Dearing Street Guidebook
Nibbles and bites
Open for breakfast and lunch Wednesday-Saturday. All of it is delicious, the brisket breakfast tacos are so good I want to cry. Definitely a takeout kind of place. Order online to save time.
6 locals recommend
Tamez Barbecue
1660 West Broad StreetOpen for breakfast and lunch Wednesday-Saturday. All of it is delicious, the brisket breakfast tacos are so good I want to cry. Definitely a takeout kind of place. Order online to save time.
Open for breakfast and lunch, terrific outdoor patio where my kids practically grew up. Excellent breakfast fare and great biscuits.
73 locals recommend
Big City Bread Cafe
393 N Finley StOpen for breakfast and lunch, terrific outdoor patio where my kids practically grew up. Excellent breakfast fare and great biscuits.
The best grits in Athens. Yummy breakfasts and you are steps away from a great walk/hike/bike down the Greenway by the river. I've never tried they're Chocolate cake for breakfast, but it sounds good!
154 locals recommend
Mama's Boy Restaurant
197 Oak StreetThe best grits in Athens. Yummy breakfasts and you are steps away from a great walk/hike/bike down the Greenway by the river. I've never tried they're Chocolate cake for breakfast, but it sounds good!
The best biscuits in town. Order and takeout, or they have outside and inside seating.
15 locals recommend
The Farm Cart
1074 Baxter StThe best biscuits in town. Order and takeout, or they have outside and inside seating.
Ideal Bagel Co
815 W Broad StJust stroll down the hill and pick up some terrific bagels.
Amazing local bakery, featuring artisanal wheat breads and amazing breads. My favorite are the multigrain and the olive bread. I shop here every week. It is incredible.
69 locals recommend
Independent Baking Co
1625 S Lumpkin StAmazing local bakery, featuring artisanal wheat breads and amazing breads. My favorite are the multigrain and the olive bread. I shop here every week. It is incredible.
Delicious truffles, perfect gifts to bring back for friends and family. The hot chocolate is amazing--as are the chocolate milkshakes. Chocolate is sourced directly from Ecuador.
49 locals recommend
Condor Chocolates
1658 S Lumpkin StDelicious truffles, perfect gifts to bring back for friends and family. The hot chocolate is amazing--as are the chocolate milkshakes. Chocolate is sourced directly from Ecuador.
Unreal cakes and cupcakes. Order a day ahead or even early in the morning for afternoon pickup. I can bring in a cake and people will ask, "Is that a Cecilia's cake?" An Athens institution. Strictly for pick up, no dine-in.
Cecilia Villaveces Cakes
610 N Milledge AveUnreal cakes and cupcakes. Order a day ahead or even early in the morning for afternoon pickup. I can bring in a cake and people will ask, "Is that a Cecilia's cake?" An Athens institution. Strictly for pick up, no dine-in.
Delicious, quick, affordable tacos. We take out from here regularly. Nice outdoor seating, or get it to go. We get there at 5, when it opens, because it fills up fast. But the line moves fast. Kid friendly.
37 locals recommend
Taqueria Del Sol
334 Prince AveDelicious, quick, affordable tacos. We take out from here regularly. Nice outdoor seating, or get it to go. We get there at 5, when it opens, because it fills up fast. But the line moves fast. Kid friendly.
Delicious, affordable, casual pizzas and salads. Terrific and kid-friendly outdoor area--but be warned, features a sand pit, and kids will get sandy!
53 locals recommend
Ted's Most Best
254 West Washington StreetDelicious, affordable, casual pizzas and salads. Terrific and kid-friendly outdoor area--but be warned, features a sand pit, and kids will get sandy!
Cosy pub fare, which traveling young soccer coaches from England Britons once told me was the most authentic British pub they'd seen in months traveling the Southeast. No reservations.
