For travelers to Atlanta, “downtown” refers to the main area they’ll find themselves in. It’s here that major sporting events take place, including annual football playoffs, the 1996 Olympics, two Super Bowls, and the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
But it’s actually made up of several smaller neighborhoods and historic districts. It’s here that the city was first founded, where the Mile Zero was set by the Western and Atlantic Railroad. Atlanta, or Terminus as it was then known, developed around the railroad, and the city is still impacted by the train routes as new areas pop up above the industrial foundations.
For the purposes of this guide, the boundaries of Downtown Atlanta will be North Avenue to the north, I-20 to the South, I-75 to the east, and Northside Drive to the west. Each neighborhood will include places to eat, things to do, and, when available, places to stay.
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Downtown Atlanta Neighborhoods
Castleberry Hill
Named for George W. Castleberry, a local businessman, Castleberry Hill was originally a warehouse district, and later a red light district, where Atlanta’s first horse-drawn trolley line connected to the rest of downtown. These days, you’ll find several Black-owned businesses and a popular monthly art walk.
The most notable restaurant is Pascal’s, which originated in the historic West End in 1947 as a soda fountain but found success serving fried chicken, which remains a favorite of diners. It was also a popular spot for planners during the Civil Rights Movement, and you’ll see images of the leaders inside.
No Mas Cantina is a neighborhood mainstay, both a sprawling restaurant and store selling wares from Mexico and sizable margaritas with the best selection of tequila, including a barrel pick chosen especially for the space.
Members of the rap group Nappy Roots opened Atlantucky Brewing. FamFam is a cozy karaoke bar you’d expect to find on Buford Highway, with private suites where you can belt out your favorite tunes until the wee hours or play a round of ping-pong. It’s BYOB and only $10 per person. Match Bar & Oven offers tropical cocktails, hookah, and pizza.
Centennial Olympic Park
If you say “downtown” to a visitor, they’ll most likely think of this area, which was developed into the 22-acre Centennial Olympic Park for the 1996 games from a series of vacant lots. Since then, it’s gained several attractions, including the famed Georgia Aquarium, which opened in 2005 as the world’s largest. You can see hundreds of aquatic species from Georgia and around the globe.
The World of Coca-Cola (tickets here) is a popular second place, with historic artifacts from the beverage brand’s rise to fame and a beloved tasting room where visitors can sample Coke’s lineup of drinks from countries throughout the world. This is a good opportunity to use the Atlanta CityPASS, which gets you into several attractions for one price.
The newly reopened Center for Civil and Human Rights is a must-see, especially in conjunction with a stop in Sweet Auburn, the former stomping grounds of Martin Luther King Jr. It has exhibits on human rights struggles for several communities and identities.
The College Football Hall of Fame focuses on the Southern pastime, with interactive exhibits on mascots, uniforms, and even a field to practice your throw. The Children’s Museum of Atlanta is the perfect place to run around. Or take in the view from above on SkyView Atlanta, the Ferris wheel set on the edge of the park.
In addition to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which hosts both sporting events and concerts, you can find performances at State Farm Arena and The Tabernacle, a historic church turned beloved live music space. With the closure of the CNN Center, the space is being reimagined with a new food hall set to open in May 2026.
Der Biergarten is one of several restaurants on Marietta Street, with traditional cuisine and beer from Germany. Kwan’s Deli is a local favorite for its bibimbap and bulgogi. Next to the aquarium, Atlanta Breakfast Club is a hearty place to start your day, with Southern classics like biscuits and gravy and chicken and waffles. Jagger Suite at the Moxy is a trendy rooftop lounge with quirky cocktails and bites.
The Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park has undergone an extensive renovation with refreshed guest rooms and dining options, with easy access to the Georgia World Congress Center. Guests of the Embassy Suites have access to complimentary breakfast and daily happy hour.
Moxy Hotel Downtown Atlanta is one of the newest in this neighborhood, bringing the aforementioned Jagger Suite and an outpost of Eggslut. The Jimmy Buffett empire landed in the city with the Margaritaville Vacation Club, with its namesake restaurant inside.
Georgia World Congress Center/Centennial Yards
This is more of a waymarker than an actual neighborhood, but the Georgia World Congress Center has a large footprint from near Centennial Olympic Park into the Vine City neighborhood. Built in 1976, it’s buttressed on one side by Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with COSM, a Vegas Sphere-type venue opening soon.
Most hotel development is taking place in this area, starting with the Signia by Hilton Atlanta (review here), a skyscraper with incredible views, over 900 rooms, an onsite spa, and one of the neighborhood’s best restaurants, Capolinea.
It’s followed a close second by Hotel Phoenix, named in honor of the icon of Atlanta following the Civil War. Balcony rooms overlook State Farm Arena, and Zephyr is poised to give Signia’s dining a run for its money. Reverb by Hard Rock has a rooftop bar and music-inspired rooms, including bunk rooms for groups. A Virgin Hotel locale is also planned for 2027.
