The Best Things To Do In Chamblee, Georgia

There’s more to do in the city outside of Buford Highway.

Buford Highway gets a lot of love in Atlanta and for good reason—it’s teeming with the best international foods in Atlanta. Where else can you get a pupusa next to hand-pulled noodles? Part of the famous road runs through Chamblee, a town with its own identity that is on the rise. It sits 14 miles from downtown and offers visitors small-town charm inside Atlanta’s perimeter.

Related: Your Guide To Atlanta's Buford Highway

The City of Chamblee was built as a rail town, and there are active railroad tracks that run alongside many of its developments. It was incorporated in 1908 and has grown to cover 7 square miles. Two major freeways, I-285 and I-85, and several MARTA stops make it convenient to many throughout Metro Atlanta or those passing through.

Amy Meehan, one of the founders of Revelle Women’s Physical Therapy, chose downtown Chamblee intentionally when establishing her business in 2020. “Chamblee’s industrial character and focus on small businesses made it a no-brainer for our location,” she says. She enjoys being able to walk to and support many small businesses in the immediate vicinity surrounding her practice. “The city has poured so much into this area to maintain its character and culture, all while welcoming small businesses like us,” she says. Here’s how to spend a day in Chamblee.

What To Do

Reserve an afternoon for swinging at the indoor golf club Atlanta Golf and Social, which also doubles as a sports bar. Aviation lovers will want to head to 57th Fighter Group Restaurant. A meal there can lead to many hours passed watching planes come and go from Peachtree-DeKalb Airport (PDK). The restaurant’s dance parties are legendary, too. Indulge in craft cocktails and local art in the gallery at the Distillery of Modern Art or take a class at The Southeast Fiber Arts Alliance. Families with small children can take a music or movement class at The Bunny Hive, a gathering spot aimed at those with little ones two weeks to 6 years old.

Shoppers will want to make a trip to Personify to peruse contemporary women’s clothing and accessories and then take a short drive over to Wanderstate Mercantile and Broad Street Mercantile for unique gifts. It’s a short drive to Wee Bee Baby Boutique which has gear, baby essentials, and clothing for little ones. Antique lovers will adore bouncing around downtown Chamblee’s Antique Row, where Chamblee Antiques and Interiors, Treasure Mart, Antique Factory, The Way We Were Antiques, Eugenia’s Antique Hardware, and more are all within walking distance of each other.

Those looking to get the blood flowing can hop on the Chamblee Rail Trail, a 20-year effort by the city to transform the inactive Roswell Junction Railroad line. The short trail, which runs from Chamblee Tucker Road to Pierce Drive, has 12-foot wide sidewalks for walking, biking, jogging, and transporting people through 2 miles of Chamblee. A new section opened late last year.

A forthcoming entertainment district BLOCK & DRUM will open later this year and have it all contained on one 14,000-square foot property: a micro-distillery, vinyl listening room, cafe, live music stage, shipping container restaurants, and even a hydroponic farm.

Where To Eat

Start your morning with a breakfast burrito and cup of joe at Moonbird Coffee inside Southbound. This full-service Southern-inspired restaurant has served as a cornerstone of the downtown corridor for over 10 years and is housed in a building that dates to the 1800s. If you need to carb load, head to The Bronx Bagel Buggy. It opened only a few months ago but has had lines out the door as people flock to it for New York-style bagels, bialys, sandwiches, and take-home pizzas.

It’s easy to move between many of the bars and restaurants in town; Downtown Chamblee created an entertainment district in 2023, allowing open containers off-premise within the area that runs from Ingersoll Rand Drive to McGaw Drive. Additional casual options such as Hopstix, Himalayas Indian Restaurant, Bluetop, and Gus's Fried Chicken. New this year is an outpost of Bruxie, a popular waffle sandwich shop.

For lunch or dinner, make a reservation for relaxed yet upscale dining at Lagarde American Eatery, a New Orleans-inspired restaurant, or The Alden, a Michelin-recommended eatery that uses local and regional ingredients. Top it all off with a cone or sundae from Frosty Caboose, an ice cream parlor in a converted train car. It sits adjacent to an active Norfolk Southern Rail Line.

When To Visit

A day trip from Metro Atlanta to Chamblee is always an easy adventure, but there are a few times of year that are of particular note in the city. The inaugural Chamblee Art Fest occurred this spring, and A Taste of Chamblee is a signature event in October. Chamblee Rocks, a free, once-a-month concert series that occurs every year on the grounds of the new City Hall, is a highlight of summer.

While there aren’t many hotels in the area, Chamblee packs a punch for a day trip, offering up small businesses, restaurants and attractions to satisfy the whole family and keep you busy for an entire day, most of it in walking distance.

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