Thinking of joining all of the other transplants in the Peach State capital? We’ve rounded up Atlanta’s best neighborhoods for millennials.
Virginia Highland
Want to be near the action? Midtown is the place for you. Close to Downtown’s business district, Midtown’s location offers city living with plenty of entertainment options for Millenials. This vibrant arts mecca and cultural hub is one of the most popular spots in Atlanta. The busy commercial area is within walking distance of Piedmont Park’s green leafy trails. Peachtree Street is home to acclaimed restaurants, a considerable amount of bars, some big-name shops, performing arts theaters, and the, the iconic Varsity, the world’s largest drive-in. The hub for Atlanta’s LGBT community, Midtown hosts the Atlanta Pride festival, and still has the best gay nightlife scene in the city. Midtown offers apartments, condos, high-rises, and houses, all priced per the location (read: pretty darn expensive).
West Midtown, known locally as The West Side, encompasses several neighborhoods and districts just west of Midtown, with easy access to Downtown. The former industrial area has experienced a comeback with an influx of recent development. This trendy retail district is home to trendy shops, upscale dining (including two top Zagat-rated restaurants), a lively nightlife with great bars and cool music venues. The Intown commercial area is also a bustling art district, hosting the Westside Arts District Art Walk every month at local galleries and arts centers, including the King Plow Arts Center, Goat Farm Arts Center, Westside Cultural Arts Center, and Atlanta Contemporary Art Center. The area’s retail, restaurant, and residential complex, the Westside Provisions District, cultivates craftsmanship with its artisan furniture, paper goods, and foods in the former meatpacking district.
The Westside’s warehouses and factories have been converted into utilitarian residences, or you can live the high life in a highrise or midrise condo or apartment. This is a great place to live for those who work at tech startups in West Midtown’s ultra-modern office buildings.
Known as The Highlands, Virginia Highland aka Va-Hi, is the east Atlanta neighborhood just two miles away from Midtown which is populated with those who work at Midtown behemoths such as UPS, AT&T, and Emory University. This Intown area is popular because of its small-town vibe in close proximity to big city life. Based around the intersection of scenic and historic Virginia Avenue and Highland Avenue, Va-Hi’s tree-lined streets are highly walkable, with easy access to Atlanta’s popular BeltLine greenspace. The area is home to many popular bars, sidewalk cafes, upscale restaurants with patios, spas, and stores. The neighborhood’s art and food festival, the Virginia Highland Summerfest takes place in the beginning of June. Highland residents enjoy historic Victorian and colonial-style architecture, abiding in bungalow homes as well as townhouses, condos, and apartment complexes.
One of the oldest sections of Atlanta, this former industrial area has undergone major redevelopment over the past couple of decades and is now one of Intown’s most popular neighborhoods. The “O4W” is a trendy hub is a hive for foodies and shoppers, attracting those in search of an active, artsy lifestyle. Housed in the old Sears building, the Old Fourth Ward’s large, popular market, Ponce City Market, is chock full of trendy restaurants and bars, shops, and entertainment venues. Edgewood Avenue serves as another bar and restaurant district, connecting the Old Fourth Ward to downtown and Inman Park. The BeltLine’s Eastside Trail runs along O4W’s eastern border. The old rail corridor was converted into green space with a trail for walking and biking. The historic neighborhood’s diverse architecture features fixer-uppers, restored homes, early 20th centrury bungalows, and Craftsman-style houses in addition to modern apartment buildings and industrial-style lofts.
While it’s not the most attractive sounding place to call home, this east side neighborhood just south of Old Fourth Ward offers more affordable housing than some places closer to the city’s center. Luckily, it no longer smells like cabbage, which is how the area got its name back in the
late 1880s. Now the area around Wylie and Carroll Streets is home to cozy eateries, boutiques, and art galleries. A favorite among musicians and creatives, the emerging arts district is decorated with colorful street art. Connecting Cabbagetown to Inman Park, The Krog Street Tunnel acts as a living canvas for local street artists. Colorful 1800s mill cottages with double-height porches and almost neon-hued shotgun homes line the historic neighborhood’s narrow streets. Popular local spots include the Bohemian bistro Carroll Street Café , and Little's Food Store, which serves as a grocery and grill.
Inman Park was Atlanta’s first planned suburb. The Eastside BeltLine connects the area to shopping, restaurants, and nightlife. Occupying a 1920’s warehouse, the popular Krog Street Market serves as the local gathering place in the heart of Inman Park. Home to southern restaurants and retailers, residents can shop artisan baked goods, local produce, and ready-made meals. The neighboring ‘hood, Little Five Points, is a fun place to vintage shop and people watch. Springvale Park serves as the leafy area’s greenspace, in addition to the BeltLine. Cost of living is a little above average due to the area’s proximity to amenities.
This commercial district is becoming more and more residential as new apartment buildings crop up, attracting those who work in the area. Fair warning: being so close to Atlanta’s biggest tourist attractions comes with a hefty price tag.
This ritzy, bougie barrio is one of Atlanta's trendiest neighborhoods. Live that uptown life in the “Beverly Hills” of Atlanta. This coveted and affluent area, located a few miles north of downtown, is popular for its its chic, upscale shopping, dining, and nightlife. The boutiques and shopping outlets of Lenox Square Mall and Phipps Plaza anchor the fashion mecca, as well as gourmet bistros and many fine dining establishments.
The Havana Club has been a Buckhead fixture since ‘96. The late-night watering hole
Moondogs entertains with karaoke, pool, darts, DJ music, beer pong, and flip cup. Buckhead is perfect for extroverts who are looking for luxurious living in well-appointed apartments.
