In this post, we’re featuring 11+ of our favorite Atlanta food, wine, and beer activities that are perfect for groups of friends, families, coworkers, and classmates.
Bon appétit!
A few of our favorite Atlanta group ideas for food lovers:
Read on for more details on these activities and more.
- Take a walking food tour with Unexpected Atlanta
- Hone your skills with a group cooking or baking class
- Explore Atlanta’s best brewery restaurants
- Take a wine and food pairing class at Vino Venue
In this post, you’ll find:
- Atlanta group activities for food lovers
- Chef experiences and chef dinners in Atlanta
- Group cooking and baking workshops in Atlanta
- Wine tastings and brewery experiences for Atlanta groups
- Atlanta food experiences for corporate teams
- Can’t-miss Atlanta restaurants and food experiences
1. Taste 8 Dishes from 3 Restaurants on Our Grant Park Food Walk
Experience some of the most unique and flavorful dishes in Atlanta on this 1.2-mile walking food and cocktail tour! Join a public tour, or schedule a private tour just for your group.
This Unexpected Atlanta experience allows your group to explore the charming and historic Grant Park neighborhood, stopping for tastings as the tour unfolds.
Try 8 modern and Southern fusion tastings from 3 local food stops: Six Feet Under, Firepit Pizza Tavern, and The Little Tart Bakeshop.
Along the way, your expert guide will facilitate the experience and share fascinating historical information. The tour also includes a jaunt through Historic Oakland Cemetery, the final resting place of many noteworthy Atlantans.
Does your group include Atlanta foodies with dietary restrictions? If so, be sure to let us know in advance when booking your tour so we can accommodate your needs!
2. Feel like a VIP at No. 246’s Chef’s Counter
Started by Chefs Drew Belline and Ford Fry, No. 246 in Decatur is known for its delicious and classic Italian fare. Experience this spot to the fullest with an unforgettable special experience for small groups.
Book a reservation for 4 at the Chef’s Counter, and you’ll be treated to a custom five-course menu.
Alternatively, you can choose the Black Sheep Table at No. 246 to enjoy a special family-style dinner for 4.
Learn more about the Chef’s Counter and Black Sheep Table at No. 246. Wine tastings can be added to either experience.
3. Take a Cooking Class with Your Group
Have you ever watched in awe as a masterful chef chopped vegetables with precision and speed? Or, have you ever wondered how to make homemade pasta? If so, look no further!
The Cook’s Warehouse in Midtown Atlanta offers cooking classes on a variety of topics. For example, choose from topics like knife skills, Paris bistro favorites, croissants, pasta and gnocchi, and more. Choose from joining a public class, or arrange a private experience for your group.
Similarly, The Cooking School at Irwin Street offers a variety of cooking classes in the hip Old Fourth Ward neighborhood.
4. Rise to the Top in a Little Tart Baking Workshop
Years ago, the late Anthony Bourdain proclaimed on national television that The Little Tart’s croissants were “very good.” His quote still hangs above the counter at Little Tart’s Summerhill location, an enduring indication of this bakery’s commitment to quality, impressing one of the top chefs the world has seen.
In addition to being a beloved Atlanta bakery and an Unexpected Atlanta tour partner, The Little Tart also offers baking classes!
Learn how to make the perfect pie crust, or craft savory pastries like gougères and scones.
Check out The Little Tart’s baking classes here!
5. Visit Atlanta’s Breweries with On-Site Restaurants
Planning a happy hour for a hungry crowd? Atlanta has no shortage of breweries. But, if you’re a foodie, you’ll want to make sure your brewery of choice has an on-site kitchen or other dining options!
To that end, here are a few of our favorite Atlanta breweries with an on-site restaurant:
- The Lost Druid (Avondale Estates)
- SweetWater Brewing Company (Piedmont Heights)
- New Realm Brewing (O4W / Beltline Eastside Trail)
- Torched Hop Brewing Company (Midtown)
- Tucker Brewing Company (Tucker)
Checking out a brewery that doesn’t have a kitchen or food offerings? If so, many breweries will let you bring in your own food – or even have it delivered! Call ahead to ask what your options are.
6. Take Your Group for a Wine Class at Vino Venue
Have you ever wanted to learn more about wine in a fun, nonjudgmental environment? If so, Vino Venue’s wine and food classes are for you!
Located in Dunwoody, Vino Venue is an Atlanta destination for all things wine and food. Here, you’ll find wine and cooking classes, a retail wine shop, 50+ wines available to try by the glass, and a selection of craft beers.
Additionally, Vino Venue has an on-site restaurant to satisfy your Atlanta foodie urges – plus a $100,000 chef demonstration kitchen.
