Category: Atlanta, Georgia Local News

For 65 years, the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) has served as the Southeast’s definitive destination for design—an ever-evolving campus where creativity, craftsmanship, and community intersect. What began in 1961 as a visionary concept by renowned architect John Portman has grown into a 550,000-square-foot design hub in Buckhead, now owned by ANDMORE℠, and home to more than 65 showrooms and over 40 design studios across ADAC and ADAC West.

While ADAC is widely known as a professional resource for interior designers and architects, it is equally important to its growing consumer audience. Open to the public, ADAC offers homeowners and design enthusiasts a rare opportunity to experience the design process up close – connecting directly with the professionals, products, and expertise that shape thoughtfully curated spaces.

“ADAC has always been about connection—between designers and clients, creativity and craftsmanship, inspiration and execution,” said Katie Miner, General Manager of ADAC. “As we celebrate 65 years, we’re proud to be a place where design professionals can build thriving businesses and where consumers feel welcomed into the design process. ADAC is not just where design is sourced—it’s where ideas are shaped, relationships are built, and great spaces begin.”

At the heart of the campus are the designers themselves. ADAC is home to working design studios on multiple floors, including the recently introduced 242 Design Studios on the second floor of the original building, a dedicated suite of Design Studios on the fifth floor, and additional offices throughout the campus. These studios reflect ADAC’s role not just as a sourcing destination, but as a place where design businesses operate day-to-day – developing concepts, meeting with clients, and bringing ideas to life.

For consumers, this concentration of talent highlights one of ADAC’s most valuable offerings: access to professional designers who can guide projects with expertise, efficiency, and vision. Hiring a designer helps homeowners navigate the overwhelming number of choices involved in furnishing and renovating a space, ensuring thoughtful decisions that balance function, aesthetics, and long-term value. Designers also bring industry knowledge, trade relationships, and problem-solving skills that often save time and resources – elevating the final result.

ADAC supports this collaboration by placing designers steps away from the showrooms they rely on. From custom furniture and lighting to textiles, rugs, and finishes, the campus allows designers and clients to see, touch, and compare products in person—an experience that is increasingly rare in a digital-first world. This hands-on approach fosters confidence and clarity, particularly for consumers embarking on major design projects.

Beyond its studios and showrooms, ADAC serves as an educational and inspirational destination. A robust calendar of events—including seasonal markets, panel discussions, and design-focused programming—offers both design professionals and consumers insight into trends, craftsmanship, and the creative process. These events, along with showroom visits, allow design enthusiasts to deepen their understanding of how spaces come together, while learning directly from industry leaders. ADAC’s influence extends well beyond Atlanta, serving designers, architects, and builders across a 10-state region throughout the Southeast, including Florida, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Alabama, and beyond. Full programming details are available on ADAC’s website throughout the year.

Community has always been central to the ADAC experience. Onsite restaurants such as KR SteakBar, Krog Bar – Coal Fired Pizza, and The Hungry Peach provide natural gathering spaces for designers, clients, and visitors alike—supporting informal meetings, working lunches, and moments of connection that extend beyond the showroom floor.

As ADAC celebrates its 65th anniversary, its legacy is defined not only by longevity, but by relevance. By bringing designers, consumers, and resources together in one integrated campus, ADAC continues to demystify the design process and reinforce the value of professional expertise. It remains a place where design is not only sourced, but lived—shaping homes, businesses, and the future of design in the Southeast and beyond.

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For Atlanta’s intrepid diners, there’s more to finding hidden gems than veering off the beaten path, though that certainly adds to the intrigue. The challenge is in uncovering food treasures. That’s the real trick.

Whenever there is a discussion of hidden restaurant gems in Atlanta, a predictable list of names comes up—places that may be beloved but aren’t so secret anymore. And while we appreciate being reminded of those heartwarming spots, we also want to seek out lesser-known destinations, from obscure restaurants and takeout shacks to underground bars, food trucks, and gas station finds.

