Overview
Decatur is a city that, despite being somewhat isolated from the rest of Atlanta, is so close to Georgia's state capital as to not really be separate. While Atlanta is an international city with corporate headquarters, world class convention facilities, and a fast pace, Decatur has retained a small city feel and a slightly slower pace. However, Decatur is closer to Atlanta's business, retail and cultural destinations than many of Atlanta's neighborhoods, so it can easily be mistaken for an in-town neighborhood of Atlanta.
9 sights · 17 things to do · 21 places to eat · 6 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Decatur
Decatur Cemetery
One of the oldest operating cemeteries in Georgia. Check out the Civil War graves (to your left at you enter), sit in the pleasant gazebo, or take a stroll around the lake. Look out for the ducks, which are aggressive. A…
Emory University
Check out the excellent Michael C. Carlos Museum, 571 South Kilgo Cir., +1 404 727-4282 . Walk around the English Renaissance Lullwater House and nearby Candler Lake (formerly Lullwater Lake). The Lullwater House, locate…
Agnes Scott College
A private college for women 3/4 mile south of Decatur Square. Agnes Scott frequently hosts lectures, concerts, and other cultural events. A walk around the beautiful campus, which was featured in Scream 2, is also a plea…
Bradley Observatory
Agnes Scott College. Visit the observatory (and planetarium) during one of their "Amateur Astronomy" open houses.
Your Dekalb Farmers Market
Although a grocery store is not high on most tourists' list of things to see, this international market is a spectacle that is worth the trip. The enormous store employs people from around the world (their name tags tell…
DeKalb History Center
Step outside on the north side of the courthouse to view the "seated statues" and the south side to view the Decatur Square, home to various restaurants and prominently featured in TV and film productions, most notably H…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 36°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jul and Mar. (climate data from nearby Metro Atlanta)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- PDK DeKalb Peachtree Airport, Atlanta — 7 mi away. Directions
- ATL Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta — 12 mi away (major hub). Directions
Downtown Decatur is on the east-west MARTA Blue rail line to Decatur Station (E6). The station is directly behind the courthouse (under Decatur Square) and has two access points. Exit east (Church St.) for the pedestrian and taxi entrance to the station; exit west (Commerce) to transfer to MARTA buses. The city of Decatur includes two additional MARTA rail stations: East Lake (E5) and Avondale (E7). Avondale Station is located at the southern end of the Decatur Heights neighborhood, and not the City of Avondale Estates. Average time from Decatur Station to Five Points Station is 13 minutes. There are connecting MARTA buses to neighborhoods in and around Decatur.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $8 per person at listed restaurants.
Options are grouped as Decatur, Near Decatur in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning DeKalb History Center, The Seen Gallery, Mingei World Arts
- Lunch Raging Burrito and Taco
- Afternoon Predicate Gallery, Agnes Scott College
- Dinner Iberian Pig
- Evening Twain's Billiards and Tap
Day 2
- Morning Your Dekalb Farmers Market, OnStage Atlanta, Original Waffle House & Museum
- Lunch Chopaati
- Afternoon MAK Historic District, AJC Decatur Book Festival
- Dinner Zyka The Taste
- Evening The Corner Pub
Day 3
- Morning Atlanta Preservation Center, Decatur Walking Tours
- Lunch Paolo's Gelato
- Afternoon Decatur Arts Festival
- Dinner The Flying Biscuit
- Evening Oakview Coffee
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Decatur is known for its outstanding locally-owned restaurants, and patrons travel here from all over metro Atlanta. Despite the presence of Ted's Montana Grill & Ruby Tuesday's, the national chains are not prevalent here. There are over 70 restaurants and pubs—primarily clustered in the downtown area, Oakhurst and north of Decatur. There are also sandwich shops, pasta restaurants and local chain pizza joints that have great food, but they are not listed below.
