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Dining, bars, nightlife, and hospitality coverage around Atlanta.
Downtown’s first full-service grocer in years has rung up 150,000 customers in nine months, with a second store on the way.
A car-free, quarter-mile stretch of Walton Street fills with 20 to 30 food trucks from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on every World Cup match day, one block from the FIFA Fan Festival.
Dough in the Box, El Tesoro, CTR Food Works, a Highland Bakery pop-up and more flipped on their lights across downtown and South Downtown in the days before World Cup kickoff.
The Dead Rabbit Group's acclaimed Irish pub concept lands Downtown on Saturday, June 13 — its first Southern location, complete with a split-flap scoreboard wired to both stadiums and a 45-foot mural linking Atlanta to Ireland.
Retro Grill Atlanta, Dolce Tropical, A Taste of Secrets, and Edgewood Pizza opened June 5 at the 1918 landmark on Edgewood Avenue — landing four minority-owned kitchens just as World Cup crowds pour into downtown.
From quick bites at Centennial Yards to proper pre-game dinners, here are the most reliable dining options within walking distance of the stadium for Atlanta's World Cup matches.
AJC restaurant critic Henri Hollis reviews Ikara, Jagger Suite, and Ashland — three hotel restaurants opening as Atlanta gears up for the World Cup — finding bold Indian flavors, disco-unicorn energy, and one disappointing prix fixe.
South Downtown's popular open-air food market transforms into The World Grub for every World Cup match day from June 11 to July 19, with international vendors, big-screen matches, and the Pitch Beer Garden.
A temporary entertainment district from June 11 to July 19 permits open drinking near Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia Aquarium, and World of Coca-Cola — the city's second open container initiative after South Downtown's permanent district.
Decorated chef and humanitarian José Andrés, awarded Georgia Tech's Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage, discusses his humanitarian work, World Central Kitchen's rapid-response model, and his hopes to return to Atlanta for the World Cup.
Starting April 15, residents and visitors can carry drinks on public sidewalks and streets throughout South Downtown — a first for Atlanta, timed to boost foot traffic ahead of the World Cup.
The Jagger Suite, a swanky new rooftop bar at the Moxy Atlanta Downtown hotel featuring a 12-foot disco unicorn sculpture, is now open. The weekly Atlanta restaurant roundup also covers new openings, charitable efforts, and a few closings across the metro area.
February brought 16 new restaurant openings across metro Atlanta, dominated by fast-casual counter-service concepts including out-of-town bagel chains, Asian bakery brands, and community-focused cafes. At least seven restaurants also closed during the month.
Buckhead Life is opening a 13,000-square-foot Chops Lobster Bar inside Centennial Yards later this year, joining Varuni Napoli, Cosm, Shake Shack, and Irish Exit in the district's fast-growing F&B roster.
Metro Atlanta's dining landscape experienced significant shifts as 2026 began, with notable relocations at Lee + White, closures at Ponce City Market, and a new Ethiopian restaurant debuting at Switchman Hall.
