10 Great Restaurants in Atlanta

You can’t get more classic than Bones. Rated as one of the best steakhouses in America by USA Today, Forbes, and Zagat, this is Atlanta’s go-to spot if you’ve got something to celebrate or someone to impress. Known for its steaks, which are aged in-house and cooked to perfection, this old-school spot also serves Maine lobster and Southern specialities like their famous hash browns.

This is a top-notch dining experience with impeccable service in elegant surroundings. A popular choice for business dinners, the restaurant has several private dining rooms that can accommodate groups of various sizes

Head to Canoe if you want a dining experience with a touch of magic. The restaurant is housed in a rustic-elegant building with a wraparound porch overlooking the Chattahoochee River. If you find yourself here on a summer night when the fireflies twinkle over the river, you’re in for an enchanting evening.

This highly regarded restaurant focuses on locally sourced ingredients and regularly changes its offerings to take advantage of the freshest seasonal produce. The slow braised rabbit is a treat, served with roasted cauliflower risotto and candied garlic jus, and the house-smoked salmon is a local favourite. Canoe has an extensive wine list, and knowledgeable sommeliers can help you select the perfect pairing for your meal.

Highly acclaimed Miller Union offers the best of Southern cuisine and hospitality. Award-winning chefs centre their simple-yet-inventive menu on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. To taste what Miller Union is all about, take the vegetable plate – an ever-changing selection of the restaurant’s impeccably prepared vegetable dishes like field peas with lemon ricotta and spiced okra fried to perfection.

Don’t miss the extras here, like the popular farm egg starter baked in celery cream and delightful desserts by renowned pastry chefs. Securing a reservation is a must, so book in advance or opt for a weeknight.

Ray’s in the City is your spot for great seafood. This popular city centre restaurant serves up classic seafood dishes with catches flown in daily from the coasts. The shrimp and grits at Ray’s are packed with flavour and will satisfy Southerners and visitors alike, and you can’t go wrong with the crab cakes or blackened seafood platter. End your meal with the house favourite butter cake, which comes topped with vanilla ice cream and a warm blueberry compote.

A modern space with a sleek bar and plush booths, the atmosphere is upscale but casual. Stop in on a Wednesday or Thursday evening to hear live jazz while you dine.

South City Kitchen offers Southern favourites with a modern flair. Take their fried chicken: served over creamy mashed red bliss potatoes and collards – just like grandma’s – and tied together with a honey-thyme jus. The space is warm, sunny, and inviting, and there’s an outdoor patio if you like to eat al fresco.

The brunch here is popular and for good reason. Put in your cocktail order plus the fried green tomatoes in red pepper sauce and enjoy complimentary warm biscuits and cornbread while you wait. Then get your chicken and waffle fix or try the mussels, served in a delicious white wine and fennel broth that’s perfect for baguette dipping.

A beloved Atlanta institution, Kimball House has a passion for their craft that comes through in every aspect of the dining experience. Located just east of the city in Decatur, the restaurant is housed in a former train depot and retains its charming atmosphere.

Start off with oysters from the raw bar and elevated classic cocktails – 2 of Kimball House’s specialities – before selecting from the French-accented farm-to-table menu. You’ll find some of the restaurant’s best on the starter list, from pillow-soft Hawaiian rolls to blue crab claws with tamarind citrus glaze and an exceptional beef tartare. In addition to excellent cocktails mixed with house-made bitters and syrups, the bar offers traditional absinthe service and a selection of rare spirits.

Table & Main offers seasonal Southern cuisine in a warm, inviting setting. The restaurant is located in historic Roswell inside a restored century-old homestead and is committed to sourcing high-quality ingredients.

Try their hogs ‘n quilts, an starter of barbeque pork in chive crepes with homestyle coleslaw. For mains, get the award-winning fried chicken or their tender pork chops served with cheesy chive spoonbread and seasonal vegetables. Finish off your meal with a decadent dessert or a bourbon from their impressive selection.

Twisted Soul is the work of culinary personality and award-winning chef Deborah VanTrece and specialises in creative interpretations of traditional Southern soul food. Taking inspiration from all over the globe, on the menu you’ll find things like hoisin-glazed oxtails and chimichurri fried chicken wings.

If you visit during their popular brunch, try the fried chicken omelette with honey picante sauce and herb potato hash. Twisted Soul is also known for their wide selection of craft cocktails, like the namesake martini with peach-infused moonshine or the Southern Hospitality, a gin cocktail with collard green jus, pressed apple, and tabasco. Come for the meal and stay for the warm and lively atmosphere, often accentuated by live music from local musicians.

Southern flavours meet Asian fusion cuisine at Poor Calvin’s for a one-of-a-kind dining experience. From rich starters like lobster wontons with mango and truffle to succulent grilled lamb chops and creative desserts, there’s a dish that will get the attention of any diner. Come during the Sunday brunch to try their unique take on chicken and waffles – buttermilk fried chicken on a pandan bacon waffle with whipped mascarpone.

Leave room for the stunning red velvet suspension cake, which is filled with mascarpone and berries and dipped in chocolate ganache, or a peach cobbler empanada. The adventurous diner will want to try one of their unusual cocktails like the Tom Yum – inspired by the soup – made with Thai rum, coconut, and lemongrass.

The Optimist wants to transport you to the coast, serving up delicately prepared Maine sea scallops, Spanish octopus, and fresh Alabama oysters. An old ham-aging house transformed into a bright, modern space, the restaurant also offers a covered patio and rooftop bar with views of the Atlanta skyline.

Opened in 2012 by Atlanta chef and restauranteur Ford Fry, The Optimist’s mission is to provide high-quality seafood that is sustainably sourced. On the menu, you’ll find everything from beachside classics like corn milk hush puppies to hamachi crudo with ponzu and a selection of whole-roasted fish. For a rich and flavourful entree, take the branzino, served in a buttery gravy with coconut and lemongrass.