We spent several weeks following up on tips, racking up the mileage, and putting on a few pounds to get a refreshed mix of hidden gems. The list doesn’t include all the hidden gems out there, of course, but it’s a good sampling of metro Atlanta’s offerings. Restaurants are grouped loosely by geography—don’t come at us, mapmakers. We hope to continue sharing more hidden gems on the regular.

Oh, and one thing we learned along the way: If your favorite hidden gems are iconic but aging, don’t wait too long to visit. While they are priceless, they aren’t around forever.

By Jamie Allen, Skye Estroff, Caroline Eubanks, Vené Franco, Scott Freeman, Rachel Garbus, Josh Green, Angela Hansberger, Laura Finney Harden, Cat Kerr, Lia Picard, and Xavier Stevens

Downtown & Midtown

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Babs Midtown
Midtown
@babsmidtownatl
In a city where glittering new restaurants turn heads constantly, it’s worth slowing down to appreciate those familiar touchstones that help build a neighborhood into a community. An exemplar: Babs Midtown, which has served creative, omnivorous brunch fare from the ground level of a Juniper Street house since 2001. Outside, Midtown has changed dramatically, with gleaming high-rises now surrounding its simple wood-framed home, but inside the warm, tchotchke-filled Babs, a timeless slice of neighborhood character lives on.

“Whoever you are, as long as you’re nice, that’s what I care about,” says owner and head chef Randy Adler. “And we’ve built a loyal following just based on that.” Babs has long been a gathering spot for Midtown’s queer community: The place is named for legendary drag queen Divine, a member of John Waters’ “Dreamlanders” whose stage name was Babs Johnson. “People feel safe here,” he says.

Adler, who arrived in Atlanta in 1982 to help launch the city’s Ritz-Carlton hotels, trained at the Culinary Institute of America; the Babs menu, which rotates weekly, reflects his wide-ranging tastes, from a well-spiced Tunisian shakshuka to the cowboy breakfast, featuring house-made BBQ stew topped with cornbread. And check the sweet side, since there’s almost always a tasty new tart or cake on offer. Though primarily a breakfast joint, Babs also operates a supper club on the first Monday of the month with an affordably priced prix-fixe menu. “Two people should be able to eat out with a bottle of wine for under $100,” Adler says. Needless to say, the club usually sells out.

The true pleasure at Babs come from the team itself, lovingly helmed by Adler, who holds court at the counter, offering a suggestion off the menu or a tidbit about its provenance. The mugs are charmingly mismatched and the bric-a-brac—including dozens of snow globes brought back from afar by regulars—makes Babs seem like home, no matter how many times you’ve been. —Rachel Garbus

North

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Tre Vele
Sandy Springs
@treveleatl
This clandestine spot sits on the lower tier of the bustling City Walk complex, just below the Kroger gas station, in a niche surrounded by tall trees. It’s easy to miss but you shouldn’t.

The team behind Tre Vele, which opened in 2021, includes chef Ian Winslade and his business partners, restaurateur brothers Jonathan and Ryan Akly. The trio is also the force behind the Bay Area–inspired Mission + Market and Zakia Modern Lebanese in Buckhead. Their combined talents produce stylish spaces with, as the PR kids say, “elevated” cuisine. Winslade acts as culinary director at Tre Vele, working with executive chef Chris Suarez to create new dishes.

Tre Vele’s market area features a wall of wines for sale as well as a pasta maker (a person, not the machine). Watch as they work the dough at their station, pulling and twisting in solemn meditation—proof that all the restaurant’s pastas are made in-house.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

A midday pop-in at the bar was an excuse to indulge in the half-and-half lunch duo. I paired a perfect Caprese salad with the fettuccine, rich with wild mushrooms, porcini cream, and black truffle. I made a mental note to return for Tuesday’s cacio e pepe. Made tableside, it’s prepared inside a Parmigiano Reggiano wheel, a fun and dramatic way to enjoy the spaghetti with Pecorino Romano, Sarawak black pepper, and lemon zest. My to-go order of rigatoni pomodoro with San Marzano tomato sauce and fresh basil was devoured by my family within minutes of my arrival at home. So, too, were my two pizza picks, the pepperoni and the spicy Calabrian sausage.

