EAT

onions to traditional galette dishes composed of mozzarella, sausage and a combination of plain and caramelized cinnamon apples.

t 9924 Davis St., Braselton, facebook.com/TGG.TheGallopingGalette, 706-684-3080

Hobnob

HOBNOB is a neighborhood tavern providing a warm and inviting atmosphere for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Raise a glass or fish bowl to Thirsty Thursday with a Moscow mule, made with Luksusowa vodka, prickly pear, watermelon, yuzu, peach, blueberry and cucumber.

t 6690 Town Square #420, Alpharetta, hobnobatlanta.com/locations/Alpharetta, 470-448-4572

Hopscotch

Sweet Magnolias

This family-owned cafe and bakery creates a daily buzz inside downtown Gainesville’s Main Street Market. Its menu features an array of straightforward sandwiches, soups, salads and baked goods.

t 118 Main St. SW, Gainesville, 678-862-0254

Trendy

2 Dog Restaurant

This rustic and homey eatery flanking downtown Gainesville serves an eclectic menu of seasonal produce sourced from local farms, fresh meats smoked on site, homemade breads, fresh-cut garden herbs, house-made sauces, salads and desserts.

t 317 Spring St. SE, Gainesville, 2dogrestaurant.com, 770-287-8384

Avocados

Enjoy your meal at tables along the sunny sidewalk of the Gainesville square or retreat inside to enjoy a fresh burger or skillfully fried chicken tenders. There’s an eclectic bar upstairs called Blue Door that features a DJ and a dress code. t 109 Bradford St., Gainesville, avocadoseats.com, 770- 532-0001

Bratzeit

This unpretentious, authentic German restaurant in Dahlonega serves up a mix of Bavarian and Swiss dishes like schnitzel, sausages and fondue. The couple who run the place hail from Stutgart, Germany, and southwest Switzerland, and they’ve been a low-key favorite of Germans and military veterans who put in time overseas. If you want to brush up on your Deutsche or get a taste of your old Army days, check out the hearty menu at Bratzeit.

t 77 Memorial Drive, Dahlonega, bratzeit.com, 706-867-7741

The Galloping Galette

Take an authentic bite of France in this casual atmosphere specializing in sweet crepes and savory galettes. The eclectic menu ranges from crepes filled with smoked salmon, Swiss and goat cheese and t 107 Bradford St. NW, Gainesville, hopscotchrestaurant.com

This tapas restaurant offers upscale casual dining on the downtown Gainesville square. The menu changes with the season but features dishes ranging from Tater Tots to sprouts and goat cheese. It also features local brews.

Hop’s Kitchen

For a serious burger, or any other sandwich, for that matter, don’t overlook this spot hidden next to Interactive Neighborhood for

Discover North Georgia

Hopscotch offers upscale casual dining on the downtown Gaines ville square.

Kids in Gainesville. There’s a burger with pimento cheese and pickled green tomatoes, a burger with mushrooms and pesto and a burger with something called “beer sauce.” And if burgers aren’t your thing, the menu features a lot of other options, including artful vegetarian sandwiches. Ask about their momo bread.

t 999 Chestnut St., Gainesville, hopskitchen.com, 770-654-9022

The Inked Pig

The Inked Pig puts its own mark on classic barbecue dishes. On the menu, you can find a barbacoa brisket with chimichurri sauce and sweet tea-smoked chicken along with classic pulled pork and sauces. The restaurant itself is located in the midtown district of Gainesville where you can hear the train whistle by.

t 893 Main St. SW, Gainesville, theinkedpig.com, 678-696-5611

Try a barbacoa brisket with chimichurri sauce and sweet teasmoked chicken at The Inked Pig in Gainesville.

