Best Atlanta Restaurants Near the Convention Center: Where to Eat Around GWCC + State Farm Arena

If you are spending time at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC), Mercedes-Benz Stadium, or State Farm Arena, you are right in the middle of downtown Atlanta’s core. The good news: you have a lot of restaurants within a short walk or quick ride, ranging from fast casual to special-occasion dining.

This guide focuses on Atlanta restaurants near the convention center area—mainly around:

• Georgia World Congress Center (285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW)
• State Farm Arena (1 State Farm Drive)
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium (1 AMB Drive NW)
• Nearby hotels and attractions like CNN Center and Centennial Olympic Park

Quick Overview: Types of Dining Near the Convention Center

Use this snapshot to zero in on the kind of meal you want:

Understanding the Convention Center Area

The Georgia World Congress Center campus is large and connects to several key venues:

• Directly adjacent: Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena
• Nearby: Centennial Olympic Park, CNN Center area, College Football Hall of Fame, downtown hotels

Most walkable restaurants near the convention center cluster in:

• Centennial Olympic Park / CNN Center area
• Marietta Street / Luckie Street corridor
• Peachtree Street and Peachtree Center (a short walk or quick ride)

Because this is a major event zone, restaurants can get crowded when games, concerts, and big conventions overlap. It’s smart to:

• ⏱ Plan extra time around event start/finish times
• 📞 Call ahead for large groups or business dinners
• 🚗 Consider walking if you’re already downtown—parking fills up fast

Restaurants Walkable from the Georgia World Congress Center

These options are typically within about a 10–15 minute walk of the main convention facilities, depending on which GWCC building you’re in.

Around Centennial Olympic Park & CNN Center

This is the closest dense cluster of food options for most convention-goers.

What you’ll typically find here:

• Casual American grills and sports bars
• Quick-service spots for burgers, sandwiches, and salads
• Places that are used to handling big crowds and short time windows

Because specific restaurant tenants can change over time, think in terms of categories and locations:

• CNN Center / State Farm Arena vicinity (1 CNN Center / 1 State Farm Drive):
  Often includes fast-casual counters, coffee, and grab-and-go food that cater to office workers and event attendees. These are great if you have 30–45 minutes between sessions.

• Centennial Olympic Park perimeter (near 265 Park Ave W NW):
  Around the park’s edges and across the streets you can find:

  • Family-friendly casual restaurants (burgers, pizza, American fare)
  • Tourist-friendly spots that are used to kids and large groups
  • Ice cream or dessert stops for a quick break from the convention crowds

Tips for this area:

• During large conventions, lunch lines can be long around noon–1:30 p.m.
• If your schedule allows, go early or late for lunch (before 11:45 a.m. or after 1:30 p.m.)
• Many spots are accustomed to splitting checks and handling corporate groups, but always ask up front if you’re with a big party

Marietta Street & Luckie Street Corridor

A short walk from GWCC, Marietta St NW and nearby Luckie St NW offer a mix of:

• Casual sit-down restaurants
• Bars with food
• Spots that feel more “local downtown” than tourist-only

What you might find here:

• American grills and pubs: Burgers, wings, sandwiches, and beer selection
• Pizza and Italian-American: Sit-down or slice spots for quick carb loading between events
• Taco and Tex-Mex–style spots: Good for groups that want to share plates and snacks

This corridor is especially convenient if you’re:

• Staying in a downtown hotel near Centennial Olympic Park
• Walking between GWCC and downtown MARTA stations
• Meeting people who are already working in downtown office buildings

Hotel Restaurants Near the Convention Center

Several downtown Atlanta hotels within walking distance to the convention center have restaurants that are open to the public. These can be useful when:

• The weather is bad and you prefer staying indoors as much as possible
• You want a more controlled, quiet setting for a business lunch or dinner
• You need reliable options for room-to-table convenience

Common features of downtown hotel restaurants near GWCC:

• Breakfast buffets or à la carte breakfast early in the morning
• Lunch menus designed for business travelers: salads, sandwiches, light entrees
• Dinner with more polished presentations, sometimes with Southern-inspired dishes
• Bars and lounges with small bites, especially helpful for late arrivals

Calling the hotel front desk or checking posted lobby boards is an easy way to confirm:

• Current restaurant hours (which can vary by season and event load)
• Whether reservations are recommended
• Dress expectations (most hotel restaurants are business casual or relaxed casual)

A Short Ride Away: More Options in Downtown & Peachtree Center

If you’re willing to walk a bit farther or take a short rideshare/MARTA trip, your options open up significantly.