Dining at Tre Vele is luxe but comfortable, making it a place where you can come as you are—or maybe just a tad elevated. —Vené Franco

West

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Strangers in Paradise
West End
@strangersinparadiseatl
Michael Lennox’s Electric Hospitality is known for creating drinking and dining establishments that try to transport us. We might find ourselves, for example, imbibing friskily named drinks on an old bus with atmosphere, decor, and waitstaff outfits dedicated to the movie Goodfellas (Tiger Sun) or rounding up our Beltline Scooter Club for its quarterly meeting in an appropriately lodge-like, Wes Anderson–inspired, taxidermy-heavy setting (Ranger Station).

Lennox and Electric have also nestled into Lee + White food hall with Strangers in Paradise. Part of the redeveloped warehouse row on the Westside Beltline, Strangers is a tropical escape, a cross between a Jimmy Buffett song (I’ll get to that) and a tiki bar. Picture splashy ’80s colors, rattan bar stools, postcards galore, Polaroids of visitors (I said I’ll get to that!), and, at the center of the bar wall, a neon alligator that, if downsized, would look appropriate on the left breast of someone’s polo shirt.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

The bar doesn’t serve food. The menu is a fruitful abundance of drinks with names like Under the Limbo Stick, Shark Bite, and the bar-recommended, gin-soaked Broken Boogie Board.

But the star of this party is the $55 rum-based Cheeseburger in Paradise. The drinking vessel, built for serving four, is shaped like a—you guessed it—cheeseburger. Order one with multiple straws, and you and your gang will command the mood of the place. Lights will flash and dim. A familiar Jimmy Buffett song will strike up over the speakers. And your drink will be served with leis, burning sparklers, and campy sunglasses, along with the full attention of the staff and anyone sitting at the bar. And yes, someone will take a Polaroid pic of you, to be stuck on the Strangers in Paradise wall.

As Mr. Buffett himself once sang, “Well good God almighty, which way do I steer . . .” —Jamie Allen

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

To-Go Treasures

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

East

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

A Final Visit to the Original Daddy D’z BBQ Joynt

Daddy D’z BBQ Joynt
Grant Park
@daddydzbbq
The first time I stepped into Daddy D’z, I was carrying an amplifier and a guitar case. On the outside wall was a series of murals of blues greats. Inside, it didn’t feel like a shack—it was a shack. We didn’t get paid much to play the blues, but we did get a plate of food, and that’s how I was introduced to Daddy D’z ribs. They were juicy and succulent with the perfect amount of smoke. Daddy D’z founder, Ron Newman, explained that he was from Chicago and learned his smoker chops from his father-in-law before moving to Atlanta.

I was hired at the magazine a few years later during the middle of a “Best BBQ” issue, and the editor was serious about his barbecue. He scoffed when I told him I had a candidate for the “ribs” category, but after he’d wolfed down a quarter rack at Daddy D’z, I’d earned my place.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

I hadn’t eaten there since Newman sold Daddy D’z in 2018. I was kind of afraid to—those ribs were art. I was relieved that not much had changed when I visited during its last weeks on Memorial Drive (a hunt for a new location was underway at press time). The parking lot was still a pothole mine field. The same framed stories from the New York Times and others lined the walls. Also on the wall was a framed copy of our BBQ issue. The five best ribs in Atlanta were in a category all to their own, headlined “Hotamighytdamn!”

I tore a piece of meat off the ribs and tasted. Relief. The exclamation still applied. —Scott Freeman

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Karaoke at Bob & Harriet’s Home Bar
Kirkwood
@homebaratl
“Saturday night’s alright for fighting,” as Elton John once sang, but for pacifists itching to sing (with talent or not), there’s always Bob & Harriet’s Home Bar.

This cozy, community cornerstone tucked into a historic row of downtown Kirkwood storefronts has made Saturday night karaoke a rollicking, time-honored tradition, starting at 9 p.m. sharp. (Fun tip: Watch patrons across the street at Valero gas station’s pumps wonder what the racket is before spotting lubed-up performers at the open-doored dive.) Late-night snacks help fuel the brouhaha, which spills into the wee hours.

