Burgers in Atlanta: Where to Go, What to Order, and How to Navigate the Scene

Atlanta takes burgers seriously. Whether you’re in Midtown after work, on the BeltLine, or up in Buckhead on the weekend, you’re rarely more than a few minutes from a memorable burger.

This guide walks through where to find great burgers in Atlanta, what styles you’ll see around the city, and how to choose spots based on neighborhood, budget, and dietary needs.

How Atlanta Does Burgers

Across Atlanta, burger spots tend to fall into a few recognizable categories:

• Classic diner and griddle burgers – thin patties, simple toppings, fast and nostalgic.
• Gourmet / chef-driven burgers – house-ground meat, brioche buns, creative toppings.
• Bar and late-night burgers – hearty, salty, and made to go with a drink.
• Fast-casual and neighborhood joints – family-friendly, predictable, and convenient.
• Vegan and plant-based burgers – especially around Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and the BeltLine.

Understanding these styles makes it easier to pick the right place depending on where you are in Atlanta and what kind of experience you want.

Popular Atlanta Neighborhoods for Burgers

Downtown & Centennial Olympic Park Area

If you’re staying near downtown hotels, State Farm Arena, or the Georgia World Congress Center, burger options tend to be:

• Walkable from major venues.
• Quick-service or bar-focused, ideal before a game or concert.
• Often crowd-friendly, with big menus beyond just burgers.

You’ll find:

• Bar-and-grill style burgers near Peachtree Street and Marietta Street.
• Sports-bar burgers close to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena.

This area is great if you need something fast and familiar within a short walk of events and attractions.

Midtown: From Casual to Chef-Driven

Midtown is one of Atlanta’s most reliable areas for burgers, with:

• Casual chains and local fast-casual spots along Peachtree Street.
• Gastropubs and chef-driven restaurants that treat the burger like a flagship item.
• Plenty of late-night options near bar clusters.

Expect:

• House-ground patties and brioche buns at higher-end spots.
• Smash-style or double-stacked burgers at trendier casual places.
• Easy access by MARTA rail at Midtown and Arts Center stations, making it convenient if you’re not driving.

Midtown is a good bet if you want to pair a burger with craft cocktails, a date night, or a pre-show meal near the Fox Theatre.

Buckhead: Upscale and Business-Friendly

In Buckhead—especially around Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza, and Peachtree Road NE—burger offerings often lean:

• A bit more upscale, with polished dining rooms.
• Toward business lunches and after-work meetups.
• Into gourmet toppings (fancy cheeses, specialty sauces, premium add-ons).

You’ll find:

• Burgers in hotel restaurants and steakhouses that are surprisingly good.
• Comfortable sports bars with big burger menus.
• Fast-casual burger joints that are easy to reach by car and have ample parking.

If you’re in Buckhead for shopping or meetings, you can almost always find a burger within a 5–10 minute drive.

Virginia-Highland, Inman Park & Old Fourth Ward

Along and near the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail, burger options skew:

• Trendy and local, often with a strong neighborhood following.
• Friendly to vegetarian and vegan diners.
• Walkable, with patios and people-watching.

Around Virginia-Highland, Inman Park, and Old Fourth Ward, you’ll see:

• Bars where the house burger is the most popular menu item.
• Restaurants that treat burgers as part of a broader Southern or New American menu.
• Spots that offer both meat and plant-based patties.

These neighborhoods are ideal if you want to make an afternoon of it—walk the BeltLine, stop for a burger, and explore coffee shops or dessert nearby.

West Midtown & the Westside

West Midtown (near Howell Mill Road, Marietta Street NW, and around the Westside Provisions District) has developed a strong food reputation.

For burgers, that means:

• Industrial-chic bars and restaurants with serious burger programs.
• Strong emphasis on quality beef, thoughtful toppings, and good fries.
• Convenient proximity to Georgia Tech and the Howell Mill retail corridor.

Expect:

• Chef-driven burgers at sit-down restaurants.
• Casual counter-service spots near shopping centers.
• Patio seating where burgers pair with local beer.

If you’re in West Midtown for home stores, breweries, or Georgia Tech events, burgers are never far.

Suburban Atlanta: Family-Friendly and Convenient

In the broader metro Atlanta area—Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Decatur, Smyrna/Vinings, and beyond—you’ll mostly find:

• Family-friendly burger chains and regional fast-casual brands.
• Independent neighborhood grills that locals frequent.
• Easy parking and takeout options, ideal for quick dinners.

Suburban spots are great if you:

• Want something kid-friendly.
• Need a burger place that can handle larger groups.
• Prefer locations right off I-285, GA-400, or other main roads.

Styles of Burgers You’ll Find in Atlanta

Atlanta’s burger scene is varied, but you’ll notice some consistent categories:

1. Smash Burgers

• Thin patties pressed on a hot griddle.
• Crispy edges, melted cheese, and often simple toppings.
• Common in fast-casual and bar settings across Midtown, O4W, and the BeltLine.

Smash burgers are popular if you want something quick, flavorful, and not overly heavy.

2. Thick Pub-Style Burgers

• Thicker patties, often cooked to order (medium, medium-well, etc.).
• Served in sports bars, pubs, and casual restaurants citywide.
• Usually come with a choice of cheese, bacon, and standard toppings.

You’ll see these near stadiums, college areas, and in many neighborhood bars.

3. Gourmet & Chef-Driven Burgers

• Often house-ground beef or blends (like brisket, short rib, or chuck).
• Buns such as brioche or potato rolls.
• Creative toppings like pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, or specialty aiolis.

Found in:

• West Midtown
• Inman Park / O4W
• Buckhead
• Popular Midtown restaurants

These are ideal when you want a burger that feels like a feature dish, not just a quick bite.

