Hidden Atlanta: How to Visit Like a Local

Image via Complex Original

Location: 323 Walker St. SW

Everyone from Wiz Khalifa to Rick Ross to Young Jeezy to Usher to Lenny Kravitz has set foot inside this small but influential tattoo shop and art gallery to either get some ink on their body or some ink on canvas. Co-founded by world-renowned tattoo artists Miya Bailey and Tuki Carter, City of Ink started as a spot to give young, black tattoo artists a place to work. But in it’s eight years it has turned into cultural hub launching careers of several painters, illustrators, and photographers via monthly art shows displaying their work.

Location: 939 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

This bar, which used to be the basement of the Mexican restaurant above it, is probably smaller than your apartment. This is the reason why it keeps a house party vibe no matter who is there. DJ’s practically play what they want on any given night and the bartenders don’t mind taking shots with you. El Bar draws one of Atlanta’s most diverse crowds, meaning that people with musical tastes ranging from Migos to Mick Jagger always leave getting their fix. While the spot is popular, it has still managed to remain a low-key destination where celebs like Big Boi and Mannie Fresh can come without being bothered.

Location: 1495 Chattahoochee Ave. NW

Considered to be Atlanta’s best Mexican restaurant, Nueva Laredo Cantina is a gem hiding in plain sight on the corner of the city’s northwest side. Proudly boasting homemade Mexican food served by Mexican cooks, transplants from Texas and California have given this restaurant their stamp of approval. If the food itself doesn’t convince you that this place is authentic, Nueva Laredo’s margaritas will give you plenty of proof that it is the real deal.

Location: 483 Edgewood Ave. SE

Located on the corner of the popular Edgewood strip, The Sound Table is one of the few places left in Atlanta where people actually come to dance. Only the best DJ’s are allowed to spin and it’s rare that you will ever hear anything in the Top 40. Their menu isn’t anything to sneeze at either. Serving familiar plates like shrimp and grits and more adventurous meals like octopus and kimchi gives people a reason to stay here all night, and their fully stocked bar features your college favorites, as well as the more mature spirits you’re drinking now.

Location: 1245 Glenwood Ave. SE

Located underneath the equally popular (and most nights, rowdier) Graveyard Tavern, The Basement is a bar/live music venue that has had just about every local aspiring MC, as well as everyone from Scarface to Iggy Azalea, grace the stage. The pool tables in the back can be just as entertaining depending on the crowd. There is no seating and cell phone signals die as soon as you hit the door, meaning that you have no choice but to enjoy the music and socialize, like people used to do.

Location: 327 Edgewood Ave. SE

This place isn’t a secret to those in the know. The 1920’s-themed drinking den is the perfect place to hideaway in the midst of chaos. The bar staff is friendly and very knowledgeable so there is a drink for every person and mood. The door is never propped open, so only the well-informed or invited walk through. It is connected to Pizzaria Vesuvius via a secret door disguised as a bookshelf, so if you get hungry, you’re covered. In the event that you decide you want to dance, you can also go downstairs to the Music Room and stumble across a private party or just a couple of DJs having a good time.

Location: 1578 Piedmont Ave. NE

Janelle Monáe, B.o.B, Yelawolf and Cyhi Da Prynce are just a few of the artists who got their start rocking this venue. But what’s better is that there is a full-service bar and restaurant downstairs equipped with pool tables, darts, video, games and television screens showing the game of the night. Free, no-hassle, no-ticket parking in the area is a major plus. Even on the most crowded nights, Smith’s still has plenty of space to move around and sit down if you need to.

Location: 64 3rd St. NW

A long-standing institution in Atlanta’s cultural identity, Apache Cafe (originally known as the Ying Yang Cafe) has seen generations of artists walk through its doors. It’s where the likes of Usher and India.Arie got their start, where Devin the Dude built his Atlanta fan base, and where OG’s like Kool G. Rap and KRS-One currently book their shows. Bonecrusher even used to be a cook here before his rap career got off the ground. Hosting everything from freestyle battles to jazz improvs, Apache’s identity changes nightly, providing a place for music lovers, art aficionados, and new couples to hang. It also doubles as a gallery for some of Atlanta’s finest painters and photographers. While their kitchen isn’t the biggest in the world, what it lacks in size, it definitely makes up for in quality and taste. Get the jerk chicken wings.

Location: 75 Bennett St. NW

This museum exclusively features works by artists that from or are based in the state of Georgia. But don’t let that distinction fool you: Georgia has produced its fair share of globally recognized artists. The two-story complex includes a permanent selection of over 900 works divided into several separate galleries and showrooms. There is also an educational center/library that is open daily to the public. MOCA GA isn’t widely known among tourists since it doesn’t sit in the heart of the city like the larger HIGH Museum of Atlanta, which makes visiting here a must if you really want to feel like you are taking a piece of Atlanta with you when you leave.

Location: Foster St. NW

This mixed-use facility gets a different description depending on who you ask. One person may say that it’s the cool outside concert venue where they saw Killer Mike perform. Another may tell you it’s where they live while creating their next installation piece. Actually, it’s a 12-acre, former 19th-century cotton gin factory that has been converted into an open space for creative types. Expressions ranging from live music to dance to “What was that?” are all welcome, but must be approved by the governing board. Just there to look? All you have to do is buy a ticket and show up.