Guidebook for Athens
Essentials
Fancy-food/health food grocery within walking distance from the apartment. Has hot bar, deli, and prepared-food offerings, and good selection of wine and beer. It's expensive, but convenient & tasty.
66 locals recommend
Earth Fare
1689 S Lumpkin StFancy-food/health food grocery within walking distance from the apartment. Has hot bar, deli, and prepared-food offerings, and good selection of wine and beer. It's expensive, but convenient & tasty.
Drinks & Nightlife
Walking distance, decent food, beer, football -- er, I mean, soccer. OK for a quick bite and a beer, or for watching sports Americans don't understand. No smoking, though, so not really a pub.
73 locals recommend
The Royal Peasant
1675 S Lumpkin StWalking distance, decent food, beer, football -- er, I mean, soccer. OK for a quick bite and a beer, or for watching sports Americans don't understand. No smoking, though, so not really a pub.
Unfortunately named wine bar with good wine and cheese specials, fancy coffee drinks, board games. Dark inside. Good place to take a date.
Aromas
1235 S Milledge AveUnfortunately named wine bar with good wine and cheese specials, fancy coffee drinks, board games. Dark inside. Good place to take a date.
Another Athens institution. Pub food, beer, free events (Irish music, poetry readings that don't suck). My friend got married here. Good place to start an evening or chill on a Sunday afternoon.
60 locals recommend
The Globe
199 N Lumpkin StAnother Athens institution. Pub food, beer, free events (Irish music, poetry readings that don't suck). My friend got married here. Good place to start an evening or chill on a Sunday afternoon.
Disclosure: I'm too old and cynical for the college bar scene. If you're looking to meet a sorority girl, drink shots off a stranger's body, or wake up with an STD, you'll hate this place.
25 locals recommend
Manhattan Cafe
337 N Hull StDisclosure: I'm too old and cynical for the college bar scene. If you're looking to meet a sorority girl, drink shots off a stranger's body, or wake up with an STD, you'll hate this place.
The Max Canada
243 W Washington StGood place to play pool, listen to ACDC.
Vast selection of beer on tap, good enough food. This is a great place to go if you love beer and want to try something really unusual or special.
74 locals recommend
Trappeze Pub
269 N Hull StVast selection of beer on tap, good enough food. This is a great place to go if you love beer and want to try something really unusual or special.
Food Scene
Are you a "Lady Who Lunches"? Do you get your hair "set" every week and own more than one pantsuit? Do you have a small dog that you carry around with you in your purse? No? Me either.
8 locals recommend
Lumpkin Cafe
1700 S Lumpkin StAre you a "Lady Who Lunches"? Do you get your hair "set" every week and own more than one pantsuit? Do you have a small dog that you carry around with you in your purse? No? Me either.
Local chain with decent, affordable Mexican food. Big portions. Not amazing, but good if you just want some low-hassle grub. Easy parking.
15 locals recommend
Barberitos Southwestern Grille & Cantina
1739 S Lumpkin StLocal chain with decent, affordable Mexican food. Big portions. Not amazing, but good if you just want some low-hassle grub. Easy parking.
Gave REM its "Automatic for the People" album title. Good, authentic, cheap soul food; quirky proprietor. Local institution. Worth a visit.
19 locals recommend
Weaver D's Delicious Fine Foods
1016 E Broad StGave REM its "Automatic for the People" album title. Good, authentic, cheap soul food; quirky proprietor. Local institution. Worth a visit.
Ramshackle old southern warehouse now the site of beloved local coffee company's roasting facility. Get some coffee and sit on the porch. Smells like my grandma's house.
131 locals recommend
Jittery Joe's Coffee
1230 S Milledge AveRamshackle old southern warehouse now the site of beloved local coffee company's roasting facility. Get some coffee and sit on the porch. Smells like my grandma's house.
Mama's Boy Restaurant
197 Oak StreetGreat breakfast, but go early. Gets busy fast.
Probably the most famous restaurant in Athens. Vegetarian place, but everybody loves it. Not earthy crunchy. Mandatory for every Athens musician to work there at least once. Very "townie."
97 locals recommend
The Grit
199 Prince AveProbably the most famous restaurant in Athens. Vegetarian place, but everybody loves it. Not earthy crunchy. Mandatory for every Athens musician to work there at least once. Very "townie."
Fancy, expensive, yummy. Go here, to The National, or to La Dolce Vita if you want to splurge while you're in Athens. Make reservations.
79 locals recommend
Five and Ten
1073 S Milledge AveFancy, expensive, yummy. Go here, to The National, or to La Dolce Vita if you want to splurge while you're in Athens. Make reservations.
