Guidebook for Athens

Brad
Guidebook for Athens

Food Scene

Eastside. Absolutely our favorite spot for dinner! If you haven't tried Ethiopian food, we highly recommend this place! Looks like a hole-in-the-wall, but the food is incredible. Get it with injera (a soft, pancake-like bread).
15 locals recommend
Mannaweenta Restaurant
1055 Gaines School Rd
15 locals recommend
Eastside. Absolutely our favorite spot for dinner! If you haven't tried Ethiopian food, we highly recommend this place! Looks like a hole-in-the-wall, but the food is incredible. Get it with injera (a soft, pancake-like bread).
Downtown. Amazing Indian food in a nice setting but budget-friendly. The naan is the best we've ever had.
6 locals recommend
Taste of India
131 E Broad St
6 locals recommend
Downtown. Amazing Indian food in a nice setting but budget-friendly. The naan is the best we've ever had.
Great little breakfast spot in Normaltown. Breakfast sandwiches, pastries and coffee.
51 locals recommend
Ike & Jane
1307 Prince Ave
51 locals recommend
Great little breakfast spot in Normaltown. Breakfast sandwiches, pastries and coffee.
Breakfast/ brunch chain in 5 Points. They have a little bit of everything.
9 locals recommend
J. Christopher's
1650 S Lumpkin St
9 locals recommend
Breakfast/ brunch chain in 5 Points. They have a little bit of everything.
Two locations, one near us on Macon Hwy, the other near downtown. A local Athens staple for breakfast and brunch. Expect a little bit of a wait on weekends, but totally worth it.
154 locals recommend
Mama's Boy Restaurant
197 Oak Street
154 locals recommend
Two locations, one near us on Macon Hwy, the other near downtown. A local Athens staple for breakfast and brunch. Expect a little bit of a wait on weekends, but totally worth it.
Normaltown. Great spot for a quick, healthy lunch or dinner,
9 locals recommend
Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe
227 Prince Ave
9 locals recommend
Normaltown. Great spot for a quick, healthy lunch or dinner,
Local coffee shop with community connections
131 locals recommend
Jittery Joe's Coffee
1230 S Milledge Ave
131 locals recommend
Local coffee shop with community connections
Normaltown. Food, coffee, bar, outdoor patio, live music.
64 locals recommend
Hendershots Coffee
237 Prince Ave
64 locals recommend
Normaltown. Food, coffee, bar, outdoor patio, live music.
Two locations: Normaltown and Timothy Rd. Delicious, authentic Mexican food. Both locations have great patios.
42 locals recommend
Agua Linda Taqueria
1376 Prince Ave
42 locals recommend
Two locations: Normaltown and Timothy Rd. Delicious, authentic Mexican food. Both locations have great patios.
East Side. Delicious, low-key Asian Bistro with meal and sushi options.
8 locals recommend
New Red Bowl
1935 S Barnett Shoals Rd
8 locals recommend
East Side. Delicious, low-key Asian Bistro with meal and sushi options.
Downtown. Family-owned southern-style breakfast diner. Great casual atmosphere.
7 locals recommend
Mayflower Restaurant
171 E Broad St
7 locals recommend
Downtown. Family-owned southern-style breakfast diner. Great casual atmosphere.
Festive Cuban cuisine in a really cool atmosphere. All indoors but décor makes you feel like you’re dining in an outdoor courtyard. Check their calendar for salsa dancing nights.
148 locals recommend
Cali N Tito's
1427 S Lumpkin St
148 locals recommend
Festive Cuban cuisine in a really cool atmosphere. All indoors but décor makes you feel like you’re dining in an outdoor courtyard. Check their calendar for salsa dancing nights.
Casual Italian, nice for a date night.
24 locals recommend
DePalmas Italian Cafe
1965 S Barnett Shoals Rd
24 locals recommend
Casual Italian, nice for a date night.
Pitas, kabobs, salads...a little bit of everything.
7 locals recommend
Mediterranean Grill
1591 S Lumpkin St
7 locals recommend
Pitas, kabobs, salads...a little bit of everything.
Despite their less-than-perfect online reviews for customer service, the pizza is yummy, and we’ve never had any issues with their service.
Bulldawg Pizza Wings & More
2026 S Milledge Ave
Despite their less-than-perfect online reviews for customer service, the pizza is yummy, and we’ve never had any issues with their service.
Beef, turkey and black-bean burger options. And Boozie-shakes for dessert.
16 locals recommend
Grindhouse Killer Burgers
1553 S Lumpkin St
16 locals recommend
Beef, turkey and black-bean burger options. And Boozie-shakes for dessert.

