Edgewood at the BeltLine: Southern & Soul Food Near Atlanta’s Eastside Trail

If you’re craving Southern and soul food in Atlanta and want to stay close to the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail, the Edgewood area is one of the best places to start. While “Edgewood at the BeltLine” isn’t a single official restaurant name, most locals use that phrase to describe the cluster of bars, eateries, and soul-food spots near the Edgewood Avenue/BeltLine intersection on the east side of the city.

This guide breaks down what that area offers, especially if you’re looking for Southern and soul food near the BeltLine in Atlanta—how to get there, what to expect, and how locals typically use the neighborhood.

Where Is the Edgewood/BeltLine Area?

In Atlanta terms, “Edgewood at the BeltLine” usually refers to the stretch where:

• Edgewood Avenue SE runs through the Old Fourth Ward / Inman Park / Edgewood area, and
• The Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail crosses just south of Dekalb Avenue NE and just north of Memorial Drive SE.

You’re essentially in the orbit of:

• Krog Street Market
• Inman Park / Reynoldstown MARTA Station
• The commercial section of Edgewood Avenue SE, a few blocks from the BeltLine

From this hub, you’re within a short walk, bike ride, or scooter ride of several places that either specialize in or strongly feature Southern and soul food–style dishes.

What Kind of Southern & Soul Food Can You Expect Here?

You won’t always see “soul food” in the restaurant name, but in this part of Atlanta, many menus pull from:

• Classic Southern comfort foods: fried chicken, biscuits, mac and cheese, collard greens, cornbread, grits, fried okra
• Soul food traditions: smothered meats, slow-cooked greens, yams, black-eyed peas, oxtails (at some spots), and hearty sides
• New-South twists: Southern ingredients treated with modern or fusion flair, like fried chicken sandwiches with hot honey, pimento-cheese burgers, or shrimp and grits with upscale touches

In the Edgewood/BeltLine area, you’re likely to find:

• Casual lunch and dinner places serving Southern-inspired plates
• Brunch spots leaning heavily into biscuits, chicken, grits, and waffles
• Bars with Southern-leaning menus, where wings, fried catfish, and Southern sides share space with bar food standards

Getting to Edgewood at the BeltLine

By MARTA

If you’re coming from another part of Atlanta:

• Train:

  • Take the Blue or Green Line to Inman Park / Reynoldstown Station.
  • From there, it’s roughly a 10–20 minute walk, bike, or scooter ride to many BeltLine-adjacent restaurants along Edgewood and the Eastside Trail.

• Bus:

  • Several routes serve the Edgewood / Little Five Points / Old Fourth Ward area. Exact routes can change, so it’s best to check the latest map or schedule before you go.

By Car

If you’re driving:

• Use Edgewood Avenue SE, Dekalb Avenue NE, or Moreland Avenue NE as your primary approach routes.
• Parking can be tight during peak hours, especially near popular clusters like Krog Street Market and the main BeltLine access points. You’ll find:
  • Small surface lots for individual businesses
  • Paid lots and decks near busier development nodes
  • Limited street parking in some residential side streets (watch signs carefully for time limits or permit requirements)

By BeltLine

If you’re already on the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail, you’re close to a wide range of food options:

• Walking south from Ponce City Market brings you through Old Fourth Ward toward the Edgewood / Inman Park area.
• Many Atlantans will walk or bike the trail, then hop off at one of the access points near Edgewood Avenue SE to grab soul food or Southern-style brunch.

What the Vibe Is Like

“Edgewood at the BeltLine” feels like a mix of neighborhood casual and weekend destination:

• Evenings and weekends: busier, with foot traffic, scooters, and patio seating filling up quickly, especially during good weather
• Daytime: more relaxed, a good time for a laid-back lunch, coffee, or a mid-day meal before or after a BeltLine stroll

You’ll typically see:

• Locals from nearby neighborhoods like Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, Cabbagetown, and Edgewood
• Visitors exploring the BeltLine and looking for a taste of Southern and soul food without getting too far from the trail

Food-wise, the area leans toward:

• Casual dining rather than formal, white-tablecloth experiences
• A range of price points, from affordable plates and quick bites to more polished sit-down meals

Typical Southern & Soul Food Options Near the BeltLine in This Area

While specific restaurant lineups can change over time, menus in the Edgewood/BeltLine corridor commonly offer:

Classic mains:

• Fried chicken (bone-in or tenders)
• Chicken and waffles
• Fried or blackened catfish
• Shrimp and grits
• Burgers with Southern toppings (like pimento cheese, bacon jam)

Soul-food style sides:

• Macaroni and cheese
• Collard greens
• Green beans
• Mashed potatoes or garlic potatoes
• Cornbread, biscuits, or rolls
• Fried okra, hushpuppies, or pickles
• Candied yams (at some spots)

Brunch-oriented dishes:

• Biscuits with sausage gravy
• Grits bowls with eggs, bacon, or shrimp
• French toast or pancakes with Southern-inspired toppings (pecans, peach compote, etc.)

