Neighborhoods

Welcome to our Gayborhood!

Atlanta is full of microcosms — neighborhoods big and small, each with its own distinct flavor and flair. Though some parts of the metro area have a reputation as LGBTQ enclaves — we’re looking at you, Midtown and Decatur — in reality, the queer heartbeat pulses throughout all parts of the city and even some of its neighboring suburbs. Here’s our take on the must-dos and hidden gems of Atlanta’s best gayborhoods.

Ansley Mall/Cheshire Bridge Locals consider this the ultimate gayborhood. The Ansley Mall shopping center houses everything a queer person would need to live a productive life, from supermarkets, pharmacies, an LGBTQ-friendly gym, Starbucks (also known as the “Bearbucks”), and a wide assortment of other gayfriendly establishments. Atlanta doesn’t get any tastier than Ansley Mall/Cheshire Bridge, with regard to both cuisine and clubbing. The neighborhood entices LGBTQ diners: savory enchiladas from La Hacienda, delicious pizza from Varuni Napoli, or American fare at Roxx. Moon, drunken karaoke at spots like at Felix’s, or the thumping dance floors at the Heretic! It’s all just a quick drive or Uber/Lyft ride from your front door! Even the apartment complexes are queer rites of passage — shout out to Vaseline Valley, err, Ansley Forest. In this ‘hood, you can search for a soulmate equally at Starbucks, in an adult-video arcade, or from the comfort of your own living room!

Midtown Midtown went from being a dilapidated slum in the ‘70s and ’80s to becoming the city’s top gay neighborhood in the ’90s and ’00s. From those roots, today it stands as arguably the premier neighborhood in all of Atlanta, with sky-rise condos and office towers, miles of chic places to shop and eat, and an unrivaled nightlife scene.

And we haven’t even gotten to Piedmont Park, which hosts every major festival Atlanta offers, including the Atlanta Pride Festival, Music Midtown, and the Atlanta Dogwood Festival. The park recently underwent a breathtaking expansion, with serene trails that course alongside the Atlanta Botanical Garden and connect with the BeltLine.

Atlanta Skyline PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / SEAN PAVONE

The intersection of 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue is considered the crossroads of gay Atlanta and a starting point for many LGBTQ visitors to the city because of its famed rainbow crosswalk. There are popular gay bars like Blake’s on the Park, while restaurants like 10th & Piedmont, Henry’s and G’s Midtown are likely to be just as brimming with LGBTQ folks as any club. For that matter, the nearby laundromat, Caribou Coffee, and Subway are likely flaming, too. If you’re in need of a great Sunday fun day celebration, especially during the height of spring and summer season, Zocalo and TEN Atlanta are ground zero for strong frozen margaritas, DJ’s and the who’s who of the Atlanta gay scene!

Other heavily-LGBTQ restaurants include Apres Diem, Zocalo, and Campagnolo. The gay nightlife that aided the area’s transformation was largely pushed out of the core of Midtown by gentrification, but the bars that remain — Blake’s and Bulldogs — are two of the city’s most reliable good times.

Midtown is also a cultural hub, with the Fox Theatre on the southern border, while to the north is the Woodruff Arts Center, home of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Alliance Theatre, and the High Museum of Art.

Buford Highway Atlanta’s global village, this area on the city’s northern border is a melting pot of cultures, cuisine, and queer life. The neighborhood’s diversity and affordability make it a popular area for LGBTQ residents to live and party. If you’re looking for authentic international fare — be it Korean Barbecue (Hae Woon Dae) or Mexican seafood (Marisqueria El Veneno) — head to Buford Highway, which is home to more than 1,000 immigrantowned businesses. The busy strip of Buford is home to the drag-themed restaurant Lips Atlanta and the EDMheavy Rush Lounge. Just on the other side of Interstate 85 is the original location of Lost-n-Found Youth Thrift & Consignment Store, as well as the Barking Leather shop.

