Carroll Street Café in Atlanta: What to Know About This Cabbagetown Favorite

If you search for “Carroll St Cafe Atlanta”, you’re usually looking for one of two things:

1. details about the well-known neighborhood spot in Cabbagetown, or
2. whether it’s still open and what to expect nearby.

Carroll Street Café has long been part of the Carroll Street / Cabbagetown dining strip just east of downtown Atlanta, near Memorial Drive, Oakland Cemetery, and the BeltLine’s Eastside Trail. Even if ownership, hours, or concepts change over time, this little stretch continues to function as a cozy, walkable food and drink hub for locals and visitors.

Below is a practical, Atlanta-focused guide to Carroll Street Café’s location, vibe, and nearby options, plus tips on getting there and what else to do in the area.

Where Carroll Street Café Fits in Atlanta

Neighborhood: Cabbagetown

Carroll Street Café has been associated with Cabbagetown, a historic mill neighborhood just southeast of downtown Atlanta.

Key context for locals and visitors:

• General area: East of downtown / south of Inman Park
• Nearby major roads: Memorial Drive SE, Boulevard SE, I‑20
• Nearby landmarks:
  • Oakland Cemetery
  • Krog Street Tunnel
  • Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail (a short walk or short drive away)

The café sits on Carroll Street SE, a narrow, charming street with colorful houses, murals, and a small cluster of restaurants and bars.

What People Typically Expect from Carroll Street Café

While exact menus and formats can evolve, Carroll Street Café has generally been known for:

• Casual neighborhood vibe – more relaxed than Midtown or Buckhead, with a mix of residents, creatives, and in-the-know visitors.
• Comfortable sit‑down experience – small interior space with tables and a bar, often used as a brunch or casual dinner spot.
• Wine, coffee, and café-style food – think sandwiches, salads, brunch-y plates, and drinks, depending on the current concept and hours.
• Late-ish neighborhood hangout – historically, it has drawn people both during the day and into the evening, though specific hours can change.

Because independent restaurants in Atlanta can shift ownership, menus, and operating hours, it’s always worth checking current details before you go (more on that below).

Getting to Carroll Street Café (and the Carroll Street Strip)

The main draw here is not just one café, but the walkable block around it. Here’s how to plan your visit from an Atlanta perspective.

General Location

• Street: Carroll St SE
• Neighborhood: Cabbagetown
• Area: East Atlanta / Intown, close to the Memorial Drive corridor

This area is roughly:

• About a 5–10 minute drive from Downtown Atlanta
• About a 10–15 minute drive from Midtown (depending on traffic)
• Roughly a mile or less from parts of the BeltLine Eastside Trail and Inman Park/Reynoldstown MARTA Station

Transportation Options

Driving

• From Downtown: Typically you’d head east on Memorial Drive SE or take I‑20 east and exit around Boulevard SE, then cut through side streets into Cabbagetown.
• From Midtown: Many locals use surface streets (like Boulevard or Moreland) or I‑20, then approach from the north or east.

Parking tips:

• Street parking: Usually the primary option on or near Carroll St SE and surrounding residential streets.
• It’s a tight, residential area, so:
  • Respect permit-only or clearly marked residential spots.
  • Avoid blocking driveways or yards.
  • Read signage carefully; there are occasionally time limits or restrictions.

MARTA

If you’re using MARTA from within Atlanta:

• Inman Park/Reynoldstown Station (Blue/Green line) is usually the closest rail option.
• From the station, you can:
  • Walk (for confident urban walkers; check maps for exact route); or
  • Use a rideshare for the short hop into Cabbagetown.

Rideshare / Taxi

For many Atlanta residents and visitors, rideshare is the simplest approach at busy times or on weekends. It avoids the stress of hunting for parking on narrow streets.

What’s Around Carroll Street Café: Making a Cabbagetown Visit Worth the Trip

Even if you’re coming primarily for Carroll Street Café, the neighborhood offers enough to make it a mini outing.

