Atlanta Restaurants Open for Thanksgiving: Where to Dine Out (or Take Home) in 2025

Thanksgiving in Atlanta doesn’t have to mean hours in the kitchen. Whether you’re hosting family in town, visiting for the holiday, or simply not in the mood to cook, there are plenty of Atlanta restaurants open for Thanksgiving offering everything from classic Southern spreads to upscale tasting menus.

Because Thanksgiving offerings change year to year, always confirm hours, menus, and pricing directly with the restaurant and book early—many Atlanta spots sell out weeks in advance.

How Thanksgiving Dining Works in Atlanta

Most Thanksgiving restaurants in Atlanta fall into a few categories:

• Upscale hotel and steakhouse dinners (often prix fixe)
• Southern and soul food buffets
• Casual neighborhood restaurants with special menus
• Take-home Thanksgiving meals and catering
• Limited international options (for those who want a non-traditional holiday)

Expect:

• Reservations to be essential for sit-down dinners, especially from noon–4 p.m.
• Special menus and set pricing, often different from the usual menu
• Shorter hours (many close by 6–8 p.m.)
• Deposit or prepayment for large groups or prix fixe meals

Quick-Glance: Common Types of Thanksgiving Options in Atlanta

Upscale Atlanta Restaurants Often Open on Thanksgiving

Many of Atlanta’s higher-end restaurants and hotel dining rooms serve Thanksgiving brunches, buffets, or prix fixe dinners. These are especially convenient if you’re staying in or near Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead.

Hotel Restaurants in Downtown & Midtown

Large hotels frequently open their in-house restaurants for special holiday meals. These are good choices if you want:

• A buffet with carving stations and dessert tables
• A comfortable option for out-of-town guests
• Easier parking or valet access in busy areas

When searching, focus around:

• Downtown Atlanta / Centennial Park District – Many major hotels near Peachtree Street NW, Marietta Street NW, and around Centennial Olympic Park typically host Thanksgiving buffets or brunches.
• Midtown Atlanta – Hotels clustered near Peachtree Street NE and 10th/14th Streets often offer more contemporary or upscale Thanksgiving menus, sometimes with city views.

To plan:

• Call the hotel’s main line or restaurant directly and ask for “Thanksgiving dining details.”
• Ask if the meal is buffet vs. plated, whether there are children’s prices, and what the seating times are.

Steakhouse and Fine Dining Options

Several steakhouses and fine dining spots in Atlanta traditionally open on Thanksgiving, often with a special holiday menu plus a limited version of their regular offerings.

Common patterns:

• Located in Buckhead, Midtown, and Downtown
• Offer three-course prix fixe menus with turkey as a main option
• May still offer signature steaks and seafood for diners who want an alternative

If you’re looking for a more formal Thanksgiving dinner:

• Search for “Buckhead steakhouse Thanksgiving dinner” or “Midtown Atlanta Thanksgiving prix fixe”
• Expect set seating windows (for example, noon–6 p.m.)
• Plan for higher prices than casual restaurants, especially for evening seatings

Classic Southern & Soul Food Thanksgiving in Atlanta

Atlanta is a standout city for Southern and soul food, and that really shows on Thanksgiving.

Many soul food restaurants and meat-and-three spots either:

• Stay open with special holiday plates, or
• Offer pre-order Thanksgiving catering with turkey, ham, dressing, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, candied yams, and peach cobbler.

Areas to focus your search:

• Westside / Historic West End / Southwest Atlanta – Home to many classic soul food establishments that may open for abbreviated Thanksgiving hours or offer pickup only.
• Cascade corridor, South Atlanta, and East Point – Often strong options for family-style holiday meals and trays of sides.
• Decatur and East Atlanta Village – Occasionally feature Southern-focused restaurants with Thanksgiving specials.

Tips:

• Call early in late October or early November to ask:
  • “Are you open on Thanksgiving Day for dine-in?”
  • “Do you offer Thanksgiving catering or family-style pickup?”
  • “What’s the deadline for pre-orders?”

These spots can be ideal if you want a home-style Thanksgiving meal without cooking everything from scratch.

Neighborhood Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving

If you live in-town or are staying in one of Atlanta’s neighborhoods, you may find local restaurants that stay open with:

• Limited but Thanksgiving-inspired menus
• Normal hours but holiday specials
• Bar-focused menus with a few seasonal items

Areas known to have some neighborhood restaurants open (though it varies each year):

• Virginia-Highland
• Inman Park
• Old Fourth Ward
• Grant Park
• West Midtown / Westside Provisions District
• Brookhaven and Chamblee (particularly near Peachtree Road)

What to expect:

• Often more casual than hotel or steakhouse options
• Good for smaller groups, couples, or friendsgiving-style meals
• Some bars and pub-style restaurants may focus on regular menus with holiday drink specials

To find these:

• Check restaurant social media or call directly in early November to verify:
  • Thanksgiving hours
  • Whether they’re doing reservations or walk-ins
  • If they’re serving their normal menu or a special holiday menu

Non-Traditional Thanksgiving: International & Alternative Options

Not everyone wants turkey and stuffing. Atlanta’s diverse food scene means you can still find non-traditional Thanksgiving meals, especially:

• International restaurants that stay open as usual
• Asian, Mediterranean, or Latin restaurants that don’t observe the holiday
• Vegetarian and vegan spots offering plant-based Thanksgiving-style plates

Areas to explore:

• Buford Highway (Brookhaven, Doraville, Chamblee):
  Many restaurants along Buford Hwy NE operate on Thanksgiving, often with regular menus featuring Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Mexican, and other cuisines. Hours may be shorter than usual.

