Holeman & Finch Public House in Atlanta: What to Know Before You Go

Holeman & Finch Public House is one of Atlanta’s most talked‑about chef-driven restaurants, known for elevating Southern flavors, classic cocktails, and a legendary burger. If you live in Atlanta or are visiting and want a fine dining–style experience without feeling stuffy, this is a spot worth understanding in detail.

Below is a practical guide to how Holeman & Finch fits into Atlanta’s dining scene, what to expect, and how to plan your visit.

Where Holeman & Finch Fits in Atlanta’s Dining Scene

Holeman & Finch is considered a fine dining and celebrity‑chef–style restaurant, but with a relaxed public house feel. It gained national attention through its chef leadership and its focus on:

• High-quality ingredients
• Scratch-made charcuterie and bar snacks
• An elevated burger and classic cocktails
• Thoughtful Southern and European influences

For Atlanta diners, it sits at the intersection of:

• Special-occasion dining (date nights, celebrations)
• Serious cocktail bar culture
• Neighborhood hangout for people who live or work nearby

You’ll see a mix of food lovers, in-the-know locals, and visitors who’ve heard about the burger and want the full experience.

Location, Parking, and Getting There

Holeman & Finch Public House is located in Atlanta, Georgia. Because restaurant locations and tenants can shift over time, it’s wise to:

• Check the current street address on a recent map or the restaurant’s official listing.
• Confirm hours before you go, especially on holidays or big event days.

Getting There Around Atlanta

Depending on where you’re coming from:

• Midtown / Downtown
  Expect a relatively short drive outside of heavy rush hour. Rideshare is common for evening visits.

• Buckhead
  Often a quick trip by car, making it a convenient dinner option before or after shopping or meetings.

• Decatur / East Atlanta / Westside
  Plan for some traffic during peak office commute times if you’re coming in for early evening reservations.

Parking Tips

Parking setups can change, but in Atlanta you’re likely to encounter:

• On-site or shared-lot parking, often limited at prime times
• Paid deck or surface lot parking nearby
• Rideshare or taxi drop-off as an easier choice during busy weekend evenings

If you’re planning a special occasion, consider rideshare so you don’t have to worry about parking at all.

Atmosphere: What It Feels Like Inside

Holeman & Finch blends fine-dining attention to detail with the spirit of a European-style public house. This means:

• A lively, social bar area where cocktails and small plates are common
• A cozy, warm dining room with a focus on conversation and shareable dishes
• Background noise from the bar and open conversation, especially on weekends

This is not a silent, white-tablecloth environment; it’s more of a smart-casual, food-centric neighborhood hub where people take their food and drinks seriously but still feel relaxed.

Dress Code: How Atlanta Diners Typically Show Up

There’s usually no strict dress code, but in Atlanta you’ll most often see:

• Smart casual: nice jeans or chinos, simple dresses, boots or clean sneakers
• Business casual on weekdays: especially from people coming from offices nearby
• Slightly dressed-up outfits for dates and celebrations on weekends

You don’t need formalwear, but if you’re planning photos or a special night out, think elevated casual rather than ultra-casual gym wear.

Reservations, Wait Times, and When to Go

For a restaurant in this category in Atlanta, the following patterns are common and worth planning around:

Reservations

• Dinner reservations are strongly recommended, especially:

  • Thursday–Saturday evenings
  • Holidays
  • Big event weekends (concerts, conventions, sports events)

• Smaller parties (2–4 people) tend to have more flexibility, but prime times (7–8 p.m.) still fill quickly.

Walk-Ins

If you’re trying to walk in at peak times, be prepared for:

• Possible wait lists, especially on weekend evenings
• Better luck earlier in the evening (around 5–6:30 p.m.) or later (after 8:30 p.m.)
• Seats at the bar sometimes turning over faster than tables

A good Atlanta strategy is to:

• Aim for an early or late dinner slot, or
• Plan to start at the bar with a cocktail while you wait for a table if they accept walk-ins

Menu Style: What Holeman & Finch Is Known For

Holeman & Finch made its name in Atlanta with a chef-driven menu that usually emphasizes:

• Whole-animal cooking and charcuterie
• European-style small plates
• Creative takes on Southern ingredients
• A signature burger that helped put the restaurant on the map

While specific dishes rotate with the seasons and market availability, expect:

Typical Menu Themes

• Small plates / snacks
  Think: house-made sausages, pâtés, terrines, pickles, crisps, and elevated bar food.

• Vegetable-centric dishes
  Local or regional produce treated with fine-dining technique but presented simply.

• Larger plates / mains
  Rich, satisfying dishes often featuring pork, beef, or seasonal fish, frequently prepared with classic European techniques.

