Alternative Atlanta: The East Side Neighborhood Gems You Need To Explore
With Atlanta’s rich history, aging spaces provide plenty of opportunity for urban renewal projects. It’s a city that continues to evolve. While Atlanta’s main attractions are well known to many, we argue that there’s no better place to see the city’s incredible ongoing transformation than in its multifaceted East Side neighborhoods. From Cabbagetown to the Old Fourth Ward, from Little Five Points to Reynoldstown, these gems will reveal an alternative side to Atlanta.
Where to get coffee in Atlanta
With the proliferation of major coffee shop chains, we often find that the hyperlocal coffee shops and cafes are great representations of the neighborhoods they serve. It’s a travel hack we use to get a quick sense of an area. Atlanta’s East Side neighborhoods have a diverse selection of places to get your caffeine fix, from the ultramodern to the quirky. Here are a few of our favorites.
Cold Brew Bar in Reynoldstown
Cold brew is sometimes confused with iced coffee or tea, but it really describes a process of steeping for 12 hours or longer, relying on time instead of heat to draw out flavor. At Cold Brew Bar in Atlanta, it’s the star of the show. There are multiple options on tap, like the Nitro Oat Milk Latte and the Nitro Matcha Latte. But its signature cold brew is also used as a base for creative frappes, like its Sea Salt Mocha. Looking for a simple espresso drink? They make those too.
Cold Brew Bar is located in Reynoldstown, where the Atlanta Dairies Cooperative facility once stood. The Art Deco gem on Memorial Drive closed in 2004 and was further ravaged by a tornado in 2008. But its new owners have built a stylish mixed-use project in its place. Cold Brew Bar isn’t the kind of coffee shop where nine-to-fivers rush in to get their caffeine fix and leave. It’s very much a neighborhood gathering spot where people are encouraged to sit, stay, and connect. Here, the art of taking one’s time isn’t just a recipe for its drinks, it’s a philosophy.
Muchacho in Reynoldstown
We’re not going to lie, Muchacho first made our list because of its breakfast tacos. (We had our first migas tacos in Austin and have craved them ever since.) But when we popped in on one rainy afternoon, we also found a cheery space that defied the gloomy weather outside, a more diverse menu than expected, and delicious Counter Culture coffee drinks.
But as we sipped on our coffee, we noticed some of the patrons disappear into the space next door. Our curiosity got the best of us, so we followed suit. We found a sexy dining space with serious retro vibes, and we half expected to find Mad Men’s Roger Sterling at the bar. It turns out we were in Golden Eagle, Muchacho’s sister restaurant.
Muchacho and Golden Eagle both occupy an old train depot in Reynoldstown along the Beltline and are owned by Michael Lennox (who is also behind the popular Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall). It turns out, when the weather renders the outdoor patio unserviceable, Muchacho sometimes allows its customers to hang out in Golden Eagle. As the saying goes, every dark cloud has a silver lining.
Hodgepodge Coffeehouse in East Atlanta Village
While many of the trendy new spots in Atlanta remind us of New Brooklyn, Hodgepodge Coffeehouse reminds us of Old Brooklyn. Colorful murals envelop its East Atlanta Village exterior, while artwork and merchandise from local designers decorate its cavernous interior. It extends a warm introduction to Atlanta with coffee from local roasters Batdorf & Bronson (who are behind Dancing Goats), bagels from Emerald City Bagels (another East Atlanta Village purveyor) and homemade pastries and lunch items.
Hodgepodge has several vegetarian and vegan offerings, and its baked goods also include paleo-friendly options. Its bathrooms are gender-neutral. WiFi and electrical outlets are available to its customers. It’s easy to see why everyone feels welcome here. Atlanta is a pretty big city, but Hodgepodge makes it feel like a cozy community. And that is a rare talent indeed.
LottaFrutta in Old Fourth Ward
Being in a diverse city means you have access to authentic international cuisine, but we often discount the all-American hybrids that are borne from mixing cultures and backgrounds. LottaFrutta is based on the fruiterias commonly found in Latin cultures, but owner Myrna Perez herself grew up in Texas. She mostly drew on her memories of visits to Mexico, where her family is from. But through her extended family and friends, she found inspiration from Ecuador and Cuba as well, which is reflected in her diverse menu.
Fresh fruit cups and fruit smoothies are the main draw, and the Old Fourth Ward spot also has received acclaim for its grilled sandwiches. But another fun surprise is its Coffitta, the merger of an Americano and a Cuban coffee. When it’s warm outside, the Coffitta Frio is a frozen version topped with coconut crema that feels like a decadent treat.
What to see and do in Atlanta
A city’s history and culture is often captured within memorials and museums, but there are living monuments that many of us may miss or ignore altogether. Atlanta’s East Side neighborhoods have cycled through generations of change, and there are so many stories hidden within its many layers. Here are a few alternative ways to explore Atlanta’s past and present.
Ponce City Market
Backing up to, and accessible from, Atlanta BeltLine’s East Side Corridor, Ponce City Market is a massive 2 million square foot building, occupying an entire city block in the Old Fourth Ward. It was built in 1926, and for many years, it was a Sears, Roebuck & Co retail space and warehouse distribution center for the Southeastern United States. Later on, it was utilized as Atlanta City Hall East. Eventually, it was sold to a property developer and became what it is today.
