The 15 Best Neighborhoods in Atlanta (According to a Local)

Looking to move to or visit Atlanta? Finding out the best neighborhoods in the area is a great idea before you go. From areas with a bustling night scene to quiet neighborhoods with a quaint feel, there is something for everyone in Atlanta.

As a local, I’ve assembled my top Atlanta neighborhoods into this handy guide. Each neighborhood brings something unique to the brilliant multicultural melting pot of Atlanta. And, of course, each neighborhood is full of awesome Atlanta attractions.

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15 Best Atlanta Neighborhoods

Midtown

A walkable neighborhood with a bustling business district, premier green space, vibrant nightlife, and art galleries.

📍 Google Maps | Midtown Alliance Website | School Districts: Atlanta Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Loews Atlanta Hotel

Midtown is a premier neighborhood of Atlanta. It’s home to Piedmont Park, the arts district, and a bustling nightlife scene. Midtown is the neighborhood you go to if you really want to experience big-city living. 

Many of the housing options in Midtown are high-rise condos, with some mansions and old Victorian homes bordering Piedmont Park. A car is optional in this neighborhood as nearly all of it is very walkable and transit accessible. 

Midtown can be full of tourists as it’s nearby many of the city’s attractions like the Fox Theatre and the High Museum. And the housing options don’t come cheap.

Pros of Midtown

• Central location
• Walkable, car optional
• Vibrant nightlife
• Full of great eateries and bars

Cons of Midtown

• Expensive
• Loud
• Crowded

Downtown

Downtown Atlanta is home to the Central Business District, Underground Atlanta, and many of the tourist attractions of the city. 

📍 Google Maps | Downtown Atlanta Website | School Districts: Atlanta Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Embassy Suites at Centennial Olympic Park

Downtown Atlanta is home to Atlanta’s Central Business District, but it lacks housing options. What little housing there is in Downtown are condos or converted warehouse lofts. Areas like Castleberry Hill have a very funky up-and-coming feel to them, but it’s not for everyone. 

Downtown is also home to most of the tourist attractions of Atlanta, like the World of Coca-Cola. All of the attractions are centrally located around Centennial Olympic Park.

This makes it convenient for visiting, but avoid this section of Downtown if you’re looking to settle here. Because most of the area shuts down at 5:00 PM, there isn’t much to do at night.

Pros of Downtown

• Centrally located
• Walkable
• Convenient commute if you work in the area
• Transit accessible

Cons of Downtown

• Few schools
• Lacks many housing options
• Not much nightlife or fine restaurants 

Buckhead and Brookhaven

Buckhead is home to many of Atlanta’s wealthiest residents, grand houses and streets, and world class shopping and dining. 

📍 Google Maps | Buckhead Neighborhood Website | School Districts: Atlanta Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Embassy Suites Buckhead

Buckhead is the ultimate luxury community of Atlanta. Many of the city’s celebrities and wealthiest residents choose to settle down here. 

Although a car is mandatory, you’ll be rewarded with some of the finest restaurants and designer shopping in the city like Lenox Square where you’ll find brands including FENDI, Burberry, and Cartier. 

Buckhead is full of lush parks and green spaces, private schools, and family-friendly amenities.

Pros of Buckhead and Brookhaven

• Full of high end shops and places to eat
• Lots of parks
• Beautiful, grand streets
• Many private schools
• Exclusive feel

Cons of Buckhead and Brookhaven

• Expensive
• Car is necessary
• Lacks diversity

Old Fourth Ward (O4W)

A popular spot with young professionals, Old Fourth Ward is home to the Atlanta Beltline walking trail, Ponce City Market, and many loft style condos. 

📍 Google Maps | Old Fourth Ward Business Association Website | School Districts: Atlanta Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: The Darwin Hotel

Old Fourth Ward is one of Atlanta’s hip spots, popular with young professionals. It’s best known for being home to Atlanta’s Eastside Beltline walking trail and Ponce City Market. 

Originally a train line from Atlanta’s industrial history as a train hub, the Beltline is a 26-mile paved pathway that circles the central part of the city.

The Eastside was the first section to be completed and therefore is the most developed with shops and restaurants. But it’s also very crowded. The trail can be tough to find space to walk if going on a weekend.

Ponce City Market in the Old Fourth Ward offers something for everyone. It originally started as one of the regional headquarters for the Sears and Roebuck Company, but is now more than 1 million square feet of food hall, office suites, and residential loft space.

Pros of Old Fourth Ward

• Up-and-coming area with lots of shops and places to eat
• Convenient access to Beltline Eastside trail
• Lots of parks and green space
• Close to Midtown and Downtown for easy commuting

Cons of Old Fourth Ward

• Can be expensive
• Crowded, especially on weekends

Grant Park and East Atlanta Village (EAV)

One of Atlanta’s oldest neighborhoods, historic Grant Park is home to many Victorian homes, a walkable town square, and the zoo.