• Decatur:
  Some international and plant-forward restaurants in downtown Decatur may open for Thanksgiving brunch, dinner, or take-home options.

If you’re looking for vegan or vegetarian Thanksgiving plates, search for:

• “Atlanta vegan Thanksgiving dinner”
• “Plant-based Thanksgiving Atlanta”

Then confirm:

• Whether they’re open Thanksgiving Day
• If the offering is dine-in, pickup, or both
• Order deadlines for special holiday meals

Take-Home Thanksgiving Meals and Catering in Atlanta

Many Atlanta residents skip dining out entirely and instead order fully prepared Thanksgiving meals to reheat at home. This can include:

• Whole roasted turkeys or hams
• Trays of cornbread dressing, mac and cheese, greens, green beans, sweet potatoes
• Desserts like sweet potato pie, pecan pie, and peach cobbler

Where to Look for Take-Home Meals

You’ll often find Thanksgiving take-home options from:

• Local restaurants and bistros all over the city
• Southern and soul food kitchens that specialize in large pans of sides
• Some hotel kitchens offering family-style takeaway packages

Neighborhoods with lots of pickup choices include:

• Buckhead and Sandy Springs – More high-end, gourmet-style packages
• Intown neighborhoods – Small restaurants offering limited quantities of family meals
• Southside and Westside – Strong for soul food trays and large-group catering

How Take-Home Thanksgiving Typically Works

Common patterns:

• Pre-order required – Often 1–2 weeks before Thanksgiving
• Pickup day – Frequently the Wednesday before Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving morning
• Reheat instructions – Most places provide simple oven directions

When you call or check their information:

• Ask for menu options and serving sizes (for 4–6 people, 8–10 people, etc.)
• Confirm pickup date, time window, and location
• Ask whether items come hot or refrigerated

This is a good option if you’re hosting a crowd and don’t want to cook everything but still want to eat at home.

Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving Dining in Atlanta

If you’re going out with kids, look for restaurants that offer:

• Children’s pricing for buffets or prix fixe menus
• High chairs and booster seats
• Simple kid-friendly options (chicken tenders, mac and cheese, rolls, mashed potatoes)

Places that tend to be more kid-friendly:

• Hotel buffets – Easy for picky eaters; they can choose what they like
• Family-style Southern restaurants – Comfortable seating and relaxed atmosphere
• Casual neighborhood restaurants – Less formal than fine dining

When you call to reserve, ask:

• “Do you have a kids’ menu or children’s pricing for Thanksgiving?”
• “Can we get a larger table or high chair?”
• “How long is your typical wait on Thanksgiving with a reservation?”

Practical Tips for Thanksgiving Dining in Atlanta

A little planning goes a long way on a busy holiday. Keep these Atlanta-specific tips in mind:

1. Book Early, Especially for Midtown and Buckhead

• Popular restaurants and hotel buffets in Midtown and Buckhead often sell out early.
• If you’re visiting Atlanta and staying in a hotel, ask the front desk or concierge which in-house or nearby spots still have availability.

2. Consider Traffic and Parking

• Thanksgiving Day traffic is usually lighter than a normal weekday, but key areas like Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead can still be busy near attractions and large hotels.
• Many hotels and malls offer valet or garage parking, but neighborhood spots may have street parking only.
• Check whether your restaurant validates parking if it’s in a garage.

3. Confirm Accessibility and Group Needs

If you’re dining with older adults or anyone with mobility needs:

• Ask whether the restaurant has step-free access, elevators, and accessible restrooms.
• For large family groups, confirm:
  • Maximum table size
  • Whether they can split checks
  • Any group deposit requirements

4. Watch Last-Minute Changes

Holiday hours can shift:

• Some restaurants that were open in prior years may close for the holiday or only offer takeout.
• Others may change hours based on reservations.

To avoid surprises, call again the week of Thanksgiving to reconfirm your time and party size.

How to Find Current-Year Atlanta Thanksgiving Restaurant Options

Because specific openings change year to year, the best approach is to:

1. Start with your preferred area
   Decide whether you want to be in Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, Decatur, Westside, or near the suburbs.

2. Search by style of meal
   Use terms like:

   • “Thanksgiving buffet in downtown Atlanta”
   • “Buckhead Thanksgiving restaurant open”
   • “Atlanta soul food Thanksgiving catering”
   • “Buford Highway restaurants open Thanksgiving”

3. Call or check official info
   Once you have a few options:

   • Confirm Thanksgiving hours
   • Ask whether they’re doing dine-in, takeout, or both
   • Request pricing and menu details
   • Make reservations or place pre-orders as early as possible

4. Save addresses and contact details
   Atlanta traffic and road layouts can be confusing if you’re not local. Write down:

   • Restaurant address
   • Parking or valet instructions
   • Phone number in case you’re running late

If you plan ahead, Atlanta offers a wide range of Thanksgiving dining options—from white-tablecloth hotel buffets and Buckhead dining rooms to Westside soul food and Buford Highway international meals. Whether you eat out or bring a full spread home, you can celebrate the holiday with a meal that fits your group, your tastes, and your part of the city.