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Summer Fridays hit different in Atlanta. Long evenings with color-changing skies, warm nights made for patio hopping, and a city full of parks, rooftops, and leafy neighborhoods make it easy to stretch the day well past office hours.
Whether you’re sneaking out for a late lunch, lingering over an early dinner, or chasing sunset cocktails across town, summer in Atlanta is all about slowing down and savoring what’s in season: Vibrant local produce, refreshing drinks, and quick bites that’ll likely turn into all-night hangs.
Must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly.
For the loveliest lunches in the city…
Plan a visit to Boone’s for the Georgia-grown sliders topped with pickled house cucumbers, a spinach salad, and a glass of crisp white wine overlooking the golf course. Parking is free here and a quick lunch might easily turn into an all-afternoon affair. Elektra at the Forth hotel brings vacation vibes whether you’re sitting indoors or out; keep lunch light with some dips (hummus, labneh, yaqtin) and a fattoush salad, or fill up on citrus salmon or a harissa chicken pita.
Elise at the Woodruff Arts Center is a perfect “ladies who lunch” situation or really just great for anyone who loves a museum stroll after a meal. Try the crispy artichokes, carrot and coriander soup, a pasta, or a burger and follow it with a visit to the High Museum or SCAD Fash, a small but beautifully curated fashion and film gallery located on the SCAD Atlanta campus. And in Brookhaven, 1678 Omakase is a hidden gem — a 12-course lunch is $58 per person and available at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.
For an ideal post-work happy hour…
Post up at the bar or on the newly renovated patio at El Ponce, where happy hour takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. and includes $7 cocktails (margarita, Mexican mule, paloma, michelada) and $3 botanas (mini cheese quesadillas, esquites, flautas, and more) and pop into Bar Ana downstairs for dessert after. At Patria Cocina in Grant Park, happy hour is dubbed “Jalisco hour” and happens from 3 to 5 p.m. And Yuji Modern Japanese has golden hour at the bar from 5 to 6:30 p.m. that includes sushi, small plates, and cocktails.
For a supremely satisfying 5 p.m. dinner…
Dinner reservations at Little Bear book up way in advance, so if you have a last-minute hankering for fun fusion dishes like egg drop salad, chicken liver custard, or peach and onion soup, try your luck at an early evening slot at this cozy Summerhill enclave. Cocktails, like their dishes, evolve based on what’s available in season. A booze pack here goes for $65 per person where “fancy” is the theme and includes one off-menu cocktail, two off-menu glasses of wine, and one petite nightcap.
For the gluten-free crowd, Grant Park’s Mediterranea is a hit. Reserve a table in the dining room or get there early for prime rooftop seating — we love the charred broccoli salad, turkey feta meatballs, spinach mushroom lasagna, and moussaka. Wine lovers will appreciate an early dinner at El Viñedo Local in Midtown especially if you’ve got a Broadway show or concert to get to after; order some handhelds for the table, like arepas and empanadas, and ceviche or beef skewers.
For basking in golden hour…
Atlanta sunsets are glorious, especially in the summer, and what better way to enjoy them than with a drink in hand, camera ready. In Poncey-Highland, Madeira Park has a relaxed patio where you can bathe in warm evening light before a neighborhood walking adventure that may or may not include soft serve, more wine, and a movie. Grab some grilled carrots, a bistro steak, and an order of pommes frites and pair it with a house red from Portugal.
In West Midtown, Palo Santo‘s covered rooftop feels like a hidden sanctuary. Perched above the city with views of the skyline and the train tracks below, it’s the kind of place where you can (and will probably want to) stay all night. Snack on guacamole and spicy tuna crispy rice, and pair everything with mezcal, tequila, or a carajillo for a caffeine punch. Get dressed up for a visit to Moonlight at the Forth hotel. The rooftop lounge has sexy ’70’s vibes and gorgeous park and skyline views to match. Go around 7:30 p.m. in the summer, and stay for at least two rounds.
