Where to Eat Near Phipps Plaza in Atlanta: A Local’s Guide

Phipps Plaza in Buckhead is surrounded by some of Atlanta’s most convenient and varied restaurants—from quick bites between errands to upscale spots worthy of a special night out. Whether you’re shopping, catching a movie, or staying at a nearby hotel, you don’t have to go far to find a good meal.

Below is a practical guide to restaurants in and around Phipps Plaza, organized by type and walking distance so you can pick the right place fast.

Quick Overview: Popular Restaurant Options Around Phipps Plaza

Eating Inside Phipps Plaza

Phipps Plaza itself typically offers a mix of fast-casual and sit-down options, making it easy to grab something between stores or before a movie at AMC Phipps Plaza.

Common types of food you’ll find inside or directly attached to the mall include:

• Fast-casual American (burgers, sandwiches, salads)
• Pizza and pasta
• Asian-inspired bowls and sushi
• Coffee, smoothies, and dessert shops

These spots are ideal if you:

• Don’t want to move your car from the parking deck
• Are shopping with kids and need something familiar
• Have limited time between appointments in Buckhead

When you arrive, check the mall directory near the main entrances or concierge desk to see the current list of restaurants, since lineups inside malls can change.

Restaurants Within a Short Walk of Phipps Plaza

Step outside Phipps Plaza and you’re in the heart of Buckhead’s commercial district, surrounded by hotels, offices, and residential buildings. That means a dense cluster of restaurants within a few minutes’ walk.

Casual Sit-Down Spots

These are good for lunch breaks, casual dinners, or meeting friends without getting too dressed up.

Common options nearby include:

• American bar-and-grill style

  • Burgers, flatbreads, salads, wings
  • Usually with a full bar and TVs
  • Good for game days or after-work meetups

• Mexican and Tex-Mex

  • Tacos, fajitas, bowls, margaritas
  • Often have patio seating when the weather’s good

• Asian and sushi

  • Sushi rolls, hibachi-style entrées, noodles
  • Often popular for business lunches and early dinners

• Mediterranean or healthy-focused eateries

  • Grain bowls, hummus, grilled meats, veggie-heavy plates
  • Good if you want something lighter before going back to work or shopping

Many of these sit just across from Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square, especially along Peachtree Road NE and Lenox Road NE, so you can walk over from the mall parking deck.

Upscale and Special-Occasion Dining Near Phipps Plaza

Buckhead is one of Atlanta’s main fine-dining hubs, and the area around Phipps Plaza reflects that. If you’re planning a date night, celebration, or client dinner, you’ll find several upscale choices within a short drive or even a walk.

Typical upscale options nearby include:

• Steak and chop houses

  • Prime steaks, seafood, extensive wine lists
  • Often require or strongly recommend reservations, especially on weekends

• Modern American and New Southern restaurants

  • Creative takes on Southern ingredients
  • Small plates, seasonal menus, and craft cocktails

• High-end Italian or Mediterranean

  • House-made pastas, grilled seafood, curated wine programs
  • Often popular with hotel guests and business travelers in Buckhead

These restaurants tend to cluster around:

• The Peachtree Road NE corridor
• Buckhead’s hotel row near Lenox Road NE and Peachtree Road NE
• Nearby office towers and mixed-use developments

If you’re traveling for business or staying at a nearby Buckhead hotel, concierge desks typically keep short lists of trusted nearby restaurants and can help with same-day reservations.

Breakfast, Coffee, and Brunch Around Phipps Plaza

If you’re starting your day in Buckhead or taking a mid-morning break from shopping, you have a few reliable categories of breakfast and brunch options near Phipps:

Coffee and Light Breakfast

Near Phipps Plaza and along Peachtree Road NE, you’ll usually find:

• Coffee chains and local cafés
  • Espresso drinks, drip coffee, teas
  • Pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and sometimes grab-and-go salads
  • Frequently used as informal remote-work spots during weekdays

These are ideal if you:

• Need a quick breakfast before heading to work in Buckhead
• Want a coffee meet-up that’s easy to reach via MARTA or rideshare
• Are staying in one of the nearby hotels and want something more casual than a hotel restaurant

Brunch-Friendly Options

In and around Buckhead, including the Phipps Plaza area, there are several restaurants that switch to brunch menus on weekends, often featuring:

• Southern-style biscuits, fried chicken, and shrimp and grits
• Egg dishes, omelets, and breakfast bowls
• Mimosas and brunch cocktails

Reservations are often a good idea for late-morning brunch, especially Saturday and Sunday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., when locals and visitors crowd into popular spots.

