East Atlanta is the gentrified district of Atlanta. It includes the growing communities of Inman Park, the popular dining and nightlife neighborhoods of Little Five Points, Virginia-Highland, and Poncey-Highland. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and one of the top U.S. research universities, Emory University, are in this area.

Understand

Part of this district extends into DeKalb County, including the neighborhoods:

• 1 Druid Hills.  
• 2 East Lake.  
• 3 Candler Park.  
• 4 Edgewood.  
• 5 Kirkwood.  
• 6 East Atlanta.  

Other neighborhoods include:

• 7 Inman Park. includes two national historic districts: the Inman Park Historic District, and the Inman Park-Moreland Historic District.  

Junkman's Daughter

• 8 Little Five Points. is an Inman Park neighborhood business district of Atlanta that caters to the alternative crowd and has become a hangout for hipsters, punks, goth high school students, and some individuals who defy description. It's also a great location for vintage-everything (clothing, record, book, etc.) shopping. The name Little Five Points refers to an intersection of five streets. This is not to be confused with Five Points in Downtown Atlanta.  
• 9 Virginia-Highland. is an area east of Piedmont Park in the center of town known for its pubs and restaurants. Pedestrian-friendly sidewalks are busy until late at night. The name is derived from the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Highland Avenue.  

Get in

MARTA Rail East-West Line stops in King Center (E2), Inman Park/Reynoldstown (E3), Edgewood/Candler Park Station (E4), and East Lake Station (E5). Interstate 20 is also close.

To park in Virginia-Highland on a Friday or Saturday night:

• Near the corner of Virginia and Highland, find the parking lot entrance across from the fire station at the corner of N Highland and Los Angeles Ave. Parking there is free.
• For parking farther south on N. Highland (near Hand in Hand), there are $5 lots near the CVS. Watch out for resident-only parking on the side streets; tow trucks really do tow cars who park in the resident-only areas.

See

• Highland Avenue
• 1 Fernbank Museum of Natural History, 767 Clifton Road, N.E., ☏ +1 404 929-6300. M-Sa 10AM - 5PM, Su noon - 5PM. Special features include displays of Argentinosaurus, the largest dinosaur ever unearthed, and Giganotosaurus, the largest meat-eater ever discovered, and an IMAX theater. The museum also offers Martinis & IMAX, one of Atlanta's most popular "after five" events available every Friday, January through November. Adults $15, students and seniors $14.  
• 2 Fernbank Science Center, 156 Heaton Park Drive NE, ☏ +1 678-874-7102. Exhibit Hall Free Planetarium $7 adults, $5 students and seniors. (updated Jun 2016)
• 3 David J. Sencer CDC Museum, 1600 Clifton Road NE, ☏ +1 404-639-0830. M-W F 9AM-5PM, Th 9AM-7PM. Official museum for the Center for Disease Control. The only part of the CDC open to the public. Check website for the security checkpoint requirements. Must have photo ID. Free. (updated Jun 2016)
• 4 Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum, 441 Freedom Parkway, ☏ +1 404 865-7100. M-Sa 9AM - 4:45PM, Su noon - 4:45PM. One of ten presidential libraries administered by the National Archives & Records Administration and the only one in the Southeast, includes photographs, historical memorabilia from his presidency, an exact replica of the Oval Office, a permanent exhibit of significant events during Carter’s life and political career and the permanent home of the former president’s Nobel Peace Price awarded in late 2002. Adults $8; students, military and seniors $6.  
• Atlanta Freemarket. 

Do

• Bike or walk along the East-West Stone Mountain Trail - or the North-South Beltline Trail.
• Walk from Virginia-Highland to Little Five Points. Approximately a 2-mile walk. Walk south down Highland Avenue from Virginia Avenue to North Avenue, turn left and walk one block to Moreland Avenue. Turn right on Moreland and walk through Little Five Points, and turn right on Euclid Avenue.
• Van Michael Salon, 778 North Highland Ave (Corner of St. Charles and North Highland), ☏ +1 404 874-6604. M-Sa 8AM-8PM. Get a haircut or color at the internationally renowned Van Michael Salon. $$$. 
• Walk down Moreland Avenue, McLendon Avenue, and Euclid Avenue on both sides.
• Shop at the many boutiques and vintage clothing stores.
• Relax in the bars with an alternative crowd.
• Attend a live music performance.
• 1 East Lake Golf Club. Established in 1904  
• 2 Freedom Park. (updated May 2016)
• 3 Horizon Theatre, 1083 Austin Avenue NE (corner of Euclid & Austin Avenues), ☏ +1 404 523-1477, +1 404 584-7450 (box office), info@horizontheatre.com, boxoffice@horizontheatre.comMULTIPLE-EMAIL. 
• 4 Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave NE. music venue  

Events

• Inman Park Festival. The is one of the largest neighborhood festivals in Atlanta. It takes place every April and includes concerts, a parade, a street fair and a neighborhood tour of homes. 