Buckhead Home to Atlanta’s old money, and long considered one of the poshest areas in the Deep South, Buckhead is a land of condo towers, sprawling estates, and ritzy retail. From Lenox Square Mall to Phipps Plaza, if you’re looking to grab the hottest designer items from Fendi and Armani to Versace and Gucci, this is your neighborhood! It has a legacy as one of Atlanta’s wildest party districts, although it’s tamed significantly in the past decade and has become most a straight, college crowd in the past few years.

Where rowdy nightclubs once proliferated here, the neighborhood is increasingly known for upscale restaurants such as Umi sushi bar, Fogo de Chao, and Del Frisco’s Grill. Though the LGBTQ offerings in Buckhead have waned, venues like the Buckhead Theatre that cater to LGBTQ events including circuit parties from Peach Party and Joining Hearts Weekend.

Inman Park/Candler Park Here, you’ll find quaint, growing neighborhoods filled with young families and hip, locally owned businesses like the LGBTQ-friendly Sugar Magnolia B&B in Inman Park and

Little Five Points PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / IRIS VAN DEN BROEK

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the lesbian-run My Favorite Mechanic in Candler Park. The latter neighborhood is named for the scenic Candler Park, which bustles with neighborhood festivals such as the Sweetwater 420 Fest, Fall Fest, the Candler Park Music & Food Fest, and Atlanta’s Black Gay Pride Festival. Inman Park has the Krog Street Market, a tasteful collective of trendy restaurants with easy access to the Beltline — rent a bike from Electrobike at Atlanta Bicycle Barn to travel along the Beltline with ease. It’s also home to the Skin and Bone Docs, a gay-owned business specializing in sports medicine and dermatology among other specialties.

Virginia-Highland/Poncey-Highland Highland Avenue has emerged as one of the trendiest strips in Atlanta, cutting through several popular neighborhoods. Centered at the intersection of Virginia and Highland avenues, Virginia-Highland is packed with independent restaurants and retail — from clothes shopping at Dakota J’s, to steaks and martinis at Highland Tap, brunch at Murphy’s and many more shopping and dining treats. The annual SummerFest, held in June, is also among Atlanta’s most popular neighborhood festivals.

A few blocks south is Poncey-Highland, which is the younger (and slightly less affluent) sibling of VirginiaHighland. The neighborhood has gay-popular restaurants like Fellini’s Pizza and El Ponce Cantina; The Plaza Theatre, an independent movie theater that regularly shows “The Rocky Horror Picture Show;” and the Majestic Diner, an Atlanta institution that provides life-saving nutrition to clubgoers in the early-morning hours.

Manuel’s Tavern is another iconic restaurant along Highland Avenue, just a few blocks away from the Carter Center and Presidential Library. Continuing south, Highland Avenue exploded with residential and retail targeting young professionals, buoyed by the nearby BeltLine.

Little Five Points/ Reynoldstown/East Atlanta Moreland Avenue is the artery that unites these three prior neighborhoods, all of which share an eastside flavor. Little Five Points (L5P) is one of the city’s most colorful areas, with record stores, vintage and thrift stores like Rag-o-rama and Psycho Sisters, head shops, pubs, and an affinity for all-natural food (Sevananda Market and Arden’s Garden). It’s also one of Atlanta’s hippest theater districts, with Variety Playhouse, Horizon Theatre, Dad’s Garage, and 7 Stages all in one place. It’s also a hotspot for getting inked and pierced with a handful of tattoo shops, including Southern Star, Sacred Heart and Long Island Ink.

To the south of L5P is Reynoldstown, which experienced a boom thanks to the Edgewood Retail District. Aside from Morelli’s Gourmet Ice Cream (an eastside treasure), the shopping district has nothing of interest for most tourists (Lowe’s, Best Buy, Staples), although there’s always LGBTQ eye candy for locals while shopping at Target and Kroger. Residentially, Reynoldstown remains primarily comprised of refurbished bungalows, reflecting a different type of

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neighborhood redevelopment from the condo towers and luxury apartments that are driving other parts of Atlanta. The attitude here is, not surprisingly, embodied by the East Atlanta Village (EAV), your hipster capital of Atlanta.

