Walkable city square anchoring eastside dining. The Square hosts Kimball House, Brick Store Pub and Leon's Full Service; weekend farmers market on Saturday.
Kimball House in Decatur, Atlanta opened 2013 inside a converted 19th-century train station, with the city's deepest oyster selection and a James Beard nominated bar.
Signature: Oysters, Absinthe service, Patate dauphine
Order: Two dozen oysters and the absinthe drip service.
Tip: Reservations on Resy; the bar takes walk-ins until late. Sunday Happy Hour 17:00 to 18:30 is the under-the-radar bargain.
The Iberian Pig in downtown Decatur, Atlanta runs Spanish tapas and Iberico-leaning plates since 2009. The pork belly cubano sandwich became its long-running calling card.
Signature: Pork belly cubano, Patatas bravas, Bacon-wrapped dates
Order: The pork belly cubano, bacon-wrapped Medjool dates and patatas bravas.
Tip: Reservations on Resy. Buckhead and Glenwood Park sister locations stay open later than Decatur.
Kimball House in Decatur, Atlanta opened 2013 inside a converted 19th-century train station, with the city's deepest oyster selection and a James Beard nominated bar.
Order: Two dozen oysters and the absinthe drip service.
Tip: Reservations on Resy; the bar takes walk-ins until late. Sunday happy hour 17:00 to 18:30 is the under-the-radar bargain.
Community Q BBQ in Decatur, Atlanta runs Southern-style smoked pork, brisket and ribs since 2010 with mac and cheese that became a local cult side.
Signature: Pulled pork, Mac and cheese, Brunswick stew
Order: Pulled pork plate with mac and cheese and Brunswick stew.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays. Cash and card. Family meals scale to feed six and travel well.
Brick Store Pub in Decatur Square, Atlanta opened 1997 with a Belgian beer focus and pub menu. The upstairs Belgian Bar runs the rare brews; James Beard Outstanding Bar finalist.
Signature: Belgian moules frites, Burger, Beer cheese fondue
Order: Moules frites in Belgian saison, with a Cantillon or Dupont on tap.
Tip: Upstairs Belgian Bar runs rare Belgian beers; downstairs is the casual pub. Reservations on the front bar only.
Leon's Full Service in Decatur, Atlanta opened 2010 inside a converted gas station with a pommes frites bar, a serious cocktail programme and an American gastropub menu.
Signature: Pommes frites, Burger, Cocktail program
Order: Pommes frites with three dipping sauces; the burger; a snappy classic cocktail.
Tip: The patio sits on Ponce de Leon. Reservations on Resy; the bar takes walk-ins with the full menu.
Java Monkey in Decatur, Atlanta has run a counter-culture neighbourhood cafe just off Decatur Square since 1995. Live music nights and a tight breakfast menu.
Signature drink: Iced coffee
Tip: Tuesday open-mic nights since the 1990s. Cash and card. The patio sits on Ponce de Leon.
Revolution Doughnuts in Decatur, Atlanta runs scratch-fried doughnuts with both traditional and vegan options. Counter ordering since 2012.
Tip: The vegan brown butter glaze is the cult order. Sells out by 12:00 weekends. Cash and card.
Worth the queue: Brown butter glazed doughnut
Tipica Coffee in Decatur, Atlanta roasts single-origin beans on a small Probat with a cafe attached, since 2020. Colombian focus with rotating microlots.
Tip: Cash and card. Limited seating; built for grab-and-go. Whole bean retail; ask staff about the latest microlot.
Sources from: Colombia, Brazil, Ethiopia
How they serve: Espresso, Pourover, Whole bean retail
Kimball House in Decatur, Atlanta runs the city's most-awarded cocktail and oyster bar inside a converted 19th-century train station. James Beard nominated bar program.
Signature drink: Absinthe drip service
Food: Oysters, raw bar
Tip: Sunday Happy Hour 17:00 to 18:30 runs cheaper oysters and cocktails. The bar takes walk-ins late on weekends.
S.O.S. Tiki Bar in Decatur, Atlanta runs classic tiki cocktails in a thatched Polynesian-themed room since 2013. The mai tai is the canonical first order.
Signature drink: Mai tai
Food: Bar snacks
Tip: Cash and card. The patio is open in summer. Reservations not taken; queue forms by 21:00 weekends.
Your DeKalb Farmers Market in Decatur, Atlanta runs a 140,000 square-foot international grocery: cheeses, fish, produce and bulk imports. Cult Atlanta institution since 1977.
Tip: The hot food bar at the back is the on-site lunch. Bring cash for fish counter speed; the cheese department is the destination.
Buena Gente Cuban Bakery in Decatur presses real Cuban sandwiches for $14: lechon in housemade mojo, $5 croquetas and guava pastelitos to start.
Try: Cuban sandwiches, croquetas, guava pastelitos
Tip: Sandwiches start at 11:00 only; before then it's pastries and Cuban coffee. Closed Mon-Wed.