Buy

Virginia-Highland has a mix of clothing and gift stores, many with Southern flair, mostly catering to the 20-30s-something woman.

• Bill Hallman, 792 N Highland Ave NE. Hip clothing boutique. 
• Mitzi and Romano, 1038 N Highland Ave NE. Slightly more conservative clothing and accessories store carrying brands like Tessuto, For Joseph, Sharagano, and Easel. 
• Ten Thousand Villages, 1056 St Charles Ave NE. Nonprofit store that offers multicultural goods and handmade wares. 
• Psycho Sisters, 428 Moreland Ave. Funky vintage clothing, new items from other stores that overstock, and second-hand goods. 
• Junkman's Daughter, 464 Moreland Avenue NE. A warehouse full of quirky gifts and funky fashions. 
• Criminal Records, 466 Moreland Avenue NE. Large and varied selection of CDs, records, used CDs, comics, toys, posters and magazines. 

The Vortex

Eat

• 1 Babette's Cafe, 573 North Highland Ave. Rustic cafe decorated like a European farmhouse serving earthy seasonal fare. 
• 2 Fritti, 309 North Highland Ave, ☏ +1 404 880-9559. European-style pizza next to its sister restaurant, Sotto Sotto. 
• Jack's Pizza & Wings, 676 Highland Ave NE (South of Virginia & N. Highland), ☏ +1 404 525-4444. 11:30-midnight. Pizza and dive bar atmosphere. Lots of original pizzas, e.g. soul food and mac & cheese with bacon. $$. 
• 3 Krog Street Market, 99 Krog Street. (updated May 2016)
• Pura Vida, 365 North Highland Ave. Vibrant locale in Poncey-Highland is one of the favorites for tapas in Atlanta. 
• Sotto Sotto, 313 North Highland Ave. Basic pasta served in a sophisticated, simple setting is the trademark of this local favorite Italian restaurant. 
• Thumbs Up Diner, 573 Edgewood Ave SE, ☏ +1 404 223-0690. Known for its great breakfast options, the line is often out the door. Check the house rules before going! 
• 4 Holy Taco, 1314 Glenwood Ave. Hipsters and local families fill this casual Mexican restaurant. 
• 5 The Earl, 488 Flat Shoals Ave SE. A bar/grill that locals flock to for the burgers and beer. 
• 6 Ann's Snack Bar, 1615 Memorial Dr (I-20 Eastbound to exit 61A, Maynard Terrace; one block west on Memorial Dr), ☏ +1 404-687-9207. M-Sa 11AM-7PM. A dive in an industrial part of East Atlanta where for 44 years the surly but likeable "Ms. Ann" served up her specialty, the enormous and messy "Ghetto Burger," which was rated the "Best Burger in America" by Raymond Sokolov in the Wall Street Journal. The building only seats 8 people, but a screened patio was added after the WSJ article caused a surge in popularity. It's common to have a 2-3 hour wait, but many people think it's worth it since the lines have been that long for years. Ms. Ann died in 2015, but the restaurant is still going thanks to her siblings who took over in the last few years and continue to enforce Ms. Ann's famous 8 rules, including "no cursing in the snack bar". Ghetto Burger with fries $9.50. (updated Sep 2018)
• 7 Murphy's, 997 Virginia Avenue NE. Classic Highlands bistro serves reliable American cuisine and is packed to capacity for its weekend brunches. 
• Vine, 1190 North Highland Ave. Modern American cuisine with Mediterranean influences. Charming restaurant has a large wine selection and a great patio. 
• 8 La Tavola, 992 Virginia Ave. Quaint Italian restaurant in the heart of the highlands. 
• Pozole, 1044 Greenwood Ave. Fun Nuevo Latino restaurant with a cozy neighborhood vibe located in an old house near the Highland bar scene. 
• 9 Alon's, 1394 North Highland Ave. European bakery and market is a prime destination for locals and offers gourmet sandwiches, freshly baked breads, artisan cheeses, beautiful desserts and baked goods, and gourmet prepared foods. 
• Paolo's Gelato, 1025 Virginia Ave. Extremely cute and charming gelateria where an Italian native makes homemade gelato, marzipan, and other goodies. A must-stop for gelato lovers. 
• 10 Blind Willie's, 828 North Highland Ave, ☏ +1 404-873-BLUE (2583). An established blues club featuring live blues, and a selection of Chicago, Memphis, and New Orleans-style food. 
• 11 The Vortex, 438 Moreland Ave, ☏ +1 404 688-1828. Founded in 1992 by three siblings, the Vortex serves some of the best burgers in a pseudo biker-bar setting where rock and alternative music blasts and patrons enter through the facade of a giant human skull. (Note: must be 18 or older to enter due to smoking laws.) 
• 12 Savage Pizza, 484 Moreland Ave NE, ☏ +1 404 523-0500. Cheap pizza in a setting with wall mural art. Next to Criminal Records and Junkman's Daughter. 
• 13 Front Page News, 351 Moreland Ave. Lively bar/restaurant with a large patio serving cocktails and Cajun-style fare. 
• 14 Two Urban Licks, 820 Ralph McGill Blvd.. Ultra-trendy Inman Park restaurant filled with fashionistas. Southwestern-inspired and meat-friendly American cuisine. 
• 15 Rathbun's, 112 Krog St, ☏ +1 404 524-8280. Extremely popular restaurant tucked away in Inman Park serves contemporary continental fare. 
• Zesto, 377 Moreland Ave NE, ☏ +1 404 523-1973. Multiple locations in the city, but this location is inarguably the most popular. Diner with burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and claims to have the best ice cream in the world. 
• 16 Rise-N-Dine, 1565 North Decatur Rd (Emory Village), ☏ +1 404-377-4407. Not your parents' diner - breakfast includes sweet potato pancakes, goat cheese omelet, gourmet bacon, fresh OJ. (updated Jan 2017)
• 17 Spoon, 749 Moreland Ave SE. Simple yet sleek Thai restaurant on the Southwest side of GA tech offers up flavorful Thai basics. (updated Sep 2018)

