A coffee tour of Atlanta
We’re exploring the best local coffee shops in and around ATL.
Naya Clark
April 23, 2024
Coffee is a pretty big deal in Atlanta. Nestled throughout the city and its surrounding suburbs, you’ll find a burgeoning coffee culture with local shops happy to offer an alternative to the big name chains and their $10 lattes. From laid-back neighborhood joints to hipster hideaways, Atlanta’s coffee scene has it all. So grab your favorite mug and join us as we take a sip-by-sip tour through the city’s coolest coffee shops, where every cuppa comes with a side of Southern hospitality.
Perc Coffee
With locations In Virginia Highlands, Grant Park, East Lake, Tucker, and Chastain, Perc Coffee offers bright, colorful spaces and delicious craft coffee. Don’t have a favorite wake-up beverage? No problem. Their baristas are always down to give excellent recommendations based on your coffee vibe: wild, balanced, or mild. Buy a bag of one of their unique roasts to brew at home while you’re there.
Muchacho
If you’re looking for a coffee shop and bar with delicious food, Muchacho is where you want to be. Housed in a former historic train stop, this spot boasts a charming blend of retro ’70s decor, complete with hanging plants that add a whimsical touch. There’s a spacious outdoor patio, ideal for sipping their locally-roasted coffee blend, Technicolor, while working or hanging with friends. And be on the lookout for their next “Backyard Boogie” event – we’ve heard it’s not to be missed.
Dancing Goats
Dancing Goats has solidified its reputation as a premier coffee retailer in Atlanta for over 25 years. Named after the Ethiopian discovery of coffee, Dancing Goats offers a wide array of flavorful ground coffee blends and single-origin coffee beans with locations in Buckhead, Midtown, Decatur, and Ponce City Market. You may also see their coffee listed on other menus, as they supply their ethically sourced beans to numerous other shops across the metro area (and around the country).
Buteco
By day, Buteco is buzzing with great coffee, and by night, it comes to life with live music events. In addition to its full menu of coffee and cocktails, Buteco also has rich Brazilian food on its menu (Grant Park location only), including yucca fries, Pão de Queijo, maduros, and more. Visit their locations in Grant Park and East Atlanta Village inside the Southern Feed Store, and keep an eye out for open mic nights, music socials, and jam band appearances.
Crema Espresso Gourmet
Located in Dunwoody, the quaint Crema specializes in gourmet beverages, featuring 100% Arabica beans. Find a cozy nook to enjoy their specialty Roma cappuccino with a decadent French pastry, or grab a spot on the cute outdoor patio when the weather cooperates. If you have more of an appetite, they also have a variety of signature quiches, salads, and sandwiches, like the Tuscan Antipasti or the Pesto, Mozzarella, and Tomato panini.
Waller’s Coffee Shop
Waller’s Coffee Shop is more than just a caffeine haven; it’s a cultural hub where music, coffee, and community collide. Inspired by the need for communal spaces, owner Jason Waller has transformed it into a neighborhood sanctuary, hosting support groups and events in order to break the stigma around mental health. In addition, Waller’s prides itself on serving top-notch coffee and café delights, including handmade scones and fluffy biscuits crafted from the Waller family recipe.
Cafe Amico
Located in downtown Suwanee, Cafe Amico is a pristine shop with a seriously impressive and unique drink menu. Don’t miss the creme brulee latte (with caramelized sugar on top) or the Ho Chi Minh City (espresso, condensed milk, and milk), or you can choose from their broad selection of matcha and loose-leaf tea. Cafe Amico also offers a delightful food menu, filled with quality ingredients and all-day breakfast, sandwiches, salads, and desserts.
For more of the buzziest spots in ATL, subscribe to the Localite newsletter.
Share this article
Nearby Cortland Locations
Nearby Cortland Locations
The ultimate guide to a girls’ staycation weekend in Phoenix
You don’t need to go far to get away.
