7 Georgia Eats You’ll Want On Your List + 7 Spots That Left Us Absolutely Speechless
Georgia is a state where flavor reigns supreme, from comforting classics to bold, unexpected dishes.
Some spots serve up familiar favorites that hit every craving perfectly, while others push the boundaries with creativity that leaves diners amazed.
Whether you’re after savory, sweet, or something in between, these restaurants showcase the best of what Georgia has to offer.
Each bite tells a story, turning meals into memories that linger long after the last bite.
1. The Olde Pink House: Savannah’s Haunted Culinary Treasure
Housed in an 18th-century mansion painted ballet-slipper pink, this Savannah landmark serves Southern cuisine with a ghostly twist. Local legend claims the original owner still wanders the halls!
Their crispy scored flounder practically melts in your mouth, while the mac and cheese fritters could make a grown person weep with joy.
The basement tavern, with its brick-lined walls and live piano music, offers the perfect atmospheric nightcap after dinner.
2. Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room: Family-Style Southern Magic
Queue forms early outside this Savannah institution, where strangers become friends around communal tables loaded with Southern staples. Cash only and worth every dollar!
Fried chicken so perfect it might ruin all other fried chicken for you forever. Twenty-plus sides pass from hand to hand – black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread that tastes like sunshine.
The no-reservations policy means everyone, from celebrities to locals, waits their turn for this authentic experience.
3. The Original Crab Shack: Tybee Island’s Seafood Paradise
Nicknamed “Where the Elite Eat in Their Bare Feet,” this rustic waterfront joint on Tybee Island delivers seafood straight from local waters to your table. Alligators swim in a pond right on the property!
Their seafood platters arrive piled high with crab legs, shrimp, mussels, and crawfish – all perfectly seasoned with their signature spice blend.
Crack, peel, and slurp your way through dinner while pelicans and seabirds swoop nearby, creating an authentic coastal experience you won’t find in fancy city restaurants.
4. Antico Pizza Napoletana: Atlanta’s Slice of Italy
Stepping into Antico feels like teleporting straight to Naples. The communal tables, boisterous atmosphere, and heavenly aromas create pizza paradise in the heart of Atlanta.
Wood-fired ovens imported from Italy blast these perfect pies at 900 degrees, creating that magical charred-yet-chewy crust pizza dreams are made of.
The San Gennaro with sausage and sweet red peppers draws pizza pilgrims from across the country. Grab your own Italian soda from the cooler and prepare for carb-induced bliss.
5. The Vortex: Atlanta’s Burger Rebellion
Walking through a giant skull entrance sets the tone for this irreverent burger joint. The Vortex’s unapologetically snarky attitude and strict 21+ policy create a refreshing adult playground.
Their coronary-inducing creations like the “Triple Bypass Burger” stack multiple patties with every topping imaginable.
The walls plastered with weird memorabilia provide endless entertainment while you wait. Fair warning: servers dish out attitude alongside your food, but that’s part of the charm that keeps Atlantans coming back.
6. Bone’s Restaurant: Atlanta’s Steakhouse Royalty
Old-school elegance defines Bone’s, Atlanta’s longest-running fine dining establishment. White tablecloths, wood-paneled walls, and bow-tied servers create an atmosphere of timeless sophistication.
Their dry-aged steaks achieve that perfect mineral-rich flavor that only proper aging can deliver. The corn pudding side dish has maintained cult status among regulars for decades.
Power brokers and celebration-seekers alike flock here for the impeccable service and consistency that’s kept them thriving since 1979.
7. Leopold’s Ice Cream: Savannah’s Sweet Century
Founded in 1919 by three immigrant brothers, Leopold’s maintains its vintage soda fountain charm while serving some of America’s finest handcrafted ice cream.
The line often stretches down the block!
Their signature Tutti Frutti flavor, studded with candied fruits and roasted Georgia pecans, remains unchanged from the original recipe.
Hollywood producer Stratton Leopold returned to his family business, ensuring movie memorabilia decorates the walls alongside ice cream history. Each scoop comes with a side of Southern hospitality that makes the wait worthwhile.