Drink

Virginia-Highland is a popular area for twenty- and thirty-somethings. Most of the bars are places to laze around with friends or to indulge in the laid-back singles scene rather than to dance the night away. Dress is casual and drinks flow by the pint.

• Amsterdam, 502-A Amsterdam Ave NE (in Amsterdam Walk off Monroe Dr, all the way back around to the right), ☏ +1 404-892-2227. M-Th 11:30AM-2AM, F-Sa 11:30AM-3AM, Su 11:30AM-midnight. There's no thumping bass music or dirty videos on the TVs at this gay bar. It's a laid back and welcoming place where you can play a game of pool, chat with the bartenders or your friends, or watch a sports game on TV. Excellent beer selection including craft beers. Very popular for their Sunday brunch (11:30AM-3PM). 
• Burkharts Pub, 1492 Piedmont Ave NE, Suite F (if parking is scarce, park next door at Ansley Mall and walk across the bridge), ☏ +1 404 872-4403. M-F 4PM-3AM, Sa 2PM-3AM, Su 2PM-midnight. This large yet cramped gay bar has a bit of everything. The inside has all wood flooring, with a creaky staircase connecting the middle of the floor to the upstairs, and you might get turned around trying to see how all the rooms connect together. Two bars downstairs and one upstairs let them serve plenty of people (although opening a tab at one bar doesn't let you use the others on the same tab). Outside there are large tables to lounge at, secluded booths for a quieter conversation, and a fire pit in winter. The Friday night drag show always draws a bit crowd, with the queens fighting for their small amount of space on the crowded dance floor. 
• Loca Luna. is known for its Latin influenced house band, tropical decor and diverse Brazilian menu including 30 different tapas. 
• Smith's Olde Bar. Asmall but sizzling live music venue that features a songwriter showcase on Monday nights and performances by up-and-coming national acts. 
• Diesel Filling Station, 870 N. Highland Ave, ☏ +1 404-815-1820, info@dieselatlanta.com. (updated Jun 2016)
• Metalsome. Sing Karaoke with a live rock band backing you up. 
• Miso Izakaya, 619 Edgewood Ave SE. Japanese style pub that offers selections of sake, beer, sushi, and yakitori (skewed chicken on a stick). (updated Apr 2017)
• Velvet Room. At the northeastern edge of Atlanta. 
• Joe's Coffee, 10 Flat Shoals Ave SE, ☏ +1 404-521-1122. Easily the comfiest coffeehouse in Atlanta. It sports a mix of hipster and modern decor, free internet, and late hours. If you want a quieter place for an intimate conversation or some great me-time to read your favorite book, come here. 
• Graveyard Tavern, 1245 Glenwood Ave SE, ☏ +1 404 622-8686. A bar/grill with a lot of space to spread out. It also has dart boards. $. 
• The Earl. Where post-punk locals gather for a good beer and burger and live indie music. Excellent Sunday menu deemed "Dunch". 
• Mary's. A gay-friendly neighborhood bar in East Atlanta. 
• East Side Lounge (ESL), 485 Flat Shoals Ave SE, ☏ +1 404 521-9666. Smaller setting with a good crowd of locals and visitors. Relatively inexpensive drinks with a hip atmosphere. 
• Midway Pub (ESL), 552 Flat Shoals Ave SE, ☏ +1 404 584-0335. Excellent beer selection and quality bar-style food. Large, partially covered patio in front with two bocce courts behind the pub. Table games and arcade machines. Smoking is allowed, so Midway Pub is 18+. 
• 9 Lives Saloon. Dive bar for rock/metal fans.
• Krog Bar. Hidden gem of a wine bar where conversation goes on into the night with great wine and tapas. 
• Star Community Bar. A neighborhood dive with nothing but Elvis and rock n’ roll with three full-time bars and live alternative country and hard rock music. 
• Five Spot. Blends soul, funk R&B, reggae and jazz in its warehouse style environment. Also has an art gallery that displays local talent. 
• The Corner Tavern. Laid back restaurant and bar with pool and darts. 

