Inman Park

Cacao founder Kristen Hard is a bit of a local hero—she opened her shop after taking a sabbatical from her law studies to travel (including working as a chef on a yacht). Hard is one of the only “bean-to-bar” producers in the region, which means she sources the beans herself, then roasts and shells them in-house. The result is ridiculously complex chocolate that you can really only get in Atlanta. (There are also locations in Buckhead and Virginia Highland).

An Inman Park staple since 1999, this is the kind of classic Italian restaurant every neighborhood should have. The wine menu is Italian through-and-through, and their most famous dish is actually a dessert: a Belgian-chocolate soup. For the main course, opt for the pastas and risottos, each of which can be ordered in a half-size so you don’t have to pick between favorites.

Come for weekend brunch, or lunch during the week, and try the tomato soup, which comes with a fresh-baked, croissant-like pastry on top.

BoccaLupo is an Inman Park Italian restaurant by Atlanta native chef Bruce Logue, who previously worked under goop-favorite Mario Batali at Babbo in NYC. The pasta—from the daily risotto to pan-fried shells, twenty-yolk tagliatelle with wild mushrooms, and black spaghetti with hot sausage and red shrimp—is expertly done. For good-weather days, there’s casual porch seating that extends the interior’s slightly industrial feel with roll-up, glass garage doors. (Note that the restaurant is closed on Sunday and Monday.)

Nautically themed, super-chic Beetlecat is part of Ford Fry’s Atlanta empire (Superica, St. Cecilia, King + Duke, Optimist, et al.). There’s a turquoise-seated bright oyster bar on the first level, and upstairs, a fun, 1970s vibe, complete with wood paneling and old-school leather couches. Prepare for a crowd and order the lobster roll.

Like a smaller version of Ponce City Market, Krog Street is filled with tiny purveyors selling everything from flowers, baked goods, and chocolate to ice cream, bbq, and locally brewed beer. It’s also home to some of our favorite restaurants in the city (notably, the Luminary and Superica). The entire operation is located just off the Beltline, so it’s easy to ride your bike here at all hours. P.S. Jane’s Bakeshop has great lattes.

If there was a #goophq in Atlanta, we’d lobby for it to be next door to this place—their detox-friendly salads and wraps are exactly what we want to eat for lunch (plus the smoothies, acai bowls, and juices make it a morning staple, too). With a highly successful franchise program underway, outposts are basically taking over the city, though the original is in Inman Park.

We were sold on this place already for its patio—complete with a fire pit—and, fortunately, the food is fantastic, too. The cozy outdoor space here will make you want to cuddle up with a glass of rioja and order enough tapas to stick around for a while. While we like to go at night (aforementioned fire), we hear the brunch (there’s a bloody mary bar and a seriously good sangria) is just as great. There's an additional location in Knight Park, but this one's our favorite.