With two food halls and 55+ restaurants, the Atlanta BeltLine's Eastside Trail is a food lovers’ dream. You can find everything from pizza to tacos, tapas to smoothie bowls, and plenty of delectable desserts and places to get a beer or cocktail. I have written extensively about restaurants on the Atlanta BeltLine. Check out my previous blog posts for more detail about individual restaurants.
Yes, you can search out the good spots on your own, with the help of this blog and maybe Yelp reviews. But you don't have to go it alone. Let us take you on a tour of the BeltLine's best restaurants, with a Food and Street Art Tour of the Atlanta BeltLine. Starting at Krog Street Market, named "one of the world's best food halls" by Travel + Leisure, you'll get a taste of Atlanta's cosmopolitan foodie scene, from Southern bites to Detroit style pizza to New Orleans beignets and more. Learn more.
Otherwise, start at Ponce City Market and head south. Along a 1.2 mile route or so, you'll find plenty of restaurants. But which ones should you try? The choices can be overwhelming. Here are my recommendations for some of the best restaurants on the Atlanta BeltLine.
Ponce City Market Best Restaurants
At Ponce City Market, you can sample dishes from some of Atlanta's most renowned chefs. Here you will find a range of international food, from delicious Puerto Rican sandwiches at El Super Pan to Ton Ton's ramen - some of the best you'll ever have. If you want a burger and fries, you have to try the restaurant that has captured all the food critics' attention, Holeman & Finch. And if you are craving pizza, grab a slice or a pie at Pizza Jeans. There are plenty more good restaurants to choose from in this giant food hall, and you really can't go wrong with any of them.
Moving down the Eastside Trail, two places will give you beautiful skyline views. Stop in at New Realm for local brews and pub fare. Or have a drink and Mexican bites on Estrella's Caribbean-vibe roof deck.
Inman Park Best Restaurants
Just after you pass under the first bridge, turn left at the Rhino sculpture and head into Inman Park, which is flush with popular restaurants. You'll find good tapas and excellent wines at Barcelona Wine Bar, my favorite place to take out-of-town guests. Seafood lovers can't skip Beetlecat, whose lobster roll was named best in the world by Maine. And for a festive atmosphere, head up the hill to Victory Sandwich, which offers mini sandwiches, spiked sodas and their ever-popular whiskey Coke slushie. Pure Taqueria offers Mexican street food, and attracts regulars at the bar. And Delbar, with its middle eastern fare, is a favorite for special occasions. Or stop in to Hampton & Hudson, a regular hangout for sports fans and neighborhood residents, and a fun stop on our Doggie Food Crawl on the BeltLine, a unique restaurant crawl for dogs.
Keep going on the BeltLine, and you'll see the crowds on the patio of Ladybird, a hip hangout with campfire-themed food, and beer served out of vintage campers.
Krog Street Market Best Restaurants
When you hit Irwin Street, Krog Street Market will be to your diagonal left. Named "one of the world's best food halls" by Travel + Leisure, this was the original food hall that kicked off the craze in Atlanta. For some good ole Southern cooking, try Soul Food & Culture. Their fried green tomatoes, topped with pimento cheese, are a huge hit on our Food and Street Art Tour of the Atlanta BeltLine. Also try Gu's Dumplings (get the pork), the only authentic Chinese dumplings in the city. And you can't skip Fred's Meat & Bread for another nationally acclaimed burger, along with the best Philly Cheesesteak outside Philadelphia. And no meal would be complete with Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams for dessert or Little Tart for flaky French pastries. And technically not a restaurant, Xocolatl is another dessert option, offering small-batch dark chocolate from around the world.
SPX Alley Best Restaurants
As good as the food halls are, some of my very favorite restaurants are directly on the BeltLine in SPX Alley, just past Irwin Street. For pizza that's worthy of a last meal, stop into Nina & Rafi. A few doors down, Guac y Margys serves up margaritas made from fresh fruit that is aged to perfection. Pair your margy with their famous guacamole, salsa and cheese dip - menu staples at this chip-and-dip-themed restaurant. Keep the beachy vibe going with a smoothie bowl from Playa Bowls topped with fresh fruit. Or get some made-from-scratch ice cream from local favorite Butter & Cream. And across the BeltLine, you'll find BrewDog, with its massive open-air restaurant overlooking the BeltLine. Half of the menu is plant-based, but their burgers are the huge hit with our canine customers on Barks & Bites, our unique Doggie Food Crawl on the BeltLine.
More of the Best Restaurants Near the BeltLine
You can also find plenty of favorite local restaurants just off the BeltLine.
is where the neighborhood goes for a pint. Just steps from the BeltLine, you can get there by heading down the stairs next to the Telephone Factory Lofts and walking up the hill on Ralph McGill Blvd. Their wings and mussels are a hit, and the Bantam chicken sandwich is a mainstay, made with mushrooms, parmesan and bacon on focaccia. If you're lucky, they might still have the mac & cheese on the menu, a decadent blend of cheddar, parmesan and gremolata.
has the fluffiest beignets this side of the Mississippi. This NOLA eatery, tucked inside the Irwin Street Market just steps from the BeltLine, is another favorite on our Food and Street Art Tour.
serves up fresh fruit and grilled Cuban-style sandwiches under straw umbrella tables on the sidewalk. Allow plenty of time to relax, as the lines are long and you are on island time here. But the food is worth it.
Buena Vida
Located in Historic Fourth Ward Park off the BeltLine, Buena Vida Tapas & Sol is a relaxing place to sit outside and sip on a cocktail while enjoying classic Spanish tapas such as garlic shrimp, patatas bravas and empanadas.
Overwhelmed by all the restaurant choices? Let us take you to the best ones! Get a sampling of Atlanta's thriving foodie scene with a Food and Street Art Tour of the Atlanta BeltLine. You'll get to taste Detroit-style pizza, Southern fried green tomatoes, NOLA beignets and more.
An Atlanta native, Nicole Gustin is the Founder and CEO of BiteLines, which offers walking Food and Street Art Tours on the Atlanta BeltLine. She considers the BeltLine her backyard, and is excited to see how Atlanta is reinventing itself. To sample some of Atlanta's best restaurants and street art, join us on our fabulous Food and Street Art Tour of the Atlanta BeltLine. Or bring your fur baby on Barks & Bites: Doggie Food Crawl on the BeltLine. Follow on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram @bitelinesatl.