The restaurants are located on or near picturesque Ponce De Leon Avenue and around the Decatur (courthouse) Square. Here are some of the better restaurants:
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Decatur is the county seat of DeKalb County. This historic city was founded in 1823 - before neighboring Atlanta. It has beautiful homes, historic places of worship and several institutions of higher learning. Centered on the historic Decatur Courthouse, Decatur has become a hot destination for college students and young professionals who want hip bars, great restaurants, and walkable neighborhoods, as well as for families who are drawn to the excellent independent school district. In addition to the single-family homes in old neighborhoods surrounding the central business district, there are several mid-rise condominium developments in the downtown area, breathing life into the downtown community.
While it may appear to be a typical southern city, Decatur marches to the beat of a different drummer. It declined to become a railroad transportation hub for the southeast in the 19th century, resulting in the founding of Atlanta to its west. Both delegates from DeKalb County voted against secession in 1861. Decatur is one of the few parts of the sprawling Atlanta area that blends a small-town feel with an open-minded, freewheeling, artsy sensibility.
Decatur remains notable for its diversity. Founded by Scottish, Irish, and English immigrants, the city remains majority Caucasian, but there is also a substantial African-American population, a lesbian community and Ethiopian immigrants. North of the city is a Greek-American community, and northeast of the city (around Church St., Scott Blvd./Lawrenceville Hwy. and DeKalb Industrial Blvd.) is a thriving Indian community with restaurants and retail outlets.
Decatur is also notable for its location east of Atlanta's midtown district, and it is surrounded by the city of Atlanta on its south and west sides. Atlanta and Decatur are Georgia's only county seats inside the "Perimeter" interstate (I-285) that encircles the metro area.
Get in
By transit
Downtown Decatur is on the east-west MARTA Blue rail line to Decatur Station (E6). The station is directly behind the courthouse (under Decatur Square) and has two access points. Exit east (Church St.) for the pedestrian and taxi entrance to the station; exit west (Commerce) to transfer to MARTA buses. The city of Decatur includes two additional MARTA rail stations: East Lake (E5) and Avondale (E7). Avondale Station is located at the southern end of the Decatur Heights neighborhood, and not the City of Avondale Estates. Average time from Decatur Station to Five Points Station is 13 minutes. There are connecting MARTA buses to neighborhoods in and around Decatur.
By car
Decatur is accessible from Atlanta via Ponce de Leon Avenue, which is a direct route, but is a slow-moving surface street with many lights. It is also accessible from the Perimeter (I-285) via several exits, and indirectly via I-20. However, parking is limited in downtown Decatur. Street parking is free after 6PM Monday–Saturday and all day Sunday. The city website lists off-street parking lot locations.
By bike
Decatur is also accessible via the PATH walk/bike trail. The trail runs from Atlanta to Stone Mountain through the city of Decatur.
Get around
Downtown Decatur is highly walkable, but like all of metro Atlanta, public transportation is limited and you will likely have an easier time getting around by car. MARTA buses leave from each of the three Decatur rail stations to various points in the county.
Decatur participates in Zipcar, a national program where environmentally-friendly cars are located throughout the downtown area that members may rent by the hour. Locations are posted at .
See
See Your Dekalb Farmers Market
Although a grocery store is not high on most tourists' list of things to see, this international market is a spectacle that is worth the trip. The enormous store employs people from around the world (their name tags tell which languages they speak) and has nearly any type of meat, vegetable, fruit, spice, or otherwise edible item you could imagine. The cafeteria closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but has reopened. Open 7 days a week.
See DeKalb History Center
Step outside on the north side of the courthouse to view the "seated statues" and the south side to view the Decatur Square, home to various restaurants and prominently featured in TV and film productions, most notably HBO's 'Watchmen'. Walk down to West Trinity Place to see the History Center's historic complex of three antebellum structures.
See Decatur Cemetery
One of the oldest operating cemeteries in Georgia. Check out the Civil War graves (to your left at you enter), sit in the pleasant gazebo, or take a stroll around the lake. Look out for the ducks, which are aggressive. Also check out the circa-1880 Fraser Building, at the Church Street entrance to the cemetery.
See Emory University
Check out the excellent Michael C. Carlos Museum, 571 South Kilgo Cir., +1 404 727-4282 . Walk around the English Renaissance Lullwater House and nearby Candler Lake (formerly Lullwater Lake). The Lullwater House, located at 1463 Clifton Rd. on Emory's campus, is the official residence of Emory University's president and is not open to the public. However, the tree-lined loop road around the house is open to staff, students and escorted visitors.
