Guidebook for Athens
Food Scene
Eastside. Absolutely our favorite spot for dinner! If you haven't tried Ethiopian food, we highly recommend this place! Looks like a hole-in-the-wall, but the food is incredible. Get it with injera (a soft, pancake-like bread).
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Mannaweenta Restaurant
1055 Gaines School RdEastside. Absolutely our favorite spot for dinner! If you haven't tried Ethiopian food, we highly recommend this place! Looks like a hole-in-the-wall, but the food is incredible. Get it with injera (a soft, pancake-like bread).
Downtown. Amazing Indian food in a nice setting but budget-friendly. The naan is the best we've ever had.
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Taste of India
131 E Broad StDowntown. Amazing Indian food in a nice setting but budget-friendly. The naan is the best we've ever had.
Great little breakfast spot in Normaltown. Breakfast sandwiches, pastries and coffee.
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Ike & Jane
1307 Prince AveGreat little breakfast spot in Normaltown. Breakfast sandwiches, pastries and coffee.
Breakfast/ brunch chain in 5 Points. They have a little bit of everything.
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J. Christopher's
1650 S Lumpkin StBreakfast/ brunch chain in 5 Points. They have a little bit of everything.
Two locations, one near us on Macon Hwy, the other near downtown. A local Athens staple for breakfast and brunch. Expect a little bit of a wait on weekends, but totally worth it.
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Mama's Boy Restaurant
197 Oak StreetTwo locations, one near us on Macon Hwy, the other near downtown. A local Athens staple for breakfast and brunch. Expect a little bit of a wait on weekends, but totally worth it.
Normaltown. Great spot for a quick, healthy lunch or dinner,
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Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe
227 Prince AveNormaltown. Great spot for a quick, healthy lunch or dinner,
Jittery Joe's Coffee
1230 S Milledge AveLocal coffee shop with community connections
Hendershots Coffee
237 Prince AveNormaltown. Food, coffee, bar, outdoor patio, live music.
Two locations: Normaltown and Timothy Rd. Delicious, authentic Mexican food. Both locations have great patios.
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Agua Linda Taqueria
1376 Prince AveTwo locations: Normaltown and Timothy Rd. Delicious, authentic Mexican food. Both locations have great patios.
East Side. Delicious, low-key Asian Bistro with meal and sushi options.
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New Red Bowl
1935 S Barnett Shoals Rd East Side. Delicious, low-key Asian Bistro with meal and sushi options.
Downtown. Family-owned southern-style breakfast diner. Great casual atmosphere.
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Mayflower Restaurant
171 E Broad StDowntown. Family-owned southern-style breakfast diner. Great casual atmosphere.
Festive Cuban cuisine in a really cool atmosphere. All indoors but décor makes you feel like you’re dining in an outdoor courtyard. Check their calendar for salsa dancing nights.
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Cali N Tito's
1427 S Lumpkin StFestive Cuban cuisine in a really cool atmosphere. All indoors but décor makes you feel like you’re dining in an outdoor courtyard. Check their calendar for salsa dancing nights.
DePalmas Italian Cafe
1965 S Barnett Shoals RdCasual Italian, nice for a date night.
Mediterranean Grill
1591 S Lumpkin StPitas, kabobs, salads...a little bit of everything.
Despite their less-than-perfect online reviews for customer service, the pizza is yummy, and we’ve never had any issues with their service.
Bulldawg Pizza Wings & More
2026 S Milledge AveDespite their less-than-perfect online reviews for customer service, the pizza is yummy, and we’ve never had any issues with their service.
Beef, turkey and black-bean burger options. And Boozie-shakes for dessert.
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Grindhouse Killer Burgers
1553 S Lumpkin StBeef, turkey and black-bean burger options. And Boozie-shakes for dessert.
Parks & Nature
Part of the University's Intramural Fields, right across from campus. There are several athletic fields, but we tend to gravitate to the lake and wooded hiking trails. There's also a large, partially-fenced dog park for the fur-babies.
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Lake Herrick
Part of the University's Intramural Fields, right across from campus. There are several athletic fields, but we tend to gravitate to the lake and wooded hiking trails. There's also a large, partially-fenced dog park for the fur-babies.
Enormous lake with hiking trails, dog parks, a beach, kayak and canoe rentals, paddle board yoga, and occasional concerts and other events. During the warmer months they host a full moon paddle. Entry fee is $2/ person, personal dog park rental is $1, but they also have a public dog park at no extra cost.