It can be tempting to jet off to Mexico, or take a road trip to Vegas or San Diego, but when’s the last time you booked a staycation with your besties and enjoyed all the treasures in your own backyard? We aren’t talking about staying at your respective houses and just meeting up for an afternoon — you and your gal pals deserve a dedicated weekend with a stay at a luxury resort, delicious food and drinks at all the trendiest spots in town, and fun activities that’ll further cement your bonds and make memories to last a lifetime. Here’s your guide to the ultimate girls’ staycation itinerary:
Where to Stay
Phoenix and Scottsdale are home to a slew of world-class resorts — with more than a dozen awesome contenders to choose from, we narrowed our picks down to two properties that specialize in showcasing the gorgeous Sonoran desert in a serene environment.
To Get Away from It All: Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale At Troon North
Tucked into the rugged landscape of far-north Scottsdale is Four Seasons Resort, the perfect place to hide out for a few days. It’s especially ideal if you truly just want to luxuriate in your adobe casita and feel far away from your everyday life (it’s nearly an hour from downtown and 40 minutes from Old Town).
Choose a two- or three-bedroom suite — the two-bedroom comes with a heated plunge pool, gas-burning fireplace for ambiance, and telescope for late-night stargazing, while the three-bedroom has a private plunge pool, outdoor garden shower, and wood-burning fireplace. Book treatments at the onsite spa (the Himalayan Salt Journey is not to be missed), pop by Proof for a casual meal or sip cocktails at Onyx Bar & Lounge. The property has two world-class golf courses, and the hotel can help book such adventures as Jeep or ATV tours, hot air balloon rides, horseback riding, and canyoneering.
A Wellness Retreat: Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney’s Resort & Spa
If your besties appreciate a spa-focused getaway, look no further than Sanctuary Camelback Mountain. The Sanctuary Spa takes guests on an Asian-inspired journey of rejuvenation, complete with a dozen indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, a meditation garden, and a reflection pond. Standout treatments include aquatic massages (like the Immersive Watsu and Sound Bowl Fusion), the Signature Coconut Sumatra Body Ritual, and Thai Massage.
When you aren’t spaaah-ing, try your hand at tennis or pickleball, rent a cabana and take a dip in the infinity pool, and hit some fitness classes (such as BOSU and ball & band). Enjoy cocktails accompanied by live music on Friday nights in Jade Bar (consider booking a private mixology class for a fun and boozy activity), tempt your tastebuds with weekend brunch, and plan for a dinner featuring seasonal ingredients at Elements (get here before sunset to watch the sun dip below the mountains). Villa Roca has four bedrooms and a private pool, or splurge on Villa del Sol with four bedrooms, a spa treatment room, a movement studio with fitness equipment, private pool, and hot tub.
What to Do
Oh, you’re looking for something more to do than hanging at the pools and spas at your fancy hotel? Well, here are a few other activities to round out your weekend:
Fly High with Rainbow Ryders
The best way to experience the beauty of the Southwest is from high above with Rainbow Ryders. Take in your bird’s-eye view of the city and surrounding landscape as you glide across the sky in a hot air balloon for an unforgettable adventure. Book a sunrise (available year-round) or sunset (available November-March) ride and enjoy a celebratory toast and a commemorative flight certificate when you land.
Hike or Bike McDowell Sonoran Preserve
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is a protected area of land consisting of Scottsdale’s McDowell Mountains and Sonoran Desert — it’s an ideal spot to connect with the city’s unique desert attractions, like Saguaro cacti and roadrunners. The Preserve, which is 36 times the size of Central Park, is home to more than 225 miles of trails prime for hiking and mountain biking.
Shop at Biltmore Fashion Park
Would it even be a girlfriends’ getaway without a little retail therapy? The beauty of the Biltmore Fashion Park is that it’s an outdoor mall, so you can enjoy the sunshine while popping in and out of such stores as Sephora, Anthropologie, Lululemon, My Sister’s Closet, Pottery Barn, Ralph Lauren, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Skin Laundry.