EAV’s primary strip is home to kick-ass restaurants (Graveyard Tavern, Holy Taco, The Glenwood) and SoPo Bikes, a lesbian-founded bicycle cooperative that teaches folks how to repair their bikes and offers pay-what-youcan for parts and equipment. EAV is also home to the legendary gay bar Mary’s. Once recognized as the best gay bar in the country, Mary’s is the kind of speakeasy where facial hair and eyeglasses increase your chances of scoring, and where drunken karaoke is an almost spiritual experience. Speaking of channeling nirvana, up the street from Mary’s is Delia’s Chicken Sausage Stand, the lesbian-owned drop-in whose food has earned a devout local following.

Downtown/Old Fourth Ward As you might expect, downtown Atlanta is built for tourists — but do tourists want to go to Hooters? If you walk past places like Hard Rock Cafe, downtown offers plenty of options for unique outings. The crown jewel of downtown is the Georgia Aquarium, which hosts the annual Atlanta Pride opening party every October. The aquarium’s popularity drove a resurgence in the surrounding area, which now includes the LGBTQ-inclusive Center for Civil & Human Rights, Centennial Olympic Park, and the World of Coca-Cola. Old Fourth Ward is likewise becoming the poster child for Atlanta’s redevelopment, its turnaround accelerated by the Big-Bang popularity of the Atlanta BeltLine. The recreational path bustles with straight and LGBTQ walkers — not to mention shirtless jogging men! The Old Fourth Ward portion of the BeltLine also hosts the bedazzling Lantern Parade every September and connects with fun joints like Jake’s Ice Cream and romantic restaurants like TWO urban licks. On the southern tip of Old Fourth Ward, near the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolence, is Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room & Ping Pong Emporium, an irreverent mustexperience bar for any Atlanta visitor or resident.

Along the northern edge of Old Fourth Ward is Ponce City Market, a historic structure that has undergone an extreme makeover, re-emerging as a knockout condo/retail complex that houses an eclectic mixture of food choices from around the world, plus unique shopping outlets that redefine what it means to be a hipster! Plus, the sweets corner (edible cookie dough, doughnuts, ice cream, and candy from around the world) nestled within the market is sure to keep you coming back!

Grant Park/Cabbagetown Just south of Old Fourth Ward is Cabbagetown, an eclectic neighborhood where old factories were converted to hip lofts and businesses and where LGBTQ residents and merchants are helping the area carve a new identity. The area’s main commercial strip, which it shares with neighboring Grant Park, is Memorial Drive, lined with businesses and restaurants that pay homage to the neighborhood’s industrial roots with their facades. Among the places to eat on Memorial Drive is Ria’s Bluebird Cafe, a breakfast joint that continues to thrive in honor of its beloved departed founder, Ria Pell, a badass lesbian who triumphed on the Food Network reality show “Chopped.” Another strip worth checking out is Carroll Street, a tuckedaway hotspot that features cozy, acclaimed restaurants. Across from Carroll Street is the historic Oakland Cemetery, which offers tours of the final resting places of local notables such as Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone with the Wind,” and Maynard Jackson, Atlanta’s first Black mayor and partial namesake of the city’s airport.

Adjacent to Cabbagetown is Grant Park, one of Atlanta’s oldest in-town neighborhoods and the city’s largest historic district. Grant Park is full of older Craftsman and Victorian homes and is also full of gay residents who played a key role in the neighborhood’s rebound from its decline after Interstate 20 split the ’hood in half back in the ’60s. The neighborhood is named after the 130-plus acre park which houses Zoo Atlanta.

Castleberry Hill One of the defining traits of many Atlanta neighborhoods is gentrification, as the urban exodus of past decades reverses itself with suburbanites flocking to in-town neighborhoods. Castleberry Hill was on the forefront of this transition more than a decade ago, but unlike many other almost-unrecognizable neighborhoods, Castleberry Hill found a nice blend between fresh, modern residences and businesses, while retaining its original character. Located just west of downtown, the strip bills itself as Atlanta’s historic/creative district and features countless art galleries and popular event venues like The Loft. Bonus? No Mas! Cantina, which regularly hosts events for LGBTQ groups.

