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Downtown Athens Restaurants
Downtown Athens, Georgia is home to an eclectic variety of locally owned restaurants serving up mouthwatering cuisine from around the world, as well as familiar southern favorites. Thanks to the city’s range of affordable, yet irresistible, food and a bustling downtown area that’s easy to navigate on foot or access via car, downtown Athens is truly a foodie’s dream come true.
Downtown Athens: Where Local Meets Culinary Genius
Athens wasn’t named a rising star on the food scene for no reason. In fact, it’s the home of Peter Dale, a renowned chef who was born and raised in Athens, GA. Inspired by his favorite cuisines, including Spanish, French, North African, Greek, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern, Dale opened The National right in downtown. In 2014 they received a Silver Spoon Award from Georgia Trend and named one of the top 10 restaurants in Georgia.
Locally Owned, Distinctively Delicious
Lindsey’s Culinary Market, also situated in beautiful downtown Athens, offers a variety of southern lunch staples and catering options, while local brunch favorite Mama’s Boy serves up breakfast and lunch dishes. For southwestern-style southern cuisine, head to the acclaimed Last Resort Grill, which is housed inside a former iconic music venue. Athens is also home to Porterhouse Grill, which earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for its spectacular wine list and offers a premier selection of steak and seafood.
International Cuisine from Neighborhood Favorites
If you’re looking for a bit of international flavor, visit DePalma’s Italian Café, where house-made lasagna, eggplant Florentine and other Italian dishes are prepared from scratch. Taqueria Tsunami takes flavors from the Far East and fuses them with those from South of the Border to create Latin-Asian dishes. Serving up authentic Korean-style BBQ in an industrial atmosphere, Iron Factory also has a dynamic selection of wines, beers and cocktails made with fresh ingredients.
Explore Athens
With its seemingly endless list of standout local restaurants, downtown Athens is the perfect destination for the traveler with an appetite for new flavors. Browse the city’s other restaurants for more opportunities to dig into the Athens culinary scene, or embark on our foodie itinerary for an engaging tour of the city’s best eateries.
Dining News & Happenings
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Athens Wine Weekend
May 20, 2022 - May 22, 2022Athens' premier wine event, Athens Wine Weekend, is coming back to The Classic Center. The weekend will kick...
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Athens Farmers Market - Saturdays
May 21, 2022 - Dec 17, 2022Named one of the "South's Best Farmers' Markets" by Southern Living magazine! The Athens Farmers Market will...
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Athens Sweets & Treats
Looking for places to satisfy your sweet tooth in Athens, Georgia? Look no further! As a self-proclaimed...
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Gear Up for G-Day 2022
Get Ready for G-Day 2022! The countdown to Saturday, April 16th has begun. Begin planning your trip to Athens...
Smart Finds
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Date Night Thursday at George's
Enjoy a date night special at George's every Thursday! 2 Prime Rib Dinners for $35 add a bottle of house red...
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Food Truck Mondays at The Root
Head over to The Root Basement Bar (downstairs from The Pine, in Five Points) on Mondays-- there will be a...