Something to Drink in Atlanta: Your Guide to International Sips Around the City

Looking for “something to drink” in Atlanta that goes beyond the usual coffee, soda, or cocktails? Atlanta’s international food scene also brings a huge range of global drinks—from Japanese matcha to Mexican aguas frescas, Turkish coffee, Nigerian malt drinks, and more.

This guide focuses on where and how to find international drinks in Atlanta, what to try, and how to navigate neighborhoods, markets, and restaurants if you want your glass to be as interesting as your plate.

Where to Find International Drinks in Atlanta

You’ll find international beverages in a few main types of places:

• International restaurants (sit-down and casual)
• Food halls and markets
• Specialty grocery stores
• Tea and coffee shops with global menus
• Cafés and dessert spots tied to specific cuisines

Key Atlanta Areas for Global Drinks

If you’re not sure where to start, these areas are especially rich in international cuisine and beverages:

• Buford Highway (Doraville, Chamblee, Brookhaven) – The city’s best-known corridor for global food and drink (Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Mexican, Central American, and more).
• Midtown & Downtown – Higher concentration of international restaurants near hotels, offices, and attractions.
• Decatur – Walkable area with international restaurants, bakeries, and pubs.
• Duluth / Gwinnett County (just outside the city) – Strong Korean, Chinese, and other Asian communities with many restaurant and café options.
• Clarkston area – Known for Ethiopian, Somali, and other East African cuisines.

Popular International Drinks You Can Try in Atlanta

Below is a sample of international beverages you can realistically find at restaurants and markets in Atlanta. Availability can vary, but this gives you a good starting list.

Asian Drinks

1. Bubble Tea (Boba)
Common in tea shops and some Asian restaurants, especially along Buford Highway and in Duluth.

Typical options:

• Milk teas (black, oolong, jasmine)
• Fruit teas (mango, lychee, passionfruit)
• Toppings like tapioca pearls, lychee jelly, pudding

Ask for:

• Sugar level (0–100%)
• Ice level
• Dairy vs. non-dairy options if needed

2. Thai Iced Tea & Coffee
You’ll see these at many Thai restaurants in Midtown, Decatur, and along Buford Highway.

• Thai Iced Tea – Strong tea, spices, sweetened and topped with milk or cream
• Thai Iced Coffee – Similar idea with coffee, usually sweet and creamy

They’re usually very sweet, so you can ask if they can cut the sweetness.

3. Korean Drinks
Available at Korean BBQ spots, Korean bakeries, and markets in Duluth, Doraville, and along Buford Highway.

Common non-alcoholic options:

• Sikhye – Sweet rice drink, slightly grainy and refreshing
• Barley tea (bori-cha) – Roasted grain tea, often served hot or cold
• Yogurt-based drinks and flavored milks

You’ll also see Korean soft drinks, including unique flavors like pear or aloe.

4. Japanese & Chinese Tea Drinks
Look for them in Japanese restaurants, Chinese dim sum spots, and Asian supermarkets.

Examples:

• Matcha lattes and matcha-based drinks
• Oolong tea, jasmine tea, pu-erh
• Milk tea variations and herbal teas

Many restaurants will automatically serve hot tea, especially at dim sum or more traditional Chinese spots.

5. Vietnamese Coffee & Drinks
In Vietnamese restaurants (especially on Buford Highway):

• Cà phê sữa đá – Strong, sweet iced coffee with condensed milk
• Sugarcane juice (at some casual or street-style places)
• Sinh tố (Vietnamese smoothies) with fruits like avocado, jackfruit, or soursop

Latin American & Caribbean Drinks

1. Aguas Frescas
At Mexican and Central American restaurants and taquerias in Atlanta:

• Common flavors: horchata (rice-cinnamon), jamaica (hibiscus), tamarind, mango, pineapple
• Often served in large clear jugs at the counter

You can usually sample by the cup or buy a larger size to share.

2. Jarritos and Other Latin Sodas
Most Mexican and Central American restaurants and Latin grocery stores in Atlanta carry:

• Jarritos in flavors like tamarind, guava, pineapple, mandarin
• Other regional sodas from Mexico and Central or South America

These are a good choice if you want something sweet and fizzy that’s not a standard U.S. soda brand.

3. Latin Coffee & Chocolate Drinks
In Latin American bakeries and cafés around Atlanta:

• Café con leche – Coffee with hot milk, usually strong and smooth
• Abuelita-style hot chocolate or other spiced hot cocoas

You’ll often find these paired with pastries like conchas, empanadas, or tres leches cake.

European & Mediterranean Drinks

1. Italian Espresso & Specialty Coffee Drinks
Italian restaurants and European cafés around Midtown, Buckhead, and Decatur often offer:

• Espresso, macchiato, cappuccino, latte
• Occasionally affogato (espresso over gelato)

Ask about decaf or plant-based milk if you prefer.

2. French & European Café Drinks
At French bistros and bakeries:

• Café au lait
• Chocolat chaud (rich hot chocolate)
• Herbal teas and European-style sparkling waters

These spots are good if you want a sit-and-linger type of drink experience.

