If you’re a single girl in your twenties, you’re sure to attend a bachelorette party, or weekend, at some point. I’ve been to my fair share and even planned one. So I’ve taken what I’ve learned to put together this post on how to have your own pre-bridal bash in my hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. It may not have a beach, but because of its major airport and plentiful hotels, it’s a good spot to spend a weekend with your gals.
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Where to Eat in Atlanta
Atlanta is just now starting to get acclaim for its restaurant scene thanks to a handful of James Beard awards and Top Chef appearances. There are plenty of fantastic restaurants all over town, so don’t fret too much about making advance reservations apart from dinner. OpenTable is a good place to start researching where to go.
Best for breakfast
Start your day with a hearty breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants. My go-to is Homegrown, a converted house in Reynoldstown that has a diner-style counter and dining room covered in artwork. Don’t miss the decadent Comfy Chicken Biscuit.
In addition to the hearty options (brisket breakfast!), Ria’s Bluebird in Grant Park also has vegan and lighter breakfast options. Set in a historic train depot, Muchacho has stylish 1970s-style interiors with strong coffee and breakfast tacos. Over in Kirkwood, you can have eggs benedict any day of the week at Sun in My Belly, a cozy cafe.
Best for lunch
For something light, visit Buckhead’s SAMA: Food for Balance, a yoga and meditation studio with a cafe offering hearty and healthy bowls, smoothies, and juices. The hip Midtown restaurant Momonoki has a casual cafe and full-service restaurant with creative pastries, ramen, and Japanese sandwiches.
Venture into East Atlanta to Poke Burri, just one restaurant within We Suki Suki, a micro-food hall. Their sushi burritos and sushi donuts have made them popular on Instagram. And while not your usual girlfriend getaway spot, there are few places in the city I love more than Bell Street Burritos. They have a few locations around town so you can grab one on your way.
Best for dinner
There are so many fantastic restaurants in Atlanta, many of which I’ve written about ad nauseum both here, on my other website, and in my freelance work. But for this particular guide, I chose places that are fun and have diverse menus.
O-Ku is somewhere I frequently rave about and is my favorite sushi spot in town. Their Westside location has a rooftop cocktail bar as well as top-notch sashimi, nigiri, and rolls. Tiny Lou’s at the Hotel Clermont is one of the most praised restaurants right now with a chic French-inspired interior and an equally matched menu with items like beef tartare and Burgundy snails.
Enjoy the best seafood in town at BeetleCat, an Inman Park restaurant that serves oysters, lobster rolls, and whole fried fish. Bon Ton Boil House brings in the flavors of Louisana with fried shrimp po boys and gumbo as well as Sazeracs.
Best for brunch
Recover from your night out over a big brunch, which Atlanta does well. But keep in mind that the drinks aren’t served until 12:30 (unless that Brunch Bill passes!). 8 arm is one of the city’s coolest for small plates like avocado toast and the McMuff, their take on an egg sandwich.
Prepare for a wait at Folk Art, a small restaurant covered in folk art (get it?). The Inman Park favorite has all day breakfast and brunch for favorites like chicken and waffles and eggs benedict. Have brunch on the Beltline-adjacent patio at Two Urban Licks, chowing down on a frittata and sipping a mimosa. And for French-inspired dishes, Inman Park’s Bread & Butterfly is a good bet for its soft scrambled eggs.
For more on where to eat in Atlanta, check out our guides on This Is My South.
What to Do in Atlanta
Atlanta may not have a beach or mountains, but there’s plenty to do with you and your crew. This trip might not be best for the big tourist attractions, so I’ve instead recommended some fun activities.
For active bachelorettes
Enjoy one of the many free drop-in yoga classes held around town, including the King of Pops Yoga on the Beltline and CorePower’s yoga at Ponce City Market. If you’re staying at the Loews Atlanta Midtown Hotel, or even if you aren’t, enjoy a yoga or barre class at Exhale, their fitness studio, before using the spa facilities.
Make your way down the Atlanta Beltline by foot, by bike (rentals available around town via Relay or Atlanta Bicycle Barn), or by scooter from Bird or Lime. If you don’t mind a bit of a drive, head north to Sandy Springs to go paddleboarding at Morgan Falls or tubing down the Chattahoochee River, weather allowing.
For pampered bachelorettes
Treat yourself to Atlanta’s best spa experiences. Jeju Sauna in Duluth is my absolute favorite, a Korean spa with hot tubs, saunas, a lap pool, and even a restaurant! In town, Exhale and The Spa at the Mandarin Oriental are other favorites. The Intown Salt Room is another unique treatment where you relax in a room filled with Himalayan salt.
