In warmer months, chipmunks and hummingbirds dart around the well-tended garden that slopes down from the restaurant's patio to the nearby, fast-moving Chattahoochee River. Make a reservation for Sunday brunch, which begins with a basket of freshly baked pastries and to follow, perhaps house smoked salmon and Georgia white shrimp salad.

There's a deliberate 1960s vibe at this Ponce City Market restaurant, with stylish mid-century furnishings, plus a cocktail list and menu inspired by that era. Sip classic drinks such as Manhattans or Moscow Mules and tuck into favourite American staples including shrimp carbonara, prime rib and ravioli.

A favourite haunt for many food lovers in search of great atmosphere, The Optimist ranks as one of the city's finest. The high ceiling reminds you of an upside down boat, hinting at the largely seafood menu. Their fried Gulf oysters are a tasty treat. Leave room for the peanut butter and jelly cheesecake with whipped cream.

Once inside this restaurant, you're transported to Italy – scenes from Florence and Venice adorn the walls and the pasta dishes such as homemade gnocchi in a bolognese sauce are as authentic as it gets. Owner Antonio Noviello, from the Amalfi coast, took over the restaurant in 1982 and still manages to make it a favourite Italian for Atlantans.

Diners at this Midtown eatery are invited to take a trip around the world with a menu of global tapas, covering everywhere from Denmark to Nigeria. Cocktails are creatively paired to match the cuisine, and the décor has a retro flair, with purple velvet booths and artworks by Keith Haring and Andy Warhol.

One of a hip collection of eateries in Krog Street Market (housed in a renovated 1920s warehouse), Ticonderoga Club is a trendy hangout with cosy booths and colourful stools lined up at the bar. Starters include veal sweetbread piccata and icy blue mussels, while mains feature seafood and hunks of steak or lamb.

Fist-sized biscuits, Southern scrambled eggs, organic-oatmeal pancakes and creamy grits are staples at this eating place. Crowded and hectic, there is always a queue and no reservations are taken. It's open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with additional locations across the city.

This 'tea room' features authentic tastes of the Old South. First-time visitors get free Pot Likker - turnip greens with broth and cornbread. Food is prepared the same way it was when this local favourite opened in 1945. Its many dining rooms are a rambling complex of adjoining buildings. Lunch and dinner.

Atlanta's famous drive-in restaurant, the Varsity's original downtown location has been drawing hungry diners since 1928. The menu contains classic fast-food fare such as chilli cheese dogs, BLTs and frosted orange shakes. It's a favourite stopping-off spot for visiting celebrities, including President Obama, who grabbed a hot dog here on his 2012 election campaign tour.