3. Turkish & Middle Eastern Drinks

Look for Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, or Turkish restaurants around Atlanta for:

• Turkish coffee – Strong, unfiltered, traditionally served in a small cup
• Mint tea or sage tea
• Ayran – Savory yogurt drink, salty and tangy, often served cold

If you’re new to Turkish coffee, you may want it sweetened—you typically choose your sweetness level when you order.

African & Indian Drinks

1. Ethiopian Coffee & Spiced Teas
In Ethiopian restaurants (many around Midtown, Decatur, and the East side):

• Ethiopian coffee served in a traditional pot, often shared
• Spiced teas with cardamom, cinnamon, or clove

Coffee may be served as part of a coffee ceremony in some places—ask when you’re seated.

2. Nigerian & West African Beverages
At West African restaurants and markets, especially in South and West Atlanta:

• Malt drinks – Non-alcoholic malt beverages, very common soft drink alternative
• Zobo / hibiscus drinks – Bright red, tangy-sweet herbal drinks (similar to jamaica)

These are usually sold in bottled or jug form or made in-house.

3. Indian Lassi, Chai & More
Indian restaurants and sweet shops in Decatur, Midtown, and along Buford Highway often have:

• Mango lassi – Yogurt-based, sweet and thick
• Salt lassi or spiced lassi
• Masala chai – Spiced tea brewed with milk and sugar
• Nimbu pani or lemon sodas in some spots

If you’re not used to very sweet drinks, you can ask if they can reduce sugar in chai or lassi.

Quick Reference: Common International Drinks in Atlanta

Use this as a quick guide when scanning drink menus at international restaurants across Atlanta.

Finding International Drinks at Atlanta Markets & Groceries

If you’d rather stock your fridge or try drinks at home, international markets are your best resource.

Major Market Areas

Some key spots within or near metro Atlanta include:

• Buford Highway Farmers Market – Known for its large selection of international groceries and beverages from Asia, Latin America, Europe, and beyond.
• H-Mart (multiple locations in metro Atlanta) – Korean and pan-Asian supermarkets with many imported drinks.
• Local Latin markets and carnicerías – Carry aguas frescas mixes, Jarritos, and regional sodas.
• Indian groceries – Stock lassi (sometimes bottled), masala chai mixes, rose syrup, and more.
• Middle Eastern and Mediterranean markets – Often have ayran, Turkish coffee, mint teas, and specialty juices.

These locations change over time, but you can search by neighborhood (for example, “Indian grocery Decatur” or “Latin market South Atlanta”) to find a spot near you.

How to Order International Drinks Confidently in Atlanta

You don’t need to be an expert to order—and staff at most Atlanta restaurants are used to questions. A few tips:

1. Ask for a Recommendation

A simple:
“What do people usually order to drink with this?”
often leads to great suggestions that fit the food you’ve chosen.

2. Mention Sweetness and Dairy Preferences

Many international drinks can be very sweet or dairy-heavy by default. You can ask:

• “Can you make it less sweet?”
• “Is there a non-dairy version?”
• “Do you have a smaller size I can try?”

This is especially useful for bubble tea, Thai tea, lassi, and sweet coffee drinks.

3. Start Small If It’s New

If you’re unsure you’ll like something:

• Ask if there’s a small size or if you can share with your table.
• For strong drinks like Turkish coffee or Ethiopian coffee, you can sip slowly or share a pot.

4. Pair Drinks With the Food

Atlanta’s international restaurants often design their drinks to complement specific dishes:

• Spicy foods (Thai, Indian, Ethiopian) often pair well with sweet or dairy-based drinks like lassi or Thai tea.
• Rich, grilled meats (Korean BBQ, Middle Eastern) can go nicely with herbal teas, ayran, or barley tea.
• Street-style tacos and casual Latin dishes often match well with aguas frescas or Mexican sodas.

You can simply say, “What drink pairs well with this dish?” and let the staff guide you.

Alcoholic vs. Non-Alcoholic Options

Many international drinks in Atlanta can be found in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions.

To stay on the safe side:

• Ask whether a drink is non-alcoholic if the menu isn’t clear.
• Look for words like “virgin,” “mocktail,” or “non-alcoholic” on bar or restaurant menus.

If you want only non-alcoholic options, you can tell your server that up front so they can guide you through the menu.

Practical Tips for Atlanta Locals and Visitors

• Plan around traffic and parking. Some of the best international drink spots are in high-traffic areas like Buford Highway and Midtown; consider off-peak times.
• Explore by neighborhood. Pick a corridor—like Buford Highway or Decatur—and walk between a few spots to sample different drinks in one outing.
• Check hours before you go. International bakeries, cafés, and dessert shops can keep different hours from traditional restaurants.
• Use drink menus as a learning tool. Many Atlanta restaurants add short descriptions under each beverage; reading these is a simple way to discover new things.

If you’re in Atlanta and want “something to drink” that’s a little different, you have a wide range of international options—from a quick bottle of Mexican soda at a taqueria to a carefully prepared Turkish coffee, Ethiopian coffee ceremony, or customizable bubble tea. Exploring the city’s international cuisine through its drinks is one of the easiest ways to experience Atlanta’s diversity, one glass at a time.