Fast, Affordable, and Kid-Friendly Options

If you’re with kids, on a tighter budget, or just want something fast, the immediate Phipps Plaza and Lenox area works well.

Food-Court Style and Fast-Casual

Inside or attached to Phipps Plaza and nearby shopping centers, you’re likely to find:

• Burger chains and chicken spots
• Sandwich and sub shops
• Pizza by the slice or small personal pies
• Salad and bowl-style places

Why locals and visitors use these:

• Consistency – You generally know what you’re getting.
• Speed – Helpful if you’re running between appointments or trying to catch a movie at AMC Phipps Plaza.
• Kid-friendliness – Straightforward menus, counter service, and casual seating.

Planning a Business Lunch or Dinner in Buckhead Near Phipps Plaza

Because Buckhead is one of Atlanta’s key business districts, restaurants around Phipps Plaza are used frequently for client meetings, interviews, and team dinners.

When choosing a spot for business:

• Look for restaurants with quieter sections or private dining rooms if you need privacy.
• Consider parking and access – valet, deck parking at Phipps Plaza, or proximity to MARTA’s Lenox or Buckhead stations.
• Lunch services nearby often move quickly, with express lunch menus that work for a 60-minute window.

Some business travelers prefer restaurants attached to or within walking distance of major hotels in Buckhead to simplify logistics, especially if they won’t have a car.

Getting To and From Restaurants Near Phipps Plaza

By Car

Phipps Plaza is near the intersection of Peachtree Road NE and Lenox Road NE, just off GA-400 and close to I-85.

• Mall parking decks serve both shoppers and many nearby restaurants.
• Surrounding office buildings and mixed-use complexes often have validated or shared parking with on-site restaurants.
• Valet services are common at upscale spots and hotels in Buckhead.

If you’re headed to Buckhead on a weekend evening or during rush hour, allow extra travel time; Peachtree Road and Lenox Road can get congested.

By MARTA

If you’d rather avoid driving:

• Lenox Station (Gold Line) – Just north of Lenox Square; from there, Phipps Plaza and many nearby restaurants are a short walk.
• Buckhead Station (Red Line) – A bit farther west but still walkable or a quick rideshare away from the Phipps Plaza area.

Using MARTA can be especially convenient if you’re staying downtown or midtown and heading to Buckhead for dinner or shopping.

Tips for Choosing the Right Restaurant Near Phipps Plaza

A few practical points to narrow down your choices:

• For a quick, no-stress meal:

  • Look inside Phipps Plaza or immediately across Peachtree Road NE.
  • Aim for off-peak times (before noon or mid-afternoon) if you want shorter lines.

• For a special night out:

  • Consider upscale spots within a 5–10 minute drive in Buckhead.
  • Make reservations, especially Thursday–Saturday nights.

• For family dining:

  • Pick casual sit-down or fast-casual places with simple menus and kids’ options.
  • Mall-area restaurants tend to be more accommodating for strollers and larger groups.

• For visitors staying in Buckhead hotels:

  • Ask the front desk or concierge for current nearby restaurant suggestions and walking directions.
  • Many hotels are within a short walk or quick rideshare of Phipps Plaza–area restaurants.

How Locals Use the Phipps Plaza Restaurant Area

People who live or work in Atlanta often treat the Phipps Plaza area as:

• A one-stop zone for shopping, a movie, and a meal
• A central meeting point that’s easy to reach from multiple parts of the city
• A backup plan when other neighborhoods feel too far in traffic

If you’re new to Atlanta or just visiting, focusing on restaurants near Phipps Plaza in Buckhead is a practical way to sample a range of dining styles—from quick mall bites to polished, reservation-worthy dinners—without having to crisscross the entire city.