📍 Google Maps | Grant Park Neighborhood Association Website | School Districts: Atlanta Public Schools, Dekalb County Public Schools

Grant Park is one of Atlanta’s oldest neighborhoods, with some homes even pre-dating the Civil War. Much of the neighborhood’s Victorian history remains with grand houses lining the boulevards on the edges of Grant Park – the large park for which the neighborhood is named. 

Grant Park is also home to Zoo Atlanta and some of Atlanta’s best school districts. This makes East Atlanta a very family-friendly community. 

A car is mandatory, however, as the neighborhood is only accessible via bus line and not train. Despite needing a car, Grant Park is one of the closest neighborhoods to Downtown Atlanta, making commuting easy and accessible. 

Pros of Grant Park and East Atlanta Village

• Family-friendly with parks and the zoo
• Good schools
• Victorian charm
• Mix of affordable and expensive

Cons of Grant Park and East Atlanta Village

• Car is mandatory

College Park and Hapeville

An affordable area close to the airport, but easy access to the interstate makes commuting a breeze. 

📍 Google Maps | City of Hapeville Website | School Districts: Fulton County School District | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Embassy Suites Atlanta Airport North

College Park and Hapeville are two side-by-side affordable communities near the airport on the south side of the city. Despite the noise from the near constant planes flying overhead, there are plenty of amenities in the area. 

Still technically within Atlanta’s I-285 “perimeter,” Hapeville is best known for its small town feel and classic Main Street. A bustling restaurant scene has begun popping up in downtown Hapeville on Main Street, particularly in the last few years. The area is also accessible via two of Atlanta’s rail lines, which makes owning a car optional.

Pros of College Park and Hapeville

• Affordable
• Accessible via transit
• Access to interstate makes commuting easy
• Bustling restaurant scene

Cons of College Park and Hapeville

• Noisy from airport

Inman Park, Cabbagetown, and Reynoldstown

A Victorian neighborhood with roots as an industrial district. Much of the city’s best dining can be found alongside many converted warehouse condos. 

📍 Google Maps | Inman Park Neighborhood Association Website | School Districts: Atlanta Public Schools

Inman Park is one of Atlanta’s first planned suburbs and therefore has a more quiet feel. The neighborhood is side-by-side with Cabbagetown and Reynoldstown, which got their start as industrial warehouse districts. The combination creates an odd and funky mix of classic and modern residential. 

The area is also home to Krog Street Market, which is one of my favorite spots to grab a meal. Krog Street Market is a food hall and incubator for some of the up-and-coming chefs and restaurants in Atlanta. Access to the Eastside Beltline is a breeze. And the area is accessible via train line.

Pros of Inman Park, Cabbagetown, and Reynoldstown

• Funky feel
• Mix of classic, Victorian architecture and modern industrial lofts
• Outstanding restaurants and eateries

Cons of Inman Park, Cabbagetown, and Reynoldstown

• Can be expensive

West Midtown and Atlantic Station

An up-and-coming neighborhood popular with young professionals, West Midtown is close to all of the amenities and fine restaurants of the city. 

📍 Google Maps | Atlantic Station Website | School Districts: Atlanta Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Bellyard West Midtown Hotel

West Midtown is one of the hip neighborhoods of Atlanta. It’s best known for being home to Atlantic Station and the Westside Provisions District, a district where edgy new chefs set up to make their mark on the city.

For housing, luxury apartments are the name of the game in this area. Few other options exist. West Midtown is a great place to rent for a few years and sample some of the best nightlife in Atlanta if you’re looking for a taste of the high life.

Pros of West Midtown and Atlantic Station

• Fantastic nightlife and restaurants
• Luxury apartments

Cons of West Midtown and Atlantic Station

• Car is mandatory
• Few options to own a home
• Few parks or family-friendly amenities

Druid Hills and Emory

A mix of Victorian and Colonial homes, Emory University, and the main Orthodox Jewish hub of Atlanta with many Kosher shops and restaurants in the area. 

📍 Google Maps | Druid Hills Civic Association Website | School Districts: Dekalb County School District | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Emory Conference Center Hotel

Druid Hills is a classic residential area of Atlanta with a mix of Victorian and Colonial homes. The area is also home to Emory University and Hospital, so there is a mix of affordable rental apartments scattered in the area catering to college students. 

Many immigrants also choose to settle down in this part of the city, so there are many international restaurants of note. Druid Hills is the primary hub for the Orthodox Jewish community in Atlanta. Many of the restaurants and grocery stores offer a wide variety of kosher and halal options. 

Pros of Druid Hills and Emory

• Great school district
• Mix of affordable rental apartments and single family housing
• Lots of diversity – home to many immigrants and religious communities
• Plenty of Kosher and Halal food options

Cons of Druid Hills and Emory

• Car is mandatory
• Lots of college students

Little Five Points and Candler Park

A funky, Indie neighborhood full of thrift shops, tattoo parlors, and amazing takeout. Best known for its Halloween parade and ghost tours.

