Best Restaurants on Howell Mill in Atlanta: Where to Eat Along This Busy Corridor

Howell Mill Road has become one of Atlanta’s most interesting food corridors, especially through West Midtown and up toward Buckhead. Whether you live nearby, work in one of the new developments, or you are just visiting and staying along the I‑75 corridor, you’ll find everything from casual tacos to splurge‑worthy tasting menus.

This guide walks through popular restaurants on or very close to Howell Mill Road in Atlanta, what they are known for, and how to plan a meal in this part of the city.

Quick Snapshot: Types of Restaurants on Howell Mill

Howell Mill runs from West Midtown up toward Collier Road and beyond, and the dining scene changes as you move along it. Here’s a simple overview:

You can easily build a whole evening around this stretch: grab coffee or a drink, enjoy dinner, and finish with dessert without leaving Howell Mill and its side streets.

West Midtown Anchors: Howell Mill Near Marietta Street & 14th

This southern end of Howell Mill, close to Marietta Street NW and 14th Street NW, is one of Atlanta’s biggest dining clusters.

Trendy American & Southern-Inspired Spots

These are the types of places locals often choose for date night, celebrations, or taking out-of-town guests:

• Chef-driven American and Southern cuisine
  You’ll find options with menus focused on seasonal ingredients, elevated comfort food, and small plates. Many of these restaurants sit inside redeveloped warehouses or new mixed-use complexes, giving that “modern industrial” Atlanta feel West Midtown is known for.

• Indoor–outdoor patios
  Several restaurants on Howell Mill take advantage of Atlanta’s weather with patios, garage doors, or rooftop-adjacent spaces. If you visit in spring or fall, these are especially popular places for a long dinner or weekend brunch.

• Bars attached to restaurants
  You’ll notice that many restaurants along this stretch blur the line between bar and dining room. It’s common to:

  • Start at the bar for cocktails or local beer
  • Move to a table for dinner
  • Then head to another nearby spot for a late-night drink

This area is very walkable by Atlanta standards, but traffic and parking can be tight around weekend evenings, so plan a bit of extra time.

Howell Mill & Brady / Huff: Casual, Cocktails, and Night-Out Options

Moving north along Howell Mill toward Brady Avenue, Huff Road, and Berkeley Park, you get a mix of casual local spots and stylish bars tucked just off the main road.

Tacos, Pizza, and Everyday Favorites

Howell Mill and its side streets near Brady and Huff are good for:

• Taco spots and fast-casual Mexican
• Neapolitan or New York-style pizza
• Burger joints and bar food–style menus
• Grab-and-go lunch spots catering to office workers and residents

These are places you might stop:

• For a quick weekday lunch if you work in West Midtown
• Before a concert or game downtown or at State Farm Arena
• After running errands at the nearby shopping centers

Bar and Lounge-Style Restaurants

You’ll also find bars that serve food, or restaurants with a strong nightlife feel, where:

• The music is louder
• The crowd skews younger in the evenings
• Cocktails and small plates are more of a focus than full entrées

If you are planning a group outing or birthday, this part of Howell Mill offers multiple options that feel more like a “night out” than a quiet dinner.

North Howell Mill: Neighborhood Eats Near Collier and Defoor

Further north, around Collier Road NW, Defoor Avenue NW, and up toward the residential neighborhoods, Howell Mill shifts from trendy destination dining to more neighborhood-focused restaurants.

Comfortable, Everyday Dining

Expect to see:

• Breakfast and brunch spots popular with nearby residents
• Casual grills and American restaurants
  (burgers, wings, sandwiches, salads)
• Family-friendly options with straightforward menus
• Takeout-friendly places for weeknight dinners

If you live in Buckhead, Underwood Hills, or Collier Hills, these Howell Mill restaurants may be your go-tos for:

• A Sunday brunch without driving across town
• Quick solo dinners
• Watching a game on TV with food and drinks

Coffee Shops and Quick Bites

As apartments and townhomes have filled in along Howell Mill, coffee shops and bakeries have also grown. These are helpful if you:

• Need a laptop-friendly place to work for an hour
• Want a light breakfast before heading downtown
• Are waiting out traffic on I‑75 and need a break

Practical Tips for Dining on Howell Mill in Atlanta

Because Howell Mill is such a busy corridor, a few local habits can make your experience smoother.

