In the Neighborhood: Your ultimate guide to Atlanta’s Buckhead
Discover one of Atlanta’s most well-known neighborhoods and explore the area’s best shopping, dining and cultural experiences.
By Tanvi Chheda | December 14, 2023
In the 1920s, Atlanta’s wealthiest residents began moving to Buckhead, earning the area its nickname as the Beverly Hills of the South. Today, this affluent neighborhood remains one of Atlanta’s poshest enclaves, but it has also grown more dynamic and diverse over the decades. So, head to Buckhead and get ready to explore some of the best activities, dining and shopping in Atlanta.
EAT
It’s no secret that Atlanta is one of the most exciting food cities in the U.S. right now. Try:
- Mission + Market: Come for the ambiance but stay for the food. The dining room’s high ceilings and blue velvet banquettes are offset by comforting brunch fare like shrimp and grits and Korean-style fried chicken with waffles.
- Lucian Books and Wine: This wine-centric restaurant doubles as a specialty bookshop and serves fresh takes on European classics like ricotta gnudi with wild boar, currants and pecorino.
- Brush Sushi: Helmed by James Beard-nominated chef Jason Liang, this restaurant brings the Japanese omakase (chef’s choice) dining experience to Atlanta. At Brush Sushi, that means 25 chef-curated courses served with the option of beverage pairings.
SEE
A 1920s-era renaissance revival-style mansion and gardens, an outdoor amphitheater and several craft breweries — all in the same dynamic neighborhood. Explore:
- Atlanta History Center: This 33-acre (13 hectares) campus features a museum, notable homes and gorgeous gardens. Pore over Civil War artifacts and tour the Swan House, which served as a film set in several hit movies, then stroll through the gardens with everything from hydrangeas to Japanese maple trees.
- Cadence Bank Amphitheatre: Open since 1944, this beautiful stage at Chastain Memorial Park is Atlanta’s oldest outdoor venue, drawing hundreds of thousands of music-lovers every year. Check the calendar for concerts by some of the biggest names in the music biz.
- Atlanta Brewery Tour: This five-hour brewery tour by Southern Culinary Tours takes visitors through some of the neighborhood’s top craft beer-makers, along with several breweries in nearby Midtown.
SHOP
From designer threads at high-end malls to art galleries for the serious collectors and darling, independent boutiques, you'll find it in Buckhead. Discover:
- Buckhead Village District: This eight-block complex is the destination for all your shopping needs. From high-end labels to more affordable goods, this retail oasis delivers comfort and luxury.
- Lake Pajamas: It’s worth seeking out the cotton pajama sets from this Georgia-based label with a brick-and-mortar store in Buckhead. All things cozy await for both adults and kids.
- Miami Circle: To bring some of the finer things in life back home, head to this area featuring top interior design stores and antique showrooms, as well as the city’s highest concentration of art galleries.
With an amphitheater hosting top artists, a unique history museum, restaurants serving up inventive eats and plenty of retail therapy, Buckhead is one of Atlanta’s top neighborhoods for good reason.
Tanvi Chheda is a travel writer and family travel expert based in Los Angeles. From taking her daughter to Peru at the age of 2 to visiting several U.S. National Parks with her family, she loves seeing new places through her kids' eyes and encourages other families to do the same. A former Travel + Leisure editor, Tanvi has written for The New York Times, AFAR.com, Robb Report, Virtuoso Life and Ciao Bambino, among others.
Read more:
Find travel inspiration