Atlanta Black Restaurant Week: How to Eat Your Way Through the Celebration

Atlanta’s Black Restaurant Week is more than a food event—it’s a citywide celebration of Black-owned restaurants, chefs, and culinary talent across the metro area. Whether you live in Atlanta, are visiting for a few days, or just want to support local Black-owned businesses, this guide will help you understand how it works, what to expect, and how to make the most of it.

What Is Atlanta Black Restaurant Week?

Atlanta Black Restaurant Week is a limited-time event that highlights Black-owned restaurants, food trucks, caterers, and bars across the city. During the week (often stretching to multiple days or even two weeks), participating businesses offer:

• Special prix-fixe menus
• Discounted dishes or meal bundles
• Featured cocktails or desserts
• Food experiences, pop-ups, or chef events

The goal is to bring more diners into Black-owned establishments, give smaller or newer spots more visibility, and encourage Atlantans to explore beyond their usual go-to places.

The event typically includes both in-town neighborhoods like Midtown, Downtown, Westside, Old Fourth Ward, and metro suburbs like College Park, East Point, and Decatur.

When Does Black Restaurant Week Happen in Atlanta?

Black Restaurant Week is usually held once a year in Atlanta, often sometime between spring and fall. Exact dates change each year.

To confirm current dates, Atlantans typically:

• Check the official Black Restaurant Week website and search for the Atlanta market.
• Follow Black Restaurant Week and participating restaurants on social media.
• Look for local coverage from Atlanta-based news outlets or city guides.

Because restaurants join on a voluntary basis, the lineup can change every year, so it’s worth checking the current list even if you’ve participated before.

How Atlanta Black Restaurant Week Works (Step-by-Step)

You don’t need a ticket, pass, or membership to participate. Here’s how locals usually do it:

1. Browse Participating Restaurants

Before you head out, take a little time to:

• View the official participating restaurant list for Atlanta.
• Note which spots are:
  • Near where you live or are staying
  • In neighborhoods you’d like to explore
  • Offering prix-fixe menus, lunch specials, or brunch

Many Atlantans create a short list of 2–5 places to try during the week.

2. Check Menus and Hours

Restaurants often roll out special menus just for Black Restaurant Week. These may include:

• A set lunch or dinner prix-fixe (for example: appetizer + entrée + dessert for a fixed price)
• A signature dish or “tasting” portion
• A cocktail or mocktail pairing

Since menus and hours can shift, it’s smart to:

• Visit the restaurant’s website or social pages.
• Call the restaurant directly to confirm:
  • Participation in Black Restaurant Week
  • Available specials
  • Reservation policies

3. Make Reservations (When Possible)

Popular Atlanta spots—especially in Midtown, Buckhead, and on the Westside—can fill quickly during Black Restaurant Week.

Consider reservations for:

• Dinner on Fridays and Saturdays
• Brunch at well-known locations
• Larger groups

Some restaurants only take walk-ins, so be prepared with a backup option nearby.

4. Dine-In, Takeout, or Delivery

Most participating Black-owned restaurants in Atlanta offer:

• Dine-in (full experience, atmosphere, and service)
• Takeout (call-ahead or online orders)
• Delivery through major delivery apps in many neighborhoods

If you’re short on time or commuting from outside the Perimeter, takeout or delivery can still let you support the event and try something new.

What Types of Restaurants Usually Participate?

Atlanta’s Black-owned food scene is incredibly diverse. During Black Restaurant Week, you can expect to see:

• Southern & Soul Food
  • Fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, candied yams, cornbread
• Caribbean & Island Cuisine
  • Jerk chicken, oxtail, plantains, patties, curries
• West African & Pan-African Restaurants
  • Jollof rice, egusi soup, suya, fufu, stews
• BBQ & Smokehouses
  • Ribs, pulled pork, brisket, smoked wings, classic sides
• Seafood & Cajun/Creole
  • Shrimp & grits, gumbo, crawfish dishes, seafood boils
• Burgers, Sandwiches & Casual Eats
  • Smash burgers, wings, loaded fries, hot chicken
• Bakeries & Dessert Shops
  • Cakes, pies, cobblers, cookies, vegan desserts
• Cafés & Brunch Spots
  • Chicken & waffles, shrimp & grits, French toast, specialty coffee
• Vegan & Vegetarian Options
  • Plant-based soul food, bowls, sandwiches, dairy-free desserts

Many Atlantans use the week as a reason to try a new type of cuisine or visit a neighborhood they don’t usually dine in.

Neighborhoods & Areas to Explore During Black Restaurant Week

Here’s a general sense of where Black-owned restaurants are often concentrated in metro Atlanta. Exact participants change, but these areas tend to be active.