Peachtree Street & Peachtree Center Area

Head a few blocks east from the convention campus and you’ll reach Peachtree St NE and the Peachtree Center complex.

What this area typically offers:

• Mixed food court–style options in Peachtree Center (especially useful for quick lunches)
• A variety of sit-down restaurants along Peachtree St:
  • American bistros and bar-and-grill type places
  • Steakhouses and upscale American
  • Cafés and lighter fare

This area is especially good for:

• People staying in downtown high-rise hotels along Peachtree
• Business dinners that need a slightly more polished setting than a sports bar
• Weekday lunches when downtown office workers fill many of the tables

Getting there from GWCC:

• On foot: About a 10–20 minute walk, depending on your starting point and route
• By MARTA: Ride from GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center station to Peachtree Center station
• By rideshare: Usually a short, inexpensive ride, but allow for traffic during peak times

Classic Downtown & Southern-Inspired Dining

Downtown Atlanta has a number of restaurants—some in hotels, some in street-level spaces—that lean into:

• Southern-inspired cooking (fried chicken, greens, grits, and seasonal vegetables)
• Steakhouses that cater to business travelers and event attendees
• Modern American menus with a mix of healthy and comfort options

When searching locally or asking hotel staff, phrases like:

• “Southern food downtown”
• “Steakhouse near the Georgia World Congress Center”
• “Business dinner restaurant near State Farm Arena”

tend to surface the kinds of places that work well for clients, networking, or special occasions.

Fast, Casual, and Coffee Options Near the Convention Center

If you are at a trade show, conference, or tournament, you may only have small breaks between sessions. In that case, it helps to know where you can eat fast without leaving the area entirely.

Inside or Directly Attached to GWCC & Arenas

Within or directly connected to the Georgia World Congress Center, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and State Farm Arena, you can usually find:

• Concession-style stands with:
  • Burgers, hot dogs, and fries
  • Chicken tenders and quick snacks
  • Soft drinks, coffee, and sometimes craft beverages
• Sometimes grab-and-go kiosks with:
  • Pre-made salads and wraps
  • Fruit cups, chips, and baked goods

These are ideal when:

• You cannot spare more than 20–30 minutes
• You prefer not to go through additional security checkpoints or walk outside
• You’re attending a ticketed event and want to stay near your seats

Do keep in mind:

• Menus can change by event and venue section
• Prices are often higher than in regular neighborhood restaurants
• Food options may close earlier or later depending on the event schedule

Nearby Coffee Shops & Light Bites

For quick caffeine runs or lighter meals:

• Look around CNN Center, Marietta St, and Peachtree St for:
  • Coffee shops serving espresso, pastries, and light breakfast
  • Bakery-style counters with sandwiches and salads
• Many downtown hotel lobbies near the convention center have:
  • Coffee stands or lobby cafés
  • Light grab-and-go coolers with yogurt, fruit, and snacks

These options are especially useful if:

• You need a quiet(er) corner to answer emails between sessions
• You want a lighter meal than a full restaurant entree
• You need early morning coffee before the convention center is fully buzzing

Planning Group Meals and Business Dining Near GWCC

Whether you’re hosting coworkers, clients, or teammates, downtown Atlanta’s convention district is built to handle groups—but planning ahead makes it smoother.

Tips for Group Dinners

• Reserve early for peak convention weeks.
  During major events, downtown spots can book up days or weeks ahead for prime times (6:30–8:00 p.m.).