See Agnes Scott College
A private college for women 3/4 mile south of Decatur Square. Agnes Scott frequently hosts lectures, concerts, and other cultural events. A walk around the beautiful campus, which was featured in Scream 2, is also a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. Nearby Columbia Theological Seminary on Columbia Avenue also has a beautiful campus.
See MAK Historic District (McDonough, Adams, Kings Highway)
Decatur's oldest historic district is located immediately west of Agnes Scott College. Some of the oldest homes (on Adams Street) were developed from 1905 to 1912. Television shows October Road and Hollywood movie Stomp the Yard were filmed on location in the MAK Historic District.
- The historic Druid Hills neighborhood is located west of the city. This upper-class enclave includes several mansions owned by the Candler family of Coca- Cola fame, historic churches, a picturesque country club and provided the setting for the movie Driving Miss Daisy.
- Check out some of the historic mansions built by the Candler family. Visit the circa 1917 Callanwolde Fine Arts Center at 980 Briarcliff Rd. (built by Charles Howard Candler); attend the circa 1916 St. John Chrysostom Melkite Church at 1428 Ponce de Leon Ave. (built for Lucy Candler in the style of a Roman villa - the peristyle court is now the sanctuary); and drive by the circa 1920 Asa Candler Mansion at Emory's Briarcliff campus, 1256 Briarcliff Rd.
- In addition to the tree-lined estate homes in this affluent neighborhood is historic Olmsted Linear Park. The park consists of 50 acres broken up into six segments along Ponce de Leon Ave. The neighborhood and park were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. in the 1890s. The park is being restored based on Olmsted's original plans.
See Original Waffle House & Museum
Visit a re-creation of the first Waffle House, which opened in Avondale Estates in 1955. The museum includes a 13-stool diner, vintage equipment, displays of old uniforms, exhibits of memorabilia and a jukebox. Open by appointment during the week, with limited weekend hours.
Do
Music venues
- Listen to a hot local act at neighborhood institution Eddie's Attic,directly south of the square. Bands usually play an all-ages and an adults-only show. Eddie's Attic is located at 515 N. McDonough (on the second floor of the former Belk's Department Store).
Theatre and performing arts
Galleries, arts & crafts
Recreation
- Bike, run, or walk: The tree-lined streets can make for a great run or bike ride, but central and northern metro Atlanta has steep, hilly terrain. Also, while there are several nice bike paths, many routes are limited to very narrow sidewalks along very dangerous roads.
Do Decatur Walking Tours
The city of Decatur and the Decatur Development Authority have six digital walking tours of the city - phone +1 404 371-8386 or email info@decaturga.com for more information. Printed brochures are available at the Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St., +1 404 377-0494; the Downtown Development Authority, +1 404 370-4100; and some local shops (i.e., One Step at a Time in Oakhurst).
Do Bicycle South
Has a webpage that lists area bike rides offered by Atlanta's Southern Bicycle League. Bicycle South does not rent bikes, but it sells and repairs bikes - a good resource if your need a repair during a visit.
Festivals
Decatur events and festivals are scheduled through-out the year. Phone +1 404 371-9583 for information.
Do AJC Decatur Book Festival
Book sales, readings by authors (books and poetry), lectures and other activities. One of Decatur's major festivals - held in late summer each year, usually over Labor Day weekend, with venues all around downtown. Reported to be the largest book festival between Washington DC and Miami, typically drawing over 200 authors and 50,000 festival goers.
Do Great Decatur Beer Tasting Festival
A maximum of 5,000 people may sample hundreds of local, national and international beers for a set admission fee on the downtown Square. Proceeds benefit community organizations - over $500,000 in grants have been distributed to local organizations since 1999. Held in October of each year, usually on the third Saturday.
- Beach Party - One of Decatur's major annual events - held in midsummer. Ponce de Leon Avenue is closed and tons of sand is dumped on it. Food and drink vendors, as well as a bandstand, supplement the building of sandcastles. Includes a children's play area.
