Must-Do in Poncey-Highlands: Coffee, Chaos & Creative Energy on the Eastside
There’s something about Poncey-Highlands that feels effortlessly cool. It’s not trying to be trendy. It just is.
You’ve got dive bars next to Art Deco theatres, patios spilling onto sidewalks, Michelin-rated restaurants tucked between storefronts, & the kind of neighborhood energy that makes you want to slow down.
If you had one free day to build the perfect Poncey-Highland itinerary — here’s how I’d do it.
☕ Start Slow (Coffee First, Always)
Poncey-Highlands is not a rush-around neighborhood. It’s a linger-a-little-longer one.
Grab coffee somewhere that feels intentional. Sit outside. Watch the traffic on Ponce De Leon. Romanticize your iced latte like you just moved here.
Pro tip: Morning here easily turns into afternoon.
What started as a mobile cart honoring immigrant heritage now has a permanent residency inside Barana (at the bottom of El Ponce). Each cup feels rooted in nostalgia & Mexican culture.
🩷 Latinx-owned
Minimal, airy, reliable. A strong start for espresso purists or anyone who wants to post up with a laptop & pretend they’re writing a novel.
📚 Mid-Morning Wandering
(Video Stores, Shops & “Wait, This Is Cute” Moments)
This is where Poncey-Highlands really shines. Creative retail. Indie institutions. The kind of spots that haven’t been algorithm-optimized.
Don’t over-schedule. Just drift.
This is for the physical media purists & dedicated cinephiles. Videodrome isn’t a theater, it’s a meticulously curated video rental store keeping the spirit of the ’90s alive.
Thousands of DVDs, Blu-rays, rare VHS tapes, cult horror, foreign films, weird indie gems. No streaming algorithm. Just vibes.
Why it makes the list: As our friend Lights Camera Vintage perfectly put it, "It’s a preserved piece of film history & the undisputed king of 'physical media' in Atlanta."
🏛 Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
Unexpectedly peaceful. Walk the grounds. Wander the exhibits. Bonus points if you catch the Freedom Farmers Market on Saturday mornings.
🛍 Elemental Spirits Co. + The Zero Co.
Small, thoughtful retail that feels neighborhood-rooted. Low-key gems that reward curiosity.
🎨 Creative Energy Break
Poncey-Highlands has an artsy undercurrent that never feels forced.
It’s in the murals. In the indie theaters. In the spaces doubling as gathering spots.
Say yes to the weird thing on the calendar.
Founded in 1939, The Plaza is Atlanta’s oldest continuously operating cinema — and a love letter to film culture.
Art Deco architecture. Marquee glow. 35mm screenings. Horror marathons. Wussy Mag drag-hosted nights.
It’s old-school cinema meets community cool.
Must-know move: Pair it with a meal next door at The Majestic for the full vintage Poncey experience.
It’s not what you think. Part art space. Part workshop hub. Part “wait, this is so cool.”
From teen art clubs to experimental events & pop-up markets, The Supermarket makes creativity feel accessible & slightly chaotic (in the best way).
🏙 Ponce City Market (Technically O4W… but let’s be real)
Yes, it sits in Old Fourth Ward. But it lives on Ponce De Leon & absolutely impacts the Poncey energy.
Rooftop skyline views. Food hall chaos. Shops. Seasonal pop-ups. If you’re building a full-day Ponce itinerary, it belongs in the mix.
Food That’s Worth Leaving the House For
You don’t come to Poncey-Highlands for basic food.
You come for personality.
Think bold interiors. Slightly chaotic menus. The kind of spot where the wall art competes with the waffles. Order something indulgent. You earned it.
🥞 Majestic Diner
Open since 1929. The neon says it all. Sit at the counter. Order the corned beef hash. Embrace the retro.
🍻 Manuel’s Tavern
Low-key a journalist hangout. Political history lives in these walls. It’s been around since 1956. Come for the beer, stay for the ATL lore.
🌮 El Ponce
Colorful, energetic, patio-friendly. Good margaritas, bold flavors, easy crowd-pleaser.
🔥 Sweet Auburn Barbecue
Where Asian flavors meet Southern barbecue. Big flavors, creative menu, & yes — this is where you’ll also find Andrew Blooms’ artwork inside. Tap into my blog here
🍷 Southern Belle / Georgia Boy
Michelin-approved cool. But date night & anniversary worthy... even better. Refined without being stiff. P.S. I have not tried Georgia Boy yet, but it’s on the list.
Follower picks: Maderia Park, Tio Lucho’s, La Fonda, Fellini’s Pizza, Motorboat.
Ink & Edge, You Doodle Bears
Poncey has always leaned a little rebellious.
Old-school meets artistic precision. A staple for bold line work & serious tattoo energy.
Classic flash. Clean lines. Walk-in-friendly vibes.
Bars & Nightlight
🍺 The Righteous Room
Dark, divey, & dependable. A neighborhood staple that never tries too hard.
🦄 Drunken Unicorn
Live music, sweaty dance floors, themed nights. It’s intimate.
💃 Clermont Lounge (Downstairs)
Legendary. Chaotic. Historic. If you know, you know. It’s where I take visitors.
🌇 The Clermont Hotel + Rooftop
Same building. Very different vibe. Rooftop drinks with skyline views & a little more polish.
🎧 404.exe (Former MJQ Space)
Taking over the legendary MJQ energy, 404.exe brings underground nightlife into a new era. Dark. Digital. Dance-heavy. If you know, you know.
Missing But Not Forgotten
Bookhouse Pub, JavaVino, 8 Arm (If you know the history, you know.)
Final Thoughts: Why Poncey-Highlands Still Hits
Poncey-Highlands doesn’t scream for attention. It doesn’t need to.
It’s layered. A little gritty. A little polished. A little nostalgic. A little chaotic. It’s the kind of neighborhood where you can start your morning with a slow latte, stumble into a video store that still smells like the ’90s, eat something indulgent, accidentally end up at a rooftop, & close the night in a basement dance floor that feels slightly illegal (in a fun way).
It’s old Atlanta. New Atlanta. Indie Atlanta. All stacked on top of each other… & that’s the magic.
If you’re building your perfect Eastside day, here’s the formula:
☕ Coffee you can linger over
📚 A shop you didn’t plan to find
🎬 Something creative or nostalgic
🍳 Food with personality
🍸 A nightcap somewhere with stories in the walls
Bookmark this one. Send it to the friend who “just moved here.” Or use it as your excuse to fall back in love with a neighborhood you thought you already knew.
Because Poncey-Highlands doesn’t beg to be discovered. It just waits for you to notice it.
Explore More ATL Like a Local
If you loved this Poncey-Highlands guide, you might also like:
🔥 Must-Do in Old Fourth Ward
🎨 Unique Atlanta Spots That Double as Artsy Spaces
📚 ATL Clubs You Actually Want to Join
🎬 Atlanta Theaters & Stages Worth Leaving the Couch For
🍕 Best Pizza in ATL
Because one neighborhood is cute.
But building your own ATL playbook? Elite.