A College Kid’s Guide to Atlanta
Writing about my favorite places in Atlanta seems, strangely, a bit silly given our current reality. The idea of “going places,” let alone “doing things” seems foreign, perhaps even taboo. College is meant to be a time where we do, see, and experience things that allow us to become our most fully formed—if not employed—selves. Neither of those things seem to be true in my case. Alas.
I digress. COVID or not, Atlanta is an absolutely fabulous city to come of age in. It’s young. It’s vibrant, busy. It’s filled with every sort of culture you can imagine. Ultimately, though, it’s a city with a soul. Its people have a distinct sense of their past and a sense of profound hope for their future. As soon as you step onto the Beltline, you feel it. Atlanta really is a city that is bursting at the seams—and in the best possible way. Emory is similar, though much more subdued. It’s suburban and, in my view, a bit aloof from the soul of Atlanta. That’s not to say that the proverbial Emory Bubble isn’t without its benefits: running into your old fling at Cox Hall every single morning as you run five minutes late to class in a botched attempt to get coffee (campus is small, you simply can’t escape them) is, in the truest sense of the phrase, a growing experience. Campus life truly is its own beast: one that you’ll quickly learn how to conquer.
Full disclosure: I came to Emory reluctantly. I thought I was a Grown Up, a City Girl: someone who knew far more about who she was than what she wasn’t. Emory proved me wrong—dead wrong. These are a few of the places that helped me realize it.
Ponce City Market: It’s touristy, but for good reason. Likely the first place you’ll go for your first “dinner out” with friends freshman year, Ponce is an Atlanta—and Emory—staple. It has good shopping (Madewell, Sephora, Lululemon, etc) and standout food. It boasts an enormous food court, offering everything from acai bowls and sushi to artisan chicken sandwiches. My recommendation: head over to Farm to Ladle and try their turkey chilli. It’s absolutely delicious.
The Beltline: Also basic, but a necessary act of pilgrimage if and when you move to Atlanta. The Beltline is, essentially, just what it sounds like: a long, winding path that wraps around a not-insignificant portion of the city of Atlanta. It’s paved, which makes it perfect for running, walking your dog, or in my case, mindlessly wandering back and forth with some friends for a few hours. It takes you all the way from Ponce to Inman Park (two of the most restaurant-centric spots in ATL), and it’s filled with all sorts of beautiful community-based art, street performers, and incredibly skyline views. A must-see.
No. 246: This might be my favorite restaurant in the continental United States. And no, not because it’s where my boyfriend and I went on our (wildly successful) first date. It’s located in Decatur, a suburb right next to Emory and on the direct outskirts of the city of Atlanta, which makes it a good reprieve from some of the more common spots near campus. The restaurant’s elevated ambiance and sickeningly rich food options are, for lack of a more sophisticated phrase, 10/10. The Cacio e Pepe is just outstanding, as are their pizzas. Not to mention the wine options.
Taqueria del Sol: Another Emory classic. Oh baby, I’ve had some special times here. They have margarita pitchers for a ridiculously low price (I don’t remember quite how low, perhaps that’s saying something about their quality). Their tacos are authentic, delicious, and reasonably priced. Split an order of chips and guac with some friends, sit back, and wait for the margs to kick in. You won’t regret it.
Folk Art Restaurant: This place’s website has given itself the moniker of the “best brunch in Atlanta,” and frankly, I have to agree. The restaurant is absolutely adorable, for one: its walls are covered in red brick and old-looking posters. The retro feel is complemented by mouth-watering food, great artisanal coffee options, and literally every single brunch dish you can ask for. It’s the perfect place for a lazy Sunday morning, sans COVID.
Sublime Doughnuts: This is a new find for me—I literally went here for the first time last week—but I plan on making a weekly, if not bi-weekly, pilgrimage from now on. It’s like Dunkin’ Doughnuts but five-thousand times better. The place has a sort of shoddy feel; it’s in a strip mall, with carpeted floors and bean bags scattered across the somewhat dirty floor. But trust me when I tell you that the heart-shaped, cream filled doughnut I had there last week absolutely blew my mind. It’s also open essentially all hours of the night. Midnight snack, anybody?
Little Five Points: An entire neighborhood dedicated to alt-everything. Check out the thrift stores lining the street, Criminal Records (a well-known record store for those of us that collect that sort of thing) and Savage Pizza: one of the best pizza parlors I’ve been to in the city of Atlanta.
There’s so, so much more that I could add to this list. Atlanta is a city full of so much life that it’s hard to encapsulate all of it in a relatively short article. I’ve only scratched the surface, but I trust that you’ll dive deep into what Atlanta—or whatever city you choose to spend your next four years in—has to offer. It’s hard, but it’s worth it. Wishing you luck, joy, and health wherever you end up.
