Childish Gambino and Atlanta: A Local Guide to the City Behind the Art

If you live in Atlanta, visit often, or are planning a trip, you’ve probably heard a lot about the connection between Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) and this city. From the hit TV show “Atlanta” to concerts, filming locations, and cultural references, Atlanta is woven into his work.

This guide walks you through how Childish Gambino and Atlanta intersect in real life—where the show was filmed, what neighborhoods to know, how to explore those areas today, and what locals should keep in mind if they want to experience “Childish Gambino’s Atlanta” for themselves.

Who Is Childish Gambino, and Why Does He Matter to Atlanta?

Childish Gambino is the musical stage name of Donald Glover—a writer, actor, director, producer, and musician who has deep ties to metro Atlanta.

Key connections to the city:

• Raised in the Atlanta area, particularly in Stone Mountain (just outside the city)
• Created and starred in the TV series “Atlanta,” which is set and filmed primarily around the metro
• Frequently references Atlanta culture, neighborhoods, and Southern Black life in his work
• Has filmed music videos and TV episodes across in-town neighborhoods, suburbs, and commercial strips that locals know well

If you’re in Atlanta, GA, understanding his work is also a way of understanding how the city looks and feels on screen—beyond the typical skyline shots.

The TV Show “Atlanta”: What Atlantans Should Know

“Atlanta” is one of the most recognizable portrayals of the city in recent years. Even if you haven’t watched it, you’ve probably seen people filming around town or heard about locations being used for shoots.

What the Show Is About

The show follows:

• Earn – a Princeton dropout trying to manage his cousin’s rap career
• Paper Boi – an up-and-coming rapper
• Van – Earn’s on-and-off partner
• Darius – Paper Boi’s eccentric friend

Though it’s fictional, the show captures a stylized version of Atlanta life—with familiar:

• Apartment complexes
• Strip malls and gas stations
• Restaurants and nightlife spots
• Residential streets from the Westside to the Eastside

How It Uses Real Atlanta Locations

Instead of relying on studio sets alone, “Atlanta” is known for filming in:

• Actual neighborhoods (not just downtown)
• Active businesses that real locals use
• Transit corridors many Atlantans drive daily

For residents, that can mean your regular spots show up in a national TV series. For visitors, it turns the city into a kind of open-air set you can recognize as you explore.

Major Atlanta Neighborhoods and Areas Featured in “Atlanta”

While the show jumps around, some general areas appear again and again. Below is a high-level guide to help orient yourself as an Atlantan or visitor.

Because “Atlanta” films widely across the metro area, you may recognize particular streets, parks, bus stops, and apartment complexes even if you can’t always name them.

Exploring Childish Gambino’s Atlanta: Spots and Themes to Notice

This is not an official tour, but if you’re in Atlanta and interested in Gambino’s connection to the city, you can explore the feel and themes of his work in a few grounded ways.

1. The Stone Mountain Connection

Donald Glover has spoken about growing up near Stone Mountain, a large granite outcrop and metro-Atlanta suburb east of the city.

If you’re curious:

• Stone Mountain Park (1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083) – a major regional park with hiking (including the walk-up trail to the summit), recreation areas, and lake views
• Surrounding areas reflect the mix of suburban neighborhoods, older shopping centers, and churches that show up in many Southern-set stories, including the atmosphere you sense in “Atlanta”

Note: Stone Mountain Park is a state park–like attraction with entry fees and its own policies; check current details before visiting.

2. In-Town Neighborhoods That Match the Vibe

While the show uses specific spots, many fans are more interested in atmosphere than exact addresses. For that, consider visiting:

• Little Five Points – known for murals, street art, indie shops, and an alternative vibe that matches some of the show’s more surreal and artsy scenes
• Edgewood Avenue (east of downtown) – dense with bars, small venues, and late-night energy that mirrors parts of the series’ nightlife
• West End / Westside corridors – areas where you can see older commercial strips, homes, and a mix of long-time residents and newer development

Always be respectful of residential areas—many scenes are shot in or near people’s homes and apartment communities.

3. Music, Venues, and the Atlanta Sound

Childish Gambino’s work is connected, in spirit, to the Atlanta music ecosystem, especially hip-hop and R&B. While he’s not regularly performing at local venues, Atlanta’s live music scene helps ground the world his characters live in.

