Atlanta Black-Owned Gems You Need to Know (& Support Always)
Because showing love to Black-owned businesses isn’t a trend — it’s a thread. One that connects us, uplifts our communities, & celebrates the culture that built this city.
If there’s one thing ATL does best, it’s show up for each other. From family-owned restaurants to boundary-pushing galleries, this city is shaped by the legacy, creativity, and hustle of Black entrepreneurs, artists, & visionaries.
This isn’t just a guide to spend your money. It’s a love letter — to the flavors, spaces, & people that keep ATL alive & always evolving.
A Creator-Curated Tribute: Why We Love ATL
As creators, we’re inspired by more than just aesthetics. We’re moved by the heart & hustle behind the scenes — the chefs reimagining food, the curators preserving Black artistry, the entrepreneurs creating spaces we didn’t know we needed, but now can’t live without.
So, I asked a few incredible voices in the city to help build this list. Because Atlanta isn’t just where we live. It’s what fuels us, grounds us, & reminds why we keep showing up.
Here’s what we had to say — & the Black-owned gems that stay in our rotation.
📱Monica Thorpe | @thewkndnomad
Why I Love Atlanta:
As an ATL native, I’ve seen the city change so much. I'm so happy to see how there are more black restaurateurs and artists/creatives. The city has shown so much love and I can’t wait to see how ATL looks in about 2-3 years from now.
Despite what you may have heard, ATL has some dope food/ drink and fun things to explore. The same vibe you would get in Buckhead in the early 2000’s, you can get on the Southside now. I love it and I'm here for it!
My Go-To Black-Owned Spots:
Breakfast Boys - My favorite spot in College Park! I've never had bad service and the food was always great. Parking may suck as it's in the middle of a neighborhood and school zone but it's worth the hassle.
My favorite dish is the Salmon Hash. The salmon is well seasoned and cooked to perfection! No complaints here! Just make sure to get there early because it gets packed fast and to go orders fly out the door!
Pro Tip: Not to mention it's a hop and a skip from the Airport, so definitely a good go to spot before your flight out.
LIT Essentials (Live with Intention and Thrive) - This is for my wellness guys and gals! Perfect for diy aromatherapy classes such as making soap, bath bombs and body butters. Located in the Grant Park area, it's ideal for solo dolo dates, girls nights and date nights with your significant other. I've done two classes and have purchased soaps that I truly love. This family owned business is very welcoming and is a must visit to open up your creative side!
Dolo’s - I don't care what anyone says or tries to feed me! Dolo’s hands down has the best pizza in the city! Yes, they have some pretty good competition but they’re still #1 in my heart!!
Owned by Alyson Williams and chef Yusef Walker, Dolo’s NYC style pizza mixed with the best Caribbean ingredients is how they transformed pizza in ATL. The fact that owner Yusef Walker taught himself how to bake and created The Matey(my fave) which has jerk chicken, blue cheese and honey, shows you how beyond delicious and fulfilling Dolo’s is. I'm not even a huge fan of chicken on pizza but Dolo’s changed my mind!
Pro tip: They also have pizza making classes so you can get the entire Dolo’s experience. It's definitely worth attending as it's a blast!
📱Gardy Banks | @dudelovesfoodatl
Why I Love Atlanta:
I love Atlanta, I feel like it’s the perfect balance of big city hustle and southern-country vibes. It’s a bustling place with plenty of opportunities for different niches to thrive.
Lowkey, I think Atlanta is the national hub for cultural storytelling. You can find so many different artists using different mediums to tell their story. Food, music, sports, art, film—the list goes on.
There’s also a sense of duality that I don’t think can be found elsewhere. What other city is this full of historical significance while also balancing modern day shenanigans?
My Go-To Black-Owned Spots:
1. Twisted Soul Cookhouse and Pours - Elevated Soul Food by Chef Deborah Vance. Their Hoison Oxtail is one of my favorite dishes ever.
