Soul food$$eastsideDaily 11:00-21:00
Sisters of the New South on Skidaway Rd in Eastside is the cafeteria-line soul-food kitchen plating oxtails, fried chicken, and stewed greens at lunch.
Why locals love it: Out on Skidaway in residential Eastside; off the tourist trail; cafeteria-line service.
Tip: Lunch only; arrive by 12:30 to beat the office crowd. Oxtails go fast on Fridays.
Wine bar$$thomas-squareDaily 11:00-22:00
Ardsley Station on E Victory Dr in Thomas Square is the locals' after-work neighborhood wine room with a small-plates kitchen and a quiet patio scene.
Why locals love it: Off the tourist trail in residential Ardsley Park; locals' after-work wine room.
Tip: The patio fills first; arrive by 17:30 on Friday for a wine flight before dinner.
Burgers$$thomas-squareTue-Sat 17:00-22:00
Cotton and Rye is converted 1960s bank on habersham south of the squares; locals' midweek room, off the tourist drag, house-ground burgers and weekly pate.
Why locals love it: Converted 1960s bank on Habersham south of the squares; locals' midweek room, off the tourist drag, house-ground burgers and weekly pate.
Tip: Book Resy for Tuesday or Wednesday; bar walk-in runs the full menu.
Seafood$$islandsTue-Sun 12:00-17:00
The Wyld Dock Bar is on the herb river in thunderbolt past the bridge, accessible by free boat tie-up; locals-only, no tour-bus traffic, raw-bar happy hour.
Why locals love it: On the Herb River in Thunderbolt past the bridge, accessible by free boat tie-up; locals-only, no tour-bus traffic, raw-bar happy hour.
Tip: Free boat tie-up; arrive by 18:00 on live-music nights to beat the rush.
Wine bar$$thomas-squareMon-Thu 17:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-23:00
Late Air is tiny corner room at bull and victory; reservations-only on resy, a sommelier's natural-wine list with a small-plates kitchen, no walk-ins.
Why locals love it: Tiny corner room at Bull and Victory; reservations-only on Resy, a sommelier's natural-wine list with a small-plates kitchen, no walk-ins.
Tip: Reservations on Resy; the kitchen runs small plates only, no full entrees.
Bakery$$sandflyWed-Sun 07:00-15:00
Auspicious Baking Co. on Skidaway Rd in Sandfly is the sourdough and croissant counter that locals queue at 07:00 for smoked-salmon laminated pastries.
Why locals love it: Suburban Skidaway Road past the historic district; only locals queue at 07:00 for smoked-salmon croissants, not on tourist food maps.
Tip: Arrive by 08:30 on weekends or the smoked-salmon croissants sell out.