Parks & Nature

Part of the University's Intramural Fields, right across from campus. There are several athletic fields, but we tend to gravitate to the lake and wooded hiking trails. There's also a large, partially-fenced dog park for the fur-babies.
11 locals recommend
Lake Herrick
11 locals recommend
Part of the University's Intramural Fields, right across from campus. There are several athletic fields, but we tend to gravitate to the lake and wooded hiking trails. There's also a large, partially-fenced dog park for the fur-babies.
Enormous lake with hiking trails, dog parks, a beach, kayak and canoe rentals, paddle board yoga, and occasional concerts and other events. During the warmer months they host a full moon paddle. Entry fee is $2/ person, personal dog park rental is $1, but they also have a public dog park at no extra cost.
47 locals recommend
Sandy Creek Park
400 Bob Holman Rd
47 locals recommend
Enormous lake with hiking trails, dog parks, a beach, kayak and canoe rentals, paddle board yoga, and occasional concerts and other events. During the warmer months they host a full moon paddle. Entry fee is $2/ person, personal dog park rental is $1, but they also have a public dog park at no extra cost.
About 30 minutes from Athens. Beautiful historic covered bridge over a wide, shallow river with flat rocks and shoals, perfect or wading and sunbathing. A few hiking trails, canoe rentals, picnic tables. Parking fee is around $5.
22 locals recommend
Watson Mill Bridge State Park
650 Watson Mill
22 locals recommend
About 30 minutes from Athens. Beautiful historic covered bridge over a wide, shallow river with flat rocks and shoals, perfect or wading and sunbathing. A few hiking trails, canoe rentals, picnic tables. Parking fee is around $5.
Seasonal gardens, an indoor conservatory with a cafe and gift shop, and wooded hiking trails that go along the Middle Oconee River and a few streams. Free!
135 locals recommend
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia
2450 S Milledge Ave
135 locals recommend
Seasonal gardens, an indoor conservatory with a cafe and gift shop, and wooded hiking trails that go along the Middle Oconee River and a few streams. Free!

Drinks & Nightlife

Downtown. An awesome board game cafe and bar with cozy nooks and a whole wall of board games to choose from. The staff are really knowledgeable about every game they have, so don't be afraid to ask for recommendations.
28 locals recommend
The Rook & Pawn
294 W Washington St
28 locals recommend
Downtown. An awesome board game cafe and bar with cozy nooks and a whole wall of board games to choose from. The staff are really knowledgeable about every game they have, so don't be afraid to ask for recommendations.
Downtown. Coffee shop and bar. Lots of adult coffee drinks to choose from in a cozy, cafe-like atmosphere.
21 locals recommend
Walker's Pub and Coffee
128 College Ave
21 locals recommend
Downtown. Coffee shop and bar. Lots of adult coffee drinks to choose from in a cozy, cafe-like atmosphere.
Downtown. Also a really good restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Perfect place for fancy beer enthusiasts. Can get pretty busy at dinner time, so good idea to call ahead or accept a longer wait before being seated.
74 locals recommend
Trappeze Pub
269 N Hull St
74 locals recommend
Downtown. Also a really good restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Perfect place for fancy beer enthusiasts. Can get pretty busy at dinner time, so good idea to call ahead or accept a longer wait before being seated.
English pub with a great patio, good food and extensive beer selection. Especially awesome during soccer games (if you can get in the doors…).
73 locals recommend
The Royal Peasant
1675 S Lumpkin St
73 locals recommend
English pub with a great patio, good food and extensive beer selection. Especially awesome during soccer games (if you can get in the doors…).
Downtown. International pub with good beer and decent bar food. Live Irish music on Sunday afternoons.
60 locals recommend
The Globe
199 N Lumpkin St
60 locals recommend
Downtown. International pub with good beer and decent bar food. Live Irish music on Sunday afternoons.
91 locals recommend
40 Watt Club
285 W Washington St
91 locals recommend

Essentials

71 locals recommend
Kroger
191 Alps Rd
71 locals recommend
66 locals recommend
Earth Fare
1689 S Lumpkin St
66 locals recommend
37 locals recommend
Daily Groceries Co-Op
1190 Prince Ave
37 locals recommend
28 locals recommend
Publix Super Market at Georgetown Square
1860 Barnett Shoals Rd
28 locals recommend
Self-service, clean, open 24 hours.
Athens Wash House
2026 S Milledge Ave
Self-service, clean, open 24 hours.

Entertainment & Activities

A ton of different types of therapeutic yoga classes. For a completely unique experience, try their Glow Flow yoga class on some Friday nights. It's like a chill tribal rave and yoga class all in one.
6 locals recommend
M3Yoga
1260 South Milledge Avenue
6 locals recommend
A ton of different types of therapeutic yoga classes. For a completely unique experience, try their Glow Flow yoga class on some Friday nights. It's like a chill tribal rave and yoga class all in one.
Fantastic laid-back climbing gym.
13 locals recommend
ACTIVE CLIMBING - Indoor Rock Climbing Gym
665 Barber St
13 locals recommend
Fantastic laid-back climbing gym.
Aerial dance studio. Not open to drop-ins, but check their schedule for performance dates!
Canopy Studio
160-6 Tracy St
Aerial dance studio. Not open to drop-ins, but check their schedule for performance dates!

Arts & Culture

Downtown. International and indie film art house. Cozy atmosphere with a full bar and art exhibits.
62 locals recommend
Ciné
234 W Hancock Ave
62 locals recommend
Downtown. International and indie film art house. Cozy atmosphere with a full bar and art exhibits.

Shopping

An artsy and quirky up-cycled home furnishings and gifts market.
Lexington Vintage
1743 Lexington Rd
An artsy and quirky up-cycled home furnishings and gifts market.
6 locals recommend
Native America Gallery
195 E Clayton St
6 locals recommend