• Desserts
  Often rooted in comfort (custards, tarts, cakes) but refined in presentation and flavor.

If you have specific dietary needs, Atlanta diners often call ahead or make a note in their reservation so the team can advise which dishes are likely to work best.

The Burger: Why Atlanta Talks About It

The Holeman & Finch burger has long been one of the city’s most discussed menu items. It’s often described as:

• A double-patty cheeseburger
• Made with high-quality beef, cheese, and a carefully chosen bun
• Constructed with the same attention to detail you’d expect from a fine-dining kitchen

Over the years, the burger earned a strong reputation among local food lovers and visiting diners alike, sometimes leading people to visit the restaurant specifically for this one item.

If the burger is a priority for you:

• Check that it’s on the current menu
• Consider visiting during a less-rushed time so you can enjoy both the burger and some of the smaller plates

Cocktails, Spirits, and the Bar Program

Holeman & Finch is often viewed as much a cocktail destination as a restaurant. At an Atlanta level, that means:

• A serious bar program that emphasizes:

  • Classic cocktails with precise execution
  • Seasonal house creations
  • A curated selection of spirits, especially whiskey, gin, and amari

• Non-alcoholic options
  Thoughtful zero-proof cocktails or house-made sodas are increasingly standard in chef-driven bars in Atlanta; check the menu or ask the bartender for options.

If you’re a cocktail-focused diner, sitting at the bar can be a particularly good experience, as you can:

• Watch drinks being made
• Ask questions about ingredients and techniques
• Enjoy small plates and snacks without a full, lengthy dinner commitment

Price Point: What Atlanta Diners Should Expect

Holeman & Finch typically falls into the moderate-to-high price range for Atlanta:

• Small plates and snacks: individually affordable, but they add up if you share many
• Mains: in line with other fine dining–adjacent restaurants in the city
• Cocktails: priced similarly to other high-end bars in Buckhead/Midtown-level neighborhoods

To plan a visit:

• For a more budget-conscious night, focus on:

  • Sharing a couple of small plates
  • Splitting a burger or main
  • Limiting cocktails or choosing a single drink and water

• For a full experience, many Atlanta diners:

  • Start with cocktails
  • Order several small plates to share
  • Choose one or two larger plates
  • Finish with dessert or a digestif

This style of ordering works especially well for groups of 3–4, letting you sample more of the menu.

Good Occasions to Choose Holeman & Finch

For Atlantans and visitors, Holeman & Finch is often chosen for:

• Date nights where you want something special but not overly formal
• Birthday or celebration dinners with a small group
• Pre- or post-event dining, especially if you’re coming from a nearby show, shopping trip, or meeting
• Culinary tourism stops for out-of-towners interested in Atlanta’s chef-driven scene

If you’re planning a larger group dinner, contacting the restaurant in advance is usually the smoothest route. Atlanta restaurants in this category sometimes offer:

• Set menus
• Group seating windows
• Guidance on how many shared plates you’ll realistically need

How Holeman & Finch Compares Within Atlanta’s Fine-Dining Scene

Within Atlanta, Holeman & Finch stands out because it combines:

• The precision and creativity of fine dining
• The informality and energy of a public house
• A bar program strong enough to attract serious cocktail fans
• A signature burger that has become part of local food conversation

For residents, it often becomes a “repeat visit” restaurant—a place people return to with different friends and family members over time. For visitors, it offers a concentrated taste of Atlanta’s modern dining culture in one evening.

Practical Planning Tips for Atlantans and Visitors

To make the most of a visit to Holeman & Finch Public House in Atlanta:

Before You Go

• ✅ Confirm the location and hours the day of your visit
• ✅ Make a reservation if you’re dining at prime times
• ✅ Note any dietary needs in your reservation or by calling ahead
• ✅ Plan transportation (rideshare is often easiest at night)

When You Arrive

• 🍸 Consider starting with a cocktail at the bar if you arrive early
• 🧂 Order a mix of small plates to share rather than only individual mains
• 🍔 If you’re curious about the burger, ask your server how it fits into a full meal—some people pair it with shared starters instead of a separate entrée

If You’re New to Atlanta

• Use Holeman & Finch as a starting point for understanding the city’s dining culture:
  • Chef-driven but unpretentious
  • Strong emphasis on ingredients and technique
  • An environment where bar and kitchen are equally important

Quick Snapshot for Atlanta Diners

Once you understand these basics, you can decide whether Holeman & Finch Public House fits your next night out in Atlanta—whether you’re here for the burger, the cocktails, the chef-driven menu, or all three.