Atlantans spend hours every day in bumper-to-bumper traffic, so it’s no surprise that we’re always looking for an escape. Lucky for us, some of the city’s best restaurants offer exactly that: a chance to exhale, sip something cold, and take in a skyline, a treetop canopy, or a serene waterfront.
Whether you’re after a rooftop perch above Midtown traffic or a tucked-away patio that feels miles from the interstate, these Atlanta restaurants make the view part of the meal.
The Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View
Perched atop the Westin Peachtree Plaza—one of Atlanta’s tallest buildings—the Sun Dial Restaurant has been a city landmark since the 1970s. From 723 feet up, the 360-degree panoramic skyline views are still first-rate. If you’re coming primarily for the view, the adults-only bar on the 73rd floor is your best bet: walk-ins are welcome, drinks and bites are under $30, and the contemporary American menu includes standouts like tuna poke with edamame and sesame. Seat yourself on the west side for proper sunset viewing. 210 Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta, sundialrestaurant.com
Polaris
Atlanta’s oldest spinning restaurant has been drawing diners to the top of the Hyatt Regency since the 1960s. The main attraction is the slow, steady rotation that delivers a full panorama of the Downtown skyline over the course of your meal—no jockeying for the best seat required. The Southern-inflected menu leans on ingredients sourced from more than 70 local farms, and the kitchen even keeps a rooftop bee garden to produce honey for cocktails and dishes, including the signature Blue Dome dessert. 265 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, polarisatlanta.com
Canoe
Canoe has been drawing diners to this bend of the Chattahoochee River in Vinings for nearly three decades, and the riverbank setting still makes this a reservation worth snagging. The menu changes with the seasons, but the maple-brined duck breast and the jumbo lump crab cake with yuzu slaw are reliable anchors. The popcorn sundae has been closing out meals here long enough to qualify as a landmark in its own right. 4199 Paces Ferry Rd. SE, Atlanta, canoeatl.com
9 Mile Station
When Atlantans want a skyline view without a dress code or a sky-high bill, 9 Mile Station delivers. Perched atop Ponce City Market in the heart of Old Fourth Ward, this rooftop bar and kitchen sits at the intersection of the BeltLine, Midtown, and Downtown, making the panorama feel like a greatest-hits version of the city spread out below you. The seasonally driven American menu and craft cocktail program give you plenty of reasons to stay put, especially around sunset. 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, 9milestation.com
New Realm Brewing
New Realm doesn’t need a skyline to justify the trip. Settled along the Eastside BeltLine Trail in Old Fourth Ward, the brewery spills across a rooftop, a front patio, and a sprawling beer garden, offering more open-air square footage than almost anywhere else in the city. Order the smash burger and a cold draft of whatever’s rotating through the taps, claim a spot outside, and settle in. Stay late during the summer months for DJ-spun tunes as the sun sets over the neighborhood. 550 Somerset Terrace NE, #101, Atlanta, newrealmbrewing.com
Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft
Chef DeeDee Niyomkul’s third-floor Buckhead perch delivers sweeping views of Downtown Atlanta, Midtown, and Atlantic Station, and the food is good enough to hold your attention between peeks out the window. Her gourmet twists on Thai street food, rooted in her grandmother’s Bangkok recipes, are the draw—think garlic-pepper ribs, drunken noodles packed with squid and shrimp, and vegan pad mee. Come for the covered rooftop and Buckhead skyline views; stay for the panang chicken. 1745 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, tuktukatl.com
Six Feet Under Pub and Fish House – Grant Park
A great view doesn’t have to point towards the skyline. At Six Feet Under’s Grant Park location, the rooftop overlooks historic Oakland Cemetery—48 acres of Victorian monuments, towering oaks, and the graves of Atlanta legends like Margaret Mitchell and Maynard Jackson. The fried seafood and cold draft beer are the right call here, and on a good-weather afternoon, the patio fills up fast. Arrive early. 437 Memorial Dr. SE, Ste. #1A, Atlanta, sixfeetunder.net
Up on the Roof
You don’t have to fight Midtown traffic for a rooftop view. Perched atop Liberty Hall—the tallest building in Downtown Alpharetta—Up on the Roof makes a strong case for dining OTP. The wrap-around terrace delivers 360-degree views of North Atlanta, with Kennesaw Mountain visible on the horizon and Alpharetta’s Town Green directly below. The Southern small plates and signature bottled cocktails are worth the trip up the elevator, even if the drive up 400 wasn’t. 33 S. Main St., Alpharetta, eatupdrinkup.net
Ray’s on the River
A perennial special occasion spot in Sandy Springs, Ray’s on the River isn’t shy about its selling point. Its location right on the banks of the Chattahoochee River sets up a tranquil view, whether you’re dining on Charleston She-Crab Soup for lunch or a wood-fired ribeye after sundown. Wall-to-wall windows provide the perfect setting, regardless of the weather—a necessity when summer temperatures start to spike. 6700 Powers Ferry Rd. NW, Sandy Springs, raysontheriver.com
Wagyu House
This West Midtown hotspot is a lot of things: an all-you-can-eat Japanese yakiniku and Korean BBQ spot, a neon-lit scene worth dressing up for, a splurge that lives up to the hype. It also happens to have a sprawling wrap-around rooftop patio with a sharp view of the Atlanta skyline. The food earns its keep, too. The table-grilled wagyu and marbled Australian chuck eye are shockingly good for the price. The view just makes it better. 1042 Northside Dr. NW, Ste. 1300, Atlanta, wagyuhouse.group
Park Tavern
Atlanta’s oldest brewpub also has one of the city’s most spectacular settings. Tucked into the corner of 10th and Monroe at the edge of Piedmont Park, Park Tavern overlooks one of the largest urban green spaces in the South, with the Midtown skyline rising behind the tree line. The fast-casual format keeps things relaxed: order a house-brewed draft and a burger at the bar, find a spot on the patio, and watch the sun go down over the park. 500 10th St. NE, Atlanta, parktavern.com
Boone’s
Rolling greens, terraced dining, and free parking might just make you forget that you’re in the heart of Buckhead—and that’s exactly the vibe Boone’s is going for. Grab a spot on the back porch to savor Southern cuisine with an international twist—starting with an order of the pimento cheese fritters is non-negotiable—paired with views over Bobby Jones Golf Course, with the Atlanta skyline glittering in the distance. 2205 Northside Dr. NW, Atlanta, boonesatl.com
