Things to do in Atlanta, splurging
The High Museum and the King historic site, with Rumi's, Storico and Southern Belle.
This is Atlanta for people who eat well and sleep well, in that order. The days move between Midtown's art and garden circuit, Buckhead's designer shopping and Italian tables, and the eastside's soul food and Victorian cemeteries. It suits anyone who wants the city's best restaurants and cocktail bars without sacrificing a good walk or a genuine afternoon.
Day 1: Midtown: Art, Gardens, and Rumi's
Pastries at Star Provisions, the High Museum, fried chicken at South City Kitchen, the Botanical Garden, then Persian at Rumi's and a nightcap at The Consulate.
- 9:30 AM
Star Provisions
Bacchanalia's legendary daytime bakery and café, great pastries and serious coffee to start the day.
Map - 11:00 AM
High Museum of Art
The Southeast's flagship art museum, American, photography, African and folk art collections, all in one sweep before lunch.
Map - 12:30 PM
South City Kitchen
Midtown bungalow for modern Southern plates: fried green tomatoes, then shrimp and grits.
Map - 2:30 PM
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Thirty acres of gardens with a treetop Canopy Walk and Orchid Center, a beautiful, unhurried afternoon stroll.
Map - 7:30 PM
Rumi's Kitchen Colony Square
Persian kebabs off the charcoal grill with warm barbari bread straight from the oven, in Colony Square.
Map - 9:30 PM
The Consulate Restaurant
Midtown restaurant whose menu travels to a new country each season; take a bar seat for a cocktail.
Map
Day 2: Buckhead: Boutiques, History, and Storico
Work through Lenox Square's flagships, take a long Lebanese lunch at Zakia, detour to the Atlanta History Center's Cyclorama, then sit down to an Italian dinner at Storico.
- 10:30 AM
Lenox Square
Buckhead's big mall, with Neiman Marcus and designer flagships; Phipps Plaza is across the road.
Map - 12:30 PM
Zakia Modern Lebanese Restaurant
Modern Lebanese in Buckhead: a spread of mezze, fattoush and grilled meats for a long lunch.
Map - 2:30 PM
Atlanta History Center
See the restored Battle of Atlanta Cyclorama, then walk the grounds to the 1928 Swan House mansion.
Map - 7:30 PM
Storico Fresco Alimentari
Buckhead pasta shop by day and trattoria by night: handmade pasta and a deep Italian wine list.
Map
Day 3: Inman Park to Old Fourth Ward: Soul, History, and Southern Belle
Coffee in Virginia-Highland, soul food downtown, an afternoon between Oakland Cemetery and the King historic site, and an acclaimed dinner to close the trip.
- 9:30 AM
Kinship Butcher & Sundry
Virginia-Highland butcher and deli counter; grab coffee and a breakfast sandwich to go.
Map - 12:30 PM
Auntie Vee's Kitchen
Downtown soul-food counter for fried chicken, mac and cheese and greens, a plate before the history walk.
Map - 2:30 PM
Oakland Cemetery
Victorian garden cemetery founded 1850, Margaret Mitchell, Bobby Jones, civil-rights figures; a genuinely beautiful Atlanta wander.
Map - 3:30 PM
Martin Luther King
Walk from King's birth home to Ebenezer Baptist Church and his tomb; the visitor center shuts at 5.
Map - 7:30 PM
Southern Belle
Seasonal Southern tasting menu in a small Ponce de Leon room; book the chef's counter if you can.
Map - 9:30 PM
Barcelona Wine Bar
Inman Park wine bar with Spanish and South American bottles and a plate of jamón to share.
Map
Where to stay
Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta
In Midtown on 14th Street, a short walk to Rumi's at Colony Square and the High Museum; polished, quiet rooms.
Epicurean Atlanta, Autograph Collection
The Epicurean is built around food and drink culture, which makes it the right base for a trip structured entirely around where you eat next.
Make Atlanta your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Georgia Aquarium: a few days ahead
- Fox Theatre: weeks ahead
- Truist Park: a few days ahead
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium: a few days ahead
- Trap Music Museum: a few days ahead
- Bobby Jones Golf Course: a few days ahead
Skip these
- World of Coca-Cola as a headline attraction; do the Civil Rights Center next door first.
- Underground Atlanta, a long cycle of revival announcements and disappointment.
- The Varsity as a food destination; go once for the 1928 drive in theatre of it, not for lunch.
- SkyView Atlanta, a generic wheel at attraction prices.
The full Atlanta travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around