• Ask about group menus.
  Many restaurants near the convention center offer:

  • Pre-set menus for large parties
  • Pricing per person for shared appetizers and limited entree choices
  • Simplified billing to speed things up

• Clarify check-splitting.
  If each person will pay separately:

  • Ask whether the restaurant can handle multiple cards
  • Let them know your group size in advance

• Account for traffic and walking time.
  If you have a firm timetable (for example, a show or session start):

  • Choose a restaurant within a few blocks
  • Avoid tight turnarounds during rush hour or right after major arena events

Business & Client-Friendly Environments

For client meetings, interviews, or networking dinners, look for restaurants that:

• Have quieter sections away from the bar or main TV screens
• Offer table service and accept reservations
• Provide a more polished setting—but still close to GWCC, State Farm Arena, or your hotel

Areas that often work well:

• Hotel restaurants and lounges along Peachtree St and near Centennial Olympic Park
• Steakhouses and modern American restaurants in the downtown core
• Upscale casual spots that are used to convention traffic and business travelers

When calling, you can ask specifically:

• “Do you have a quieter area for a business dinner?”
• “Can you accommodate a party of [X] at [time] near the Georgia World Congress Center?”

Family-Friendly Dining Near the Convention Center

If you’re visiting Atlanta with kids for a tournament, concert, or family event, you probably want:

• Simple menus that please picky eaters
• Relatively quick service
• Walkable or easy-to-navigate routes from hotels and venues

Where Families Tend to Eat

• Around Centennial Olympic Park:
  Restaurants around the park’s perimeter and nearby blocks often:

  • Offer burgers, pizza, and kid-friendly options
  • Are used to families visiting the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and other attractions
  • Have more casual atmospheres where kids are welcome

• Inside or by the arenas and GWCC:
  Concession stands and nearby casual restaurants are used to:

  • Sports teams and youth groups
  • Large parties needing flexible seating

Family-friendly tips:

• Aim for early dinners (5:00–6:00 p.m.) to avoid late-night crowds and long waits
• Ask about kids’ menus or smaller portions when you’re seated
• Consider reservations for weekend evenings, even for casual spots, if you’re traveling with a group

Transportation & Parking Considerations

Where you choose to eat near the convention center in Atlanta often depends on how you’re getting around.

Walking

If you’re staying at or near:

• Georgia World Congress Center
• CNN Center / State Farm Arena
• Hotels around Centennial Olympic Park

you can often walk to a sizeable number of restaurants. At night, many visitors prefer walking:

• On well-lit main streets, such as Marietta St, Baker St, and Peachtree St
• In groups, especially during busy event nights when sidewalks are active

MARTA Rail

The closest MARTA rail station to the convention center area is:

• GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station (Blue/Green line)

From there, you can ride to:

• Peachtree Center Station (one of the main downtown hubs, with more restaurant options)
• Other neighborhoods if you want to explore beyond downtown (for example, Midtown or Buckhead for dining after your events)

Parking

Parking lots and decks around:

• Georgia World Congress Center
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• State Farm Arena
• Centennial Olympic Park

can fill up quickly, especially:

• During simultaneous events (convention + game + concert)
• On weekend evenings

If you are driving to dinner:

• Consider reserving event parking where available
• Factor in walking distance from the deck to the restaurant
• Allow extra time when a large event is starting or ending nearby

How to Choose the Right Restaurant Near Atlanta’s Convention Center

When you’re deciding where to eat near the Atlanta convention center area, a few quick questions can help narrow it down:

1. How much time do you have?

   • Less than 45 minutes: Look for concessions, food courts, or fast casual nearby.
   • 1–2 hours: You can pick from sit-down restaurants within walking distance.

2. What’s the purpose of the meal?

   • Between sessions: Quick service or coffee shop
   • Team or coworker dinner: Casual grills, pizza, or taco spots
   • Clients or formal meetings: Hotel restaurants, steakhouses, or polished American dining

3. Are you comfortable walking, or do you prefer to stay on campus?

   • Staying strictly within GWCC/arena grounds: Use in-venue options and very nearby restaurants.
   • Willing to walk a little: Expand your search to Centennial Olympic Park, Marietta St, and Peachtree St.

4. Do you have kids or a large group?

   • Look for places that describe themselves as family-friendly, casual, or group-friendly.
   • Calling ahead can prevent surprises with wait times and seating.

By focusing your search on the downtown Atlanta core around the Georgia World Congress Center, State Farm Arena, and Centennial Olympic Park, you can usually find restaurants that match your schedule, budget, and group size—without spending your entire visit walking or stuck in traffic.