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The bar at Highland Tap in Virginia-Highland boasts some prime people-watching spots.

18 Prime Spots for People Watching Around Atlanta

From a swanky hotel lounge and 24/7 diners to Beltline patios, steakhouses, and dive bars

by Eater Staff Updated Sep 11, 2023, 2:00pm EDT

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The bar at Highland Tap in Virginia-Highland boasts some prime people-watching spots.

| Highland Tap

by Eater Staff Updated Sep 11, 2023, 2:00pm EDT

Atlanta is a diverse place. Neighborhoods with distinct personalities demand their own local watering holes and restaurants, which serve as places for the community to gather, drink, and dine. But some establishments attract such a splashy crowd that the real star is the people watching. Here are a few spots to spectate, from a swanky hotel lounge, an infamous vice den, and 24/7 diners to Beltline patios, steakhouses, and dive bars

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Palo Santo

While the vibey Mexican restaurant is always buzzing with diners, the real people watching action is found upstairs at Palo Santo’s clubby rooftop patio bar. Offering both open-air and covered seating and great views of the emerging skyline along Atlanta’s burgeoning westside, grab a cocktail and nori tacos or oysters from the bar. It becomes a bit of a scene the later it gets in the evening.

955 West Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

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Landmark Diner

The Landmark Diner in Buckhead is “where the stars meet at night,” and where anyone seeking late-night food and coffee heads to after an evening on the town in Atlanta. Prime people watching can be had at the Landmark any time of day, but later in the evening is the best time to take in the scene, which could include locals popping by for dessert and coffee, the occasional celebrity, and people post-club soaking up the booze with a burger and fries or pile of fried shrimp. 24/7. The downtown Atlanta location on Luckie Street is also 24/7.

3652 Roswell Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305

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The bar at St. Regis Atlanta

Forget the gin and tonics, the champagne sabering and the mixed nuts, and the transient crowd of this high-end hotel bar will enthrall. Look for Buckhead big shots doing business, ladies of the night drumming up business of their own, and throngs of dressed-up 20-somethings amongst curious hotel guests at what might be the city’s most notorious people-watching spot.

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Eighty, Eight, West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305

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Johnny's Hideaway

Order a scotch and down it because the best place to watch the magic at Johnny’s is on the dance floor (where drinks aren’t allowed.) The bouncers and bartenders proudly sport shirts and buttons touting the bar’s infamous cougars, but don’t be fooled, because after midnight the crowd gets decidedly younger as folks trickle over from nearby Buckhead bars.

3771 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30342

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Blake's On The Park

A Midtown institution, Blake’s is running a tight race with Mary’s in East Atlanta Village for Atlanta’s favorite drag show. The lip sync battles are not to be missed, and do not sit down for the shows either.

227 10th St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

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Fetch

People watching is good, but dog watching is better. Settle in at Fetch with a cold beer and let the dog do the socializing in the park’s enclosed grassy patio while you chat with fellow pet owners or watch a game on the big screen. Fetch also includes locations at the Works and in Alpharetta.

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520 Daniel St SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

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Also featured in:

The Ultimate List of Dog-Friendly Patios in Atlanta

Biggerstaff Brewing Company

Grab a seat on the sunny patio facing Edgewood for prime people watching in the heart of the Old Fourth Ward. Open in the morning for coffee before shifting to beer, wine, and cocktails and food in the afternoon, the lively front patio at Biggerstaff is a great place to hang with friends and your dog. You never know who you’ll see or meet on this patio.

537 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

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Any Waffle House after midnight

Atlanta’s hometown diner turns into a hungry and hilarious mashup of people from every walk of life the later in the evening it gets, when folks are looking to soak up booze with all things smothered and covered. But, really, the people watching at Waffle House is good any time of day.

3016 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305

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Carroll Street Cafe

Street front cafe dining at its best and most quaint, Carrol Street Cafe is peak Cabbagetown. Sit al fresco for dinner on a nice night — and be sure to be friendly with neighborhood passersby and their dogs.

208 Carroll St SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

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Nina & Rafi

The best people- and dog-watching spot at this Eastside Beltline pizzeria and Italian restaurant is on the patio or at the rail inside overlooking the patio. Hop off the trail and find a seat outside and order a Detroit-style pizza paired with a cold beer, glass of wine, or a spritz. The Beltline views and people watching rarely disappoint

661 Auburn Ave NE STE 220, Atlanta, GA 30312

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New Realm Brewing

New Realm Brewing occupies prime trailside real estate sporting great views of the Eastside Beltline and its cyclists, walkers, and runners. Head upstairs to the rooftop and look down over the Beltline and out toward the city for real king-of-the-world vibes.