Decatur/Oakhurst Village/ Avondale Estates Sappho capital of the south, Decatur is a city where the LGBTQ social scene is more likely to be centered around PTA meetings and soccer games than bar stools and dance floors. Along with neighboring Avondale Estates,

Decatur, Georgia PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK

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Decatur is among the most densely concentrated areas of same-sex couples in the nation. The growth has been phenomenal over the past decade, and it now touts a slew of rainbow flag-wielding, equality-stickered homes and cars as far as the eyes can see! The result brings queer life to Main Street, through the downtown square and in the many LGBTQ-affirming churches. The city is home field for the Decatur Women’s Sports League and the highly regarded Paws, Whiskers & Wags Pet Crematorium — two bona fides of Decatur’s lesbian cred. And new to the Decatur business circle is lesbian/feminist Charis Books and More. Formerly in Little Five Points, this bookstore is a go-to spot for book signings, readings and the latest in written masterpieces.

West End Located a few miles south of downtown, the historic West End neighborhood is home to the renowned Atlanta University Center, comprised of Morehouse College, Spelman University and Clark Atlanta University. Each of the historically Black schools is known for having sizable gay and lesbian populations, and in recent years, LGBTQ students increased their organizing and programming.

West End also has a range of unique destinations, from the emerging art and business district known as The Metropolitan, to longtime venues like Busy Bee Cafe. A few blocks from the Atlanta University Center is the Herndon Home Museum, a historic site that chronicles the Herndon family, chiefly Alonzo Herndon, Atlanta’s first Black millionaire, and his son, Norris Herndon, an openly gay man who helped finance the civil rights movement. The nearby tennis courts at Perkerson Park are also a LGBTQ hidden gem.

College Park/East Point College Park is a city that almost everyone has been to, but few have ever visited. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is located in the city just south of Atlanta, but there is more to College Park than terminals and baggage belts. The city’s rejuvenated Main Street (located directly across from the MARTA train station) is dotted with restaurants like pan-Asian noodle house Noodle and brunch spot The Real Milk and Honey.

About four miles north on Main Street, in the direction of downtown Atlanta, is East Point. This city has also enjoyed an upswing in its downtown commercial district and is home to Greenbriar Mall. College Park and East Point are both predominantly African American areas, but both have a vibrant LGBTQ presence comprised of folks of all colors.

Stone Mountain Neighboring Decatur on the eastern edge of the metro Atlanta area is Stone Mountain, a city named after the massive granite boulder. It’s located in Stone Mountain Park, which has a golf course, fishing lakes, mini golf, and hiking trails all the way up the gigantic rock, giving everyone the pleasure of trampling all over the grounds. predominantly Black area, which includes a vibrant LGBTQ community that’s got you covered for Saturday night and Sunday morning. Phase One nightclub on Memorial Drive has been bringing LGBTQ hip-hop fans together for a decade, while Victory for the World Church is a dynamic congregation that has welcomed LGBTQ Christians for almost 20 years.

Stone Mountain is a diverse city, and LGBTQ residents are instrumental in their communities, too. Half a dozen operated businesses are helping revitalize downtown Stone Mountain, including a nonprofit community coffee shop called Stone Mountain Public House and the ART Station Contemporary Arts Center and Theatre Company.

The ’burbs LGBTQ life in metro Atlanta extends far beyond the city limits. In addition to Decatur, Stone Mountain, East Point, and College Park, other nearby cities made accomplishments in gay progress and acceptance. The metro area grows more conservative as you move out of the in-town core, but many LGBTQ people gladly call places like Sandy Springs, Marietta, Kennesaw, and Dunwoody home. It’s certainly worth checking out an act at the Cobb Galleria Centre, or hiking up Kennesaw Mountain.

Blue Ridge, about a 90-minute drive from Atlanta, is a mountain town of less than 1,500 residents and its main street is filled with LGBTQ-owned businesses. Gay Cove at Lake Lanier is a popular summer hangout. The energy that spurred LGBTQ advancement and a better quality of everyday life in Midtown consistently gained momentum and spread in all directions of metro Atlanta and allows queer culture to thrive in the conservative South.

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / MARKUS MAINKA