Local Station

Built in 1925, this historic downtown dining spot was Braselton’s first service station. Today, it serves lunch and dinner fare, signature drinks and seasonal specials.

t 108 Brassie Lane, Braselton, 706-921-3192

Playas Bowls

Using fresh, high-quality ingredients, Playas serves açaí, pitaya and coconut bowls and smoothies with sustainability and community in mind.

t 6365 Halcyon Way, Suite 930, Alpharetta, playabowls.com, 678580-2458

PopBar

Popbar is your traditional Italian gelateria with a twist of modern dessert fun. Specializing in all-natural, handcrafted gelato on a stick, the menu includes 60-plus flavors and endless ways to customize.

t 6710 Town Square, Suite 130, Alpharetta, pop-bar.com, 470-2942910

Recess Southern Gastro Pub

Located just off the downtown Gainesville square, this pub offers trendy Southern foods like fried green tomato appetizers and Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Thighs along with classic pub fare like burgers and fish and chips. It has a large bar area and an inventive cocktail menu.

t118 Bradford St. NE, Gainesville, recesspub.com, 678-450-0444

Rice Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Rice is dedicated to serving patrons a unique variety of Asian cuisine.

The eatery offers an assortment of traditional dishes prepared with fresh, quality ingredients that are familiar to the American palate. With select daily market deliveries, they also serve only the freshest and highest-grade sushi and sashimi.

t 3480 Keith Bridge Road,

Suite B1, Cumming, ricerestaurantandsushibar.com, 770-8879833

The Stag Chophouse & Club

Formerly known as chopBLOCK, this rebranded chophouse serves a more elevated dining experience than its pub fare of yore.The Stag’s clean, simple American-style dishes include New England crab dip, hot-smoked salmon, pork and lamb chops, filets and ribeyes.

t 110 Main St. SW, Gainesville, chophouseandclub.com, 470-2525016

Taqueria Tsunami

This contemporary fusion restaurant specializes in LatinAsian cuisine inspired by the Los Angeles food truck scene and the travels of chef Scott Kinsey. The menu features avocado cilantro egg rolls, empanadas filled with diners’ choice of Thai chicken, beef or Korean-style barbecue short ribs, “tsunami bowls,” tacos and quesadillas, as well as draft beer, wine and signature cocktails.

t 106 Spring St., Gainesville, taqueriatsunami.com

YellowFin

This downtown Gainesville restaurant spotlights seafood, with dishes like bang bang shrimp tacos and crab cakes. There’s also steaks, chicken and lamb for the land farers.

t 120 Bradford St. NW, Gainesville, yellowfingv.com, 678-450-4225

Zen Ramen & Sushi Burrito

The only Japanese restaurant in downtown Gainesville serves up its namesake. The sushi burritos offer filling choices including tuna, salmon, shrimp, crab and vegetable options.

t 115 Washington St. NE, Gainesville, 678-696-5739

Upscale & fine dining

Antebellum t 5510 Church St., Flowery Branch, 770-965-8100

Experience fine dining in Flowery Branch by visiting Antebellum, which resides in an 1890s style home in the city’s historic district. The restaurant offers a seasonal menu with ingredients from local farms, as well as traditional American dishes with a gourmet twist. Some of the menu items include cocoa crusted duck breast, grilled Atlantic salmon, wild farm greens and a local charcuterie and cheese board.

The Blue Bicycle

Dawsonville might not be the first town to come to mind for French cuisine, which makes The Blue Bicycle a nice surprise on your trip north on Ga. 400. Located near North Georgia Premium Outlets, this bistro offers a range of small and large plates for both lunch and dinner. The menu includes a few French favorites with a Southern twist: chicken liver mousse, smoked trout rillettes and pimento cheese tartine. Make sure to check out this spot’s extensive wine menu.

t 30 Industrial Park Blvd., Dawsonville, 706-265-2153

The Chattahoochee Grill

Located inside the Chattahoochee Golf Club, which is open to the public, many of The Chattahoochee Grill’s dishes have a Southern touch, some with an Asian leaning — a nod to chef Rand Carswell’s time in South Florida. Alongside pimento cheeseburgers, bacon-wrapped dates and brunchtime chicken and waffles, the menu flaunts spicy tuna crispy rice — spicy tuna atop crispy rice cakes, garnished with eel and dynamite sauces and serrano pepper — and Carswell’s award-winning fried mac and cheese balls, as seen on Food Network’s “Food Truck Face Off” in 2015.

