Make The Epicurean Hotel home base for a food-filled Atlanta weekend
Sometimes Atlanta feels more like a drive to get somewhere else, maybe to the beaches of Florida’s panhandle or to Hartsfield Airport to catch a direct flight to Europe. But Midtown Atlanta can be its own retreat with tons of things to do in a concentrated area.
If you consider just the swath between the Fox Theatre and the High Museum of Art, you’d need days and days to check out all the food and beverage offerings. Sitting between them is the heart of Midtown and The Epicurean Hotel. It’s an Autograph Collection property if you’re a Marriott Bonvoy fan. Its quiet luxury is hard to beat, and if you don’t mind traversing a few blocks on foot, you may not need your car at all to get around.
The Epicurean is entirely food- and beverage-themed. Each floor is named after a wine varietal, such as Bordeaux or Chenin Blanc. There are walls covered in deconstructed wine cases and the front desk is part of a wine bar on street level. Rooms come complete with stocked built-in bars and counter-depth ice buckets. Everything is sparkling clean thanks to the staff that doubles running the hotel as well as its three eateries: Reverence, Aerial Kitchen, and Office Bar. There’s even a “theater kitchen” for seasonal programming like classes, demonstrations, and guest chef appearances.
A gorgeous pool sits on the ninth-story rooftop. The menu is just what you want to spend an afternoon here—lovely charcuterie, lavish fruit plates, street tacos, and more—and it’s worth booking a cabana: each comes with reserved lounge chairs, a comfortable couch, TV, wet bar, and a private bathroom with a full-sized shower. And the mimosa setup at your cabana table is Instagram-worthy. Google’s Atlanta campus is right next door, and its arresting architecture is worth watching as the sun moves across the city.
Outside The Epicurean Hotel
So, what’s going on in Midtown Atlanta the rest of this year? At the Fox Theatre, Back to the Future is taking the stage as well as Elf the Musical later in 2025. Jeezy, Caamp, and Big Thief all have concert dates. If you like comedians, Nikki Glaser and John Mulaney are slated to perform before the year is out.
At the High Museum, the first American exhibition of master painter Kim Chong Hak’s work runs through October. His obsession with mountain imagery feels figurative in the way it represents the natural world. And the Ryoji Ikeda exhibit, data-verse, is really something. It’s the US debut this immersive sound and light exhibition, which is more akin to a floor-to-ceiling digital experience.
When you’re ready for dinner and drinks, it’s hard to beat South City Kitchen. If you like to try Michelin-rated restaurants, then book a table at nearby Lazy Betty. The restaurant retained its one-star status Chef Ron Hsu’s tasting menu for a second year. You can also spy the Margaret Mitchell house on the walk over to it.
NYC’s Boqueria opened a location here in 2025 and EATER named it a best new dining experience for Atlanta. Also noteworthy are The Consulate, Edgar’s Proof and Provision, Lyla Lila, and Bar Margo, which is located at the classically stunning Four Seasons Hotel. It’s wise to nab a reservation for Bar Margo, especially when it turns into a vinyl listening lounge on Friday and Saturday nights. And if you’re up late, don’t forget about Café Intermezzo. The classic Atlanta bistro stays open past midnight.
Returning to the comfort of your room at The Epicurean is a real treat. The bedding is luxe and there’s a lighting schema for every time of day, including black-out shades that adroitly extinguish the bright lights of Atlanta, right on cue.
An Ideal Midtown Itinerary
Friday
Check into The Epicurean Hotel, Midtown Atlanta.
Do a wine tasting at Reverence in the lobby.
Walk to Lazy Betty for a celebrated tasting menu.
Look for the Margaret Mitchell House on the walk back.
Listen to vinyl over cocktails at Bar Margot.
Saturday
Order room service and enjoy breakfast in bed.
Walk to the High Museum of Art.
Order lunch to your cabana at the rooftop pool at The Epicurean.
Nosh on pre-show apps at Edgar’s Proof and Provision.
Catch a show across the street at The Fox Theatre.
Have a late-night nosh at Café Intermezzo, open until 1am.
Sunday
Sleep in.
Enjoy coffee service in-room.
Walk to South City Kitchen for brunch at 10am.
Check out and arrive back in Greenville by early afternoon.
