Here’s a quick guide to some local places you may want to visit while in Atlanta for the World Horror Convention this May.
First of all, if you have never been to Atlanta before, welcome. You’re bound to have a good time. While the WHC will have plenty of activities to keep you occupied, I wanted to provide a list of some local haunts in case you want to go exploring. Just be forewarned, getting around Atlanta can be confusing as hell.
Here are a few of my favorite spots that tend to attract readers, writers, and creative folks in general. I offer them in no particular order.
Coffee Shops and/or Places to Write
Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party
This may be my favorite place in all of Atlanta. It’s also where I go to write. The place is teeming with books 
that you can purchase for a buck. They serve a traditional high tea, which is great, although it requires a reservation. Proceeds from their books and select teas go to fund scholarships to impoverished young women in India. It’s just got a great vibe that’s worth checking out.
Park Tavern
This listing could fall under restaurants or bars, but I’m putting it here as a potential place to write. It has a 
spacious patio adjacent to Piedmont Park, so it’s fairly picturesque. If you want to go for a walk, then sit down, have a beer, and get some writing done, this is the place for you.
Restaurants
The Gunshow
Chef Kevin Gillespie was a finalist on the popular Top Chef television show, making him a semi-celebrity in 
town. This place is great, albeit unconventional. It basically follows after the Chinese dim sum tradition in that dishes are prepared in an open kitchen and then presented by the chefs themselves, allowing you to choose what you want. I went recently, and it was excellent.
Buford Highway
If you’re a fan of traditional Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwiches, Pho dishes, or 
Korean BBQ, some of the best places in the country are found on Buford Highway.
My personal favorites are:
Lee’s Bakery for Banh Mi and Pho.
Han Il Kwan for Korean BBQ
Krog Street Market
This is a cool new in-town collection of shops and restaurants. It’s got an eclectic array of places to eat or grab a drink. It’s good if you’re with a group and want options.
Breakfast Places
Here are two of my go-to breakfast spots if I’ve had a late night and need some delicious grease to get me going.
Homegrown
Just checked the website and this place apparently made Playboy’s Top Ten breakfast places in America (Otherwise, I never would have known that. I swear.). It’s just good, standard breakfast fare made with locally sourced ingredients. Anthony Bourdain featured this place when he came to town.
Waffle House
You just can’t go wrong with the Waffle House. Unless it’s after 2 am and you don’t know how to fight.
Bars, Pubs, Places to Black Out
The Book House Pub
Perhaps not the most exciting place in town, but it’s got good food, a decent drink list, and a cool tavern feel with walls that are lined with books. It’s a solid hang out spot.
Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium (aka, Church)
This is a fun place to go and be a freak. It’s dark. It’s filled with cool art. Everyone there is out to have a good 
time. Here’s how they describe the place: Sister Louisa’s CHURCH is an Art Gallery that sells Alcohol & Sister Louisa Art. By eliminating smoking, televisions, and internet, “Parishioners” as the locals are called, choose to engage in conversation and other community building activities.
The Clermont Lounge
Yeah, it’s become cliché at this point. But that’s for a reason. This is among the dirtiest, dungiest, redneck/hipster hole-in-the-wall strip joints, where the dancers all receive Social Security. Go on a Saturday night for the full experience. Don’t be surprised if you have to wait in line.
Bookstores
Atlanta does not have the same amazing local book scene as Portland, but if you want to get out and browse some shelves, here’s where I would go.
Once again, welcome to Atlanta, capital of the dirty south. This is obviously a very limited list. There are plenty of other places you may want to check out. Any other Atlantians reading this, please feel free to contribute to the list in the comments section.
And connect with me on Twitter for updates during the convention.
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