Where to Eat and Drink
Brunch, lunch, happy hour, dinner, and drinks — half the fun of a girlfriends’ getaway is trying new dishes, clinking champagne glasses, and sharing plates. These are the best of the best:
Century Grand
There’s no better place in Phoenix (or the country actually, since this three-bars-in-one concept was named Best U.S. Cocktail Bar) to grab a Prohibition-era drink than Century Grand. Grey Hen RX is an apothecary-style bar inspired by New Orleans, UnderTow serves up tropical flavors on an antique Clipper ship, and Platform 18 allows passengers to step aboard a replica of a 20th-century Pullman train car for an immersive ride through various landscapes. Make reservations ahead of time for your 90-minute experience.
Kembara
Top Chef alum Angelo Sosa has opened his second restaurant at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa to much acclaim — a meal here will remind global travelers of dining on street food in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan, as this is where chef Sosa gained his inspiration from. Definitely order the Green Papaya salad (it’s a flowery work of art), Mee Babi (house-made egg noodles with pork belly), Rendang Lembu (Wagyu beef with chili sambal), and the Ketam Cili (Alaskan king crab with tamarind, ginger and sambal).
PYRO
More Asian flavors await you at PYRO, the new Japanese-American bistro in Central Phoenix. This restaurant harnesses the power of open flame with fiery and flavorful dishes, including spicy salmon hand rolls, fluke crudo, a 40-day dry-aged bone-in ribeye, short rib fried rice, and Iberico pork skewers. The ambiance makes for Instagram-worthy BFF photos, as it was designed to resemble a mid-1900s Japanese casino.
Le Âme, at the Global Ambassador
The place to see and be seen is The Global Ambassador, famed restauranteur Sam Fox’s new hotel with four restaurants and bars in Central Phoenix. Le Âme is a particularly lovely choice for a boozy lunch or brunch, serving up oysters, truffle frites, onion dip with potato chips and caviar, Nicoise salads, Croque Madame, and quiche Florentine — dine outside if the weather allows, as you’ll swear you’re dining al fresco at a Parisian bistro.
Hurachis Taqueria
Renowned local chef Rene Andrade’s newest creation following his James Beard Award nomination in 2022 is a casual downtown spot perfect for happy hour. He serves up comfort foods, such as tacos (try the Lala Lengua or Tripas), burritos, and ceviche — don’t miss the elote for an appetizer and wash it all down with the spicy mezcal margarita.
Anhelo
For a more sophisticated evening, choose dinner downtown at Anhelo. The three-course dinner begins with one cold dish (the crudo is an excellent choice, as is the steak tartare), then a hot second course (the agnolotti is a standout dish, and the dry-aged tuna is delicious), followed by the entrée (this restaurant is known for its prime beef wellington). Add a wine pairing for each course and you have yourself a culinary experience to remember.
Get the best of Phoenix delivered straight to your inbox when you subscribe to the Localite newsletter.
Share this article
Nearby Cortland Locations
Nearby Cortland Locations
Things to do in the Dallas Arts District
We’re exploring the dynamic Dallas Arts District, full of outdoor fun, museums, food, people-watching, and more.
Twenty-five years ago, locals used to joke that Downtown Dallas rolled up its sidewalks at 5 p.m. and everybody drove home. Only certain pockets, like Deep Ellum with its music scene or the West End Marketplace, welcomed regular crowds for nights and weekends.
In 2024, what was once sleepy is now home to a cultural, architectural, and creative powerhouse: the Dallas Arts District. This is the largest contiguous arts district in the U.S., spanning 19 city blocks that are easily walkable with short distances between attractions. It’s ideal for navigating during the warm weather months, offering outdoor fun, museums, performance venues, food, people-watching, and more. So put on your sneakers and let’s explore this dynamic Arts District.
Under the Sun
Despite being located in the heart of downtown Dallas, the Arts District highlights innovative urban design, with pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, multiple green spaces, and public art installations. It’s a welcoming environment for visitors and residents alike.