Ponce City Market does offer residential and commercial rentals, but it is primarily a shopping, dining, and entertainment destination. There’s a diverse (though in our estimation, pricey) food hall, a number of cocktail bars, a winery, a coffee shop, and a variety of local and national retailers.
Our favorite part of this destination is The Rooftop at Ponce City Market, which includes Skyline Park. Not only can you brunch, drink cocktails, take in limited-engagement shows, events, and movie screenings at different points in the year, you have an open air amusement park with stunning views. Play old-school carnival games, kick back and sip on a craft beer or cocktail, take the plunge on the slides, jump on a vintage amusement park ride, or grab a bite to eat. Whatever you’re into you’ll find something fun to do here.
Atlanta BeltLine
Being huge fans of New York City’s High Line Park, we were excited to check out Atlanta’s expansive BeltLine Project. To offer some perspective, the High Line was a 1.45-mile-long derelict railway that was transformed into a spectacular urban greenway. The BeltLine, by comparison, is an ambitious project to revitalize Atlanta’s 22-mile railroad corridor loop abandoned in the late 20th century. The goal was to provide the city with new economic development, affordable housing, additional green spaces, and a network of streetcar or light-rail lines linking up Atlanta’s plethora of diverse neighborhoods.
Though progress certainly has been made towards this goal, there’s still much remaining to be completed, with portions still being actively developed. The project has also had its fair share of controversy. There have been criticisms about the lack of equity and inclusivity, particularly relating to gentrification, the deficit of affordable housing, and inadequate public transportation.
However, none of these are reasons to strike a visit to Atlanta’s BeltLine from your list. As a visitor, it offers so many things to see and do. The BeltLine offers free workouts, clubs and boot camps, educational walking and biking tours, sunrise and sunset hiking, pickup soccer, nutrition workshops, skate and bike classes, and even a run club. There's also incredible art to check out as you stroll along its various corridors, from sculpture to street art. And last but not least, you can find myriad restaurants, bars and craft breweries along or in close proximity to the trails, offering the perfect way to end your day’s activities.
Cabbagetown murals and street art
The Landmark District neighborhood of Cabbagetown in Atlanta's East Side has had its ups and downs. It started out as a mill settlement then suffered neglect when the mill closed and its residents left en masse. But the affordable housing soon attracted artists and musicians, and the neighborhood continues to flourish today. A tall wall running along Tennelle and Wylie Street separates the quaint cottages and bungalows from the rail lines, which made it perfect for the large-scale murals organized through the Forward Warrior Project.
Founder Peter Ferrari partnered with non-profit Cabbagetown Initiative in 2010 to launch the annual mural painting project. Its purpose is to beautify the neighborhood, build a sense of community and promote social change. The murals attract visitors throughout the year, and the stroll from the Fulton Cotton Mill Loft Apartments past the Krog Street Tunnel is a pleasant and eye-catching one. It’s a great way to discover local talent, especially since Ferrari frequently includes women and people of color in his roster of up-and-coming artists. Some of the local artists who caught our eye include Colombian-born, Atlanta-raised Julio A. Ceballos, SCAD graduate student and illustrator Diego Peñuela , and Atlanta-based multimedia artist Liz Webb.
Historic Oakland Cemetery in Grant Park
While visiting a cemetery may sound somewhat morbid, we’d argue that they are often beautiful and peaceful spaces, as well as treasure troves of local history. We’re big fans of Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn and Highgate Cemetery in London, and we were excited to add Historic Oakland Cemetery to our list.
Oakland Cemetery is on Atlanta’s Department of Parks and Recreation’s list of parks, and its 48-acres has been cited as a great place to have a picnic. During our visit, we saw a runner sprinting through the cemetery, and an artist sketching on a garden bench. Gone with the Wind author Margaret Mitchell is buried here, along with several other prominent Atlanta residents. There are architectural delights, like the 1899 Bell Tower where the Visitor’s Center is housed, as well as the 1908 Women’s Comfort Station which now serves as an exhibition space. The gardens are a pleasure too. Depending on the time of year, you might find blooming daffodils, garden mums or irises, or enjoy dramatic fall foliage.
Atlanta’s history is complicated, and Oakland Cemetery illustrates that fact perfectly. There’s Slave Square, where African Americans were interred because the city ruled they had to be buried apart from whites. Right next to it, there’s the Confederate Memorial Grounds, where some 7,000 soldiers rest. You can purchase a self-guided tour map for $5 at the Visitor Center, the cemetery is otherwise free to visit.
Tiny Doors ATL
Joy can come from any number of places, and Karen Anderson Singer thought that miniature doors could be one of them. She was right. In 2014, she was invited by a neighborhood institution to build her first, and there are now 20 (and counting!) all over the city. Atlanta’s East Side neighborhoods are home to a number of them, including some of its earliest iterations.