Utage Sushi Bar
440 E Clayton StBest, freshest sushi in Athens.
Really good bad-for-you food. Tater tots, falafel burger, patty melt, tater tots, milk shakes. Also, tater tots.
57 locals recommend
Clocked
259 W Washington StReally good bad-for-you food. Tater tots, falafel burger, patty melt, tater tots, milk shakes. Also, tater tots.
Good, fresh, affordable southern food. Too non-greasy to quite be authentic, but very good anyway.
Five Star Day Cafe
229 E Broad StGood, fresh, affordable southern food. Too non-greasy to quite be authentic, but very good anyway.
Really good, cheap pizza dive. Crowded after the bars let out.
15 locals recommend
Little Italy Pizzeria
125 N Lumpkin StReally good, cheap pizza dive. Crowded after the bars let out.
Absolute best patio in Athens. Delicious pizza, sammitches, beer. Wonderful place to sit at twighlight and people watch. Just a great place.
53 locals recommend
Ted's Most Best
254 West Washington StreetAbsolute best patio in Athens. Delicious pizza, sammitches, beer. Wonderful place to sit at twighlight and people watch. Just a great place.
Expensive, nationally acclaimed restaurant. Probably the "best" restaurant in Athens. The food is fancy but not ridiculous. It's tasty and recognizable, and uses local ingredients.
113 locals recommend
The National
232 W Hancock AveExpensive, nationally acclaimed restaurant. Probably the "best" restaurant in Athens. The food is fancy but not ridiculous. It's tasty and recognizable, and uses local ingredients.
Excellent Italian food in romantic, cozy setting. Call and ask for a table by the windows (it's upstairs). Meal here with appetizers and wine will cost $80, but you won't mind.
6 locals recommend
Dolce Vita Trattoria Italiana
323 E Broad StExcellent Italian food in romantic, cozy setting. Call and ask for a table by the windows (it's upstairs). Meal here with appetizers and wine will cost $80, but you won't mind.
Taco Stand
670 N Milledge AveGo-to place for cheap, tasty Mexican food. Fish tacos nom nom nom.
Shopping
Amazing selection of beer by the bottle or 6-pack. Huge variety of wine. Svetlana will help you find a bottle of wine that costs $9 and tastes like it costs $90 and goes with Slim Jims or foie gras.
33 locals recommend
Five Points Bottle Shop
1655 S Lumpkin StAmazing selection of beer by the bottle or 6-pack. Huge variety of wine. Svetlana will help you find a bottle of wine that costs $9 and tastes like it costs $90 and goes with Slim Jims or foie gras.
Sightseeing
Memorial Park
293 Gran Ellen DrNice park with trails and zoo full of possums.
Arts & Culture
Best place to see interesting music. Hole in the wall, cheap. Even the bad music is usually good with enough beer. Seems vaguely dangerous, but nobody pays you any mind.
11 locals recommend
Caledonia Lounge
256 W Clayton StBest place to see interesting music. Hole in the wall, cheap. Even the bad music is usually good with enough beer. Seems vaguely dangerous, but nobody pays you any mind.
40 Watt Club
285 W Washington StLegendary music venue. All kinds of people play here.
Opposite of the Caledonia. Can sit and eat and watch national acts perform. Will not get stepped on, thrown up on, or hit on. Still, though, it can be pretty fun.
23 locals recommend
The Foundry
295 E Dougherty StOpposite of the Caledonia. Can sit and eat and watch national acts perform. Will not get stepped on, thrown up on, or hit on. Still, though, it can be pretty fun.
Super-fun place to dance, see a strange band, and dance. I think this is technically a gay bar, but everybody in Athens goes there. Open late, very small, really fun.
8 locals recommend
Go Bar
195 Prince AveSuper-fun place to dance, see a strange band, and dance. I think this is technically a gay bar, but everybody in Athens goes there. Open late, very small, really fun.
Very chill local bar with cheap/free movies, bands, readings. Occasional ping pong. Welcoming for anyone; you won't stick out if you're from out of town.
13 locals recommend
Flicker Theatre & Bar
263 W Washington StVery chill local bar with cheap/free movies, bands, readings. Occasional ping pong. Welcoming for anyone; you won't stick out if you're from out of town.
Art house movies, drinks, snacks, events. Really fun place to see a movie. Not snooty.
62 locals recommend
Ciné
234 W Hancock AveArt house movies, drinks, snacks, events. Really fun place to see a movie. Not snooty.