You’ll also find bar-style Southern comfort—think wings with Southern-seasoned rubs, sliders, loaded fries, and pickle-forward sides.

Quick Snapshot: Visiting the Edgewood/BeltLine Area for Southern & Soul Food

Tips for Enjoying Southern & Soul Food Near Edgewood at the BeltLine

Here are some practical pointers if you’re planning to eat in this area:

1. Time Your Visit ⏰

• Brunch: Late morning to early afternoon on weekends is prime time for Southern-style brunch plates. Expect more of a scene and sometimes a wait.
• Weeknights: Often more relaxed, easier to find seating, and still lively enough to feel like “Atlanta.”
• Rainy or very hot days: Patio seating may be limited or less comfortable; indoor dining fills faster.

2. Plan for Crowds on the BeltLine

On nice-weather days, the Eastside Trail is busy:

• Build a little extra time into your schedule if you’re meeting people.
• If you’re biking or scootering to eat, give yourself time to lock up and walk a bit off the trail.

3. Check for Brunch vs. Dinner Menus

Some spots in the Edgewood/BeltLine area run different menus depending on time:

• Brunch menus may be heavier on biscuits, waffles, and breakfast-style Southern dishes.
• Dinner menus might lean into heartier plates like fried chicken dinners, burgers, and shareable Southern sides.

If you’re fixed on a particular kind of dish—say, chicken and waffles—confirm that it’s offered at the time you plan to go.

4. Consider Dietary Preferences

While traditional Southern and soul food can be heavy on fried items and meat, many Atlanta restaurants in this corridor also offer:

• Vegetarian-friendly sides (greens, beans, potatoes, salads, sometimes veggie plates)
• Modern twists that work for a wider range of diets

If you have specific needs (gluten-free, vegan, etc.), calling ahead or checking a current menu can help avoid surprises.

Nearby Landmarks and How They Fit Into Your Food Plan

If you’re building a day around Southern and soul food near Edgewood and the BeltLine, it helps to know what else is nearby:

• Krog Street Market

  • A food hall just off the BeltLine; not strictly soul food, but several vendors incorporate Southern flavors.
  • Often used as a meet-up point or backup plan if one spot is too crowded.

• Old Fourth Ward

  • Just north along the BeltLine; home to a number of restaurants and bars, plus easy trail access.
  • Good if you want to “walk off” a big Southern meal while exploring.

• Inman Park & Little Five Points

  • A short drive or walk away; offers additional dining options with varying degrees of Southern influence.
  • Many locals bounce between these neighborhoods and Edgewood in a single outing.

Practical Details for Out-of-Towners

If you’re visiting Atlanta and staying in a central location like Downtown, Midtown, or near Ponce City Market, accessing “Edgewood at the BeltLine” is fairly straightforward:

• From Downtown:

  • By MARTA: Take the Blue/Green Line east toward Inman Park / Reynoldstown and walk or rideshare from there.
  • By car: Use surface streets such as Edgewood Avenue NE or Memorial Drive SE, paying attention to one-way sections and low-speed neighborhood streets.

• From Midtown or Ponce City Market:

  • Many people simply walk or bike the BeltLine Eastside Trail south until they reach the Edgewood/Old Fourth Ward area, then exit the trail to find food.

If you’re unsure exactly where to get off the trail, look for the access points between the Old Fourth Ward area and Inman Park, or ask other trail users—locals are usually familiar with the closest spots to grab Southern-style food.

Using “Edgewood at the BeltLine” as a Starting Point

In day-to-day use, “Edgewood at the BeltLine” works best as a geographic reference:

• It tells rideshare drivers and friends roughly where you’re heading—the eastside BeltLine corridor near Edgewood Avenue.
• Once you’re in that zone, you can walk a block or two and easily find Southern and soul-food-influenced menus, especially at brunch and dinner.

For Atlanta residents, this area has become a convenient go-to when:

• You want to meet friends on the BeltLine and still eat something that feels like “real Atlanta” food.
• You’re introducing visitors to local flavors without trekking too far from other city attractions.

Atlanta’s Edgewood/BeltLine corridor isn’t a single soul food restaurant—it’s a walkable pocket of the city where you can sample Southern comfort, soul-inspired dishes, and New-South cooking within steps of one of Atlanta’s most popular trails. If your goal is to combine a BeltLine outing with a plate of fried chicken, biscuits, mac and cheese, and other Southern favorites, using “Edgewood at the BeltLine” as your target area will put you in the right place.