Colony Square Atlanta Restaurants: Where to Eat in Midtown’s “City Within a City”

Colony Square in Midtown Atlanta has turned into one of the city’s most convenient dining hubs. Whether you work nearby, live in one of the surrounding high-rises, or you’re staying at a hotel along Peachtree Street, the restaurants at Colony Square give you plenty of options without having to get back in the car.

This guide focuses on what you’ll actually experience when you eat at Colony Square: types of restaurants, what each area is like (especially Politan Row food hall), when it’s busiest, where to park, and how locals tend to use the space.

Quick Overview: What You’ll Find at Colony Square

Colony Square is located around 1197 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30361, at the heart of Midtown. The dining options fall into a few main categories:

• Politan Row at Colony Square – a modern food hall with multiple chef-driven stalls
• Sit-down restaurants – casual to upscale spots for date nights, business lunches, and pre-show dinners
• Grab-and-go and coffee – for quick lunches, remote work, or a caffeine stop between meetings
• Bars and lounges – patio drinks, after-work meetups, and weekend evenings

Here’s a simple snapshot:

Politan Row at Colony Square: The Food Hall Experience

Politan Row at Colony Square is often the first place Atlantans mention when they talk about Colony Square restaurants. It’s an indoor food hall with a central bar, multiple food stalls, and plenty of seating.

What to Expect

• Order-at-the-counter stalls with everything from tacos and burgers to international dishes
• A full-service central bar with cocktails, beer, and wine
• A mix of indoor tables, bar seating, and access to the outdoor plaza
• A crowd that ranges from Midtown office workers at lunch to groups and couples at dinner

This setup works especially well if:

• Your group can’t agree on one cuisine
• You’re coming from Piedmont Park or the Arts District and want something casual
• You’re looking for a flexible pre-show bite before the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Hall, or other nearby venues

When It’s Busiest

• Weekday lunch (11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.): office crowd from surrounding buildings
• Thursday–Saturday evenings: heavy social traffic, especially when the weather is nice
• Events and holidays: the Plaza often hosts events that spill into the food hall

If you prefer a quieter experience, aim for late afternoon or early weeknights.

Sit-Down Restaurants: From Casual to Upscale Midtown Dining

Beyond the food hall, Colony Square includes full-service restaurants that cater to everything from power lunches to date-night dinners. While specific concepts can change over time, there are strong patterns in what you’ll typically find.

Types of Sit-Down Spots You’ll See

You’re likely to find:

• American and Southern-influenced restaurants – often with burgers, steaks, salads, and modern comfort food
• Mediterranean or globally inspired kitchens – lighter fare, shareable plates, and seafood
• Specialty concepts – such as sushi, Latin-inspired menus, or chef-driven fusion

These restaurants tend to be clustered along Peachtree Street NE and around the central Plaza, with both indoor and patio seating.

Who These Restaurants Suit Best

• Midtown professionals – client lunches, team dinners, and happy hours
• Locals and residents – regular date nights, weekend brunch, and birthdays
• Visitors staying nearby – easy walk from hotels along Peachtree or 14th Street

You’ll often see business casual attire at dinner on weeknights and a more mixed, relaxed crowd on weekends.

Casual, Fast, and Coffee Options

If you work or live near Colony Square, the quick-service choices matter just as much as the sit-down restaurants.

Inside and around Colony Square you’ll typically find:

• Coffee shops – popular for morning commuters and remote workers; expect Wi‑Fi, counter service, and some seating
• Fast-casual lunch spots – salads, bowls, sandwiches, and other under-30-minute meals
• Bakery or dessert counters – grab-and-go sweets, pastries, and treats for after lunch or dinner

These are especially useful if you:

• Have a short lunch break
• Are commuting via MARTA and need a snack or coffee on the way
• Want a laptop-friendly space in Midtown that isn’t a full restaurant

Outdoor Seating, Plaza Vibes, and People-Watching

One of Colony Square’s biggest draws is its central outdoor Plaza. Even if you grab food from Politan Row or a fast-casual spot, you can often bring it outside.

Why Locals Like the Plaza

• Ample outdoor seating – mix of tables, chairs, and casual seating areas
• Events and programming – movie nights, fitness events, and seasonal activities are common
• Kid-friendly openness – many families stop here before or after visiting nearby Midtown spots

For people-watching, the Plaza is one of the better options in Midtown: you’ll see office workers, residents, tourists, and arts-goers all crossing paths in the same space.

Best Times to Eat at Colony Square

Timing can change your experience quite a bit.

Weekday Patterns

• Early mornings: mainly coffee and light breakfast; relatively quiet
• Lunch (11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.): heavy office and business crowd; quick-service and Politan Row get busy
• Afternoon (2–5 p.m.): calmer, good for working on a laptop or casual meetings
• After work (5–7 p.m.): strong happy hour traffic, especially around bars and patios

Weekend Patterns

• Brunch hours: many sit-down restaurants offer weekend brunch; reservations can help
• Afternoon and evening: families, groups, and people heading to or from Piedmont Park, the High Museum of Art, or performances in the Arts District
• Late evening (Friday/Saturday): more of a bar-and-social scene, especially in good weather

If you’re not a fan of crowds, consider:

• Early dinners (before 6 p.m.) on weekends
• Lunch before 11:45 a.m. or after 1:30 p.m. on weekdays

Parking, MARTA, and Getting There

Colony Square is designed to be accessible whether you drive or take transit.

Driving and Parking

• Main address: 1197 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30361
• Multi-level parking garage with entrances off nearby streets
• Typically pay-to-park, with clearly posted rates and payment kiosks

Many people choose Colony Square specifically because parking is more straightforward than in some other parts of Midtown. If you have dinner plans or a show nearby, you can usually park once and walk.

MARTA Access

Colony Square is a short walk from:

• Arts Center Station (Red/Gold lines): walk south along Peachtree St NE
• Midtown Station (Red/Gold lines): walk north along Peachtree St NE or transfer to a local bus

If you’re staying in Downtown or Buckhead, taking MARTA can be easier than dealing with Peachtree Street traffic, especially during rush hour or big events.

Using Colony Square as a Midtown “Home Base”

Because of its location, Colony Square works well as a starting or ending point for a day in Midtown.

You might:

• Grab lunch at Politan Row, then walk to Piedmont Park via 14th Street
• Have an early dinner at a sit-down restaurant, then walk to a show at the Woodruff Arts Center or nearby theaters
• Meet friends for drinks in the Plaza and then continue on foot to other Midtown bars or lounges

The combination of restaurants, bars, outdoor space, and transit access makes it especially appealing if you want to avoid multiple Uber rides or hunting for parking at several different spots.

Tips for Making the Most of Colony Square Restaurants

A few practical suggestions if you’re planning to eat here:

• Check current restaurant lineups: concepts can change; look up which restaurants are active before you go, especially for specific cuisines.
• Consider reservations for popular sit-down spots, particularly Thursday–Saturday evenings and weekend brunch.
• Plan around events: if there’s a large event in the Plaza, the food hall and patios may be extra busy—but also more energetic if you like a lively scene.
• Use indoor + outdoor space: you’re not limited to one setting; many people grab food from one spot, drinks from another, and then sit outside.
• Think multi-stop: it’s common to have dinner at one restaurant, dessert from another vendor, and a final drink at the bar or outside in the Plaza.

For anyone living in Atlanta, visiting Midtown for the arts, or staying nearby, the restaurants at Colony Square offer a compact, walkable way to sample a range of food and drink without leaving a single city block.