770-532-1173

Consuelo

Authentic Mexican cuisine, curated cocktails and a unique dining experience collide under one roof at Consuelo, so named for the late grandmother of co-owner Pepe Perez, who brandished superb cooking skills and left behind a collection of beloved family recipes that were regularly savored around her 16seat dining room table. The restaurant’s menu is curated from many of those recipes.

Cotto Modern

Italian in downtown Gainesville serves traditional flavors of the Old World with a sophisticated dining experience.

SCOTT

| Discover North Georgia

Cotto Modern Italian

Boasting flavors of the Old World and a sophisticated dining experience, Cotto offers traditional Italian dishes running the gamut from risottos and grilled meats to classic pastas and gnocchi, meatballs, steamed mussels and wood-fired, Neapolitan-style pizzas along with Italian-inspired cocktails and roughly 50 wines.

678-310-2071

Cotton Calf Kitchen

This 120-seat, white tablecloth, contemporary American steakhouse in downtown Braselton features tapas-style appetizers alongside dryaged steaks and other specialties. The bar and lounge area features craft beers, small-batch whiskeys, bourbons, classic cocktails and an extensive wine list. Seating on the outdoor patio overlooks the Braselton Town Green, which is often the stage for movies, concerts and other entertainment.

t 9924 Davis St., Braselton, cottoncalf.com, 706-684-0410

Luna’s

This mainstay located in the Hunt Tower off the Gainesville square features a refined dining experience and a traditionally American menu with dishes such as grilled pork chop with whipped sweet potatoes or salmon with basmati rice and vegetables. Dress to impress and don’t miss the piano bar.

t 200 Main St. SW, Gainesville, lunas.com, 770-531-0848

Scott’s Downtown

Slated to reopen July 2023 following interior renovations, Scott’s Downtown keeps a polished dinner menu with a range of premium steak and seafood dishes along with a few Southern classics like Lowcountry shrimp and grits and fried oysters. The restaurant also provides an extensive cocktail menu for those wanting to kick back and unwind after work. t 131 Bradford St. NE, Gainesville, scottsdowntown.com, 770-5361111

Tam’s BackStage

Tam’s Backstage Restaurant is in its 16th year as one of Forsyth County’s most successful food and spirits gathering spots — with dining in the basement of the town’s historic 1923 school building.

An American bistro punctuated with a hint of northern Italian flair, the seafood is fresh, the steaks are handcut and the sauces, dressings and desserts are all made from scratch.

t 215 Ingram Ave., Cumming, tamsbackstage.com, 678-455-8310

Luna’s is located in the Hunt Tower off the Gainesville square and features a refined dining experience with a traditionally American menu.

Discover North Georgia

Coffee Because Coffee

Located conveniently off of Ga. 400 in Dawson County, Because Coffee is locally owned and offers a variety of freshly sourced, roasted and brewed coffees that are guaranteed to please any coffee lover.

The shop also offers a variety of roasts for purchase by the bag to take home and brew yourself.

t 240 Dawson Village Way N., Suite 100, Dawsonville, 470-8690550

Boarding Pass Coffee

Owned by avid travelers, Boarding Pass Coffee offers a first-class ticket to the world’s flavors without the TSA wait time.

The menu features specialty grade coffee from destinations like Brazil, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Peru and Colombia, along with pastries and other food items.

t 106 Spring St. SW, Gainesville, boardingpasscoffee.com, 678-6965031

Community Cup

Community Cup, a locally owned and operated cafe, does more than sell coffee, tea and smoothies. It is a place of support in Forsyth County, partnering with local nonprofit groups, including CURE Childhood Cancer, to spread awareness and help those in need. Community Cups sources its coffee from a nearby roaster and vegan and gluten-free items from a local bakery. In addition to beverages, Community Cup offers sandwiches, pastries and other food items. It also has a dining area and features a patio for guests to gather.

t 125 Tribble Gap Road, Cumming, communitycupga.com, 470297-5569

Diletto Bakery

Diletto Bakery specializes in coffee and scratch-made bread, pastries and internationally inspired goods, such as macarons, crepes and empanadas.