73 locals recommend
The Royal Peasant
1675 S Lumpkin StCosy pub fare, which traveling young soccer coaches from England Britons once told me was the most authentic British pub they'd seen in months traveling the Southeast. No reservations.
Visit the breakfast/lunch counter and travel back in time: tater tots, grilled pimento cheeses. Crazy cheap and tasty. The milkshakes are out of this world. Drugstore also houses a post office, because Athens.
19 locals recommend
ADD DRUG
1695 South Lumpkin StreetVisit the breakfast/lunch counter and travel back in time: tater tots, grilled pimento cheeses. Crazy cheap and tasty. The milkshakes are out of this world. Drugstore also houses a post office, because Athens.
On a soft Southern night, no better place to experience Athens GA. Restaurant and bar.
169 locals recommend
Georgia Theatre
215 N Lumpkin StOn a soft Southern night, no better place to experience Athens GA. Restaurant and bar.
Yummy place for a pastry, coffee, or to grab breakfast or lunch. They have a freezer with to-go entrees if you'd like to eat at home. Locals cater their parties from here.
17 locals recommend
Donderos' Kitchen
590 N Milledge AveYummy place for a pastry, coffee, or to grab breakfast or lunch. They have a freezer with to-go entrees if you'd like to eat at home. Locals cater their parties from here.
Legendary pimento cheese. Great place to grab a quick bite or to takeaway--for lunch, or get a dinner casserole to go. University departments love it when Marti's caters.
21 locals recommend
Marti's At Midday
1280 Prince AveLegendary pimento cheese. Great place to grab a quick bite or to takeaway--for lunch, or get a dinner casserole to go. University departments love it when Marti's caters.
New Red Bowl
1935 S Barnett Shoals RdBest chinese food in town.
Great fries and pub fare--a family favorite, and walking distance away!
16 locals recommend
Trapeze Bar
89 Great Eastern StGreat fries and pub fare--a family favorite, and walking distance away!
Automatic Pizza
1397 Prince AveExcellent pizza, a local favorite.
Dawg Gone Good BBQ
224 W Hancock AveBest ribs in town. Small, so most people get it to-go.
Still Automatic for the People, hard to get more Athens than this meat & 3.
19 locals recommend
Weaver D's Delicious Fine Foods
1016 E Broad StStill Automatic for the People, hard to get more Athens than this meat & 3.
Great outdoor space for kids (the Eastside location is even more kid-friendly), good, affordable Latin fare. BYOB.
148 locals recommend
Cali N Tito's
1427 S Lumpkin StGreat outdoor space for kids (the Eastside location is even more kid-friendly), good, affordable Latin fare. BYOB.
Great people watching--coffee shop by day, bar by evening and night.
21 locals recommend
Walker's Pub and Coffee
128 College AveGreat people watching--coffee shop by day, bar by evening and night.
Cafe Racer
Great biscuits and unique doughnuts! Started as a food cart, and built a loyal following.
Saturday mornings, opens at 8, a sweet little market. We go regularly.
18 locals recommend
Athens Farmers Market
705 Sunset DrSaturday mornings, opens at 8, a sweet little market. We go regularly.
baddies burgers
Excellent smashburgers!
10 year old and his friends say "overpriced and overhyped." The 16 year old and I say "delicious." Inventive flavors.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
10 year old and his friends say "overpriced and overhyped." The 16 year old and I say "delicious." Inventive flavors.
Sightseeing & things to do
You can tell people in Athens that you're staying on the same block as "the Tree" and they'll know exactly where you are! Stroll down the block and take some pictures of this Athens institution.
47 locals recommend
Tree That Owns Itself
277 S Finley StYou can tell people in Athens that you're staying on the same block as "the Tree" and they'll know exactly where you are! Stroll down the block and take some pictures of this Athens institution.
Ciné
234 W Hancock AveHistoric arthouse movie theater. So fun! And you can walk!
You're probably coming to Athens because of UGA, but if not--do visit the beautiful and historic North campus. It's a truly beautiful campus.
