When you’re working with peaches, pecans, and peanuts, all grown within your home state, desserts are naturally part of the dinner conversation. Atlanta has a love affair with the sweet stuff, and the influence from our international community only makes it better.
Whether you’re craving vegan soft serve, a slice of cake the size of your head, or a plate as pretty as a picture, you’re bound to find something to satisfy your sweet tooth. Here’s where to find some of Atlanta’s best desserts.
New York Prime
This Buckhead institution is known for its dry-aged steaks, but don’t sleep on the dessert menu. The steakhouse goes big in every sense—the Gigantic Chocolate Cake (yes, that’s what it’s called) easily feeds four, as does the Saturday Sundae: a concoction prepared tableside in an oversized martini glass packed with Reese’s cups, Heath bars, Butterfingers, chocolate chips, almonds, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. Save room, or better yet, come hungry. 3424 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, newyorkprime.com
Bar ANA
The dessert bar concept isn’t exactly new, but Atlanta has never had one of this caliber. Opened in late 2025 in Poncey-Highland, Bar Ana has already made a name for itself thanks to the ingenuity of James Beard-nominated pastry chef Claudia Martínez. Inspired by her Southern roots and Venezuelan heritage, she turns out fruit-forward creations like her signature guava-glazed doughnuts that are as gorgeous to look at as they are to eat. Pair your sweets with a cocktail (or three) from Kimball House alum Mayim Williams. 939 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, baranaatl.com
Big Softie
Imagine a mad dessert scientist got a hold of a build-your-own sundae bar—that might just prepare you for the Big Softie experience. Cheez-It brittle, strawberry hardshell, and rotating seasonal flavors are all fair game at this Summerhill-born soft serve shop, now with three locations across town. Founder Sarah O’Brien uses local organic dairy and keeps vegan oat vanilla—with a texture like the real thing—on the menu year-round. Expect a line. Multiple locations, bigsoftieatl.com
Fluffy Fluffy Desert Cafe
If a trip to Japan isn’t in the budget, a visit to Fluffy Fluffy will suffice, at least to satisfy your craving for all things kawaii. It’s all in the name: souffle-style cakes (more eggy than your traditional flapjack) are served fresh and piled high with toppings ranging from strawberries and cream to tiramisu and creme brulee. If souffle isn’t your style, Basque-style cheesecake in flavors like matcha and earl grey might tempt your tastebuds. Multiple locations, fluffyfluffy.com
Cafe Intermezzo
Chandeliers and 20th-century Parisian decor are a feast for the eyes, but Cafe Intermezzo’s dessert case is the main attraction. Indulgently creamy cheesecakes in flavors ranging from cannoli to key lime pie pull in dessert seekers from lunch through late night. If your sweet tooth still isn’t satisfied, over-the-top hot chocolates dripping in schlag (thick house whipped cream) should hit the spot. Tortes, cakes, and pastries round out the menu. Multiple locations, cafeintermezzo.com
Revolution Doughnuts
What started at local farmers markets grew into a Decatur institution when Revolution Doughnuts opened its first shop on National Doughnut Day in 2012. What’s the revolutionary concept? Every dough, glaze, and filling is handmade from scratch using organic flour, local dairy, fresh fruit, and natural flavor extracts—think caramel bacon, blueberry lemonade, and toasted almond. Vegan and gluten-free options keep the revolution accessible to everyone. Multiple locations, revolutiondonuts.com
Canoe
A riverside perch on the Chattahoochee and nearly three decades of loyal regulars tell you something about Canoe’s staying power. The Vinings institution has long been a destination for refined Southern dining, but save room for the popcorn sundae—a nostalgic, salty-sweet combination of butter popcorn-flavored ice cream, caramel popcorn, and peanuts that has earned its place as a bona fide Atlanta classic. Don’t overlook the daily sorbet either, which rotates through unexpectedly inventive flavors. 4199 Paces Ferry Rd. SE, Atlanta. canoeatl.com
Valenza
Handmade pasta may be the draw, but it’s the desserts at Valenza that will leave you dreaming of la dolce vita. The budino alone is worth the trip to Brookhaven: oven-fresh white chocolate bread pudding paired with dark chocolate gelato, a combination that hits every sweet note. Tiramisu, panna cotta, and ricotta cheesecake round out a short, well-edited dolci menu. Don’t overlook the caffe speciali, including a cappuccino spiked with sambuca. 1441 Dresden Dr. NE, Ste. 100, Brookhaven, valenzarestaurant.com
Sweet Hut Bakery & Cafe
Atlanta’s most-visited pan-Asian bakery got its start on Buford Highway and now spans five locations across the metro. The draw is the sheer range: fluffy milk bread buns (sweet and savory), Swiss rolls, Portuguese egg tarts, donuts, and made-to-order bubble teas that keep the line moving at all hours. Flavors like taro, matcha, and red bean sit alongside chocolate and vanilla varieties of most everything, and whole cakes are available for extra special celebrations. Multiple locations, sweethutbakery.com
Douceur de France
This neighborhood spot (locations in Marietta and Roswell) started by French chef Luc Beaudet has been bringing Parisian patisserie to the metro for more than 25 years in the form of crisp napoleons, classic eclairs, and picture-perfect tarts. The menu rotates seasonally, so what’s in the case today may not be there tomorrow, offering plenty of reasons to visit often. Macrons, sold individually or in boxed sets, in flavors from coffee to lavender, are a perennial favorite. Multiple locations, douceurdefrance.com
Little Sparrow
Ford Fry’s homage to Parisian brasserie culture puts as much care into its dessert menu as its wine selection, and is all the better for it. Alongside deeply rich chocolate souffle and rhum baba is a slice of Americana: self-proclaimed “fancy soft-serve” in seasonally rotating (often Southern-tinged) flavors like peach marlow or peanut brittle. For those who’d rather keep it simple, the evoo and honey variety is on the menu year-round. 1198 Howell Mill Rd., Ste. 18, Atlanta, littlesparrowatl.com
Marietta Diner
With its chrome moulding and neon lights, this Cobb Parkway institution is a textbook greasy spoon. The crown jewel of a menu longer than a phone book is the dessert selection, anchored by cakes and cheesecakes served in slices some might consider obscene. Sweets range from baklava cheesecake to classic German chocolate, with seasonal flavors filling in the gaps. And with 24/7 service, this bakery case is available whenever the cravings hit. 306 Cobb Pkwy. SE, Marietta, mariettadiner.com
