Whether you’re an out-of-town visitor planning a vacation to Buckhead or a resident looking for a staycation, there is no shortage of places to eat, see, play, and stay in the area.
Dining
Buckhead is known as “the dining room of Georgia.” There are nearly 300 establishments serving food and beverages in the community, including many nationally acclaimed for excellence. Aria and La Grotta are both recipients of AAA’s Four Diamond award. Of the top eight metropolitan Atlanta restaurant revenue producers, 63 percent are located in Buckhead, and more than a third of the 16 restaurants in all of metropolitan Atlanta that are 25 years old or older are in Buckhead. There is something for everyone’s taste and wallet.
The following is just a bite of what Buckhead has to offer. Call ahead for details such as hours of operation, reservation requirements, fare, and any COVID-19 pandemic restrictions:
Vine Vault: Buckhead is home to one of two Vine Vault locations in the country. Besides being a highly secured space for wines appraised as high as five figures, the company offers every service imaginable for oenophiles with means.
Good Measure Meals: Fresh, ready-to-eat gourmet meal plans are available for pickup at six Buckhead locations.
McKinnon’s Louisiane: Buckhead’s famed Cajun/Creole restaurant has a mystic attraction for anxious, expectant mothers. Now in its 49th year, the proprietor estimates that hundreds of women who have eaten the McKinnon’s stuffed eggplant on or after their due date have given birth within 48 hours. Those who don’t get a $25 gift certificate.
The “House” Tour: Visit all the dining “houses” of Buckhead with breakfast at The White House, lunch at Swan Coach House, dinner at The Treehouse, and a late-night snack at Waffle House.
Sightseeing
More than 50 years ago, a tradition was born in Atlanta: The Pink Pig. Since its 1950s debut as a holiday ride at the Rich’s downtown store to its brief stint at the Egleston Children’s Hospital Festival of Trees, Priscilla the Pink Pig has become a tradition in Atlanta for more than five generations. Join us this year at Macy’s Lenox Square for our annual tradition, November through January.
Here are eight other must-see sights in Buckhead:
Atlanta Cyclorama
Also referred to as The Battle of Atlanta painting, this hyperbolic artifact, one of only three remaining in the U.S., was created in 1886 as a tribute to Northern victory at the close of the American Civil War and was moved to Atlanta in 1892 where it has since relocated from Grant Park to the Atlanta History Center.
One of the nation’s largest history museums, this 33-acre complex includes an 83,000-square-foot museum featuring exhibits on the Civil War, folk crafts, Black enterprise, Jewish legacies, and more. Other noteworthy components include The Swan House, an elegant 1928 classically styled Italianate mansion; McElreath Hall, featuring a research library, archives and alternating exhibits; the Swan Woods Trail, and seven different gardens with educational or historical themes; and much more.
Battle of Peachtree Creek Audio Driving Tour
This map and CD take the listener back to the Civil War battle fought around Peachtree Creek. Hear the stories of real people who fought, music of the era, and the sounds of war while cruising through a beautiful Buckhead neighborhood. Driving time is approximately 25 minutes.
Centennial Olympic Games Exhibit
This exhibit at the Atlanta History Center explores the full legacy of the Centennial Olympic Games of 1996, including how the city won the Games, how the Games changed Atlanta, a day-by-day chronology, heroes and special moments, event-specific results and records, the global context of the Games, and the ongoing legacy.
Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia
This is the only museum dedicated to Georgia’s contemporary artists and art history.
Fort Peach Tree
This 15-acre greenspace, a replica of the original, first non-Indian settlement in Atlanta, was built by the City of Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management as part of the bicentennial celebration. The fort was originally constructed on this site in 1814 during the War of 1812 by 1st Lt. George Rockingham Gilmer, later a two-term Georgia governor, to protect the “frontier” of Georgia from the Creek Indians who were allied with the British. This area has been recreated for tourists in a diorama located inside the fort, which was scaled from an 1890 topographical map.
A Greek Revival home built in 1967, the mansion is a showcase of neoclassical interior design with Federal period furnishings representing one of the country’s finest collections. The first floor may be toured by the public, and includes the library, state dining room, drawing room, family living room, family dining room, guest bedroom, and circular hallway.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center
A quality attraction consisting of 32,000 square feet of excitement, LEGOLAND provides another great experience for visitors and locals, young and old. With its 4-D cinema, LEGO rides, playful interactive exhibits, and educational themes, you won’t want to miss building your own Buckhead skyline.
Play Outside
Bobby Jones Golf Course is a revolutionary new golf course design featuring multiple tees and large double greens, sometimes even presenting two hole locations. Most days, the Azalea Course or Magnolia Course offers players nine holes with multiple tee and pin combinations, providing 18 unique holes. Occasionally, on select weekends and holidays, the brilliance of the Bobby Jones Golf Course layout showcases both the Azalea and Magnolia nines in a reversible 18-hole experience. Whether playing nine, 18, or 27 holes, the new Bobby Jones Golf Course can challenge both the avid and the casual golfer.
Old and new meet at historic Bitsy Grant Tennis Center, the crown jewel of the City of Atlanta tennis centers. Built in 1952, Bitsy Grant has evolved greatly over the past several years. In 2012, the historic clubhouse underwent a complete restoration, and in 2018, the new Ralph Foster Hard Courts opened adjacent to Northside Drive. Bitsy Grant’s 13 clay courts and 12 new hard courts make it the largest public tennis facility in the metro Atlanta area.
Lodging
Buckhead has 5,992 hotel rooms. There are eight luxury hotels:
AAA 5-Diamond and Forbes 4-star
- The Whitley
- The St. Regis Hotel (Condé Nast Traveler’s 2013 #1 Business Hotel in the World)
AAA 4-Diamond
- The Grand Hyatt**
- JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead**
- W Buckhead**
- The Westin Buckhead Atlanta**
Forbes 4-star and AAA 4-Diamond
- The InterContinental Hotel**
- The Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead
**Cater kosher events.