t 528 Bradford St. SW, Gainesville, dilettobakery.com, 678-9431304

Inman Perk Coffee

Family-owned and operated on the Gainesville square, Inman Perk made its way to Flowery Branch in 2005 as an extension of its original location in Atlanta’s Inman Park neighborhood before relocating to downtown Gainesville in 2008. The shop offers a broad menu including breakfast options, pastries and sandwiches as well as a large selection of hot and cold drinks.

t 102 Washington St. NE, Gainesville, inmanperkcoffee.com, 678-971-5611

Meadowlark Coffee

Housed in a 430-square-foot suite, Meadowlark Coffee initially debuted as a pop-up coffee cart in downtown Gainesville. The shop’s menu features specialty teas and coffee, including standard and seasonal lattes made with house-made syrups, alongside homemade breads and pastries from Colette Bread and Bakeshop in Atlanta.

t 109 Bradford St. SE, Gainesville, facebook.com/meadowlarkcoffee, 404-694-2707

Breweries, distilleries and taprooms

Braselton Brewing Co.

This brewpub in the heart of Braselton offers a lineup of rotating beers including European classics like a German-style lager, hefeweizen and kolsch. Those wanting a meal with their tasty brew can choose from a menu of Southern pub food like burgers, soft pretzel bites and macaroni and cheese. The restaurant is inside what was once a cotton gin, which can be noted by its rustic metal exterior. This brewpub welcomes canines of all sizes to its patio.

t 9859 Davis St., Braselton, braseltonbrewing.com, 706-684-0686

Cherry Street Brewing

Cherry Street Brewing Co-op’s restaurant and taproom have become popular gathering spots in Forsyth County, offering IPAs, sours and barrel-aged drinks. The food menu features whole rotisserie chicken, chicken fingers, ribs and large salads. A steakhouse menu features hand-cut steaks and grilled fish.

t 5810 Bond St., Cumming, cherrystreetbrewing.com, 770-205-5512

Cork It

With locations in downtown Gainesville, downtown Buford and Braselton, Cork It boasts an array of local and imported wines and charcuterie boards embellished with cheese, meats, pickles, jams and spreads from Antebellum Restaurant in Flowery Branch and other area businesses. Exclusive wine club memberships are also offered at each location.

t 118 Main St., Gainesville, corkitgainesville.com, 770-545-6164 79 t E. Main St., Buford, corkitbuford.com, 678-765-2549 t 36 Frances St., Braselton, corkitbraselton.com, 229-630-6311

Jan. 3, at the downtown Gainesville wine bar.

Downtown Drafts t 115 Bradford St., Gainesville, downtowndrafts.net, 678-943-2165

This craft beer cafe and growler shop on the Gainesville square offers a selection of local, national and international brews. Seating is available inside as well as along the sidewalk outside the shop.

Flourish Taproom

Inside The 1904, a converted mercantile in downtown Braselton, this family-friendly community gathering space features a rotating lineup of beer and wine as well as non-alcoholic beverages, live music and social events including bingo, trivia and comedy nights.

t 9924 Davis St., Braselton, facebook.com/flourishtaproom

Legends Distillery

Legends offers bourbon, including its “Distillers Release” 122.4 proof single barrel bourbon, which raises a $2 donation for the Humane Society of Forsyth County from every bottle sold, along with vodka cocktails. t 210 Industrial Park Drive, Cumming, spiritsusa.com/live-music, 470-695-7926 t 2100 Atlanta Highway, Gainesville, liquidnationbrewing.com, 678-827-6678

Liquid Nation Brewing Co.

Located inside a historic building in Chicopee Mills south of Gainesville proper, this brewery has been serving up a range of craft beer since opening in 2016. Many of its brews pay homage to the city’s heritage, including its Engine 209 Russian imperial stout and Bridge to Nowhere IPA.

NoFo Brew Co.