If you’re new to Atlanta, this can be a great way to get a food-centered tour of the city, one neighborhood at a time.

Planning Your Atlanta Black Restaurant Week Experience

Decide What Kind of Experience You Want

Ask yourself:

• Do you want fine dining, casual eats, or quick takeout?
• Are you focused on soul food, vegan dishes, or trying new flavors?
• Are you dining solo, with family, or with a group of friends?

This will help narrow your list and avoid decision fatigue once the week starts.

Build a Simple Game Plan 🗺️

A sample Atlanta Black Restaurant Week plan might look like:

• Monday Night: Takeout from a Black-owned spot near your office in Downtown or Midtown.
• Wednesday Lunch: Meet a coworker at a participating restaurant in West Midtown.
• Friday Night: Reservation with friends at a sit-down dinner in Buckhead or Old Fourth Ward.
• Sunday Brunch: Try a new Black-owned brunch spot in Southwest Atlanta or College Park.

Budgeting for the Week

Prix-fixe menus can help control costs. Common patterns:

• Lunch specials can be relatively affordable.
• Dinner prix-fixe may include multiple courses at a set price, often better value than ordering each item separately.
• Drinks, tax, and tip are usually not included in prix-fixe prices, so plan accordingly.

Tips for Supporting Black-Owned Restaurants Thoughtfully

Black Restaurant Week is about more than just one visit. Here’s how Atlantans often support these businesses in a meaningful way:

• Leave a fair tip
  Service staff are often working through higher-than-usual crowds.

• Be patient with wait times
  Popular spots may be busier than normal. Calling ahead or making reservations can help.

• Share your experience
  Posting photos, tagging the restaurant, and leaving online reviews can give a big boost to small businesses.

• Return after the event
  One of the best forms of support is to make it a regular spot, not just a once-a-year visit.

• Consider catering or group orders
  Many participating restaurants also offer catering for office lunches, events, or family gatherings.

How Locals Usually Find Participating Restaurants

Since lineups shift year to year, Atlantans generally use a combination of:

• Official event website for the latest Atlanta market list
• Restaurant social media (Instagram, Facebook) to see:
  • Special menus
  • Event nights, live music, or themed dinners
• Local media and city guides that highlight notable Black-owned restaurants and chef features
• Word of mouth from coworkers, neighbors, and friends who share their favorites

It’s smart to confirm up-to-date hours and specials directly with the restaurant, especially if you’re driving in from outside the Perimeter or coordinating a group.

Accessibility, Parking, and Getting Around Atlanta

When mapping out your Black Restaurant Week stops, keep a few Atlanta-specific logistics in mind:

• Traffic: Rush hour on major roads (I-20, I-75/85, GA-400) can be heavy; consider booking earlier or later reservations.
• MARTA Access:
  Some participating restaurants will be near stations like Five Points, Peachtree Center, North Avenue, Arts Center, College Park, or West End, which can be helpful if you prefer not to drive.
• Parking:
  • Intown neighborhoods like Midtown, West Midtown, and Old Fourth Ward may rely on paid decks, lots, or street parking.
  • Neighborhoods like Southwest Atlanta, College Park, and some parts of Decatur often have more surface lots and free parking, but it varies by business.
• Walkability:
  Certain clusters (like sections of Midtown, Downtown, Old Fourth Ward, or Decatur Square) allow you to park once and walk to multiple spots.

If you’re visiting Atlanta, staying at a central hotel in Downtown, Midtown, or near the airport can make it easier to reach a wider range of participating restaurants.

What If You Miss the Official Week?

If you find out about Atlanta Black Restaurant Week after it ends, you can still:

• Visit the same Black-owned restaurants on your own schedule.
• Look for ongoing specials, happy hours, or brunch menus many of these places run year-round.
• Save the event dates for next year and start building a list of places you’d like to try.

Many Atlantans treat Black Restaurant Week as a starting point for discovering new favorites they return to all year.

Key Takeaways for Enjoying Atlanta Black Restaurant Week

• It’s open to everyone—no ticket or membership required.
• Atlanta Black Restaurant Week highlights Black-owned restaurants, bars, and food businesses across the city and metro area.
• Expect special menus, prix-fixe options, and featured dishes, often at a good value.
• Make the most of it by planning ahead, checking current participation, and exploring new neighborhoods.
• The most lasting support is to keep visiting these businesses long after the week is over.

If you’re in Atlanta or planning a visit, Black Restaurant Week is one of the most enjoyable ways to explore the city’s Black culinary talent—and discover some of your next go-to spots for brunch, dinner, or late-night eats.