated location overlooking the train tracks. This juxtaposition is also reflected in the dishes like the Cajun pastas, Parmesan encrusted cordon bleu, grilled Australian lamb chops in Grand Marnier gastrique, or mountain trout.

603 N Central Ave, Hapeville, GA 30354
(404) 503-6730
(404) 503-6730

Also featured in:

Staplehouse

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The award-winning restaurant on Edgewood Avenue transformed into a neighborhood market selling everything from artisan pantry ingredients and fresh-baked crackers, breads, and pastries, to chocolates, beer, and wine. But the market also serves cocktails. Grab a menu and order a cocktail and food from the daily menu board or create a charcuterie and cheese spread and head out to the covered or garden patios out back. There’s even a fire pit for chillier days. Covered and non-covered patio seating available.

541 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 524-5005
(404) 524-5005

Also featured in:

MetroFresh

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Located in Midtown Promenade, MetroFresh serves soups, salads, and sandwiches made fresh daily, along with wine and larger entrees in the evenings. It’s a great place to enjoy a quiet meal solo or with a friend. The menu is seasonal and therefore changes frequently, but the food here never disappoints. Order at the counter and take a seat in the dining room or the covered patio out front. Vegan and gluten-free options available.

931 Monroe Dr NE a106, Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 724-0151
(404) 724-0151

Also featured in:

Daily Chew

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Located on Liddell Drive, this cafe from Julia Kesler Imerman features coffee, protein bowls, and light breakfast items in the morning, followed by rotisserie chicken pita wraps and grain bowls in the afternoon that all lean into Imerman’s Jewish and South African roots. While there’s typically a steady pace of customers coming in to grab takeout, pastries, or a quick bite to eat, Daily Chew’s vibe remains low-key and quiet. It also includes plenty of cozy indoor seating as well as cafe and picnic tables outside to enjoy a meal in the pleasant sunshine.

2127 Liddell Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 600-4155
(404) 600-4155

Also featured in:

Julianna's Coffee & Crepes

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Julianna’s is a petite restaurant tucked inside a circa-1901 house on Lake Avenue in Inman Park serving Hungarian-style savory and sweet crepes made from an old family recipe. Open for breakfast and lunch, order at the counter and grab a seat at one of the tables inside or at a small cafe table outside.

775 Lake Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 436-1825
(404) 436-1825

Also featured in:

Fellows Cafe

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Located in downtown historic Roswell inside the “Yellow House” on Green Street, breakfast and brunch at Fellows Cafe includes lemon ricotta hotcakes, various types of toasts, and dishes like sweet potato eggs benedict. Grab a seat on the small front porch or underneath the old oak tree along Green Street, which is dog-friendly. Patio available.

1088 Green St, Roswell, GA 30075
(678) 983-1481
(678) 983-1481

Also featured in:

Bread & Butterfly

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Inspired by the cafes of Paris, this sunny Inman Quarter cafe shines with French bistro fare and a simple but excellent wine list. Dine on dishes such as a decadent burger with Swiss and caramelized onions, steak frites, crab, crayfish, and penne au gratin, or an ode to New Orleans institution Commander’s Palace with its shrimp remoulade. Grab a seat on the sun porch or inside the quaint dining room or at the five seat bar. Open for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks. Patio available. Reservations encouraged.

290 Elizabeth St NE F, Atlanta, GA 30307
(678) 515-4536
(678) 515-4536

Also featured in:

Wahoo! Grill

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This neighborhood bistro along West College Avenue in Decatur was built for cozy meals and conversation. It also includes one of the area’s loveliest garden patios. Wahoo serves comforting dishes such as crab bisque, pimento cheese fritters, and risotto as well as fried chicken, New York strip, and mountain trout. Make sure to order wine here, too. Wahoo can become slightly noisy on the weekends when the dining room fills up with couples and friends gathering for a meal. Even then, the noise level is still within reason. Patio available.

1042 W College Ave, Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 373-3331
(404) 373-3331

Also featured in:

Paolino Italian Restaurant

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Located in the heart of Oakhurst Village, Paolino’s centers around classic Italian dishes and pastas, including fettuccine Alfredo, linguine and clam sauce, and lasagna, along with lobster ravioli and eggplant pappardelle. Grab a seat on the patio or in the dining room for a quiet meal, especially during the weekdays.