Forsyth County’s first craft brewery, NoFo Brew Co., was born out of its founders’ love of adventure and craft brew. It offers a family- and dog-friendly environment, as well as a green front lawn for outdoor activities. Additional NoFo taprooms are set to open in Gainesville and Cleveland in summer 2023.

t 6150 Ga. 400, Cumming, nofobrew.co, 678-771-8116

Remedy Distillery

Gainesville’s first distillery is making its own signature whiskey and bourbon in midtown Gainesville. There’s an outdoor patio and an indoor tasting room that serves cocktails and 2-ounce free samples of whiskey and bourbon. People can also purchase up to three bottles of bourbon and cinnamon whiskey.

t 885 Main St. SW, Gainesville, remedywhiskey.com, info@remedywhiskey.com

Talk of the Table

Talk of the Table is a wine and cheese boutique tasting room with more than 300 unique wines and 25 artisanal cheeses. You can also plan a wine tasting at home for a special party. t 410 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 218, Cumming, facebook.com/ TalkOfTheTable, 678-965-4003

Tap It Pints and Growlers

As its name suggests, this taproom offers a rotating selection of craft beer by the pint or growler, as well as wine and Champagne. Guests can enjoy a drink and live entertainment inside or on the rooftop, which opened in spring 2022 and overlooks downtown Gainesville.

t 110 Maple St., Gainesville, tapitgrowler.square.site, 678-4213312

Wineries

North Georgia is known for its wines, and a 133-square-mile area known as the Dahlonega Plateau has the official designation of “American Viticultural Area.” That basically means it’s a region good for growing grapes and making wines. See for yourself at one of the many wineries tucked into the foothills and mountains of the Appalachians. Some offer upscale experiences and others relaxed, country living. Discover your preferred tastes.

Accent Cellars

This spot just outside downtown Dahlonega crafts its wines from grapes sourced around the state and country. It calls itself a micro urban winery and has events that seem to fit that designation, including comedy nights.

t 215 Auraria Road, Dahlonega, accentcellars.com, 706-867- 0123

Blue Duck Cider Co.

Farm winery Blue Duck Cider Co. opened in 2022 and specializes in hard craft cider, offering several cider flavors as well as beer, wine and seltzers. Customers can have a 2-ounce taster, as well as 8- or 10-ounce glasses. The farm winery offers an on-site tasting room with comfortable seating and a fun, vintage feel, as well as space for customers to play cornhole.

t 30 Industrial Park Drive, Suite 114, Dawsonville, 706-203-1329

Cavender Creek Vineyard & Winery

This family farm operation experiments with small batches and many grape varietals and wine blends. Most of its wine is aged in either stainless steel or American oak barrels. Its atmosphere is relaxed and ripe for tasting something new.

t 3610 Cavender Creek Road, Dahlonega, cavendercreekvineyards. com, 706-451-9084

CeNita Vineyards

CeNita Vineyards invites visitors to enjoy a variety of red and white wines in its casual setting. People can hang out in one of the winery’s hammocks or enjoy a game of cornhole.

t 591 Dock Dorsey Road, Cleveland, cenitawinery.com, 706-8657478

Chateau Elan

As one of the largest wineries on the East Coast, Chateau Elan has carved a path for itself in Georgia’s wine industry. The winery has craft- ed over 30 wines with grapes grown in Braselton, southern Georgia vineyards and California’s Lake County and Clarksburg regions. Open daily, Chateau Elan invites guests to delve deeper into the winemaking process with a behind-the-scenes tour. t 100 Rue Charlemagne Drive, Braselton, chateauelan.com, 678425-0900

Cloudland Vineyards and Winery

This winery in South Hall County highlights the lomanto grape, which can produce a bright and complex red wine. The menu also includes white and rosé wines.

t 3796 North Bogan Road, Buford, facebook.com/cloudlandwines

Etowah Meadery

Ever tried mead, also known as honey wine? Here’s your chance to indulge in this sweet “nectar of the gods.” Some of the tasty creations include the Georgia Standard, a traditional mead made with wildflower honey and Dahlonega mountain water; Figgy Pudding, made with honey, figs, spices and aged in a charred whiskey barrel; and Stone Pile Peach, a mead made with peaches. t 3003 Morrison Moore Parkway E, Dahlonega, etowahmeadery.com, 706-864-6323

Frogtown Cellars

This award-winning winery also has an Italian bistro to pair with your glass. The wines, pastas and pizza doughs are all made on site.