- Wine Tasting Festival - A maximum of 1,500 people may sample over a hundred wines from around the world. Held in downtown Decatur in late fall of each year, usually the first Saturday in November.
Learn
Higher education
Place Emory University
Emory is one of America's top universities, and is home to nine major academic divisions. The University also includes a graduate school of arts and sciences; professional schools of medicine, theology, law, nursing, public health, and business. It was founded by the Methodist Church in 1836.
Buy
Decatur has pharmacies, jewelry stores and other retail establishments located throughout the city. Decatur does not have a shopping mall or a large retail shopping center. However, Decatur is not short on trendy boutiques. Most are located on or around Ponce de Leon.
Bookstores
Decatur may have more used bookstores than any other community in metro Atlanta. Bookstores selling new books are also listed.
Shop Book Nook
Large used bookstore which also has comic books, rock-related literature, CDs, LPs, DVDs, VHS and cassettes. Book Nook first opened in 1973.
Clothing
Decatur has an eclectic mix of small clothing and accessory stores, from classic casual to artsy and eclectic.
Shop Classy Fashion
Shop Fabutique
Shop Kaleidoscope Boutique
Music
The music shops in Decatur have a good selection of used and new albums and CD's.
Eat
Decatur is known for its outstanding locally-owned restaurants, and patrons travel here from all over metro Atlanta. Despite the presence of Ted's Montana Grill & Ruby Tuesday's, the national chains are not prevalent here. There are over 70 restaurants and pubs—primarily clustered in the downtown area, Oakhurst and north of Decatur. There are also sandwich shops, pasta restaurants and local chain pizza joints that have great food, but they are not listed below.
Downtown (Ponce/Decatur Square)
The restaurants are located on or near picturesque Ponce De Leon Avenue and around the Decatur (courthouse) Square. Here are some of the better restaurants:
Eat Cafe Alsace
Excellent small Alsatian (French with German influence) restaurant with limited outdoor seating - one of Decatur's finest restaurants.
Eat Cafe Lilly
Excellent American/Eclectic/Mediterranean cuisine. One of Decatur's finest restaurants.
Eat Iberian Pig
Excellent Spanish Tapas bar with an extensive wine list.
Eat Leon's Full Service
Upscale American restaurant in a former early 20th century service station with bocce court.
Eat Raging Burrito and Taco
Wide variety of tasty burritos and related fare. Very large open-air dining section in the back, secluded from the hustle of Decatur.
Eat Taqueria del Sol
Upscale southwestern/Mexican. Great salsa, nice pulled-pork enchiladas; lunch and dinner. Line can be long, but it moves along and the food is worth the wait. Unusual outdoor seating area.
Eat The General Muir
The General Muir is a modern American restaurant inspired by classic New York Jewish deli, returning it to its hand-crafted roots. Traditional favorites are honored — pastrami is cured and smoked in house, bagels are hand rolled and kettle boiled — and joined by dishes going beyond tradition, focusing on fresh ingredients and simple preparations. The General Muir serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, and offers an espresso bar serving locally-roasted Batdorf & Bronson coffee as well as a full bar of wine, beer, spirits, and cocktails. In addition to the full-service dining room, there is a separate counter service area — "The Deli at The General Muir" — serving bagels, sandwiches, salads, pastries, and coffee throughout the day. The restaurant is named for the refugee transport ship that brought co-owner Jennifer Johnson's mother and grandparents, Holocaust survivors, to New York in 1949.
Eat Kimball House
Housed in a former railroad station and was named best new restaurant in the South back in 2014.
SW of Decatur Square
Eat The Flying Biscuit (Candler Park)
One of the best breakfast spots in the metro area. This place takes breakfast so seriously it has a custom apple butter topping for its outstanding biscuits.
SE of Decatur Square
The restaurants are clustered north and south of the railroad tracks. The north side centers on Decatur's old train depot and old ice house, both renovated for adaptive reuse. The south side includes two developments - the larger East Decatur Station at East College Avenue & New Street, which houses restaurants, a pub, coffee house, live theatre, salon and church - and the smaller development at 313 East College Avenue, which contains a tavern and furniture store.