By day, this is a kid-friendly spot with a killer brunch (beeline for the This Sh*t Is B.A.N.A.N.A.S!, which marries griddled banana bread with bacon, scrambled eggs, and maple glaze), while Crab Legs Night on Tuesdays is another staple. But the true joy here comes after dark on Saturdays. Order a $4 pint of rotating house beer and applaud uncaged parents and Gen Zers belting out their best Whitney Houston and Axl Rose. —Josh Green

South

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Photograph by Growl Bros.

Hudson & Alphonse
Chosewood Park
@hudsonandalphonse
It’s a warm Friday evening, and Chosewood Park smells delicious, like sizzling steak and veggies and stacks of melting American cheese. The Southside Beltline neighborhood is dotted with new developments, but the source of that aroma is a former 1950s drive-thru in a gas station that sprung to life in 2023 as Hudson & Alphonse, a shoebox-sized deli with an oversized personality. What other eatery, for example, gives 10 percent discounts to customers who can rip off 15 pull-ups on bars near the walk-up window?

This one-person operation with a swelling fan base is the brainchild of owner Daniel Smith, whom everyone calls “Sunny” as a nod to his former rap moniker “SunN.Y.” His musical chops were enough to score airtime on BET, music videos, and a record deal with Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def Recordings in 2005. During the pandemic, Smith’s daughter requested he try to cook some of the dishes they’d eaten while on the road, and his next career pivot was born.

Smith proudly hails from Rochester, New York, and the deli’s name is a nod to a hometown street corner where an all-day eatery literally fed 1990s hip-hop culture in the area. “This Arab brother named Sham Sham would make these bangin’-ass steak subs for us,” says Smith, working the grill in a custom apron made of old Polo jeans, his thick dialect bringing to mind classic Wu-Tang Clan tracks. “I just chose to replicate [the sub] and take it around the world.” (Word to the wise: Saying “cheesesteak” like rival Philadelphians is borderline sacrilege here.)

Key to the deli’s success is Boss Sauce, a deliciously tart and sweet sandwich condiment from Rochester that’s so hard to find (and expensive to ship), Smith drives 16 hours each way to load his truck with it a couple times a year. “There’s not a restaurant in Rochester that doesn’t have it,” says Smith. “We had Boss Sauce before breast milk, is what I like to say.” The signature sub (and homage) is the Sham Sham, a deeply satisfying halal steak affair on hearth-baked Amoroso’s rolls slathered in homemade garlic butter ($17 for a foot-long). But don’t sleep on the off-menu 404 burger, which costs $4.04, or the hearty chopped chicken sub.

As a personal trainer, Smith has a love of fitness—he offers workout sessions for neighbors and friends on-site during off hours—that is reflected in the ingredients, including kale and wild-caught salmon that he says is the freshest available. And his hustle to launch a deli alone owes much to his past life in the cutthroat music industry. “I’m really ambitious and got a lot of drive,” says Smith, as DoorDash and Grubhub orders keep streaming in. “I’m manifesting this dream right here. It’s been amazing so far.” —JG

Your Picks for Hidden Gems

We asked you on Instagram to share your favorite low-profile spots for dining. Here’s what some of you revealed:

@lillianondus
Embilta Ethiopian

@laurashlyn
Local Three—it’s hard to find but well worth it, lol.

@katieandstampy
Babs Midtown

@ericwthom
Havana Sandwich Shop in Buford Hwy.

@mattkrack
Daddy D’z is the GOAT.

@donttouchthediscoball
Peruvian rotisserie chicken at Las Brasas in downtown Decatur.

@literallymyuser
Little’s Food Store

@coffeecoffee25
Gaslight in Roswell

@dogsecret12
New York Sandwich Shop West End

@givemegold_
Dolo’s Pizza

@ex_walls
Stan’s Smoke Signals

@whitleyromanojulie
JenChan’s

This article appears in our February 2026 issue.