t 700 Ridge Point Drive, Dahlonega, frogtown.com

Habersham Winery

Since 1983, Habersham Winery has been producing a large variety of wine in North Georgia wine country, just a half-mile south of Helen’s Alpine village. Some of its notable collections are the Southern Harvest label, which includes wines made from muscadines, and the Habersham and Creekstone labels, which include varietal vinifera wines as well as blended wines with both vinifera and French-American grapes.

t 7025 S. Main St., Helen, habershamwinery.com, 706-878-9463

Kaya Vineyard and Winery

Kaya Vineyard and Winery breathed life back into the property of the old Blackstock Vineyards that closed in late 2012. When it operated, Blackstock was one of the largest wineries in the area. Kaya offers a wine club for its devoted guests, cottages for short overnight stays as

at the islands SPLASHING to

well as a scenic venue for both weddings and private events. The winery also provides a light lunch menu for those wanting to enjoy their wine with food on Kaya’s covered patio.

t 5400 Town Creek Road, Dahlonega, kayavineyards.com, 706219-3514

Montaluce Winery

At Montaluce Winery, visitors can experience fine dining, flavorful local wine and the nature surrounding the Etowah River. The winery’s restaurant offers seasonal brunch and dinner menus including dishes like pasta Bolognese, Mediterranean grouper and torta de pollo. Those wanting to explore the land surrounding Montaluce can opt for a wine hike, which involves a guided tour through the vineyards and along nature trails. The property is also home to four privately owned Tuscan-style villas available for rent.

t 501 Hightower Church Road, Dahlonega, montaluce.com, 706867-4060

Mulberry Springs

Vineyard and Winery

Opened in spring 2023, Mulberry Springs Vineyard and Winery sits among panoramic views of rolling hills and a 4-acre vineyard where muscadine, lomanto and Lenoir varietals grow. While awaiting construc- tion of the winery’s tasting room, guests can gather around picnic tables and fire pits on the grounds or under the winery’s cedar pavilion. t 4527 J M Turk Road, Flowery Branch, mulberrysprings.com

FCN | Discover North Georgia Stoney J’s strives to make wines that represent the local region and cellar well, yet are equally enjoyed in their youth.

Serenity Cellars

This winery offers red and white blends as well as several sweeter dessert wines, which you can enjoy on its small outdoor patio.

t 265 Laurel Ridge Road, Cleveland, serenitycellars.com, 706-3481277

Stoney J’s Farm Winery

Established in 2014 as a farm and orchard, Stoney J’s has evolved into a working farm winery. It offers wine tastings, a gourmet chef’s kitchen with a wood-fired pizza oven and an outdoor courtyard with a fireplace. Stoney J’s strives to make wines that represent the local region and cellar well, yet are equally enjoyed in their youth. The farm features animals including chickens, an alpaca, ponies, goats and pigs. Organic seasonal blackberries and blueberries are grown there as well as fresh vegetables and herbs used exclusively in the tasting room menu items. t 1506 Stoney Point Road, Cumming, stoneyjswinery.com, 678-9104146

Sweet Acre Farms Winery

This fruit winery set in the rolling hills of northeast Hall County has a low-key vibe, where you can grab a wine slushie and rock on the expansive porch overlooking vines of blackberries. While many of the wines are sweet, there are some drier varieties, including one made from blueberries.

t 7584 Bill Wilson Road, Alto, sweetacrefarms.com, 678-769-5355

Wolf Mountain Vineyards t 180 Wolf Mountain Trail, Dahlonega, wolfmountainvineyards. com, 706-867-9862

This winery, established in 1999, is set on 30 acres in Lumpkin County. It boasts several awardwinning wines and focuses on a style that blends European varietals to achieve more complex and intense flavors.

Yonah Mountain Vineyards t 1717 Highway 255 S, Cleveland, yonahmountainvineyards.com, 706878-5522

This 200-acre family winery tucked away on the southeastern base of Yonah Mountain offers award-winning wines in a picturesque setting. The Genesis X Classic, a red blend, won double gold in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the largest wine contest in North America. The large, swanky patio overlooks the vines growing along the hillsides.