Nearby Attractions

• Krog Street Tunnel
  A short drive or walk away, this tunnel is famous for constantly changing street art and graffiti and serves as one of the connections between Cabbagetown and Inman Park.

• Oakland Cemetery
  One of Atlanta’s oldest landmarks, with historic gravesites, city views, and walking paths. It’s a few minutes away and can easily be paired with a meal on Carroll Street.

• Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail
  While not directly on the BeltLine, Cabbagetown is close. Some visitors will:

  • Walk or bike the BeltLine,
  • Stop in nearby Inman Park or Krog Street Market,
  • Then loop over to Cabbagetown for a quieter café stop.

Why Locals Like the Area

• It feels more neighborhood-y and less polished than some of Atlanta’s more commercial districts.
• There’s a notable mix of:
  • Longtime residents
  • Artists and creatives
  • Newer intown professionals

If you live in Atlanta and normally go to Midtown or Buckhead, Cabbagetown’s Carroll Street can feel like a more intimate, low-key alternative.

When to Visit: Timing Your Carroll Street Café Stop

In Atlanta, café patterns are pretty consistent across intown neighborhoods. Here’s how that usually applies around Carroll Street.

Breakfast / Brunch

Many people look to Carroll Street Café and neighboring spots as a weekend brunch destination or a late-morning meetup option.

• Weekends can be busier, especially around late morning to early afternoon.
• If you want a quieter experience, aim for:
  • Earlier in the morning, or
  • Weekdays, when there’s less of a brunch rush.

Lunch

For nearby residents or people working in the Memorial Drive corridor, Carroll Street is often a laid-back lunch option, particularly on weekdays.

• Lunchtime crowds can be moderate.
• You’re likely to see a blend of:
  • Local office workers,
  • Remote workers taking a break, and
  • Neighborhood regulars.

Evening

Historically, Carroll Street has had some level of nightlife:

• People may stop by for a casual dinner, glass of wine, or coffee.
• Weeknights can feel mellow.
• Weekends can bring more of a neighborhood bar + café feel.

Because specific hours and offerings can change, it’s smart to confirm current evening hours, especially if you’re traveling across town.

Practical Tips for Atlanta Residents and Visitors

1. Check Current Status and Hours

Independent spots like Carroll Street Café can:

• Adjust hours seasonally,
• Shift from full-service restaurant to more limited café service or vice versa,
• Temporarily close for renovations or concept changes.

To avoid a wasted trip:

• Look up recent information on:
  • Hours of operation
  • Food versus drink focus
  • Brunch versus dinner service

This is especially important if you’re visiting from out of town and have a tight schedule.

2. Plan for Parking or Use Rideshare

Because Cabbagetown streets are narrow, consider:

• Arriving a little early if you’re driving, especially on weekends or during popular dining hours.
• Using rideshare if:
  • You’re not familiar with intown parking, or
  • You plan to have drinks and prefer not to drive.

3. Coordinate With Nearby Activities

To make the most out of crossing Atlanta traffic:

• Combine Carroll Street Café with:
  • A walk at Oakland Cemetery,
  • A visit to Krog Street Tunnel,
  • A stroll or bike ride along the BeltLine Eastside Trail, or
  • Shopping and dining at nearby intown hubs (like the Inman Park area).

This turns one café stop into a half-day intown adventure.

4. Expect a Local, Relaxed Atmosphere

If you’re used to:

• The high-energy scene of Midtown,
• The high-end polish of Buckhead, or
• The suburban feel of areas outside the Perimeter,

Carroll Street and Cabbagetown will likely feel:

• More intimate,
• Visually eclectic, and
• Very much part of Atlanta’s older, arts-oriented intown character.

Dress is typically casual, and the pace tends to be slower than major commercial districts.

Quick Summary: Carroll Street Café in Atlanta at a Glance

If you live in Atlanta, Carroll Street Café and its surrounding block are worth knowing as a relaxed, character-rich spot away from the city’s more polished dining corridors. If you’re visiting, it’s a practical way to experience an older, artsy side of intown Atlanta while still being close to major attractions and transportation routes.