For competitive bachelorettes
Catch one of the city’s sporting events, which aren’t just for the bros. The Atlanta Braves and Atlanta United games have an unparalleled energy! Play some games yourself at Punch Bowl Social, a bar at The Battery with bowling, arcade games, and cornhole. Atop Ponce City Market, Skyline Park is a whimsical amusement park with your favorite childhood games.
For crafty bachelorettes
Sign up for one of the city’s crafty classes. The Beehive is a store that sells products from local artisans but also teaches classes in sewing, candle making, and jewelry making. The Homestead also holds classes in taxidermy, essential oil distillation, and even welding. Lumary and Candlefish also do candle making classes.
Where to Drink in Atlanta
Atlanta is still in the “Bible Belt,” so the party scene isn’t as wild as in other cities. Most bars close by 2 am, which is a good time to bring the party back to your room. But you can find a drinkery for just about every style.
For swanky rooftop spots
What’s better than a drink with a view? Estrella is a new spot on the Beltline and serves Spanish inspired drinks and, my favorite, a pisco sour. Down the street, Nine Mile Station at Ponce City Market neighbors the amusement park and has beer garden vibes.
The legendary Polaris, the bar atop the Hyatt Regency that once welcomed Jim Morrison, reopened in 2016 and serves the same peach daiquiri. Also downtown, the Sky Lounge at the Glenn Hotel is the only open-air rooftop bar in the neighborhood.
For cool cocktails
Leon’s Full Service frequently receives awards for its creative bar program set in an old auto shop in Decatur. The Mercury, located on the second floor of Ponce City Market, also crafts signature drinks inspired by the midcentury. Called a “Night Rider” bar, a neon-lit alley welcomes you to Little Trouble, which serves stiff drinks and Asian dishes. SOS Tiki Bar makes you feel like you’re in the tropics, set in a cozy space behind Victory Sandwich Bar.
For fun dive bars
Manuel’s Tavern is a classic Atlanta blue-collar watering hole that is frequented by everyone from college students to presidents. You never know who you might see at the Clermont Lounge, a strip club with a twist, home to funk nights and strong drinks.
Church, known fully as Sister Louisa’s Church of the Ping Pong Emporium, is decorated with absurd artwork and allows guests to wear choir robes as they drink. Dance the night away at Graveyard Tavern and its downstairs bar The Basement for their 80s and theme nights.
For breweries and cideries
Atlanta is thriving with dozens of breweries, with new ones opening every year. Orpheus, located in Piedmont Park, specializes in sour beers and Monday Night has two locations, each focusing on different styles. Next to Monday Night’s Westside location is Urban Tree Cidery, the city’s only hard cider creator. And next to Monday Night’s West End location sits Cultured South, a kombucha taproom for those skipping the booze.
Where to Stay in Atlanta
No matter where you stay in Atlanta, make sure it’s well-located to where you’ll want to hang out. My current favorite is Hotel Clermont, which is a restored motor lodge with stylish rooms, even some with bunk beds! They have a restaurant, a coffee shop, and two bars, including one on the roof. The hotel is also surrounded by the city’s best bars and restaurants.
In neighboring Poncey Highlands, the Highland Inn has a neighborhood feel and budget-friendly rooms. The Loews Atlanta Midtown Hotel is another well-located hotel in Midtown, while The American Hotel was renovated back to its midcentury roots as it was the city’s first desegregated hotel.
If you want to splurge, the Mandarin Oriental can’t be beaten with luxurious amenities in the heart of Buckhead. And if you want to feel like a local, there are plenty of Airbnb properties.
Additional Advice
Plan for an early night on Friday since everyone will likely be traveling. This is the perfect time to enjoy games and chill drinks. I found this wedding-style Cards Against Humanity (Cads Against Matrimony) that was a hit with the group. I printed it off at home and cut up the cards myself for free. At other bachelorette parties, we’ve done the game where you guess which pair of panties represents which guest and the bride keeps them all.
You can also create your own photobooth and use the Podo as your camera with help from Pinterest. Keep the party going with this awesome playlist from PopSugar. Pick up some custom temporary tattoos to keep your group together as well as some phallic paraphernalia online. Make a Snapchat filter to document your trip.
Take Lyft everywhere and don’t risk DUIs. Atlanta is fairly casual, but you can rent something fabulous from Rent the Runway if you want to feel extra hot. I would also bring a pair of extra shoes in case your feet hurt. Tieks are my personal favorite.
Are you ready for a bachelorette weekend in Atlanta?
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