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: Atlanta Public Schools, Dekalb County School District

Little Five Points is the funkiest neighborhood in Atlanta. It’s home to many tattoo parlors, thrift shops, and some of the best pizza parlors and takeout in the city. The downtown strip is bustling with shops and small businesses, but you won’t find any chain franchises here. 

Everything in Little Five Points has a no-nonsense feel about it, particularly the Vortex Bar and Grill with its memorable skull and crossbones entrance.

Pros of Little Five Points and Candler Park

• Mix of affordable and expensive single family housing
• Funky, indie feel
• Amazing takeout

Cons of Little Five Points and Candler Park

• A little far from the nearest transit station, so a car is recommended
• Not many rental options

Decatur and Avondale Estates

Home to some of the best public schools in the state, Decatur is popular with families and those looking for small town charm while still being in a big city. 

📍 Google Maps | City of Decatur Website | School Districts: City Schools of Decatur | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Hampton Inn & Suites Decatur

Decatur is best known for having some of the best public schools in the state, so many families choose to settle down here. Decatur also has lots of green space, plenty of bike lanes, and lots of charm. 

That desirability has unfortunately driven up housing prices in Decatur over the last several years, however. Although rental options do exist, it can be tough to find an affordable house to buy. 

Pros of Decatur and Avondale Estates

• Family-friendly
• Great school district
• Bike-friendly
• Quaint, small town feel
• Accessible via train

Cons of Decatur and Avondale Estates

• Expensive to buy a home

Virginia Highland and Morningside

Virginia Highland is a highly desirable Victorian neighborhood with a bustling downtown strip full of fantastic restaurants and bars. 

📍 Google Maps | Virginia Highland District Website | School Districts: Atlanta Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Hotel Clermont

Virginia Highland is one of Atlanta’s most desirable neighborhoods. It’s a mix of old Victorian homes centered around a quaint but bustling downtown strip full of iconic restaurants and bars. This gives Virginia Highland the unique accolade of being one of the only residential areas of the city with a bustling nightlife scene.

Pros of Virginia Highland and Morningside

• Quaint Victorian charm
• Bustling nightlife and restaurant scene
• Good school district

Cons of Virginia Highland and Morningside

• Expensive to buy
• Few rental options
• Not accessible via train

West End and Westview

An affordable, historically Black neighborhood close to downtown and full of Victorian charm.

📍 Google Maps | Historic West End Website | School Districts: Atlanta Public Schools

West End and Westview are two affordable side-by-side neighborhoods just west of Downtown Atlanta. Both are historically Black neighborhoods with lots of Victorian charm.

The area is popular with families with small children as there is a lot of green space. The completed first segment of the Atlanta Beltline Trail is located in West End.

Pros of West End and Westview

• Affordable
• Community feel
• Accessible via rail
• Popular with families

Cons of West End and Westview

• Few apartments, mostly rental homes (more expensive)

Sandy Springs and Dunwoody

For those looking to commute a little further, Sandy Springs and Dunwoody offer suburban amenities while still being close to Atlanta’s perimeter. 

📍 Google Maps | City of Sandy Springs Website | School Districts: Fulton County Schools, Dekalb County Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: The Westin Atlanta Perimeter North

Sandy Springs and Dunwoody are two side-by-side suburbs that straddle Atlanta’s I-285 “perimeter.” A car is mandatory to live in either neighborhood, as there is only one rail line that services a small part of the area. 

The area is very popular with families and has several great schools. Dunwoody is Atlanta’s secondary hub of the Orthodox Jewish community, so many restaurants and grocery stores have a wide variety of kosher and halal food options. 

Pros of Sandy Springs and Dunwoody

• Family-friendly
• Diverse area
• Suburban feel while still being technically in the city
• Affordable

Cons of Sandy Springs and Dunwoody

• Car is mandatory

Chamblee, Doraville, and Buford Highway

The immigrant capital of Atlanta, Chamblee is home to Buford Highway and most of the city’s best international restaurants. 

📍 Google Maps | City of Chamblee Website | School Districts: Dekalb County Schools

Chamblee and Doraville are the immigrant capitals of Atlanta. The main thoroughfare – Buford Highway – is overflowing with amazing food options from every corner of the globe. You’ll find some of Atlanta’s best restaurants here

The housing is also very affordable, with an abundance of both rental apartments and single family housing. Both neighborhoods lie on MARTA’s gold rail line, so a car is not necessarily mandatory. 

Pros of Chamblee, Doraville, and Buford Highway

• Affordable
• Lots of diversity
• Tons of great food options
• Accessible via train

Cons of Chamblee, Doraville, and Buford Highway

• Traffic and commuting are a bit longer

FAQs About Atlanta’s Neighborhoods

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That’s it for our list of Atlanta neighborhoods. Have fun exploring! Be sure to check out our guide to day trips from Atlanta if you’d like to venture out a little farther!