Venues and areas associated with Atlanta’s broader music culture include:

• The Tabernacle – 152 Luckie St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Variety Playhouse – 1099 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
• Center Stage Atlanta – 1374 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309

If you’re visiting and hope to catch artists with a similar genre blend or Atlanta perspective, these types of venues often host hip-hop, R&B, and experimental acts that resonate with the same audience Demarcus might listen to in “Atlanta.”

“This Is America” and Other Visuals: Recognizing Atlanta on Screen

The music video for “This Is America” was shot in a large indoor space in the Atlanta area, using a warehouse-like backdrop and local dancers and extras. While this isn’t generally an accessible attraction, it’s another example of how the city’s infrastructure, from studios to industrial buildings, becomes part of Gambino’s visual storytelling.

Atlanta has become a major film and TV production hub, with many studios and soundstages in or near the city, such as:

• Tyler Perry Studios – 315 Deshler St SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
• Trilith Studios (formerly Pinewood Atlanta Studios) – in nearby Fayetteville, GA

While these studios often require credentials or special access, being in Atlanta means you’re close to the production ecosystem that makes projects like “Atlanta” and Childish Gambino’s visual work possible.

How to Find Filming Locations or Related Events in Atlanta

If you’re specifically trying to find Childish Gambino “Atlanta” filming locations or appearances within the city, here’s how locals typically approach it:

1. Pay Attention to Filming Notices

In Atlanta, when TV and film productions shoot on location, they often post:

• Temporary signs on street corners
• Notices on doors of affected businesses or apartments
• Changes in parking or traffic patterns near the set

You’ll see generic production code names rather than “Atlanta” or “Childish Gambino” spelled out, but residents frequently share these breadcrumbs in local conversations and communities.

2. Use Official and Local Information Channels

While fan-made maps and tours can pop up online, Atlantans usually rely on:

• Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment
  • 55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
  • Main City of Atlanta line: (404) 330-6000
• Fulton County and DeKalb County public notices for road closures and filming

These offices manage permits and may provide basic information on where and when productions are happening, even if they don’t promote specific shows.

3. Watch for Events at Local Theaters and Cultural Venues

Occasionally, there may be:

• Screenings of “Atlanta”
• Panels or talks about television writing, directing, or acting
• Local film festivals that highlight Atlanta-based productions

Venues that sometimes host these types of events include:

• The Plaza Theatre – 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
• Alliance Theatre / Woodruff Arts Center – 1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

Check their event calendars if you’re looking for ways to connect with the creative community around shows like “Atlanta.”

Tips for Locals and Visitors Exploring “Childish Gambino’s Atlanta”

If you’re using Childish Gambino and “Atlanta” as a lens to experience the city, a few practical tips can help:

• 🚶 Respect neighborhoods – Many memorable scenes were filmed in ordinary apartment complexes and quiet side streets. Treat them as you would your own neighborhood; avoid trespassing or disruptive photo shoots.
• 🚗 Plan for driving and parking – Much of what you’ll want to see is spread out: Stone Mountain, in-town neighborhoods, Westside corridors, etc. Having a car or rideshare access is helpful.
• 📷 Focus on public and commercial spaces – Murals, main streets, and businesses are better photo backdrops than private homes.
• 🎟️ Look for experience, not just exact spots – The show is intentionally surreal; you’ll get more out of the city by soaking up the food, music, and local culture than by chasing every exact frame.
• 🕒 Check current conditions – Businesses and buildings change frequently in Atlanta due to development. A location used in Season 1 may now be under renovation or replaced.

Where Childish Gambino Fits in the Bigger Atlanta Picture

For Atlanta residents and visitors, Childish Gambino and the show “Atlanta” provide:

• A stylized mirror of parts of the city’s culture
• A national spotlight on everyday streets and spaces locals recognize
• A reminder of metro Atlanta’s role in music, TV, and film production

Whether you’re walking around Little Five Points, hiking near Stone Mountain, or just noticing film crews on your street, you’re seeing the same city that shapes and appears in Childish Gambino’s work.

If your search for “Childish Gambino Atlanta” brought you here, the next step is simple: step outside, explore a neighborhood you haven’t spent time in before, and see how your own Atlanta lines up with the one you’ve watched on screen.