4. Fast-Casual and Drive-Thru Burgers

• Familiar, predictable menus.
• Easy drive-thru or online ordering, useful in spread-out areas of metro Atlanta.
• Often near major intersections, malls, and interstates.

Great for:

• A quick meal during Atlanta traffic.
• Families or groups with different preferences.
• Grabbing food on the way to or from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

5. Plant-Based & Vegan Burgers

Vegan and vegetarian burgers are increasingly common in Atlanta, especially:

• Midtown
• Old Fourth Ward
• Decatur
• Areas around the BeltLine

You’ll see:

• Burgers made from black beans, lentils, or grains.
• Branded patties like Impossible or Beyond at some restaurants.
• Creative toppings and sauces to make plant-based burgers feel substantial.

This makes it easier for mixed groups (meat-eaters and vegetarians) to dine together.

What to Look For in a Good Atlanta Burger

When choosing where to go, consider:

Patty Quality

• Freshness: Many of Atlanta’s better burger spots highlight fresh, never-frozen meat.
• Blend: Some use brisket/chuck/short rib blends for more flavor.
• Cooking temperature: Sit-down places often allow you to choose doneness; quicker spots may cook to a standard medium-well for consistency.

Bun & Build

• Common buns: brioche, potato, sesame seed, or classic white.
• Look for buns that are lightly toasted and sized to the patty; if the bun is huge and the patty small, the burger can feel unbalanced.

Toppings & Sauces

Around Atlanta, you’ll frequently encounter:

• Southern twists: pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, house pickles.
• House sauces: often a variation on burger sauce, aioli, or spicy mayo.
• Local produce during warmer months, especially at chef-driven restaurants.

Sides

Burgers in Atlanta usually come with or can be paired with:

• Fries (classic, shoestring, waffle, or seasoned).
• Sweet potato fries, increasingly common.
• Onion rings, slaw, or side salads at many sit-down places.

Typical Price Ranges for Burgers in Atlanta

Here’s a broad view of what you can expect to pay for a burger (without tax or tip):

Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead can run slightly higher than outlying neighborhoods, especially near major venues and high-traffic tourist areas.

Eating Burgers in Atlanta With Dietary Preferences

Halal, Kosher-Friendly, and Pork-Free Options

Atlanta has diverse communities, and some burger spots:

• Use 100% beef with no pork products.
• Offer turkey or chicken burgers as alternatives.
• In certain areas (especially around Buford Highway and parts of Decatur), you may find restaurants more attentive to halal or other dietary restrictions.

If you have specific needs, it’s wise to:

• Call ahead and ask how the meat is sourced.
• Check if there’s separate preparation to avoid cross-contact with other meats.

Gluten-Conscious Choices

Many burger restaurants in Atlanta now offer:

• Lettuce wraps instead of buns.
• Gluten-free buns at an added cost.

Kitchen practices differ, so if cross-contact is a concern, ask whether:

• Buns and fried items share surfaces or fryers.
• They can assemble your burger to reduce contact with gluten sources.

Vegetarian and Vegan

In Atlanta, particularly near:

• Midtown
• Old Fourth Ward
• Decatur

you’ll find:

• Fully vegan restaurants with signature burger options.
• Standard burger spots that can swap in a plant-based patty and hold cheese or mayo.

If eating with a group, choosing a restaurant with both meat and plant-based burgers can simplify things.

Practical Tips for Enjoying Burgers in Atlanta

1. Time Your Visit Around Traffic and Events

Atlanta traffic can be heavy, especially:

• Weekdays from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• On game days or concert nights downtown and in Midtown.

If you’re heading to a burger spot before an event:

• Allow extra travel time.
• Consider MARTA if the burger spot is near a station.
• Look for restaurants that accept call-ahead seating or reservations if they’re more upscale.

2. Parking Considerations

Parking varies widely:

• Downtown / Midtown / Buckhead: Often garages, paid lots, or limited street parking.
• West Midtown, O4W, BeltLine: Mix of small lots and paid street parking; some shared with retail.
• Suburbs: Typically free parking lots and easier access.

If you’re driving into city neighborhoods for burgers, checking parking info in advance can save time and frustration.

3. Takeout, Delivery, and Late-Night

In much of Atlanta:

• Takeout and delivery burgers are common, especially from fast-casual and bar-style spots.
• Several areas—Midtown, Edgewood, parts of Buckhead—have late-night options on weekends.

For the best experience:

• Burgers and fries travel better when the restaurant packs the components thoughtfully (vented containers, sauces on the side). If that matters to you, it can help to ask how they handle to-go orders.
• Traffic and distance affect how well a burger holds up; shorter delivery distances usually mean better texture when it arrives.

Helpful Local Contacts and Resources

If you’re planning burger outings as part of broader Atlanta exploration, these official resources can help:

• Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
  233 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1400
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Phone: (404) 521-6600
  They maintain visitor information about dining districts, transportation, and events that may affect where and when you eat.

• City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Special Events
  55 Trinity Avenue SW
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Main City Hall line: (404) 330-6000
  Major festivals and events can impact traffic and access to popular burger neighborhoods; checking the city’s published event schedules can be useful.

• MARTA Customer Information Center
  Phone: (404) 848-5000
  For routes and schedules if you’re trying to reach burger areas near rail stations or busy corridors without driving.

When you search for “burgers Atlanta,” you’re really choosing between style, neighborhood, and experience. Decide whether you want a quick bite near an event, a chef-crafted burger on the Westside, a plant-based option on the BeltLine, or a family-friendly spot in the suburbs, and then narrow it down from there. In most parts of Atlanta, a satisfying burger is only a short drive—or train ride—away.