8. Tallulah Gorge State Park: Nature’s Dramatic Canyon
Mother Nature flexed hard when creating this two-mile-long, nearly 1,000-foot-deep gorge. The thundering waterfalls and suspension bridge create heart-stopping views that no photo can truly capture.
Daredevils can secure one of the limited permits to hike to the gorge floor, where swimming holes reward your effort. Film buffs might recognize the gorge from scenes in Deliverance.
The Hurricane Falls Loop trail with its 620 steps (yes, they’re numbered!) offers the quintessential Tallulah experience without requiring Olympic-level fitness.
9. Providence Canyon State Park: Georgia’s Painted Desert
Nicknamed “Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon,” this geological wonder began as simple erosion from poor farming practices in the 1800s.
Now the stunning red, orange, and purple soil layers create an otherworldly landscape. Sunlight transforms the canyon walls throughout the day, creating a natural light show photographers chase obsessively.
The rim trail offers spectacular views without demanding technical hiking skills. Rare Plumleaf Azaleas bloom wild here in July and August, adding splashes of color you won’t find in Arizona’s more famous canyon.
10. Driftwood Beach: Jekyll Island’s Hauntingly Beautiful Shore
Ancient weathered trees create a natural sculpture garden along this otherworldly beach. Erosion transformed a maritime forest into this graveyard of twisted driftwood that photographers and romantics can’t resist.
Sunrise casts magical golden light across the bleached wood, creating silhouettes straight from a fantasy novel.
The beach becomes a natural playground where kids climb twisted branches while parents snap Instagram gold. Wedding parties frequently gather here, drawn by the dramatic backdrop that needs zero decoration.
11. Wormsloe State Historic Site: Savannah’s Oak-Lined Time Machine
Spanish moss drips from hundreds of live oaks forming a 1.5-mile avenue straight out of a Southern Gothic novel. This entrance to the colonial estate of Noble Jones creates possibly the most photographed road in Georgia.
Originally a fortified home built in the 1730s, Wormsloe offers a glimpse into colonial Georgia through tabby ruins and living history demonstrations.
The museum contains artifacts from some of Georgia’s earliest European settlers. Film buffs might recognize the iconic oak alley from scenes in Forrest Gump and The General’s Daughter.
12. Amicalola Falls State Park: North Georgia’s Majestic Cascade
The name means “tumbling waters” in Cherokee, and at 729 feet, these falls don’t just tumble – they roar! Georgia’s tallest waterfall creates a misty spectacle visible from multiple viewing platforms.
Hardcore hikers use Amicalola as the access point to the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. The adventurous can tackle the challenging staircase trail with 604 steps leading to the waterfall’s crest.
The park’s rustic lodge offers rooms with mountain views perfect for those who prefer admiring nature without sleeping in it.
13. Cloudland Canyon State Park: Georgia’s Grand Mountain Chasm
Perched on the western edge of Lookout Mountain, this massive gorge slices deep into the Cumberland Plateau. Thousand-foot deep canyons reveal rock formations dating back 500 million years.
Waterfalls cascade into emerald pools accessible via steep hiking trails with wooden staircases. Fall transforms the canyon into a kaleidoscope of red and gold foliage that draws leaf-peepers from across the Southeast.
Winter occasionally brings frozen waterfalls, creating ephemeral ice sculptures that reward cold-weather hikers with magical views few summer visitors ever witness.
14. Cumberland Island National Seashore: Wild Horses and Untamed Beaches
Accessible only by ferry, this barrier island feels like Georgia’s best-kept secret. Wild horses roam freely among maritime forests, pristine beaches, and the ruins of Gilded Age mansions.
The Carnegies once owned most of the island, and their abandoned Dungeness mansion creates a hauntingly beautiful backdrop for the feral horses that graze nearby.
Camping permits allow overnight stays in primitive beachside sites where loggerhead turtles nest and night skies explode with stars untouched by light pollution.
The island’s remoteness preserves an ecosystem increasingly rare on the Eastern Seaboard.