12 primo ATL people-watching spots
Where to go in the A for the best introverted entertainment
Photo credit: Courtesy Atlanta Movie Tours
Relying on alcohol alone to get dialogue flowing is plain boring. Be it exotic decor, historical context, or natural beauty, Atlanta has so much more to offer than just a dope craft beer selection. We have a pretty incredible crop of people to watch. Take a new friend or first date to one of the joints below to ignite a much more cultured back-and-forth.
97 Estoria
Once a grocery store for cotton mill workers in the historic Cabbagetown neighborhood, 97 Estoria is a restaurant and "hangout for all adults" known for its quirky vibe and vegetarian-friendly menu. The laid-back, smoky bar scene is its main draw, bringing in a host of scruffy regulars.
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Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail
The paved and popular 2.25-mile path is part of the larger 22-mile loop of parks, trails, and transit known as the Atlanta Beltline that is changing the city for the better. The Eastside Trail provides a direct route from Midtown to Inman Park/Old Fourth Ward in minutes, a feat unheard of by car in ...
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Clermont Lounge
If you haven't witnessed Blondie, the city's most well-embraced stripper (she's appeared in the city's marketing material, for Christ's sake), crushing a beer can between her breasts, then you're not an Atlantan. The oldest strip club in Atlanta, located in the basement of the Clermont Motor Hotel, ...
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Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Discover a world of WOW at Atlanta’s science and nature experience. Travel around the world and back in time as you discover live animals, amazing places, ancient fossils, prehistoric cultures and new science discoveries. Throughout the year, new exhibits, movies and experiences offer more to explor...
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Freedom Farmers Market
Located in Freedom Park at the Carter Center, the Freedom Farmers' Market offers local products including fresh produce, baked goods, cheese and dairy, farm-fresh eggs, handmade preserves and honey, prepared meals, fresh coffee and more.
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Georgia Aquarium
The nation's largest aquarium has more aquatic life than any other aquarium, with specimens from more than 500 species, including whale sharks, the largest fish in the sea. Visitors can go to the "touch tank" for the chance to interact with sea stars and anemones. "Behind the Scenes" tours are avail...
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High Museum of Art
Located in Atlanta’s Midtown Arts District, the High Museum of Art serves as a major cultural anchor for the city, housing extensive permanent collections and hosting internationally touring exhibitions throughout the year. The museum is part of the Woodruff Arts Center campus and plays a central ro...
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Landmark Diner
Landmark Diner is the type of place you and your friends go after clubbing for a huge platter of food to counteract all the drinks. Now, Atlantans go for the 6-inch-tall cakes.
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Oakland Cemetery
Atlanta's most historic and picturesque cemetery holds the remains of Margaret Mitchell, Bobby Jones, once-enslaved individuals, and nearly 7,000 Confederate soldiers.
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Ponce City Market
Towering over Ponce de Leon Avenue in the 2 million-square-foot former Sears building, this market represents the city’s continual thriving to preserve what’s old yet make it undeniably modern. It’s directly connected to the Beltline, will house top-notch eateries in its food hall — including the co...
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Trader Vic's
Feeling the need to escape to a tropical island? Trader Vic's, located in the Hilton Downtown Atlanta, is the next best thing, with its intensely topical decor of palm fronds, tiki poles, and Polynesian long boats. Starters like the flower-shaped crab Rangoon and the butterfly shrimp flattened into ...
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Your DeKalb Farmers Market
Your DeKalb Farmers Market is one of the most distinctive food destinations in metro Atlanta, drawing shoppers from across the region for its extensive international grocery offerings, fresh produce, meats, seafood, baked goods, and in-house prepared foods. Known for its global aisles and bustling a...
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The list above first appeared in the 2015 CL Cityguide and was updated by CL Staff recently.