North Highland Avenue

North Highland has many bars within just a few blocks; it's easy to walk between them, but as it's a residential area parking will be very difficult on Friday and Saturday nights.

• Atkins Park Restaurant & Tavern. is Atlanta’s oldest continuously licensed tavern and showcases a Creole influenced menu. 
• Blind Willie's. is a blues joint with a full bar and musical performances by national and local acts. 
• Darkhorse Tavern. A popular, three-tiered club spot with an antique bar and live music. 
• 1 Fontaines' Oyster House, 1026½ North Highland Avenue. Traditional New Orleans style vibe with a cozy atmosphere for good conversation. (updated Apr 2017)
• Hand in Hand, 752 North Highland Ave NE, ☏ +1 404-872-1001. A traditional British pub with typical pub fare and British ales. 
• Highland Taps. Known for its cozy feel as a neighborhood bar and grill and it’s famous for its prime rib. 
• Limerick Junction. Features sing-alongs from Wednesday to Saturday, local folk musicians on Sundays and open mike nights on Tuesdays. 
• Manuel's (Highland and North Avenue). An Atlanta Democratic Party institution where you're likely to find campaign staffers and off-duty cops knocking back stiff drinks under a portrait of JFK. 
• MJQ Concourse. Plays house, U.K. garage, hip hop and drum n’ bass. 
• Moe's and Joe's, 1033 N Highland Ave NE, ☏ +1 404 873-6090. College bar crammed with Emory and Georgia Tech undergrads. 
• Neighbor's Pub. A popular sports hangout with 13 beers on tap and 15 bottled ales. Most draught beers $4.25; craft draughts $4.50-7; most bottles $3-4. 
• Pura Vida. Serves up great mojitos and draws a Latin crowd for music and tapas. 
• The Righteous Room (Ponce de Leon and North Highland). Great jukebox and one of the best veggie burgers in town. Arrive early as seating fills up quickly. 

Sleep

• 1 Emory Conference Center Hotel, 1615 Clifton Road NE (From Hartsfield International Airport take MARTA to the Lindbergh Station. From Lindbergh take the #6 bus directly to the hotel.), ☏ +1 404 712-6000, gbrun@ecch.emory.edu. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. A conference center hotel in East Atlanta. 32,000 square feet of meeting & event space. Online reservation forms. List of amenities. (updated Apr 2016)
• 2 The Highland Inn, 644 North Highland Avenue Northeas, ☏ +1 404-874-5756. Quaint and unusual historic inn in Poncey-Highlands surrounded by unique restaurants and coffee shops. Established in 1927 and has a speakeasy in the basement. 
• 3 Inman Park Bed & Breakfast (The Woodruff House), 100 Waverly Way NE, ☏ +1 404-688-9498, info@inmanparkbandb.com. (updated Sep 2015)
• 4 Sugar Magnolia, 804 Edgewood Avenue NE, ☏ +1 404-222-0226. (updated Sep 2015)
• 5 Virginia Highland Bed and Breakfast, 630 Orme Circle North East, ☏ +1 404-892-2735, adele@virginiahighlandbb.com. (updated Jun 2016)
• 6 Hotel Clermont, 789 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306, ☏ +1-470-485-0485, heythere@hotelclermont.com. Check-in: 4:00 PM, check-out: 11:00 AM. Marking the revitalization of a legendary Southern landmark, Hotel Clermont reopened in the colorful and central Poncey-Highland neighborhood in June 2018 as a 94-room boutique hotel drenched in local history and culture. Three suites, 76 standard rooms and 15 bunk rooms - which house four guests per room and exist as an ode to the hotel’s storied revolving door of notable, musical guests - make up the hotel’s dynamic accommodation offerings, designed to appeal to all types of travelers. (updated Feb 2019)

Go next

Routes through East

West Atlanta ← Downtown ←

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