350 Mead Rd, Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 975-3146
(404) 975-3146

Also featured in:

Cafe Alsace

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Located just up from No. 246 on East Ponce de Leon, this small cafe offers a quiet escape from Decatur’s busy dining scene. The menu offers traditional French and Alsatian dishes (northeastern France) such as quiche, spaetzle (egg noodles), choucroute garnie (sauerkraut, sausages, potatoes), and sandwiches like the croque-monsieur or mauricettes made with pretzel bread. The wine list is a lovely mix of both French and Alsatian bottles with affordable price points.

121 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 373-5622
(404) 373-5622

Also featured in:

Dish Korean Cuisine

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Snack on banchan before diving into seafood pancakes, spicy short ribs, or stir-fried squid bokkeum paired with kimchi fried rice and spam at this low-key, family-owned Korean restaurant next door to bustling Food Terminal on Buford Highway. The budae jjigae (spicy sausage, spam stew) here is comforting, filling, and not to be missed. Like burgers? Try the dduck galbhi made with short rib and topped with spicy cabbage and house mayo.

5000 Buford Hwy NE, Chamblee, GA 30341
(470) 299-8886
(470) 299-8886

Also featured in:

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Spring Restaurant

36 Mill St, Marietta, GA 30060

The critically acclaimed restaurant features a tight menu of dishes paired with a carefully curated list of natural and biodynamic wines. The small dining room here lends itself nicely to intimate dinner dates for two or foursomes of friends meeting to catch up over bottles of wine and a meal. Reservations highly encouraged.

36 Mill St, Marietta, GA 30060
(678) 540-2777
(678) 540-2777

Eleanor’s at Muss & Turner's

1675 Cumberland Pkwy SE Suite 309, Smyrna, GA 30080

Grab a casual dinner on a weekday night at Muss and Turners, then slip behind the cooler door for after-dinner drinks at Eleanor’s, the restaurant’s intimate cocktail bar.

1675 Cumberland Pkwy SE Suite 309, Smyrna, GA 30080
(770) 434-1114
(770) 434-1114

Cultivate Food and Coffee

1952 Howell Mill Rd NW Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30318

Cultivate is a quiet oasis along busy Howell Mill Road, especially during the week. The menu here offers everything from toasts, parfaits, and omelettes in the early morning, followed by heartier fare, like a fried chicken biscuit, shrimp and grits, and a French toast farm cheeseburger, during brunch. Pop into this European-style cafe for coffee, tea, and sparkling soda concoctions, too. Patio seating available.

1952 Howell Mill Rd NW Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 600-2964
(404) 600-2964

Volare Wine & Bistro

603 N Central Ave, Hapeville, GA 30354

Volare brings Southern-French fancy to the “ATL Airport District”. The restaurant mixes elegance in an understated location overlooking the train tracks. This juxtaposition is also reflected in the dishes like the Cajun pastas, Parmesan encrusted cordon bleu, grilled Australian lamb chops in Grand Marnier gastrique, or mountain trout.

603 N Central Ave, Hapeville, GA 30354
(404) 503-6730
(404) 503-6730

Staplehouse

541 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

The award-winning restaurant on Edgewood Avenue transformed into a neighborhood market selling everything from artisan pantry ingredients and fresh-baked crackers, breads, and pastries, to chocolates, beer, and wine. But the market also serves cocktails. Grab a menu and order a cocktail and food from the daily menu board or create a charcuterie and cheese spread and head out to the covered or garden patios out back. There’s even a fire pit for chillier days. Covered and non-covered patio seating available.

541 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 524-5005
(404) 524-5005

MetroFresh

931 Monroe Dr NE a106, Atlanta, GA 30308

Located in Midtown Promenade, MetroFresh serves soups, salads, and sandwiches made fresh daily, along with wine and larger entrees in the evenings. It’s a great place to enjoy a quiet meal solo or with a friend. The menu is seasonal and therefore changes frequently, but the food here never disappoints. Order at the counter and take a seat in the dining room or the covered patio out front. Vegan and gluten-free options available.