1. Parking and Transportation

• Parking varies a lot.
  Some restaurants have their own lots, others share parking with shopping centers or rely on street parking and decks in nearby developments.
• Weekends and peak hours fill up fast.
  Arriving earlier (especially between 6:00–7:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays) often makes parking and seating easier.
• Rideshare can be easier at night.
  Especially near the densest parts of West Midtown, many locals prefer to use rideshare to avoid the stress of finding parking and navigating tight lots.

2. Reservations vs. Walk-Ins

• Upscale or chef-driven restaurants on Howell Mill frequently recommend reservations, particularly:
  • Friday and Saturday dinner
  • Brunch time on weekends
  • Holiday weekends or big event days in Atlanta
• Casual spots, taco joints, and pizza places are often more walk-in friendly, though you may face short waits at peak times.

When you are planning with a group, checking whether the restaurant:

• Has online reservations
• Accepts call-ahead seating
  can save time and help you avoid standing in line.

3. Timing Around Traffic

Howell Mill connects directly with I‑75 and is a common cut-through, so:

• 4:30–6:30 p.m. on weekdays can be heavily congested.
• On game days (Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, Georgia Tech, or major events downtown), the West Midtown end near 14th and Marietta can get especially crowded.
• If you are visiting from outside Atlanta, giving yourself extra time and using a navigation app for live traffic helps a lot.

How to Choose the Right Howell Mill Restaurant for You

With so many choices stretched along one road, it helps to narrow by what you need from the meal.

For a Special Occasion or Date Night

Look toward the West Midtown section of Howell Mill and nearby cross streets. When scanning menus, you’ll typically see:

• Seasonal dishes and small plates
• Thoughtfully curated wine and cocktail lists
• More polished interiors and table service

These restaurants usually work well if you want a slower-paced, sit-down dinner and are fine making a reservation in advance.

For a Quick Lunch or Casual Dinner

Mid- to north-Howell Mill offers many spots where you can:

• Order at the counter
• Grab takeout or delivery back home or to your hotel
• Get in and out in under an hour

These are good choices if you work in the area or are passing through and don’t want a full evening out.

For Groups and Social Nights

Around Howell Mill and the cross streets like Brady, Huff, and Marietta, you’ll find:

• Restaurants with large communal tables or bar seating
• Louder atmospheres that suit celebrations
• Easy post-dinner transitions to nearby bars or dessert spots

If you’re celebrating a birthday or reunion, checking ahead about:

• Group seating policies
• Any automatic gratuity for large parties
  can avoid surprises on the bill.

Helpful Local Details for Visitors

If you are visiting Atlanta and planning one or more meals on Howell Mill:

• Location relative to major areas

  • About 5–10 minutes from Georgia Tech
  • Roughly 10–15 minutes from Downtown and Midtown (depending on traffic)
  • Easy access from I‑75 via Howell Mill Road exit

• Nearby hotels and stays
  Several hotels and short-term rentals in West Midtown and Atlantic Station put you within a short drive, rideshare, or even walk of many Howell Mill restaurants.

• Late-night options
  Some restaurants and bars in the West Midtown stretch stay open later, particularly on weekends. If you want food after a concert or game, this corridor often provides more options than some purely residential parts of the city.

How to Make the Most of a Night on Howell Mill

If you want to build a full evening around Howell Mill in Atlanta, a simple pattern locals often follow is:

1. Start with a drink or coffee
   Choose a bar, brewery-style restaurant, or coffee shop along Howell Mill or just off it.
2. Head to your main restaurant
   Aim for your dinner reservation or walk-in spot on Howell Mill, depending on the style of restaurant.
3. Walk or rideshare to dessert or another bar
   Many places are within a short drive or a walkable cluster in West Midtown, letting you extend the evening without crossing the whole city.

Because Howell Mill spans different vibes—from industrial-chic West Midtown to comfortable neighborhood spots further north—it’s a good idea to confirm the exact address and part of the road when you pick a restaurant. That way you know what kind of atmosphere and parking situation to expect.

With a bit of planning around traffic, reservations, and location, Howell Mill Road can be one of the easiest places in Atlanta to find a meal that matches your mood, whether you want a quick taco stop or a long, celebratory dinner.