Oakhurst
The restaurants are located in Oakhurst Village historic buildings surrounded by the eclectic Oakhurst residential neighborhood.
Eat Steinbeck's Oyster Bar
In Historic Oakhurst, Steinbecks is an intimate bar with a great patio. One of the few, and best places for casual seafood meals and an excellent beer selection!
Eat Wahoo Grill
Eclectic menu that focuses on seafood with a southern twist - great sunroom & courtyard in rear.
N of Decatur Square
These restaurants are located in strip shopping centers clustered near the intersection of Clairmont Rd. & North Decatur Rd.
Eat Mediterranean Grill
Greek/Mediterranean food.
Eat The Golden Buddha
Very good Chinese restaurant (with Japanese & Sushi) at 1905 Clairmont Rd.
NE of Decatur Square
While several of the restaurants are excellent, most are located in older strip shopping centers near automobile dealerships and along highways.
Eat Chopaati
Vegetarian Indian restaurant.
Eat Cafe Istanbul
Respected Turkish cuisine restaurant.
Eat Zyka The Taste
If you can get beyond the unusual use of styrofoam cups and plates, this is a very good sit-down Indian restaurant.
Ice cream, bakery, chocolate
Eat Paolo's Gelato
Italian ice cream in nearby Virginia-Highlands. Reviewed by Bon Appétit, Food Network, Condé Nest Traveler, Delta's Sky.
Eat The Chocolate Bar
A chocolate and wine bar (along with coffee and champagne) in the heart of Decatur.
Eat Alon's Bakery & Market
Fantastic bakery & deli in nearby Morningside.
Drink
Bars and pubs
Drink Brick Store Pub
Square. Brick Store's appeal is in its excellent beer selection—which at 17 beers on tap, over 100 in the bottle and a "Belgian bar" is better than many bars elsewhere. People come for its rustic all-wooden interior, including a small but comfortable bar upstairs.
Drink The Corner Pub
A pub at East Decatur Station which relocated from Oakhurst.
Drink Oakview Coffee
Oakhurst's newest wine, coffee and food establishment that opened in 2007. The food is light (salads, hummus, cheese, etc.), but is beautifully presented and is designed to go with their wine and beer list.
Drink Twain's Billiards and Tap
Church St. and Trinity Pl. Has a solid beer selection and quality pool tables; wifi.
Coffee houses
Drink Chocolaté
North Decatur & Clairemont; one of the better coffee houses with good indoor seating, but outdoor seating overlooks a strip center parking lot; Wi-Fi.
Drink Dancing Goats
Decatur's newest coffee house - slick retro design.
Sleep
Decatur
Near Decatur
Stay safe
Police
- The Decatur Police Department protects the city of Decatur. The department headquarters is at 420 W. Trinity Place in downtown Decatur. The non-emergency number is +1 404 373-6551, but call 911 in an emergency. * Outside of the city of Decatur in unincorporated DeKalb County, the DeKalb County Police Department has jurisdiction. The main department's non-emergency number is +1 404 294-2000, but call 911 in an emergency.
Areas to avoid
- Visitors to Decatur should avoid neighborhoods immediately east and south of Memorial Drive. The primary DeKalb County jail and DeKalb County's new Juvenile Justice Center are located east of Memorial Drive (near I-285). MARTA's Kensington Station (E8), which is west of Memorial Drive, is within walking distance of these facilities. Areas immediately east and south of Memorial Drive, as well as the Kensington MARTA station, are not tourist-oriented and are best avoided even if MARTA has police patrolling their rail stations.
Read
- Clarke, Caroline McKinney. The Story of Decatur, 1823-1899, DeKalb Historical Society (1996).
- Gay, Mary. Life in Dixie During the War, Mercer University Press (2001). A first person account of the Civil War in Georgia - including Decatur - by a Decatur resident living in the city during the war.
- Mason, Herman, Jr. African-American Life in DeKalb County, GA, 1823-1970 (Images of America), Arcadia Publishing (1998).
- Price, Vivian. Historic DeKalb County: An Illustrated History (Georgia Heritage Series), Historical Publishing Network (2007). A coffee table book covering 184 years of DeKalb County’s history.
Tourism
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