Keep It in the Neighborhood
Summer Fridays in Old Fourth Ward
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Lunch
Salads and wraps keep things light at Necessary Purveyor (pictured here), but the lobster roll and steak frites are the move here. There’s also a solid wine list available by the glass or bottle, plus cocktails and Bigface coffee if you want to stretch lunch late into the afternoon. -
Happy Hour
Communidad Taqueria’s “Happier Hour” runs from 3 to 5 p.m. with snacks and drinks priced from $2–$7. Expect street tacos, chips and salsa, nachos, margaritas, Aperol spritzes, Dos Equis, and more. -
5 p.m. Dinner
At Ticonderoga Club, start with the steak tartare or green salad with local lettuces, toasted pepitas, and sherry-Dijon dressing. The smoked mackerel fried rice is a standout, and cocktails like the Ticonderoga Cup are worth ordering early.
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Golden Hour
At Marcus Bar & Grille, the patio overlooks Edgewood Avenue, making it a good stop around sunset for drinks and small plates. Order the jollof arancini, cornbread, deviled eggs, or seafood piccadilly. If you want to stop by nearby Staplehouse before or after, note that it closes at 10 p.m. on Fridays. -
Al Fresco Dining
The enclosed patio at A Mano is lined with greenery and jasmine, with options to sit in the garden, pavilion, or porch patio. Go for the kale Caesar or fig salad, then carbonara or bucatini alla bolognese. Cocktails are seasonal and playful, like the Prosciutto e Melone with prosciutto-washed tequila and cantaloupe cordia.
For when you’ve got to be outdoors…
One of the best things about dining on Atlanta’s patios is that green spaces are usually right around the corner. 7th House surprises with a tucked-away patio wedged between buildings, giving it a big city alley-garden feel. BoccaLupo in Inman Park has a generous raised deck perfect for lingering over pasta and interesting cocktails like the Garden Sour (made with celery, lime oleo, Greek yogurt, and a sparkling Korean rice wine) or the Buona Sera, a tropical Manhattan-style drink with pineapple and Marsala vermouth.
Then there’s Delbar Buckhead, which its lounge doors out to the breezy umbrella-shaded patio when the weather cooperates. Order some hummus and tzatziki for the table, a giant salad, and even an order of char-grilled wings. Scout, in Oakhurst, is another reliable outdoor option — the lamb lollipops and beer-battered cauliflower here are just as good as the smoky spinach salad and creamy blue crab ravioli.
For when you’ve got to get out of town…
About an hour north of Atlanta by car, Dahlonega is Georgia’s wine country with more than a dozen tasting rooms and vineyards in the area. Why not switch it up and try a distillery instead? Specializing in small-batch bourbon whiskey, Big Creek Distilling Co. is worth the ride. Sip a Georgia Buck (bourbon, peach purée, and ginger beer in a mason jar), a floral Lavender Road made with their seasonal gin and butterfly pea tea, or a Blackberry Mojito that replaces rum with their small-batch bourbon. If you can time it right, Bourbon and Blues (every second Friday) and On the Rocks (every third Saturday) both bring live music, a food truck, and local vendors to the property, making a strong case for an overnight in wine country rather than rushing back to the city.
An hour or so south of Atlanta, downtown Macon packs a few great dining and drinking establishments (not to mention live music venues and festivals), like the seasonally driven and Southern-inspired Dovetail into a teeny, walkable one-square-mile district. The restaurant stocks more than 70 whiskeys and gets their produce, olive oil, honey, poultry, and more from local farms; order the roasted carrot salad, the market vegetable plate with cornbread and sea salted honey butter, and the grilled pork chop with grits.
Take the scenic route to Chattanooga (under two hours from Atlanta), perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway. While you’re there, dine at Amada (“loved” in Spanish) Tapas & Wine, where the food lives up to its name. Order the saffron mussels, bacon-wrapped dates, chargrilled octopus, or a vegetable paella, and pair it all with one of their signature sangrias or something from the Spanish-forward wine list. It’s perfect for a date night or a celebratory dinner to cap a day trip.
Allison Ramirez is a bicoastal, Atlanta-based (for now) freelance journalist. She has over a decade of experience writing for publications like Travel + Leisure, the Daily Beast, Liquor, Thrillist, and others. Her recent work spans art, architecture, travel, and food & beverage stories, focusing on diversity within those spaces in the South and beyond. Follow her on Instagram. Follow Resy, too.
