ATLGuide
The Best Restaurants In Inman Park
A sceney Middle Eastern spot that feels like South Beach, a big-ticket Italian date night classic, and a sandwich haunt with a "World Famous" whiskey coke slushie are some of the 14 best restaurants in Inman Park.
Over the past decade, Inman Parkwent from a quiet restaurant scene with a few good eateries to one of Atlanta’s treasured pedestrian-friendly stretches. There are plenty of restaurants to scout while you wander around, whether you arrive by car, by electric scooter off the Eastside trail of the BeltLine, or just stroll over from your super swanky Victorian home. From an all-day Korean barbecue spot to tacos and great places to get some shade after a long walk on the BeltLine, these are the best restaurants in Inman Park.
THE SPOTS
Whether you’re in the chic sunroom, on the tropical outdoor patio, or by the sceney bar, every seat at this Middle Eastern restaurant in Inman Park feels like you just sat down at the cool spot that all the travel influencers post. Persian carpets, Iranian art, potted trees, and small antique oil-burning lamps placed at each table may inspire you to post a few pictures of your own, then put your Teams status on OOO. But the whole experience from the complimentary bread service—pita with feta cheese, walnuts, rashes, and herbs—to the pace and plating of your ordered dishes makes you want to book a trip back. The super helpful waitstaff will walk you through the menu, and when they tell you to get the Sabzi Polo, an herby rice dish with a crispy top shell, or the tangy Dill Labneh with shredded lamb, you should really listen.
Being miles from any ocean, Atlantans are usually stuck between frozen fish sticks and fancy surf and turf establishments where you have to double-check your credit limit before you even look at the menu. Beetlecat is a lovably easy-going seafood spot, where you can eat a fresh, quality meal with many of the items under $40, including $3 oysters and the same great lobster roll as their pricier West Midtown sister restaurant, The Optimist.
With the Den, their downstairs bar that feels like your grandparents’ basement, Beetlecat's casual setting feels just as good for a random night out as it does for a higher-stakes date. There's also a donut brunch on the weekend, with cocktails, a few types of hashbrowns, and more donuts than you should ever try in one sitting.
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There are plenty of Italian restaurants in Inman Park to choose from, but if you need somewhere for a big date or to celebrate the promotion you’ve not-so-patiently been waiting for, go to Sotto Sotto. Unlike most places on this list, Sotto Sotto has been around for a decade and in that time it’s become a go-to option for when you want to dress up a bit and eat great homemade pasta. If you still have room after trying out as many of the 13 pastas on the menu as possible, make sure to get the panna cotta for dessert.
Bread and Butterfly is the neighborhood French bistro experience that you don't need a RER or Metro pass to get to. This (mostly) all-day spot next to Beetlecat has a big marble bar that’s conveniently located next to all of the pastries, but try to get a spot on the glass-encased patio if you can so you can pet- and people-watch. The menu changes throughout the day, but the breakfast options, like the quiche, omelet, and crepes, are what we usually make it out of bed for.
There are three Bartacos around the city, and just like the other two, the Inman Park location has a nice patio, great margaritas, and serves little tacos that you can easily eat three or four of—our favorite is the crispy duck. And if you’re with a friend who says they don’t want tacos because they’ve already had some five times this week, the ceviche and plantains are good picks too.
Victory Sandwich Bar is a great spot to just sit on a patio, eat a few little sandwiches, and drink a whiskey Coke slushie. There’s a menu of nine different sandwiches, from the Tea Bird with spicy chicken and sweet tea mayo to the vegetarian Beeter, and each one’s small enough that you can double, especially if you spend a whole afternoon here. They also have a few sides, like smoked potato salad and cold sesame noodles. This place gets packed on the weekends, but you can always get a Vicnic basket to go, filled with everything you’ll need to eat, and go sit in the park across the street instead.
There are very few spots in Atlanta that you can hit for Korean barbecue and soju on a Friday night and return for brunch on Sunday. In fact, Char might be the only one. At night, it’s packed with groups grilling bulgogi, splitting bibimbap, and snacking on things like brown sugar sesame fries and K-town poutine. On weekend mornings, however, this place gives you a welcome break from the usual brunch routine with dishes like Korean chicken and waffles and egg-topped kimchi fried rice.
Every neighborhood needs a place where you can get good bar food, beer, and watch whatever game is on that you can’t find a way to illegally stream at home. In Inman Park, that’s The Albert. Their burgers are great and what they’re best known for, but they also have solid appetizers, like their pimento cheese with sausage and smoked nachos (for when you decide to stick around for the late game as well). They also carry 70-plus beers, along with a variety of wine and cocktails, so no matter what you’re in the mood for, you’ll be covered.
There are two main reasons to come to Fritti: the patio and the pizza. The well-shaded patio is usually packed, but the space is big enough that you won’t have to wait too long for a seat and to start scanning the 25 wood-fired pizza options on the menu (the faultless Regina Margherita is always our favorite). With a great cocktail list and well-adorned salads to non-pizza entrees like grilled salmon and steak frites, everyone should be able to find something they want—from your best friend who’s a vegetarian or your 10-year-old cousin who thinks that pepperoni is a requirement for any meal.
MF Sushi might not be the first spot to come to mind when you 're in the mood for a spicy tuna roll. But when you’re down to spend some hard-earned dollars on raw fish and to feel incredibly well taken care of, this is where you should go. MF has a full menu of sushi nigiri and specialty rolls, along with appetizers like baked lobster tempura, and a whole selection of grilled vegetables and seafood too. If you've already committed to spending a night here and money isn’t an issue, just reserve a spot at the seven-seat omakase bar instead for high-quality chef’s picks.
There are a lot of great restaurants in Inman Park, but BoccaLupo might be the one that makes us check to see if we can afford to live nearby (sadly, still no). This small, super casual spot isn’t much more than a wraparound bar with a few tables, but that, along with the homemade pasta, is what makes this place so great. Everything on the menu is Italian, more or less, but most of the dishes are slightly non-traditional, like the cacio e pepe that’s topped with fried pig skin, or the Southern fried chicken parm with creamy collards. Come with a few friends so you can try more of the menu, and while you’re at it, maybe convince them to move here.
The next time you’re planning a quadruple date, birthday party, or just want an excuse to drink a lot of sangria with some friends, go to Barcelona Wine Bar. Besides having one of the best patios in the neighborhood, they also offer a pre-fixe tasting menu for big groups, which ensures that you get to try a variety of tapas, along with some of the chef’s favorites, and skip the 20 minutes of trying to figure out if you’ve ordered enough small plates for your crew.
When you wake up after having a tad more than the “just one drink” that you and your friends agreed to the night before, go to Hampton + Hudson. This all-day spot serves Southern comfort food and some non-Southern dishes, like pastrami hash and a great burger. But if you’re not feeling your best, go for the Hangover Fries, which are topped with pork verde chili, pickled mustard seeds, cheese curds, and an egg, and will give you the necessary fuel to eventually order more.
There are three things you want after a long walk on the BeltLine: a cold margarita, a snack, and somewhere to sit in the shade. Luckily, you can find all of those things just a block away at Pure Taqueria. There's a large covered patio and great cocktails, and the menu includes everything from empanadas and ceviche to tacos served in handmade corn tortillas. Grab a drink and recharge for a bit before you head back out on the trail, or just get a second round and make an afternoon out of it instead.