Centennial Yards is a new development on the former foundations of the city known as The Gulch, with residential living, hotels, dining, and retail. Atlanta staples Busy Bee Cafe and Chops Lobster Bar will have locations here, plus The Irish Exit, a New York-based Irish pub.
Rosie’s Cafe is a local favorite, serving breakfast classics and sandwiches. Wild Leap, a brewery from LaGrange, has a second taproom in the former Norfolk Southern building, just across the bridge from Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Five Points
Named for where five streets came together, this is where the original downtown landmarks were, including Jacob’s Pharmacy, where Coca-Cola was first served, and the Kimball House Hotel, once the city’s grandest hotel, hosting presidents and notable residents. Georgia State University’s campus is also nearby.
These days, it’s mostly a business district, except for Underground Atlanta, which started as a nightlife zone in the 1960s after the city’s original foundations were rediscovered. It was renovated before the 1996 Olympics as more of an underground mall.
Today, it’s again a nightlife zone, home to MJQ Concourse, a longtime Atlanta nightclub, The Masquerade, an indie music venue, and several art galleries. The area also has several dining options, including Dolo’s Pizza, J.R. Crickets, and Gusto.
Origin Hotel is the latest to this neighborhood, part of a regional chain. It has 124 rooms and an on-site restaurant. The historic Connally Hotel is part of Choice Hotels and has budget-friendly rates and complimentary breakfast.
Fairlie Poplar and the Hotel District
If you’ve attended a conference or event, you likely stayed in this area, where you’ll find AmericasMart and several modern buildings designed by architect John Portman. This neighborhood is the base for DragonCon, the annual sci-fi fan convention, and often appears on film, including for Stranger Things. Fairlie-Poplar is a historic district named for its cross streets.
You’ll find several underrated restaurants and bars in this district worth tucking into. Peachtree Center is a wealth unto itself, with Aviva by Kameel, a friendly Mediterranean restaurant, and Hsu’s, a family-run Chinese restaurant.
NaanStop offers fast casual Indian cuisine and is popular with the work crowd. For New York-style deli sandwiches, hit up Reuben’s. Max Lager’s is one of the city’s longest-running brewpubs, open since 1998, specializing in wood-fired fare.
And if you can find it, you won’t want to leave, Red Phone Booth, a retro-inspired speakeasy. It’s part of 207 Peachtree, which will renovate a historic department store, with two additional bars and restaurants.
Trader Vic’s in the Hilton is one of the original franchised locations, worked on by Vic himself. The time capsule in the hotel basement has menu favorites like the pu pu platter and Mai Tai. The other must-see spot is Polaris, a futuristic rotating restaurant at the Hyatt, using rooftop bees for honey used in cocktails.
Ritz-Carlton Atlanta is what you’d expect from a luxury hotel, right on Peachtree Street, with club-level rooms, a restaurant, a coffee shop, and kid-friendly programming. The Candler Hotel (review here) is in the historic office where the Coca-Cola company had its headquarters. It has preserved architectural details, including Beaux-Arts bas relief and Tiffany windows.
The Westin Downtown Atlanta is an iconic part of the Atlanta skyline, with its cylindrical shape and floor-to-ceiling windows. The Ellis Hotel is another historic hotel, with its own coffee shop in the lobby. The former W will soon debut as a JW Marriott, bringing added luxury to downtown.
South Downtown
Another site of development is what’s being called South Downtown, which has long been a site for public art thanks to organizations like Living Walls, including the one above. A recent push is restoring historic buildings and setting up local businesses like Crates, a popular records store.
New York’s popular Smorgasburg food truck park set up an Atlanta operation, with cuisines from around the globe. Spiller Park coffee shop and El Tesoro, a fantastic taco spot, also set up additional locations in the neighborhoods. Brewhouse Cafe, a beloved soccer fan bar, is also opening an additional location.
Bottle Rocket moved from Castleberry Hill and offers sushi and tropical cocktails, typically hosting viewings of Atlanta United games. And, of course, you can always stop by Magic City Kitchen (yes, inside the “adult entertainment venue”) for what’s often cited as the city’s best lemon pepper wings.
Sweet Auburn
Visitors to Atlanta should be sure to explore the neighborhood where a young Martin Luther King Jr. was born, and many Civil Rights Movement leaders lived. Of course, you can start at the King National Historic Site and the King Center, where he and his wife are entombed. The National Park Service also manages King’s boyhood home, Ebenezer Baptist Church, several homes, and a historic fire station.
The Municipal Market is another stop, once segregated but now offering fresh foods and prepared foods from up-and-coming businesses. Unexpected Atlanta Tours offers a walking tour of the market, introducing you to the people behind it.
The Apex Museum is another look at the neighborhood’s African American history, and you can also pop in For Keeps, a Black-owned bookstore highlighting Black authors. Sweet Auburn has several great restaurants, but Anh’s Kitchen is known for its Vietnamese cuisine.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of the incredible Atlanta neighborhoods, so check out our other posts on the West End!
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