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On an Augusta street lined with multimillion-dollar homes, 1015 Monte Sano Avenue stands as a reminder that charm can outshine sheer size. Built in 1936 and originally part of a larger property, the cozy two-bedroom, two-bath cottage holds its own next to the neighbors, thanks to new brickwork and uplighting that emphasizes its distinctive pitched gables. Neat shrubbery flanks the arched doorway, welcoming guests inside a house that listing agent Ann Marie McManus calls “a fun little jewel box that doesn’t take too much to maintain.”

Photograph by Joe Bailey

Photograph by Joe Bailey

Much of the abode’s allure lies in its location. The city’s historic Summerville neighborhood first emerged as a retreat for the affluent in the 1890s, when residents flocked from downtown seeking its cooler summer breezes. Today, residents take to the tree-lined streets for walks to Irish fare at Sheehan’s, oysters at Beck’s, or cultural programming at Augusta University. And with the Augusta National Golf Club just three miles away, Masters-season rental potential is strong. “Summerville is such a fun place with a small-town feel,” Ann Marie says. “You can walk to restaurants and get your hair cut at the local barber shop all in one trip.” (For those not in the know, that barber shop would be Darden’s.)

Photograph by Joe Bailey

Photograph by Joe Bailey

Inside the home, the current owners have executed a series of renovations meant to keep it feeling light and livable while maintaining its 1930s charm. You’ll find the original hardwood floors and a classic formal living room, its centerpiece a fireplace with a custom mantle. The kitchen, accented by a pastel-blue island, features ample storage space across three sets of shiny display cabinets. “I think they did everything so tastefully,” Ann Marie says. “The home is in tune with the times. And while the renovations were done recently, you’re not going to walk in 10 years from now and say, ‘Well, that was from 2025.’”

Photograph by Joe Bailey

Photograph by Joe Bailey

In addition to the cosmetic upgrades, the house also has a new HVAC system and a less-than-one-year-old roof. But the real fun is in the spacious backyard. Follow a paved brick path winding across the grass to discover a white brick outbuilding that houses another kitchen and dining area. Formerly a greenhouse, the entertaining space extends out into an open-air seating area. Take your pick between relaxing under the cover of its pavilion roof or opting for the adjacent fire pit.

Photograph by Joe Bailey

Photograph by Joe Bailey

“I’ve been selling homes for more than 40 years, and I rarely see one that’s done as meticulously as this,” says Ann Marie. “It’s been well loved throughout the years, and each owner has improved upon what was already there. To me, it’s high on both function and style. It’s just delightful.”

This home, located at 1015 Monte Sano Avenue in Augusta, is on the market for $529,900. For more information, contact Ann Marie McManus of Meybohm Real Estate at 706-481-3800; or annmarie@annmariemcmanus.com.

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Author Tayari Jones has a knack for weaving new threads through the familiar theme of family. That was true of An American Marriage, a bestseller selected for both Oprah’s Book Club and President Barack Obama’s summer reading list in 2018. Jones returns to family with her latest novel, Kin, out this month from Knopf. Annie and Niecy call themselves “cradle friends,” bonded by losing their mothers as infants. As they find their way in the world, both women long for the kin they never had and discover for themselves what else can forge a family.

Jones, who lives in Atlanta and is also a professor of English and creative writing at Emory University, sat down with Atlanta magazine for a conversation about her latest novel.

Atlanta: How did it feel working on a new novel after publishing an Oprah- and Obama-endorsed bestseller?

Tayari Jones: It did feel different because the only ambition I had was with my own writing. I’ve never written a historical novel like this before, so my ambition was to learn something new. But I didn’t have ambition in terms of I want to be a bestseller or I want to make Oprah, because I had done these things, and it seemed almost rude to try to do those things again.

The real pressure was from the world. After the pandemic, the summer of George Floyd, I had to become reinvested in my belief in literature as a way to change the world, to change hearts and minds. In 2020, the needs were so urgent and immediate. I didn’t have faith in the efficacy of what I had to give, and it was very difficult to immerse myself in fiction with the same kind of call to action that I had felt previously. Nevertheless, writing, storytelling—that was what I had to give. I just had to. It’s the only thing I can do.

