Where to Eat in Atlanta with Kids (That Grownups Love Too!)
Wondering where to eat in Atlanta with kids? My husband and I love finding local, high-quality restaurants, the kind we’d happily visit even if the kids weren’t on vacation with us. Over our weekend in Atlanta, we tried a mix of restaurants and coffee shops that worked for both parents and toddlers, and I’m sharing all of our favorites below (plus a few backup stops I saved just in case!).
Coffee & Breakfast Stops in Atlanta for Families on the Go
Dancing Goats Coffee Bar
Location & Parking – Old Fourth Ward / Ponce City Market area (and the garage is nearby!), but also walkable from our stay at the Wylie Hotel
Vibe – city greenspace meets industrial coffee shop
Menu Highlights – bagels & bagel sandwiches + solid coffee
Kid-Friendliness Factor – easy to eat quickly (like before the Georgia Aquarium) though you’ll see plenty of people working on laptops
Would We Return? – if staying walking distance – for sure!
Chrome Yellow
Location & Parking – south of Ponce; has its own small parking lot + street parking
Vibe – hip, artsy spot for people who care about a great roast
Menu Highlights – best coffee we had (no kid-friendly pastries/snacks)
Kid-Friendliness Factor – picnic tables out front were perfect for their snack (brought our own) + our coffee
Would We Return? – absolutely! excellent cup of coffee.
Muchacho
Location & Parking – in Reynoldstown (southeast of downtown); own parking lot
Vibe – bright, airy, plant-filled, and full of retro charm
Menu Highlights – amazing breakfast burritos (I had the Tony Alva!) & their fresh jam toast was a hit with the kids; plus a great iced latte
Kid-Friendliness Factor – relaxed staff, quick service, indoor & outdoor tables
Would We Return? – yes! we arrived early (before the brunch crowd) and it was so perfect!
Family-Friendly Food Halls in Atlanta
Tips for Ponce City Market with Kids
Spend a little time looking at the Ponce City Market restaurant options ahead of time. It helps to know how adventurous your kids are with new cuisines (but if you need it, there are hamburger and pasta options, too!). For our family, the spots I saved were Botiwalla (Indian street food), Umbrella Bar (Korean with a twist), Vietvana (pho), and El Super Pan (Puerto Rican). Our kids love trying new foods, and we always make sure to order at least one familiar food they’ll definitely eat. (In this case, egg rolls and dumplings!)
Umbrella Bar
What We Ordered – bulgogi beef tater tots; panko chicken bibimbap
What Stood Out – our kids loved the bibimbap (probably in part thanks to this book!)
Vietvana
What We Ordered – crispy egg roll; beef pho
Family Notes – great for adding variety to our order
Boom Boom Bao
What We Ordered – pan fried pork dumplings
Would We Return? – maybe? so many other spots to try at Ponce!
Five Daughters Bakery
What We Ordered – milk chocolate sprinkles (100 layer); strawberry glaze (yeast); chocolate eclair (100 layer)
Perfect for… – families and donut aficionados – I highly recommend the 100 layer donuts!
Easy Lunch Spots in Atlanta for Families
Motorboat
Location & Parking – Old Fourth Ward, a minute down the road from Ponce
Vibe – old school sandwich shop meets Tiki bar
Menu Highlights – I’m still dreaming about the Honey Roasted Pork sandwich
Kid-Friendliness Factor – Amazing! it’s easy to order an “off-menu” grilled cheese for the kids
Would We Return? – Already on our list for next time! The only problem would be deciding if I get the same (incredible) sandwich or find something new to order!
Souper Jenny’s at the Atlanta History Center
Location & Parking – free parking in the Atlanta History Center garage
Vibe – bookstore meets a cafe (with Brash Coffee Roasters nearby)
Menu Highlights – specializes in freshly made soups, sandwiches, and salads
Kid-Friendliness Factor – pb&js, apples, and cookies (need I say more?)
Would We Return? – I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat here, but as a convenient “in-museum” option, it was wonderful!
Family-Friendly Dinner Spot in Atlanta
Varuni Napoli
Location & Parking – in Midtown at the northeast corner of Piedmont Park; valet option by the front door, but easy, large, and free parking lot around the back!
Vibe – airy Italian eatery with a wood-fired pizza oven and open seating
Menu Highlights – fresh, Neopolitan-style pizza and a great caprese salad
Kid-Friendliness Factor – family-style benches, easy ordering, relaxed atmosphere, and very quick pizza
Would We Return? – definitely; everyone (kids and adults!) loved it
Need a Few More Suggestions?
With any trip, I always save back-up food options nearby (in this case around Midtown and the Old Forth Ward). Here are a few more restaurants and cafes that I saved in Google Maps:
- Revolution Doughnuts & Coffee
- Atlanta Breakfast Club
- Victory Sandwich Bar
- gusto!
- a mano
- Delbar – Inman Park
- TWO urban licks
- Cafe Intermezzo
Foodie Finds in Atlanta With Kids
If you’re looking for kid-friendly restaurants in Atlanta that adults actually enjoy, these are the stops we’d recommend again and again. Wondering how I find and integrate all of these stops into our family interaries? Check out my entire itinerary process here, using this Atlanta trip as an example!