96 locals recommend
University of Georgia
Herty DriveYou're probably coming to Athens because of UGA, but if not--do visit the beautiful and historic North campus. It's a truly beautiful campus.
Free and family neighborhood "zoo" (really more of a sanctuary for animals from possums to bears that needed rescuing), a fun 30 minute visit, especially for the small set.
23 locals recommend
Bear Hollow Zoo
Free and family neighborhood "zoo" (really more of a sanctuary for animals from possums to bears that needed rescuing), a fun 30 minute visit, especially for the small set.
I don't drink beer, but this seems like a great place to do it. Its Tropicalia is what Thor drinks in Creature Comforts--not a product placement, but because the production crew loved the beer!
149 locals recommend
Creature Comforts Downtown Taproom and Brewery
271 W Hancock AveI don't drink beer, but this seems like a great place to do it. Its Tropicalia is what Thor drinks in Creature Comforts--not a product placement, but because the production crew loved the beer!
Terrapin Beer Company
265 Newton Bridge RdAnother great local brewery
Washington Farms
5691 Hog Mountain RdSpring and summer, great fruit picking, with a petting zoo too!
Food scene
Sit down restaurants for a nice night out
Walk downtown to great Mediterannean fare from Peter Dale, a nationally recognized chef.
113 locals recommend
The National
232 W Hancock AveWalk downtown to great Mediterannean fare from Peter Dale, a nationally recognized chef.
Delicious food in a beautiful Athens setting from nationally recognized chef Hugh Acheson.
79 locals recommend
Five and Ten
1073 S Milledge AveDelicious food in a beautiful Athens setting from nationally recognized chef Hugh Acheson.
Slater's Steakhouse
Great steaks for a nice night out
Quintessential Athens. They don't take reservations, so go early or be prepared to wait. Salmon and grits, Struggleville pasta are 2 of my favorites--but save room for dessert. The cakes are from Cecilia's, and they are amazing.
153 locals recommend
Last Resort Grill
174-184 W Clayton StQuintessential Athens. They don't take reservations, so go early or be prepared to wait. Salmon and grits, Struggleville pasta are 2 of my favorites--but save room for dessert. The cakes are from Cecilia's, and they are amazing.
Tasty Italian food in a cosy setting. Went here for a family meal over the holidays and had a terrific time.
16 locals recommend
The Expat
1680 S Lumpkin StTasty Italian food in a cosy setting. Went here for a family meal over the holidays and had a terrific time.
South Kitchen + Bar
247 E Washington StTerrific brunches and dinners, in a wonderful space downtown.
Seabear Oyster Bar
297 Prince AveExcellent seafood, great porch dining. No reservations.
From the Red & Black review: Updated Southern fare shines at this elegant, understated restaurant. The menu varies, but staples such as pecan trout and stellar vegetable plates are cozy and familiar, as are snacks like deviled eggs and cheese straws. Start next door at its glam companion cocktail bar, Sidecar. Inquire ahead about pickup hors d’oeuvres. Me: Try the tomato pie. And if you're lucky enough to find chompers on the dessert menu, order them!
27 locals recommend
home.made
1072 Baxter StFrom the Red & Black review: Updated Southern fare shines at this elegant, understated restaurant. The menu varies, but staples such as pecan trout and stellar vegetable plates are cozy and familiar, as are snacks like deviled eggs and cheese straws. Start next door at its glam companion cocktail bar, Sidecar. Inquire ahead about pickup hors d’oeuvres. Me: Try the tomato pie. And if you're lucky enough to find chompers on the dessert menu, order them!
Expensive, tasty, vegetarian-friendly Italian; open on a Sunday night, as few places are.
ZZ & Simone's
Expensive, tasty, vegetarian-friendly Italian; open on a Sunday night, as few places are.
South Kitchen + Bar
247 E Washington StSolid southern option downtown, in a great space