Photograph by Julie Jarborough

Atlanta: Your work often reflects on family and all its complications. What drew you to tell this particular story about Annie and Niecy and what family means to them?

Jones: I think the idea that blood isn’t what makes you family, we’ve kind of accepted that intellectually as a culture. But I think we have trouble actually feeling it.

And that is a thing Annie has to learn, that other people can be your family—but only if you let them. She has to let go of a fantasy of a mother she never met, because no real-life person can ever match up to the person in your imagination.

Atlanta: Tell us about writing about Atlanta—this city you grew up in, which you describe so vividly.

Jones: Everything else I’ve written has been about contemporary Atlanta. And I love revisiting my own memories, but writing about historical Atlanta was so interesting. Like writing about Rich’s Department Store just after it desegregated. I remember it as just kind of a mundane part of my childhood. I mean, the thing I remember most about Rich’s was the Pink Pig.

So to look at the department store, and the Magnolia Room [inside Rich’s], to think about what it meant as a site of freedom and liberation—that was so interesting. But also, whether or not this seat at the table was hard-earned by the demonstrators, my character is still in a really uncomfortable lunch there with her ex and her mother. You know what I mean? Like, people’s lives happen while these other things are happening.

Atlanta: What do you hope readers take away from Kin?

Jones: I really hope that people walk away understanding that none of the issues that we are grappling with today are not new. That we are part of a lineage of people trying to make this a more just world. And I would like people to feel motivated to continue this resistance; not just resistance in terms of marching in the street—though I totally endorse that—but also realize that the way you conduct your personal, private life is also an act of resistance, if you live with dignity and integrity.

This article appears in our February 2026 issue.

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Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, designer Albert Lukonga arrived in Lexington nearly two decades ago via a United Nations resettlement program. Now, he’s the man behind some of the city’s sharpest suits and sleekest silhouettes, dressing travelers from all corners of the globe on their way to the state’s prominent horse-racing venues. As the founder of Albert Couture, Kentucky’s first fashion house, he’s designed bespoke looks for clients ranging from local business leaders to University of Kentucky athletes—even outfitting Governor Andy Beshear for his 2025 Vogue profile. “Lexington is a growing, friendly city,” he says. “And the food here is seriously good.” Here’s how the tastemaker would spend his ideal day out and about in the Horse Capital of the World.

GREAT TASTE
“Carson’s Food & Drink has a laid-back brunch that will blow your mind. There’s a great Creole shrimp plate and sweet and spicy ribs that are insane. I’m constantly in the kitchen at home trying to replicate that sauce.”

Courtesy Visit Lexington

DRESS TO IMPRESS
“Break out the best stuff in your closet when visiting Keeneland, a racetrack west of the city with a true Kentucky vibe. Try to go when there’s a Thoroughbred auction happening.”

Courtesy Visit Lexington

SIP IN STYLE
“Drive a bit north from there for another essential Kentucky experience at Castle & Key Distillery. It’s a very cool bourbon destination that looks like a European castle. They do tours of the grounds and specialty tastings. Don’t leave without trying their old-fashioned or Godfather cocktail.”

ON THE MONEY
“Dudley’s on Short is my pick for lunch. It’s been around for more than 40 years, and the current building downtown used to be a bank. There’s not a bad place to sit. The dining room has big, beautiful photos of Kentucky history on the walls, and the back patio makes me aspire to be a gardener.”

SHOWTIME
“The historic Lexington Opera House brings people from all over for shows of all kinds. I especially like to visit when the Lexington Ballet Company is performing.”

ELEVATED TASTES
“I’m inspired by chefs, particularly the ones behind Omage, the Apiary’s multicourse dinner series. The menu and decor are always based on a different culture or theme. One of the most memorable was ‘Havana Nights,’ when guys from Cuba were rolling cigars.”

NIGHTWATCH
“Several of my patrons are in Italy and Spain, so I keep late hours. The Manchester, a fantastic new hotel, is a perfect spot for a nightcap. Its rooftop bar, Lost Palm, is like something you’d expect to see in Boca Raton.”

This article appears in the Winter 2026 issue of Southbound.

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