The Insider’s Guide to 48 Hours in Atlanta

The Insider’s Guide to 48 Hours In Atlanta . . .

So the Super Bowl LIII is headed to the ATL (that is what we call it) on Sunday, February 3! What a great excuse for me to post a guide to some of my favorite places, restaurants, shops and bars in my hood to see and visit during your stay, either before or after The Big Game (or otherwise). Enjoy these special places and their people:

Day 1:

Breakfast at Highland Bakery (1180 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309) (highlandbakery.com) Across the street from the Four Seasons Hotel (it is actually on Fourteenth Street despite the address above) is the yummy Highland Bakery. They serve breakfast, lunch and brunch all day long. Have a one of their yummy fried chicken eggs benedict and start your day in true Southern style.

Visit the High Museum of Art – (1280 Peachtree Street, Atlanta GA 30309) (high.org) With more than 15,000 works of art in its permanent collection, the High has an extensive collection of European art, African American Art, photography and contemporary art. Currently the blockbuster “Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors” is on exhibit through February 17, 2019. Fortunately, or unfortunately, all tickets to the exhibit are sold out, except for 100 tickets that are available each day to the first 100 people in line – but be forewarned you must be there very early to claim your spot. But never fear, other exhibits are on display and the High’s own permanent collection is worth a look and stroll through the Museum.

Lunch at Le Bilboquet or Anis – Two of my French favorites to choose from for lunch, and they could not be more different. Anis Café and Bistro (2974 Grandview Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30305) (anisbistro.com) is small and quaint and feels like you are dining in someone’s home. Provencal vibe and a really wonderful lunch and weekend brunch. Truly one of my insider favorites here in Atlanta.

Le Bilboquet (3027 Bolling Way NE, Atlanta, GA 30305) (www.lebilboquetatlanta.com) is a place to see and been seen. Located in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, it is elegant, fun, boisterous and their Cajun Chicken is truly one of my favorite meals in all of Atlanta. Pair it with a nice White Burgundy and enjoy your afternoon. They also have a fun weekend brunch including champagne specials for Saturday brunch.

Stroll The Shops Buckhead Atlanta – (3035 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305) (theshopsbuckheadatlanta.com) Visit Dior, Hermes, Jimmy Choo, Etro and see how long your American Express card will let you play . . .

Drinks at Yebo Ski Haus (or Yebo Beach Haus in the Summer) – (111 West Paces Ferry Road Atlanta, GA 30305) (yebobeachhaus) This lively restaurant fuses South African dishes and flavors with American cuisine. Love the friendly bar space and great drink menu.

Dinner at Atlas Restaurant – (88 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30305) (atlasrestaurant.com) Located inside the St. Regis Hotel, the food is wonderful, but if you go for dinner or drinks be sure to just walk around the restaurant and enjoy the art. There are original works by Picasso and Matisse, and it is like having dinner and a glass of wine in the middle someone’s dining room filled with a truly world class art collection. I always walk around between courses as if I was in a gallery.

Day 2:

Walk through Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Beltline – (piedmontpark.org) and (www.beltline.org). Piedmont Park is Atlanta’s version of Central Park, and in fact it was designed by the sons of the architect of New York’s Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted. Walk through Piedmont Park and hop on the Atlanta Beltline at the corner of Monroe Drive and 10^th Street. Start walking, running or riding. Grab a coffee and beignets along the way at Three Heart Roastery (716 Ponce de Leon Place NE, Atlanta, GA 30306) (www.threeheartcoffee.com) which is located on the Eastside Beltline trail in the Paris on Ponce building. Stop inside Ponce City Market (675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30308) (www.poncecitymarket.com). While in Ponce City Market, go visit one of my absolute favorite fashion designers, Abbey Glass, at her flagship store Abbey Glass (www.abbey-glass.com), located inside Ponce City Market.

Lunch and/or Drinks Along the Atlanta Beltline – Literally located where the Atlanta Beltline meets Irwin Street (a cross street and one of the few you encounter on the Atlanta Beltline) and one of my favorite stops to watch the world go by on the Atlanta Beltline, grab a drink at Lingering Shade Social Club (600 Irwin Street, Atlanta, GA 30312) (lingeringshade.com). Who knows – you may even see me jog by on one of my regular runs on the route.

Some of my other favorites along the Atlanta Beltline are: LadyBird (684 John Wesley Dobbs Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312) (Atlanta Beltline Mile Marker 9.25) (www.ladybirdatlanta.com) and Superica (99 Krog Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30307) (www.superica.com). Ladybird is a fun brunch, lunch and dinner stop with great play space on the Atlanta Beltline and good sandwiches and brunch food. Superica is great Tex Mex and one of my favorite Mexican food stops in Atlanta.

Head to the Westside Provisions Shopping District – (1198 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, GA 30318) (westsideprovisions.com) Visit Atlanta’s favorite designing duo, Sid and Ann Mashburn, at the Atlanta headquarters of the clothing design empire. Sid Mashburn has created a cult following who loves his men’s bespoke clothing featuring his own designed and produced clothing, as well as his favorite classic, iconic, hard to find pieces, and Ann Mashburn is a personal favorite of mine, and features her own namesake pieces, as well as some super cool curated brands such as Carven, along with shoes and accessories. Their combined shop is located here at the Westside Provisions Shopping District (www.sidandannmashburn.com).

You will also find the Atlanta outpost of Serena & Lily, Billy Reid and a favorite wine shop of mine, Perrine’s Wine Shop (www.perrineswine.com). If you have not had lunch, grab some super yummy tacos from Taqueria del Sol (yes, this place was James Beard nominated) and then head to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams for the best ice cream in America (www.jenis.com).

Drinks at Bar Margot – Channel your inner “Margot” (a/ka/ Gwyneth Paltrow) of “The Royal Tenebaums” fame (yes, the restaurant is named for her) and drop into Bar Margot (75 Fourteenth Street N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309) (barmargotatl.com) . Located in the Four Seasons, I actually live nearby and love stopping by here for an after-work cocktail or even dinner. Their beverage list is amazing and your cocktail of choice will be made by some of the finest bartenders operating in the ATL. And given that this is a Ford Fry concept restaurant, the food is pretty fabulous too. The Cacio e Pepe is simple, but simply to die for.

Dinner at LeFat – This Vietnamese brasserie is my current favorite in the ATL. Also located on the Westside (935 Marietta Street, Atlanta, GA 30318) (lefatatl.com), the interiors are inspired by the French Colonial era, which provide a romantic but modern and upscale backdrop. The wonton dumplings, chicken clay pot, shaken beef and green beans are my favorites and I promise will not disappoint.