Even though I moved 6 times before the age of 20, I consider Atlanta my “hometown.” My family and I moved to a suburb of Atlanta when I was 11 years old, and stayed until I was 19. I thank Atlanta for my constant “yalls” and hatred for the University of Georgia. Although I do not see myself living in Atlanta in my future, it will always hold a special place in me for great memories and experiences.

Over the years I have found some of my favorite food spots right here in Atlanta. Atlanta may not be known as a “healthy” town, but in recent years Atlanta’s food scene has acquired some great restaurants and locations that have fantastic Paleo options. Even though I only go to Atlanta every few months now, I make sure to hit up some of my favorite paleo spots for the short time that I am there!

Food/Restaurants

1. Upbeet

Upbeet is by far my favorite restaurant in Atlanta. It is a fairly new, fast casual restaurant off of Howell Mill Road. It has a Sweetgreen vibe, but is WAY better. Upbeet is created by the same company that made Yeah! Burger, another great healthy restaurant in Atlanta. They aim to bring fresh, sustainable, organic food to Atlanta and do it in a way that is delicious.

This is by far the easiest restaurant to eat Paleo at in all of Atlanta. Nearly everything is gluten free, and if it isn’t it is clearly labeled. They have a great smoothie/coffee menu and also a bowl menu, because everything tastes better in a bowl right? Their smoothie/coffee menu has things like butter coffee (bulletproof), acai and smoothie bowls, yogurt bowls, smoothies, lattes, and even avocado toasts!

When it comes to their coffee/smoothie menu, I would definitely see it more as a big snack or tiny breakfast. Their smoothies and acai bowls are not very filling and fairly small. Their smoothie bowls are nothing new or innovative, although good if you want a snack. One advantage to ordering off this menu is that you do not have to wait in the giant line for your food. There is a second register to the right of the bowl menu that caters to this menu, and there is almost never a line.

If you want more of a meal, Upbeet’s bowl menu is what you should go for. They have bowl options that have already been curated so you don’t have to think about everything that goes in it, if that is more of the route you like to take. They have both grain bowls, like their popular Aloha Grain Bowl, and fantastic salad bowls, like their Kale Caesar. But the route I always take is the build your own bowl. You get to choose from your choice of grains or salad as a base, then add 4 fruits and vegetables, a protein, sauces, and garnishments.

My go to order is mesclun salad base. I like this base because it is like a spring salad and it soaks up all the yummy juices and sauces I put on it. I feel like kale would overpower the great veggies and protein. For my four toppings I always go for the hot vegetables. Why would I waste my time on fruit or raw tomatoes? My favorite four veggie toppings are the mushrooms, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, and broccoli or cauliflower. The sweet potatoes and mushrooms are SO good I debate getting two of each of those, so those two are a must. I also love their brussel sprouts, but warning, if you do not like your brussel sprouts al dente, I would skip them, they have a little bite to them! For protein I always get their trout, because trout is God’s gift to this earth. It is simple, pan seared and delicious. I also noticed that their trout serving is slightly larger than their other protein options, and I am all about getting a larger portion. Lastly are the sauces and garnishments. I like the protein and veggies to speak for themselves, so I always get coconut aminos as my sauce because it doesn’t overpower them. They also have a great nut section that I will get on top, like cashews or pecans. And of course,  I finish it with a squeeze of a lemon!

Upbeet is also known for their great drink options. They have in house carrot ginger juice, charcoal lemonade, and more. They also have a great selection of grab and go kombuchas like GT’s and Lenny’s. I usually stick to water because I don’t love flavored drinks when I am eating.

Their bowls are so filling that it will leave you satisfied for hours. Every time that I have been with other people they can never finish (I of course can, but I could eat a horse). Their bowls are typically $15 or less depending on your add ons, and it is completely worth it. If Upbeet was located in NYC, I guarantee the prices would be $20 and above for the amount and quality of food that you get.

If you are in Atlanta, Upbeet is a must! Just know that if you go at lunch time there will be a crowd, because it is the perfect lunch spot for all the healthy Atlantians.

 

2. Farm to Ladle at Ponce City Market

Here is another great spot for a quick and healthy farm to table lunch. Farm to Ladle has two locations in Atlanta, but the Ponce City Market location is definitely my favorite. It is a walk up, fast and healthy food, in a great environment. I love to go here to walk around Ponce City Market and then walk the beltline on a beautiful day! 

Farm to Ladle has a menu of salads, proteins, soups, and more. What I like about Farm to Ladle is that they label everything, whether it is gluten free, dairy free, or vegan. They also write all of the ingredients down, so you know exactly what you are about to eat. Farm to Ladle has a great soup collection year round. I have had their chili and tomato basil in the past and both were amazing. But my favorite go to when I am there is their salmon or grilled chicken with two of their half size salads. They usually have 2 or 3 salads that are always there, and then rotate the others depending on the season. If they have their Kale Caesar salad or their detox slaw when you go, they are a MUST!

 

They also have great grab and go items. From homemade chips, desserts, fat bombs, and Kombucha. Great for a quick and healthy meal before you explore ponce city market!