550 Somerset Terrace NE #101, Atlanta, GA 30306

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Clermont Lounge

Start the night upstairs at the Hotel Clermont’s swanky rooftop bar or the lobby bar, then head down to the infamous vice den below the hotel, which needs zero introduction among local Atlantans. Crowds here are rowdy, raucous, and include every walk of life, from Georgia Tech students to Jennifer Lawrence. Drink beer from the bottle, sit at the bar — and bring singles. Remember: no photos are allowed inside the Clermont Lounge, and no touching the entertainers.

789 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

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Little Alley Steak

Canton Street in downtown Roswell is the heart of this suburban city’s dining scene. And the best place to people watch is out on the front patio at Little Alley Steak. Order a bottle of wine, some oysters, a charcuterie and cheese board, or the duck confit spring rolls to share and watch what seems like the whole of Roswell stroll by the steakhouse. Dive into a variety of steak cuts for dinner. End the night with some port and truffle fries. The Buckhead location is equally great for people watching, but with business deals going down in the dining room and date nights at the bar.

955 Canton St, Roswell, GA 30075

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Highland Tap

This Virginia-Highland steakhouse institution is a beloved favorite among locals, and serves some of the best martinis in town. Known as “steak basement” or “steak cellar” (it’s located below street level,) Highland Tap is hard to beat any day of the week for people watching. This is especially true in the bar and lounge filled with regulars and curious newcomers, while bands like Night Ranger, Fleetwood Mac, and Run DMC play over the sound system. No need to dress up. Be sure to check out brunch on the weekends, where martinis begin flowing at 11 a.m.

1026 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30306

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Also featured in:

Argosy

This East Atlanta Village bar is the place for first dates, and also watching those first dates unfold (or just watching people in general) while sipping cocktails and local beers and dining on some of Atlanta’s low-key best pizza. Keep an eye on the private corners at Argosy.

470 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

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The Rusty Nail Pub

Billed as “the South’s version of Cheers”, the Rusty Nail and its distinct ambiance, people-watching, and drink specials never seem to disappoint locals or visitors to Atlanta. You can almost count on seeing something interesting happening at the Rusty Nail.

Open in Google Maps

2900 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30329

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Also featured in:

Gather Your Team for Trivia at These Atlanta Restaurants and Bars

Fogón and Lions

The best people-watching spot at this downtown Alpharetta Spanish-Latin American restaurant is absolutely on the covered patio out front, which overlooks the bustling main drag of the suburban city’s dining district.

Open in Google Maps

10 Roswell St #100, Alpharetta, GA 30009

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Also featured in:

Las Delicias De La Abuela

This place is always buzzing with energy, but on weekend evenings, the beloved Buford Highway Colombian restaurant has great live music and a dressed-up, see-and-be-seen crowd of its own. There’s also a location in Duluth.

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5600 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340

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Also featured in:

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Palo Santo

955 West Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

While the vibey Mexican restaurant is always buzzing with diners, the real people watching action is found upstairs at Palo Santo’s clubby rooftop patio bar. Offering both open-air and covered seating and great views of the emerging skyline along Atlanta’s burgeoning westside, grab a cocktail and nori tacos or oysters from the bar. It becomes a bit of a scene the later it gets in the evening.

955 West Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Visit Website

Landmark Diner

3652 Roswell Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305

The Landmark Diner in Buckhead is “where the stars meet at night,” and where anyone seeking late-night food and coffee heads to after an evening on the town in Atlanta. Prime people watching can be had at the Landmark any time of day, but later in the evening is the best time to take in the scene, which could include locals popping by for dessert and coffee, the occasional celebrity, and people post-club soaking up the booze with a burger and fries or pile of fried shrimp. 24/7. The downtown Atlanta location on Luckie Street is also 24/7.

3652 Roswell Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305

Visit Website

The bar at St. Regis Atlanta

Eighty, Eight, West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305

Forget the gin and tonics, the champagne sabering and the mixed nuts, and the transient crowd of this high-end hotel bar will enthrall. Look for Buckhead big shots doing business, ladies of the night drumming up business of their own, and throngs of dressed-up 20-somethings amongst curious hotel guests at what might be the city’s most notorious people-watching spot.

Open in Google Maps

Eighty, Eight, West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305

Visit Website

Johnny's Hideaway

3771 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30342

Order a scotch and down it because the best place to watch the magic at Johnny’s is on the dance floor (where drinks aren’t allowed.) The bouncers and bartenders proudly sport shirts and buttons touting the bar’s infamous cougars, but don’t be fooled, because after midnight the crowd gets decidedly younger as folks trickle over from nearby Buckhead bars.

3771 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30342

Visit Website

Blake's On The Park

227 10th St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

A Midtown institution, Blake’s is running a tight race with Mary’s in East Atlanta Village for Atlanta’s favorite drag show. The lip sync battles are not to be missed, and do not sit down for the shows either.

227 10th St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

Visit Website

Fetch

520 Daniel St SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

People watching is good, but dog watching is better. Settle in at Fetch with a cold beer and let the dog do the socializing in the park’s enclosed grassy patio while you chat with fellow pet owners or watch a game on the big screen. Fetch also includes locations at the Works and in Alpharetta.