2. Busy Bee Cafe - Hands down the best fried chicken in the city—I don’t think anything else on their menu is very good, but I absolutely love the chicken and I’ve never heard anyone else say otherwise.
3. Marcus Bar and Grille - The BEST brunch buffet in the city. The Edgewood location is not the OG, but damn was it a refreshing add to that street. Amazing food, incredible service and the vibes are top tier. Pro Tip: Book the back room for a special event and thank me later 🙏🏽
📱Dominique Hazzard | @foodgoddessatl
Why I Love Atlanta:
As a kid growing up in Savannah, GA, Atlanta was always a frequent vacation spot, which in turn became a second home. I often say that I partially grew up lol.
Atlanta is soo rich in culture. There’s inclusivity here, no matter your walk of life, skin tone, or background. Atlanta is like a warm hug that embraces you, no questions asked. The food scene? It’s a melting pot of culinary royalty. There’s a restaurant for every taste bud and occasion. My palate has grown here the most so I will F.I.L.A (Forever, I Love Atlanta).
My Go-To Black-Owned Spots:
The Wing Suite - From the moment The Wing Suite hit the scene, I knew they were going to be a hit! Their Piping Peach wings are right up my alley, sweet, spicy, and sauced up. They are my go to wing spot near home. My order is a 10 piece Piping Peach with Salt n Vinegar Fries and a lemonade, with RANCH on the side.
Flavor Rich - Flavor Rich is one of them ones! This is an amazing brunch spot and you literally can’t go wrong with anything on their menu!
Mood Cafe - I really have to highlight this black woman owned coffee shop. From the moment you walk in, you are met with such great energy. It’s like going to your family’s crib to have coffee. They serve coffee, matcha, and breakfast and you can work from there. Such a dope spot.
📱Example: Jesi Hooper | @nerdy.retreat
Why I Love Atlanta:
Atlanta just feels like home — there’s community, creativity, & always a new food spot to obsess over. The storytelling behind the plates feels personal, rooted, real. Oh & there’s always something happening that makes you pause & say, “Yea… only in ATL.”
I grew up in Upstate South Carolina, where the city was the destination. Atlanta meant the 1996 Olympics, volleyball tournaments, & weekend trips that always felt like a treat. P.S. I still have regrets about never making it to Warped Tour or the old Masquerade in my teen years.
But even then, ATL was the soundtrack of growing up — my iPod was stacked with Southern hip-hop + Trap mixes on repeat. Now that I live here, I see just how much culture shaped this city — & how much this city continues to shape culture.
We’re not trying to be NYC. We’re not trying to be LA. We’re Atlanta… we’ve got our own flavor, always.
My Go-To Black-Owned Spots:
It’s a tie (ugh, don’t make me choose): Portrait Coffee & Refij Aesthetics
At this point, Portrait Coffee is a full-blown addiction. As a caffeine fiend, this is my daily go-to. If I’m not physically in the shop, I’m at home rotating their beans like it’s a ritual.
… & then there’s Michelle (owner) at Refij Aesthetics. She keeps me my skin glowing (facials, wax, the works) & actually knows how to treat sensitive skin. Highly recommend!
Bonus: They’re both close to home & small biz owned. Support feels good when it’s also this good.
The Bando - Always crispy wings, hella hilarious marketing, & a deep commitment to the community… they can’t be beat! P.S. I still miss the Y2K art inside — IYKYK.
The Trap Music Museum - I went with BraveNu x MODA class collab in 2023 & got to hear directly from the curator. What a treat! The way she spoke about adapting art through culture stuck with me. Oh, & listen… the Women’s USC / Nike installation had me fan-girl mode.
🗺️ Ready to Explore?
Now that you’ve heard from a few creators who live the Atlanta experience, let’s get into the goods.
This isn’t just a list — it’s your curated guide to Black-owned excellence across ATL. Whether you’re here for a cup of something warm, a dinner that feeds your soul, or a place to spend your coins intentionally, this guide’s for you.
💾 Save it.