Vino Venue’s cooking and wine classes cover topics like food and wine pairings, regional dishes, and seasonal themed menu items.
Discover more and plan your group’s outing to Vino Venue!
7. Eat Your Way Around the World on Buford Highway
Buford Highway is one of Atlanta’s most unique food destinations. This four-lane highway spanning from Brookhaven to Duluth is home to more than 1,000 immigrant-owned businesses. According to Eater Atlanta, you’ll also find restaurants featuring foods from nearly two dozen countries around the world.
A few of the best Buford Highway restaurants (in our opinion!) include:
- Northern China Eatery: for delicious dumplings and more
- Lee’s Bakery: for Banh Mi, Pho, and other Vietnamese foods
- El Rey Del Taco: for authentic Mexican dishes
- Mamak: for delicious Malaysian cuisine
- Supermercado Chicago: for counter-service tacos with tortillas and salsas made fresh daily
- Miss Gogi: for Korean barbecue
- Sweet Hut: for all kinds of baked goods, sandwiches, and bubble teas
Get started by exploring We Love BuHi’s Buford Highway Directory.
8. Shop at an Atlanta Farmers Market Together
On a beautiful Atlanta day, there’s nothing better than strolling outdoor farmers markets with a group of good friends or family. In addition to fresh produce, many farmers markets offer coffee, baked goods, meats and cheeses, dog treats, self-care products, and more!
Here are a few of our favorite outdoor, year-round farmers markets:
- Avondale Estates Farmers Market: Sundays from 10am-1pm
- Grant Park Farmers Market: Sundays from 9am-1pm
- Morningside Farmers Market: Saturdays from 8am-11:30am
- Freedom Farmers Market at the Carter Center: Saturdays from 8:30am-12pm
Note: market dates are subject to change due to special holiday hours and inclement weather. Be sure to check each market’s website and social media before you go!
9. Experience “Honkaku Omakase” Dinner at Sushi Hayakawa
This idea is perfect for an intimate group of 4 foodies with exceptional taste. In fact, the experience is limited to just four guests in the restaurant each night!
Sushi Hayakawa offers a serene, traditional sushi experience. Formerly located on Buford Highway, the restaurant is reopening in West Midtown in early 2022.
Here, you can book a “Honkaku Omakase:” a multi-course meal made with the finest in-house ingredients. For instance, you’ll get to try specialty fish that are ordered solely for this experience!
Guests who reserve the Honkaku Omakase experience will be seated with sushi master and itamae Hayakawa while he serves you personally. Hayakawa is a James Beard Award semifinalist and has been highly regarded for his decades of sushi-making experience.
Learn more and reserve your Honkaku Omakase experience.
10. Visit Chattahoochee Food Works
Atlanta has several food halls to explore – including popular options like Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market.
Another standout option is Chattahoochee Food Works, on the upper west side of Atlanta. At this spot, you’ll find 31 vendors and 25,000 square feet of delicious food options.
From baked goods to candy, “Hippie Hibachi” vegan cuisine, Cuban sandwiches, Soul Food, oysters, and more – there’s something for everyone in your group!
Head to Chattahoochee Food Works, and you can even try the mac and cheese that Oprah declared “Best in the Nation!”
11. Taste Atlanta’s Best BBQ
The word “foodie” might not conjure up images of barbecue. But, as they say, “If you know, you know.” That’s because there’s a special art and science that goes into creating a beautifully seasoned rack of ribs, or the perfect tender pork sandwich.
For some of the best BBQ in Atlanta, head to Fat Matt’s on Cheshire Bridge. This unpretentious spot has served nearly 500,000 customers. The line is often out the door, but it moves quickly. Prepare to be flexible with your seating if your group is large!
In the evenings, this BBQ spot doubles as a venue for live blues music, so come prepared to be entertained. And, while you’re there, be sure to try the sweet potato pie!
Other great BBQ spots in Atlanta include Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, DAS BBQ, and Daddy D’z.
Delve Deeper into Atlanta’s Culinary History
Did you know? Unexpected Atlanta’s Founder & President, Akila McConnell, literally wrote the book on Atlanta’s food history! As a culinary historian, McConnell shares fascinating stories and recipes in her book, “A Culinary History of Atlanta.”
This book explores how Atlanta’s cuisine has always been an integral part of its identity. For example, it explores how food has shaped the city of Atlanta, often in unexpected and surprising ways.
In fact, we love Atlanta’s culinary history so much, we created Unexpected Atlanta around the idea of engaging, high-quality food and history tours that bring learning to life for Atlanta foodies.