Organizations reach out to Tiny Doors ATL to initiate a project, but Singer is particularly thoughtful about how she contributes to the community. All of the miniature doors are located in public places that are free to visit, and are easily accessible to both foot and bike traffic. Besides the unique designs, Tiny Doors ATL also separates itself from other public art projects in that each door is meticulously maintained. Singer wipes them down, repaints, repairs knobs and entirely replaces them when necessary so that they continue to beautify the city’s landscape.
You’ll likely chance upon a door or two while you’re in Atlanta. But if you’d like to make it less of a hunt, Tiny Doors ATL also has a map of all its doors so that you can easily track them down. Or, on a beautiful day, you can participate in a two-hour Tiny Doors tour through Bicycle Tours of Atlanta.
Where to eat in Atlanta
Let’s face it, you’ll never go hungry in Atlanta. From authentic Southern classic establishments to James Beard award-winning eateries, this city has it all. But it can almost feel like too much of a good thing. Everyone has an opinion about where you can find "the best __", and researching the available options could send you down a culinary rabbit hole. So instead, we curated a small list of East Side restaurants we read about, spots our local friends recommended, and places we just stumbled upon.
Grindhouse Killer Burgers
Atlanta born-and-bred, Grindhouse Killer Burgers doesn't serve complicated, pretentious burgers. In fact, its winning formula lies in its simplicity. It all began over a decade ago at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, an Atlanta institution in its own right. Since then, Grindhouse has grown to five flagships and two airport outposts. Its Memorial Drive location has a campy 70s B-movie vibe, like something right out of Boogie Nights. Expect neon signage, cool artwork and movies playing in the background.
Grindhouse offers several quirky burger styles but you can also build your own burger from scratch. Its surprisingly large selection includes beef or turkey burgers for the meat lovers, and veggie or Impossible burgers for the vegetarians. And their shakes deserve a special mention, with or without the booze. Our chocolate cherry shake was the highlight of the meal.
Wonderkid Diner in Reynoldstown
As you get older, the voice inside your head saying no gets louder. But at Wonderkid Diner, your adult self and your inner child can happily coexist. Another fun option at the Atlanta Dairies mixed-use project, the cool diner offers several all-day breakfast items, but it also includes grown-up versions of comfort food staples like the Chef’s Red Chili (gluten-free) and Roasted Chicken Pot Pie (also available in a vegetarian version). The space is made for adults, from the stylish lounge to the red leather booths, but includes joyous touches like the rainbow-colored dessert bar.
And since Wonderkid is a collaboration between the King of Pops team and members of the Big Citizen restaurant group, the rainbow-colored dessert bar is the only place in Atlanta you’ll find King of Pops soft serve. (Its famous dessert pops can be found several other places.) So when you’re deciding between the Steak and Eggs and the Falafel Waffle, make sure you save room for dessert.
Little’s Food Store in Cabbagetown
Carroll Street is a short, narrow street where Cabbagetown’s restaurants, bars and shops are located. But what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in character. When we caught a glimpse of Little’s Food Store, we thought we’d wander in and pick up some supplies. And boy, we were in for quite a pleasant surprise.
Little’s Food Store is your neighborhood grocery store with a twist. When we walked in, we were greeted by two guys behind the counter grilling to Fugazi. Behind the narrow food counter there was a case of local knick knacks, and the shelves were stocked with a selection of high-end beer and wine. A steady stream of customers strolled in, so we glanced at the menu and spied an egg and biscuit sandwich, which we jumped on immediately. It was delicious.
We soon came to learn that the store has served the neighborhood since 1929, but has changed hands over the years and evolved in response to its gentrifying neighborhood. The grill has become a draw in and of itself, with many people listing Little’s Food Store as serving one of Atlanta’s best burgers. And they’re not interested in competing with Publix; so they only carry a small selection of dry goods, deli products, and curated alcoholic beverages. It feels like the kind of place locals don’t tell anyone about, so it can stay their little secret.
Home Grown GA in Reynoldstown
Seeking out Southern cuisine is easy in Atlanta, and Home Grown GA in Reynoldstown had us saying “y’all” in no time. The unassuming spot still feels like a neighborhood diner, even though it counts celebrities like Jerry Seinfeld and Jon Hamm among its customers. All of the art on the walls are for sale, there’s a little thrift store in the back, and its organic garden supplies the restaurant (hence the name). It’s strictly a breakfast and lunch spot, offering quality Southern food staples in regular and “Blue-Collar” sizes (value-sized portions served with cornbread, one side and soda, tea or coffee).
Home Grown GA was full of fun surprises, from our friendly server chatting with us about his upcoming wedding, to the award-winning vegan Sloppy Joe (made with peaches!). There are so many enticing options, but whatever you decide, make sure you get something with pimento cheese. Their in-house pimento cheese is so famous that it’s sold in local Kroger markets and we simply couldn’t get enough of it.
Conclusion
You might have noticed some repetitive themes among our Atlanta favorites: how history is pervasive, how community is an integral part of its growth, and how the old is constantly made new again. To understand what really makes Atlanta special, you have to think of it as a verb instead of a noun. It's a city that is still very much in motion, transforming daily, becoming something new and unexpected. And what we've outlined here is just a taste of an alternative Atlanta just waiting to be explored.
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