A Black A** Travel Guide To Atlanta
By: Heather Balenger
In the great words of Jermaine Dupri, โWelcome to Atlanta.โ Coined the Black Hollywood of the South, Atlanta is a flourishing city with a rich Southern history and culture. Not only the heart and home to the Civil Rights Movement and the center of a vibrant culinary scene, arts, and festivals. Black travelers are looking for that glitz and glam feel of Hollywood but still want to get down with the โdirty dirty.โ Atlanta is a city worth visiting.
These Are The Best Black-Owned Things To Do In Atlanta, Georgia
What To See In Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta Beltline
If you want to explore the more creative side of Atlanta, look no further than the Atlanta Beltline. Voted by Thrillist as one of the Coolest Urban Spaces in America, the Beltline is a non-motorized trail linking forty-five Atlanta neighborhoods, expanding from one side of the city to another. Along the way, visitors can explore some of the trendiest restaurants and cafes, top Instagrammable spots of Atlanta, and public art displays.
Plus, itโs FREE.99, which, in my book, is worth visiting.
Best Black Experiences To Have in Atlanta
Visit A Black-Owned Bookstore
For Keeps Books๏ปฟ
For those new to Atlanta who want to dive right into the history, take a walking tour through the Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) District, where you will find stepping stones of the Kingโs Family life. Auburn Avenue runs through the legendary MLK District. This historic street has been home to various Black-owned businesses that continue to pay homage to our culture. Have you ever heard of a store where only half the books are for sale? Well, thatโs For Keeps Bookstore, a Black-owned bookstore and reading room with a rare and classic Black novels collection.
When: Thursday - Sunday, 12-5 PM
Where: 171 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
Website: www.forkeepsbooks.com
Shop At A Black-Owned Boutique
Souk Bohemian
A souk is an open-air marketplace or bazaar buzzing with vendors selling handmade goods in North African countries like Morocco, and Souk Bohemian brings the same feeling to Atlanta.
Souk Bohemian is a gorgeous Black and queer-owned boutique in Atlanta that introduces new cultures to their community by partnering with local and global artisans to provide a collection of ready-to-wear pieces, home goods, small-batch jewelry, and handcrafted accessoriesโthe store oozes minimalism with a neutral-toned color palette in many of its products.
Featured in Atlanta Magazineโs โBest of Atlanta,โ the boutique is designed to make visitors feel like theyโre traveling the world and have global flavors that connect with all the senses.
When: Monday - Saturday, 11 AM - 8 PM; Sunday, 12 - 7 PM
Where: 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE N211, Atlanta, GA 30308, Floor 2 inside Ponce City Market
Website: www.soukbohemian.com
Dance At A Music Festival
Black travelers cannot leave Atlanta without checking the cityโs vast music scene. Birther to many top artists, like OutKast, Ludacris, Childish Gambino, Ciara, and Atlanta, has heavily impacted the music culture. Every fall, Atlanta hosts One Music Fest, a two-day music festival uniting listeners through the power of music. From you and your auntieโs favorite artists, youโll hear the music youโve never heard before, the music you love, and music you canโt stop singing and dancing to, and the best part is, the majority of the artists look like us.
Best Black-Owned Restaurants In Atlanta
Binkyโs Eatery
In the heart of Atlanta, in the Five Points Plaza on Broad Street, Bryant โChef Baulโ Williams is whipping up classic Southern dishes at Binkyโs Eatery, one of Atlantaโs Best Black-owned restaurants. Once a private chef to rappers like Lil Baby, Gucci Mane, and 2 Chainz, Baul opened his โsouthern soulโ eatery in early 2023 with a menu that fuses Japanese, Caribbean, and European flavors. Classics like turkey wings, oxtails, chitterlings, and the chefโs beloved mac and cheese are on the menus, a must-try. Seafood lovers wonโt be disappointed either with salmon and fried fish options.
Binkyโs is a luxury takeout operation. You can order via Uber Eats, Door Dash, or Toast Tabโthe team at Binkyโs plans to feed the communityโs unhoused population twice monthly.
When: Tuesday - Thursday, 10 AM - 7 PM; Friday - Sunday, 10 AM - 9 PM
Where: 20 Broad St SW Suite E, Atlanta, GA 30303
Website: Binkyโs Eatery Menu
Apt 4B
Apt 4B is an eclectic Black-owned restaurant, a vinyl bar with a modern Caribbean menu, in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta. The space is a cozy apartment feel with walls decorated with vinyl records and gorgeous Black art. Haitian Chef Day serves up immaculate bites like fried whole snapper, oxtail hummus, and a jerk chicken omelet for brunch. Try their 4b Reservation, a cognac-based cocktail with peach liquor, peach bitters, lime, and cava for libations. Rum lovers should order the #sooncome featuring Bounty Spiced Rum, Passion Fruit, Mango, Guava, and Old Fashioned bitters.
When: Tuesday- Sunday, 11:00 AM-3:30 PM; Friday & Saturday, 5:00 PM โ 11:00 PM & Bar until 1 AM; Saturday & Sunday Brunch, 11 AM โ 3:30 PM
Where: 2293 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30309
Website: www.apt4batl.com
Best Black-Owned Bars In Atlanta
Hippinโ Hops Brewery
Hippin' Hops is Georgia's first Black-owned brewery and oyster bar. Their beer is freshly brewed and handcrafted and uses all-natural ingredients with unique twists on beers like the Peach Panther, a peach lager, and Laffy Taffy, a strawberry banana sour. Beer lovers will find something new to love at Hippin Hops. Pair your brew with bites like smoked gouda, crawfish, cajun shrimp, collard greens, and smoked turkey-topped oysters.
When: Thursday - Friday, 5 PM - 11 PM; Saturday, 12 PM - 12 AM
Where: 1308 Glenwood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Website: www.hippinhopsbrewery.com
Parlor
Parlor is a speakeasy-style cocktail den with live DJs and folks cutting up on the dance floor R&B, Hip-Hop, AfroBeats, and more. The space has an intimate feel and a delicious cocktail menu. Gin lovers should reach for Paisley Park, made with lavender syrup and lemon. The Sit & Spin mixes Mercer + Prince whiskey (A$AP Rocky's brand), St. Germain, Aperol, and orange bitters. They uniquely offer a "Reverse Happy Hour" on Thursdays from 7 PM - 12 AM with $12 cocktails and $7 wine.
When: Wednesday - Friday, 7 PM - 12 AM; Friday - Saturday, 7 PM - 2 AM; Sunday, 12 PM - 5 PM
Where: 249-A Peters St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313
Website: www.parlorden.com
Just Add Honey Tea Company
Just Add Honey is a Black-owned tea house in Atlanta. Itโs a warm retail cafe selling loose-leaf teas, accessories, and gifts. Their tea collection includes everything from Black tea to wellness herbs. They also offer afternoon tea experiences and accept private tea party bookings.
When: Tuesday - Sunday, 7 AM - 7 PM
Where: 684 John Wesley Dobbs Ave NE Unit E, Atlanta, GA 30312
Website: www.justaddhoney.net
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