Atlanta hotspots
 

I'm potentially taking a position 50% in Atlanta and will thus be finding an apartment, etc in the city. Does anyone know the best places to live/eat/go out? I'm not that familiar with the city, but have been told Buckhead. Any help appreciated.

I have to ask some impertinent questions. Like how old are you? Married - kids? Are you straight/gay? Nightlife person - or not? Stuff like that.

Where will your work be in Atlanta? The traffic is awful. How important are short commuting times? Will your work outside Atlanta require car travel - or airport access? Will you mostly be going north - south - east - or west (if by car).

I don't live in Atlanta - but I go there fairly often. And am familiar with a lot of neighborhoods. I suspect other people here know 10x more than I do. There are places that are good fits for a married guy with 3 kids and a dog who likes to be in bed by 10 - but they won't work for a single guy who wants to go to the hottest clubs 3 times a week. Robyn

I have spent a fair amount of time in Atlanta the last two years on special projects for my company. I can't tell you where to live as I am a Dallas girl these days. My friends who live in the Alpharetta/Roswell area. I can recommend some fun places to go and a few good restaurants.

Smith's Olde Bar is a good choice. They have live music nearly every night of the week.
www.smithsoldebar.com

Fado Irish Pub is a fun place to go, they also have live music.
http://www.fadoirishpub.com/atlanta/

Andrews Upstairs in Buckhead, younger scene.

The Virginia Highlands has quite few a bars and restaurants.
www.viginiahighland.com will give you a list of all clubs and restaurants there.

Limerick Junction in the Virginia Highlands also has live music; Limerick’s is an Irish Pub, very fun atmosphere.

Panita Thai restaurant right down the street from Limerick; I really enjoyed their Thai food.

If you want to go to something a little different go to the original Spondivits by ATL on Virginia Ave (different Virginia than the Virginia Highlands). This place has crab legs, shrimp and plenty of beer. They also make a great beer butter or garlic butter to dip your seafood in. They are open until 4:00 AM; don’t ask how I know that. There is always a line for this place, OK maybe not at 3:00 AM, but they are a busy busy place. Don’t dress up because you are likely to get butter on you or beer sloshed on you. People sitting at the bar will talk to anyone, it’s a friendly place.
http://www.spondivits.net/

Vinny's on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta has very good food.

Wow, robyng, your questions are spot on. I do live in Atlanta (actually in the city) but like you, I wouldn't think of making any blanket recommendations without some basic information.

We live near Jacksonville - and get up to Atlanta a couple of times a year. Shopping. Dining. We even went to the Battle of the Bands in the Georgia Dome in January (for those or you who are "Drumline fans" - it is totally worth it - best $10 ticket I ever bought in my whole life). I think the OP is a young single guy who will be working at Emory. He won't be poor. I think Buckhead will be a nice place for a person like that to live in (only problem I can see is driving from Buckhead to Midtown on Friday night - took us almost an hour last time we did it). If I worked at Emory - I'd change and shower there - and then head to midtown if I wanted to be in the area that night). Robyn