Open in Google Maps

520 Daniel St SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

Visit Website

Biggerstaff Brewing Company

537 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

Grab a seat on the sunny patio facing Edgewood for prime people watching in the heart of the Old Fourth Ward. Open in the morning for coffee before shifting to beer, wine, and cocktails and food in the afternoon, the lively front patio at Biggerstaff is a great place to hang with friends and your dog. You never know who you’ll see or meet on this patio.

537 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

Visit Website

Any Waffle House after midnight

3016 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305

Atlanta’s hometown diner turns into a hungry and hilarious mashup of people from every walk of life the later in the evening it gets, when folks are looking to soak up booze with all things smothered and covered. But, really, the people watching at Waffle House is good any time of day.

3016 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305

Visit Website

Carroll Street Cafe

208 Carroll St SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

Street front cafe dining at its best and most quaint, Carrol Street Cafe is peak Cabbagetown. Sit al fresco for dinner on a nice night — and be sure to be friendly with neighborhood passersby and their dogs.

208 Carroll St SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

Visit Website

Nina & Rafi

661 Auburn Ave NE STE 220, Atlanta, GA 30312

The best people- and dog-watching spot at this Eastside Beltline pizzeria and Italian restaurant is on the patio or at the rail inside overlooking the patio. Hop off the trail and find a seat outside and order a Detroit-style pizza paired with a cold beer, glass of wine, or a spritz. The Beltline views and people watching rarely disappoint

661 Auburn Ave NE STE 220, Atlanta, GA 30312

Visit Website

New Realm Brewing

550 Somerset Terrace NE #101, Atlanta, GA 30306

New Realm Brewing occupies prime trailside real estate sporting great views of the Eastside Beltline and its cyclists, walkers, and runners. Head upstairs to the rooftop and look down over the Beltline and out toward the city for real king-of-the-world vibes.

550 Somerset Terrace NE #101, Atlanta, GA 30306

Visit Website

Clermont Lounge

789 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Start the night upstairs at the Hotel Clermont’s swanky rooftop bar or the lobby bar, then head down to the infamous vice den below the hotel, which needs zero introduction among local Atlantans. Crowds here are rowdy, raucous, and include every walk of life, from Georgia Tech students to Jennifer Lawrence. Drink beer from the bottle, sit at the bar — and bring singles. Remember: no photos are allowed inside the Clermont Lounge, and no touching the entertainers.

789 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Visit Website

Little Alley Steak

955 Canton St, Roswell, GA 30075

Canton Street in downtown Roswell is the heart of this suburban city’s dining scene. And the best place to people watch is out on the front patio at Little Alley Steak. Order a bottle of wine, some oysters, a charcuterie and cheese board, or the duck confit spring rolls to share and watch what seems like the whole of Roswell stroll by the steakhouse. Dive into a variety of steak cuts for dinner. End the night with some port and truffle fries. The Buckhead location is equally great for people watching, but with business deals going down in the dining room and date nights at the bar.

955 Canton St, Roswell, GA 30075

Visit Website

Highland Tap

1026 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30306

This Virginia-Highland steakhouse institution is a beloved favorite among locals, and serves some of the best martinis in town. Known as “steak basement” or “steak cellar” (it’s located below street level,) Highland Tap is hard to beat any day of the week for people watching. This is especially true in the bar and lounge filled with regulars and curious newcomers, while bands like Night Ranger, Fleetwood Mac, and Run DMC play over the sound system. No need to dress up. Be sure to check out brunch on the weekends, where martinis begin flowing at 11 a.m.

1026 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30306

Visit Website

Argosy

470 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

This East Atlanta Village bar is the place for first dates, and also watching those first dates unfold (or just watching people in general) while sipping cocktails and local beers and dining on some of Atlanta’s low-key best pizza. Keep an eye on the private corners at Argosy.

470 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

Visit Website

Related Maps

The Rusty Nail Pub

2900 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30329

Billed as “the South’s version of Cheers”, the Rusty Nail and its distinct ambiance, people-watching, and drink specials never seem to disappoint locals or visitors to Atlanta. You can almost count on seeing something interesting happening at the Rusty Nail.

Open in Google Maps

2900 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30329

Visit Website

Fogón and Lions

10 Roswell St #100, Alpharetta, GA 30009

The best people-watching spot at this downtown Alpharetta Spanish-Latin American restaurant is absolutely on the covered patio out front, which overlooks the bustling main drag of the suburban city’s dining district.

Open in Google Maps

10 Roswell St #100, Alpharetta, GA 30009

Visit Website

Las Delicias De La Abuela

5600 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340

This place is always buzzing with energy, but on weekend evenings, the beloved Buford Highway Colombian restaurant has great live music and a dressed-up, see-and-be-seen crowd of its own. There’s also a location in Duluth.

Open in Google Maps

5600 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340

Visit Website

Related Maps