Have a hankering for a good meal? Eager to take yourself out for some solo dining in Atlanta? Here you go. We’re going decadent this time.
Look, I love dining in great company. I relish evenings spent with people I love over decadent dinners and glasses of wine sloshing with the good stuff. I taste each bite, savor each sip, and keep my phone tucked away (unless I’m taking these very quickly captured photographs for you).
And, I also enjoy a good solo dinner! There’s something magical about snagging a spot at the bar, ordering as I please, and saying yes when the bartender asks if I’d like a second glass of Pét-Nat while I’m thumbing the pages of my latest read.
In accordance with my taste for solo dining around Atlanta, here are 5 spots to indulge in just that.
My favorite spots for solo dining in Atlanta
a mano
Craving a spot that feels like home? One that feels so specifically like a neighborhood spot, you almost expect them to know your name the first time you visit? Well, you’re looking for a mano. Nestled in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, a mano is precisely that – a neighborhood staple for unpretentious dishes and cocktails for savoring.
Lucian
A newcomer to the Atlanta area (specifically, Buckhead), Lucian marries books, food, and wine. Is there anything more idyllic? It screams decadent solo dining. I mean come on, their literal tagline is books and wine. It doesn’t get more divine than this.
Kimball House
If you’re looking for a household name in the Atlanta area, it’s Kimball House. Sidle up to the bar for some of the best cocktails in town and treat yourself to their Hawaiian Roll with whipped butter and preserves and a half-dozen oysters (or more) to start. The service is stellar and the food is cooked to perfection. Be sure to grab a ride here if you plan on imbibing, the drinks are both delightful and heady.
Staplehouse
When Staplehouse first announced its closure as the restaurant we knew and loved, I was crushed. We hadn’t gone nearly enough. And then, it became something new entirely by transforming the interior space from a restaurant to a market. In its new iteration, Staplehouse became a neighborhood go-to for lavish lunches, thoughtfully curated charcuterie, and a crushable wine list. If you asked me what my dream Saturday afternoon is, it’s basking in the sun in Staplehouse’s garden with a bottle of effervescent white in hand, a cheese board on the way, and a plate topped with their heavenly salty brioche bun stuffed with pork belly.
Little Bear (my very favorite spot for solo dining in Atlanta)
If you’ve been here before (hi! 👋) or if you follow me on Instagram, you may know I am positively obsessed with Little Bear. It’s my favorite spot in the city. The food is lush and approachable. The vibes are spot-on. And, the wine list is rock solid. The cocktails are, 100%, something to write home about as well. The team at Little Bear just gets it. And while the prices are on the more affordable side, the food is never lacking in variety, complexity, and flavor. If you’re coming to Atlanta and looking to take yourself out for some solo dining, I implore you to make a reservation at Little Bear.
For a nightcap
Imagine this. You’re happily satiated and on the hunt for a nightcap. You wander into the lush Jojo’s Beloved on a whim and it’s perfect. Snag a spot at the bar (I highly recommend making a reservation!) and grab yourself a cocktail while you’re lulled by the record spinning at the opposite end of the lounge.
Where are you treating yourself to a meal?
Okay spill, do you, too, love solo dining? It’s like a sweet little treat meant just for you. Where do you like heading for a solo meal?