931 Monroe Dr NE a106, Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 724-0151
(404) 724-0151

Daily Chew

2127 Liddell Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

Located on Liddell Drive, this cafe from Julia Kesler Imerman features coffee, protein bowls, and light breakfast items in the morning, followed by rotisserie chicken pita wraps and grain bowls in the afternoon that all lean into Imerman’s Jewish and South African roots. While there’s typically a steady pace of customers coming in to grab takeout, pastries, or a quick bite to eat, Daily Chew’s vibe remains low-key and quiet. It also includes plenty of cozy indoor seating as well as cafe and picnic tables outside to enjoy a meal in the pleasant sunshine.

2127 Liddell Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 600-4155
(404) 600-4155

Julianna's Coffee & Crepes

775 Lake Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Julianna’s is a petite restaurant tucked inside a circa-1901 house on Lake Avenue in Inman Park serving Hungarian-style savory and sweet crepes made from an old family recipe. Open for breakfast and lunch, order at the counter and grab a seat at one of the tables inside or at a small cafe table outside.

775 Lake Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 436-1825
(404) 436-1825

Fellows Cafe

1088 Green St, Roswell, GA 30075

Located in downtown historic Roswell inside the “Yellow House” on Green Street, breakfast and brunch at Fellows Cafe includes lemon ricotta hotcakes, various types of toasts, and dishes like sweet potato eggs benedict. Grab a seat on the small front porch or underneath the old oak tree along Green Street, which is dog-friendly. Patio available.

1088 Green St, Roswell, GA 30075
(678) 983-1481
(678) 983-1481

Bread & Butterfly

290 Elizabeth St NE F, Atlanta, GA 30307

Inspired by the cafes of Paris, this sunny Inman Quarter cafe shines with French bistro fare and a simple but excellent wine list. Dine on dishes such as a decadent burger with Swiss and caramelized onions, steak frites, crab, crayfish, and penne au gratin, or an ode to New Orleans institution Commander’s Palace with its shrimp remoulade. Grab a seat on the sun porch or inside the quaint dining room or at the five seat bar. Open for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks. Patio available. Reservations encouraged.

290 Elizabeth St NE F, Atlanta, GA 30307
(678) 515-4536
(678) 515-4536

Wahoo! Grill

1042 W College Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

This neighborhood bistro along West College Avenue in Decatur was built for cozy meals and conversation. It also includes one of the area’s loveliest garden patios. Wahoo serves comforting dishes such as crab bisque, pimento cheese fritters, and risotto as well as fried chicken, New York strip, and mountain trout. Make sure to order wine here, too. Wahoo can become slightly noisy on the weekends when the dining room fills up with couples and friends gathering for a meal. Even then, the noise level is still within reason. Patio available.

1042 W College Ave, Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 373-3331
(404) 373-3331

Paolino Italian Restaurant

350 Mead Rd, Decatur, GA 30030

Located in the heart of Oakhurst Village, Paolino’s centers around classic Italian dishes and pastas, including fettuccine Alfredo, linguine and clam sauce, and lasagna, along with lobster ravioli and eggplant pappardelle. Grab a seat on the patio or in the dining room for a quiet meal, especially during the weekdays.

350 Mead Rd, Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 975-3146
(404) 975-3146

Cafe Alsace

121 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

Located just up from No. 246 on East Ponce de Leon, this small cafe offers a quiet escape from Decatur’s busy dining scene. The menu offers traditional French and Alsatian dishes (northeastern France) such as quiche, spaetzle (egg noodles), choucroute garnie (sauerkraut, sausages, potatoes), and sandwiches like the croque-monsieur or mauricettes made with pretzel bread. The wine list is a lovely mix of both French and Alsatian bottles with affordable price points.

121 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 373-5622
(404) 373-5622

Dish Korean Cuisine

5000 Buford Hwy NE, Chamblee, GA 30341

Snack on banchan before diving into seafood pancakes, spicy short ribs, or stir-fried squid bokkeum paired with kimchi fried rice and spam at this low-key, family-owned Korean restaurant next door to bustling Food Terminal on Buford Highway. The budae jjigae (spicy sausage, spam stew) here is comforting, filling, and not to be missed. Like burgers? Try the dduck galbhi made with short rib and topped with spicy cabbage and house mayo.

5000 Buford Hwy NE, Chamblee, GA 30341
(470) 299-8886
(470) 299-8886

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