The Chick’s Picks – Guide to Atlanta for the SEC Championship
Atlanta isn’t called “Hotlanta” for nothin’! There are a ton of great hotels, restaurants, bars, shopping and attractions to enjoy that are also convenient to the downtown area and the Georgia Dome. So whether you are coming in just for tailgating and the game or are going to take a long weekend and explore Atlanta – there are some great places to hit! Take a look below to find some suggestions for places to stay, eat, and play when you’re not cheerin’ on the Tide. I’ve also included some links for cabs, MARTA and interactive downtown maps so that you can find your way around town!
Chick’s Picks for Hotels Close to the Dome
There are several great hotels that are very close to the dome – within walking distance, actually. Each of the hotels listed below are a half mile or less from the Georgia Dome.
Embassy Suites Atlanta at Centennial Park
Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta Downtown
Castleberry Inn & Suites Downtown
Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Downtown
But if you’ve waited until now to make reservations for the Kickoff Classic – check hotels.com and search around the Georgia Dome for the specific dates you need. It will show you hotels that still have rooms and are close. Don’t despair if you can’t find a hotel right next to the Dome, there are a lot of other great areas of Atlanta! My recommendations would be Midtown or Buckhead because in either of these 3 areas, you are still a short cab ride or MARTA away from the Dome. And next time make reservations as far in advance as you can at one of the cool downtown hotels that are a walk from the Dome!
Chick’s Picks for Downtown Restaurants & Bars
Atlanta has SOOOO many great restaurants. You really could eat your way through the city finding great little spots along the way in almost every neighborhood in town. So for this list, I tried to stick to the downtown area right around the Georgia Dome. And all of these restaurants have bar areas that offer a wide variety of beverage selections.
Swanky Downtown Restaurants (i.e. really good, but get out your pocketbook)
Seafood & Steakhouses
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant
American
Sundial Restaurant, Bar & View at the Westin
Distinctly Atlanta
Relaxed or Family Friendly Downtown Restaurants
Seafood
Six Feet Under (Westside Location)
American
Pizza
Slice (Pairing Pizzas & Martinis – yum!)
Sports Themed Restaurants
Stats - Restaurant and 5 bars under one roof
Chick’s Picks for Other Fun Things to Do
Even if you want to stick close to the Georgia Dome, there are a number of attractions close by for adults and kids alike.
Imagine It! Children’s Museum of Atlanta
Phillips Arena – concerts, sporting events, etc
The Tabernacle – concerts, events
Chick’s Tips for Getting Around Atlanta Atlanta isn’t always the easiest city to navigate – there are a number of different streets all with variations of the name Peachtree. There are several one-way fares in downtown that can be tricky, and traffic can be hellacious. BUT, if you know where you’re going (or at least have a map) it makes it a lot easier. Map of Downtown Atlanta Interactive Map of Downtown AtlantaInteractive Map of Downtown Atlanta Parking Transportation MARTA – Marta provides direct access to the Georgia Dome. If coming from one of the North/South lines, you will need to change trains at the Five Points Station and go one station on the West line to get to the Dome. Taxis - Don’t get me wrong, Atlanta taxi drivers are great, but they just don’t compare with New York taxi drivers. Don’t expect to give them a street address and have them know exactly where it is. So you need to have a clear idea of where you are going - the maps above should help with that! I’ve included numbers for a few cab companies - it’s hard to get through after the game and helps if you have a few options.
Atlanta Checker Cab (404) 351-1111 / Buckhead Safety Cab (404) 233-1152 / Atlanta Lenox Taxi Company (404) 885-1458
If you’d like some Chick’s Picks for other areas in Atlanta, just register & send me a comment listing where you’re staying and I’ll post recommendations for hotels, restaurants, bars, etc, in areas of Atlanta other than downtown.