Start any visit to the area at Klyde Warren Park, a 5.2-acre urban oasis built over the recessed Woodall Rodgers Freeway between Pearl and St. Paul streets. This highly active space provides ample free daily programs, from tai chi, yoga, and boot camps to book signings to outdoor concerts and films.
(If you’re hungry, grab a bite from a food truck at Klyde Warren Park – we love the Fletcher’s Original Corny Dog truck, appearing multiple times in April.)
As you walk around the Arts District, keep your eyes open for impressive public art installations. One hidden gem is the Texas Sculpture Walk at Hall Arts, 2323 Ross Avenue.
Architecture aficionados will be delighted to see the work of some of the most exceptional architects of the 20th and 21st centuries, like I.M. Pei, Rem Koolhaas, Edward Larrabee Barnes, and Norman Foster. Catch a 90-minute architecture walking tour of the Arts District on the first and third Saturdays of each month, beginning at 10:00 a.m., rain or shine, from in front of the Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 North Harwood Street.
Magnificent Museums
Several key museums anchor the Arts District, and all are worthy of hours. Established in 1903, the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) is one of the largest art museums in the U.S. Their extensive collection spans thousands of years and cultures, including favorites by Van Gogh, Picasso, and Monet.
Before you dive in, make time to relax in the DMA Cafe, located in the beautiful Hamon Atrium. Look up to admire the enormous window framed by a Dale Chihuly glass sculpture, Hart Window. Stunning.
Across the street from the DMA, the Nasher Sculpture Center invites visitors to explore modern and contemporary sculptures. Fun fact: floating above the barrel-vaulted glass ceiling is an innovative cast aluminum sunscreen, specifically designed for the museum. It controls the natural light filtered inside, providing the optimum illumination for viewing sculptures.
Tucked away in the back, get serene in the sculpture garden, an oasis in the urban landscape, filled with mature trees, a peaceful pond, lush greenery, and about 25 large-scale sculptures. It’s home to monthly ‘til Midnight at the Nasher, from 6 p.m. to midnight on the third Friday of each month.
Nearby, enter a different world at the Crow Museum of Asian Art, featuring a diverse collection spanning centuries and cultures. Keep an eye out for the new exhibition running through April 2025, Japan, Form & Function: The Montgomery Collection. Don’t miss the chance to participate in a traditional tea ceremony if available.
Be sure to take time for the African American Museum of Dallas, one of the largest African American Folk Art collections in the U.S. It’s one-of-a-kind in the Southwest.
Dallas Arts District Performs
Plan ahead and immerse yourself in the performing arts scene with a show at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. Several spaces call this sprawling landmark home, including the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre and Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, which can welcome 2,200 patrons.
Even if you’re not catching a performance, stroll outside through Sammons Park at the Winspear and you might catch local artists performing in this outdoor green space with a soaring s 63′-high Sky Canopy for shade. You’ll certainly see photographers snapping portraits of people around this picturesque venue.
Take in another gem in the Arts District and experience the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Opened in 1989, this venue has contributed to the district’s vibrant arts scene for years with a range of options, including free and low-cost events, like God Bless America on Saturday, April 27, with tickets starting at $17.
Dine in the District
Most of the museums and venues in the Arts District offer delicious dining options, though with limited hours. Standalone restaurants in the Dallas Arts District include:
- Mercat Bistro: French-inspired cuisine in an elegant setting reminiscent of a Parisian cafe.
- Nusr-Et Steakhouse: A high-end international steakhouse where fine cuts are king, like the Nusr-Et tomahawk steak, Dallas steak with mustard sauce, and a New York-style lamb. Outstanding.
- La Stella Cucina Verace: Award-winning authentic Italian everything in the heart of the Arts District. Don’t miss the Salsiccia e Friarielli made with Italian sausage from local favorite Jimmy’s Food Store, sautéed rapini greens, bruschetta, chili, and garlic.
- Zero Gradi: Hand-churned gelato, house-made cannoli, and steaming cups of Lavazza coffee make this the perfect end-of-meal treat.
Get the best of Dallas delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to the Localite newsletter.
Share this article