📣 Share it.
💵 Support what makes ATL so powerful.
☕️ BUT FIRST COFFEE
Start strong… always!
• Mood Cafe - Great WFH atmosphere
• Portrait Coffee - Top notch roasters & seasonal lattes.
• Black Coffee Atlanta (Jonesboro Rd)
• Just Add Honey
• Gilly Brew Bar
✨ FOOD & DRINK FAVES
Flavors that slap.
• The Breakfast Boys - Brunch game strong.
• Dolo’s - Bonus: pizza making classes.
• Twisted Soul Cookhouse
• Busy Bee Café - ATL sould foo royalty.
• Marcus Bar & Grill
• The Wing Suite
• Flavor Rich
• The Bando - Crispy AF wings & top-tier service.
• Jerk King - Don’t sleep on this pop-up.
• Ruki’s - New brick + Mortar coming soon.
• Che Butter Jonez
• Phew Pies - Daddy of the lemon pepper wet!
• Cafe Bourbon Street Brick + Mortar & food truck.
• Delilah’s Everyday Soul
• The Beautiful
• Slutty Vegan
• Other go-to’s: Q-Time, Yay Beignet, Paschal’s, Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen, Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, Mrs. Conducks, Desta Ethiopian, Tom, Dick & Hank, The Corner Grille, Southern National, Pours, Oretheas, Pit Boss BBQ, Tassili’s, Fowl Play, The Real Milk & Honey, Fin & Feathers, Bread & Butterfly, Auburn Angel, Sauce Queen.
🍻BARS, BREWS, & BEVIES
Sip slow or turn up. Your call.
• Our Bar - Community-first vibes.
• Atlantatucky
• 3 Parks Wine - For your wine downs.
• Hippin Hops Brewery
• The James Room
🍩 SWEETS & TREATS
• Aiskrimu Ice Cream Bar (V)
• GOAP | The Creamy Spot (V)
• Sublime Doughnuts - Iconic.
🥕 FARMS
Fresh, local, & Black-owned
• Caribe United Farm - my go-to at Grant Park Farmers Market.
• Patchwork City Farms
• Atlanta Harvest
🖼️ ART & BEYOND
• Atlanta Influencers Everything
• Black Art in America
• Southern Fried Queer Pride
• House of Alxndr
• ADAMA
• Trap Music Museum
• Peter Street Station, Old Rabbit Gallery, & Nina Baldwin Gallery
• Scrap ATL (Inside CreatATL & in Tucker)
• ZuCot Gallery
• Art In the Paint (non-profit)
• Ballethnic Dance Company
🛍️ SHOP
Your new favorite finds.
• The Beehive
• The Village PCM
• Brave + Kind Bookshop
• Pink Pothos
• For Keeps Books
• Nourish + Bloom (Cascade & Trilith)
• Capricorn Killjoy
• Sincerely Fearless
• Duality Clique
• Anwuli Eyewear
• Vertical Activewear
✨ OTHER
• Refij Aesthetics
• Nourish + Botanica
• Cascade Roller Skating Rink
🔥 CHEFIE CREW & MORE CLUBS
For then foodies & crafters who want more.
• Stolen Goods (Chef Maximilian Hines)
• Heritage Supper Club
• The New South
• The Atlanta Craft Club
🌟 CELEBERITY-OWNED
• Chicken + Beer - Ludacris
• Bankhead Seafood - T.I. + Killer Mike
• Marcus bar & grill - Marcus Samuelsson
• Escobar - 2 Chainz
💎 OTP GEMS
Outside the perimeter but worth the drive.
• Aunite Kim’s
• ChéRené Macarons
• Over the Top Street Eatz - Newnan
• Fuel Coffee Bar - Newnan / Fayetteville
🤓 TL;DR?
Support Black-owned.
Eat good. Shop local. Stay curious.
Atlanta wouldn’t be Atlanta without these spots — so keep showing up.
— Messy Jesi @ Nerdy Retreat