Sweet Auburn Curb Market
Whether you're looking for fresh produce or a fresh meal, you can find it at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market. The oldest public market in the city — and conveniently located in downtown — Sweet Auburn offers a number of stands offering fruits, veggies, all sorts of meats, and baked goods, as well as a veritable food court filled with an amazing variety of ready-to-eat meals. And for first timers, don't worry about the heat — the market is happily housed in its original building from 1924, which was recently restored.
The Porter Beer Bar
Sure, they serve food — but as far as we're concerned, that's just an excuse to get the non-beer obsessed in your party to go. The Porter Beer Bar serves up one of the more impressive beer selections in the city from its casual Little 5 Points location. And by impressive, we mean over 800 beers(!), with nearly 30 of those available on tap. Of course, the food is more than just an afterthought, including such hop-friendly dishes as belgian fries, hush puppies, popcorn, burgers, po' boys, and fish and chips.
Publik
Whether you're looking to grab lunch, dinner, or just a snack while sucking down pints, Publik has you covered. Located in midtown, the locally-owned draft house offers surprisingly excellent food for lunch, dinner, and late night, despite the relatively short menus — if you're into that sort of thing, we recommend the Spicy Lamb Burger with some tzatziki. Of course, it's also a bar, and as such offers a plenty large beer list, including a dozen or so on tap, creative cocktails, and what's perhaps the town's best absinthe menu.
The Nook
Is it a bar? A restaurant? Actually, The Nook is a little bit of both. This Piedmont Park establishment takes both its food and its drinks seriously, offering treats like Totchos — nacho-like creations made with tater tots — bacon mac & cheese-stuffed burgers, gallon-sized fishbowls of booze, and The Bloody Best — an insane 32 oz. Bloody Mary made with Absolut Peppar and Fat & Juicy mix, and topped with bacon, pepperoncinis, blue cheese-stuffed olives, tots, steak, a slice of toast, and a hard-boiled egg. Oh, and don't forget the beef straw.
Sid Mashburn
Don't be fooled by the profusion of ties, slacks, and other formal clothing items — while they might specialize in men's dress clothing, Sid Mashburn is far more than a typical suit shop. Sid's offerings represent a curated collection of high-quality goods from around the world, informed by the most manly of influences. Jeans, sweaters, shorts, swimwear, and shoes are on offer, as are accessories, books, records, bags, and other unique items. Well worth the trip from downtown.
Miller Union
When you're in the south, it's only right to have some southern cuisine — and Miller Union is the perfect place to do it. With a menu filled with southern specialties that's based on this week's harvest, this Westside spot ensures that you're getting the freshest food available while keeping it simple with rustic preparations. Set on a site once occupied by the Miller Union stockyards — hence the name — it also offers a ful bar, country decor, and, once each season, a family-style Harvest Dinner that's as fresh as it gets.
Wish
Looking for a new pair of kicks in the Big Peach? Start your search at Wish. This Little Five Points spot is housed in a former public library, and was recently updated with modern fixtures and a glam look. More important, though, is the luxurious shoe fitting area, where you can try on hard-to-find, limited edition sneakers from Nike QS, Adidas Consortium, Android Homme, Vans Vault, Supra, and others. Oh, and don't forget to check out the selection of clothing selection, which includes items from a number of up-and-coming brands.
Two Urban Licks
Looking for the best wine experience in Hotlanta? Skip the typical steakhouse and head over to the Highlands neighborhood for a taste of Two Urban Licks. Located in an appropriately industrial-looking building, it offers plenty of inventive, spicy small plates — think carolina BBQ spring rolls and veal short rib with spicy bok choy — as well as some serious larger portions, and some of the best views in the city. But the highlight is the unique wine barrel program — the only one of its kind in the US — that features 42 stainless steel barrels of wine with a gravity flowed system for pouring, all encased in a 26-foot tall glass and steel temperature-controlled tower.