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Sandy Creek Park
400 Bob Holman RdEnormous lake with hiking trails, dog parks, a beach, kayak and canoe rentals, paddle board yoga, and occasional concerts and other events. During the warmer months they host a full moon paddle. Entry fee is $2/ person, personal dog park rental is $1, but they also have a public dog park at no extra cost.
About 30 minutes from Athens. Beautiful historic covered bridge over a wide, shallow river with flat rocks and shoals, perfect or wading and sunbathing. A few hiking trails, canoe rentals, picnic tables. Parking fee is around $5.
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Watson Mill Bridge State Park
650 Watson MillAbout 30 minutes from Athens. Beautiful historic covered bridge over a wide, shallow river with flat rocks and shoals, perfect or wading and sunbathing. A few hiking trails, canoe rentals, picnic tables. Parking fee is around $5.
Seasonal gardens, an indoor conservatory with a cafe and gift shop, and wooded hiking trails that go along the Middle Oconee River and a few streams. Free!
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Isitshalo SaseNkampani Sezwe saseGeorgia
2450 S Milledge AveSeasonal gardens, an indoor conservatory with a cafe and gift shop, and wooded hiking trails that go along the Middle Oconee River and a few streams. Free!
Drinks & Nightlife
Downtown. An awesome board game cafe and bar with cozy nooks and a whole wall of board games to choose from. The staff are really knowledgeable about every game they have, so don't be afraid to ask for recommendations.
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The Rook & Pawn
294 W Washington StDowntown. An awesome board game cafe and bar with cozy nooks and a whole wall of board games to choose from. The staff are really knowledgeable about every game they have, so don't be afraid to ask for recommendations.
Downtown. Coffee shop and bar. Lots of adult coffee drinks to choose from in a cozy, cafe-like atmosphere.
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Walker's Pub and Coffee
128 College AveDowntown. Coffee shop and bar. Lots of adult coffee drinks to choose from in a cozy, cafe-like atmosphere.
Downtown. Also a really good restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Perfect place for fancy beer enthusiasts. Can get pretty busy at dinner time, so good idea to call ahead or accept a longer wait before being seated.
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Trappeze Pub
269 N Hull StDowntown. Also a really good restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Perfect place for fancy beer enthusiasts. Can get pretty busy at dinner time, so good idea to call ahead or accept a longer wait before being seated.
English pub with a great patio, good food and extensive beer selection. Especially awesome during soccer games (if you can get in the doors…).
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The Royal Peasant
1675 S Lumpkin StEnglish pub with a great patio, good food and extensive beer selection. Especially awesome during soccer games (if you can get in the doors…).
Downtown. International pub with good beer and decent bar food. Live Irish music on Sunday afternoons.
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The Globe
199 N Lumpkin StDowntown. International pub with good beer and decent bar food. Live Irish music on Sunday afternoons.
40 Watt Club
285 W Washington StEssentials
Kroger
191 Alps RdEarth Fare
1689 S Lumpkin StDaily Groceries Co-Op
1190 Prince AvePublix Super Market at Georgetown Square
1860 Barnett Shoals RdAthens Wash House
2026 S Milledge AveSelf-service, clean, open 24 hours.
Entertainment & Activities
A ton of different types of therapeutic yoga classes. For a completely unique experience, try their Glow Flow yoga class on some Friday nights. It's like a chill tribal rave and yoga class all in one.
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M3Yoga
1260 South Milledge AvenueA ton of different types of therapeutic yoga classes. For a completely unique experience, try their Glow Flow yoga class on some Friday nights. It's like a chill tribal rave and yoga class all in one.
ACTIVE CLIMBING - Indoor Rock Climbing Gym
665 Barber StFantastic laid-back climbing gym.
Aerial dance studio. Not open to drop-ins, but check their schedule for performance dates!
Canopy Studio
160-6 Tracy StAerial dance studio. Not open to drop-ins, but check their schedule for performance dates!
Arts & Culture
Downtown. International and indie film art house. Cozy atmosphere with a full bar and art exhibits.
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Ciné
234 W Hancock AveDowntown. International and indie film art house. Cozy atmosphere with a full bar and art exhibits.
Shopping
Lexington Vintage
1743 Lexington RdAn artsy and quirky up-cycled home furnishings and gifts market.
Native America Gallery
195 E Clayton St