 

3. Yeah! Burger

Yeah! Burger is one of my favorite dinner spots in Atlanta, especially if you are meeting friends! Its a popular, “hip” restaurant that is secretly healthy! I say secretly because they have tons of options for those who don’t want to be healthy, which is why it may be a good option for meeting others. They also have two locations, one in Virginia-Highlands, and one in West Midtown, although both are quite busy since it is so popular! I love Yeah! Burger because their philosophy is serving food that is real, aka food that is sustainable and that we know where it comes from. They also have a full gluten free and vegan menu with options for all. 

I like their menu because you make a build your own burger with sides. So you pick your protein, bun or wrap, toppings and sides! Their proteins vary from vegan, to grass fed beef, to turkey, and even bison! They have gluten free buns, collard wraps and normal buns as well. Their burger toppings are also bomb with all the veggies and bacons you could want! Their sides are their downfall in my opinion because they are limited. Most of the sides are either fried, or are salads.

I have gotten a few different burgers here. My favorite by far is the bison burger wrapped in a collard. The grass fed burger was also amazing. I wouldn’t recommend the turkey burger because there wasn’t that much flavor, although it is a turkey burger so what can one expect? I also load up on all the veggies for toppings, so caramelized onions, mushrooms, tomato and lettuce. And my favorite topping is of course bacon and a fried egg. With that much goodness in one wrap I typically just get mustard on the side. Lastly, I always get the salad as a side. I like their Kale salad, its fairly good, but nothing special.

If you’re looking for a great dinner option check out Yeah! Burger. The only downfall is that the sides are not great, and the size portions are also small, so it doesn’t always leave me completely full, so load up on the toppings!

 

4. SAMA Food for Balance

If you like balancing bowls, juices & lattes, and ayurveda & meditations, this is the place for you! SAMA means balance in Sansrkit, and balance is definitely what you will find here. Not only does SAMA have amazing food, but they also have meditation classes and ayurveda recommendations. They have a great menu from smoothies, juices, espresso and breakfast bowls, to great lunch bowls.

My go to is the build your own bowl. They have fantastic veggie options and even better sauces. You get to choose your base from grains or cauliflower rice, top it with a protein, like salmon to falafel, and tons of sides and dressings. Their sides include veggies from spinach, to avocado, to squash! Their sauces include coconut marina, chutneys, hummus and tahinis to cashew creams!

I typically get the cauliflower rice topped with the protein. I also always go for the turkey meatballs or salmon. The turkey meatballs go great with the coconut marina and are great for colder days. You also can’t go wrong with any of the veggies! But when you go you MUST get cashew green dream sauce. It was so good I could drink it.

SAMA is a great weekend brunch/lunch spot with your yoga loving girlfriends!

5. Kale Me Crazy

Kale Me Crazy is a great spot for a morning or afternoon snack, or even a small breakfast. They have amazing juices, smoothie bowls, wraps, poke and salads, and is very popular among the hip health foodies in Atlanta. They have loads of locations all over Atlanta, so it is easily accessible.

Whenever I have gone I have either just gone for some juice, or for the acai bowls. I recommend getting their “Deluxe” Acai bowl. Their acaib bowls are fairly small, so I needed the deluxe to satisfy me. I also recommend that you get a salad or something else as well if you are going for a meal because it is not very filling. But a great option for a small meal after walking on the beltline or a yoga class!

6. Updog

 

Updog may not be right in Atlanta, but I had to add this smoothie shop in Marietta because it was my favorite when I lived there. It is located inside a yoga studio, which is actually how I found it. They have loads of smoothies and juices that they make right there and best of all they have Acai Bowls!

These acai bowls are by far the best I have had on the mainland (aka best after Hawaii). First off, they are massive! This is one of the only acai bowls that can actually fill me up. They are also filled with loads of nutrient dense foods like coconut, goji berries, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and their almond butter. If you are in the area you have to go to treat yourself!

Atlanta Activities

1. Ponce City Market

If you are in Atlanta Ponce City Market is a must do! Almost every time I am in Atlanta I make sure that I get to spend some time here. My older sister used to live across the street, so I have seen it before it was renovated, as a old factory, to becoming a huge market with great attractions.

There are many great aspects to Ponce City Market, my favorite of course being the food. Ponce has tons of hip restaurants, including Farm to Ladle, that are walk up and grab your food. They also have sit down restaurants as well. For this reason, Ponce is a great place to go with other people because you can choose whatever food you want, and then come together at one of their many eating spots. They have anything you could ever want, from healthy, Asian, Mexican, pasta, fish, burgers, desserts, coffee, and southern fried chicken.

My second favorite part of Ponce is the shopping. They have shops for everyone, from book shops, athletic ware, girly shops, and my favorite, Williams Sonoma.

Another great aspect to Ponce is that they have a rooftop mini-golf and bar. I have not personally been, but many of my friends have loved it when the weather is good. It would be the perfect way to end your night after eating downstairs!

Lastly, Ponce is great because it has direct access to the beltline. If you don’t know what the Atlanta Beltline is, it is a paved walkway that runs throughout a lot of atlanta and connects to different neighborhood restaurants and shops.

2. The Atlanta Beltline

If the weather is nice when you are in Atlanta, the Beltline is a MUST! It is a paved path that goes to many neighborhoods throughout Atlanta. It is easy to walk, and is always crowded and safe on a nice day. It goes past many restaurants, shops, and parks that are great to stop at. I have walked the beltline on a casual day with friends going to a meal, to even running it for a workout. I really enjoy it for runs/walks, especially when I am alone, because there are great views, very open, and crowded, so I have never felt unsafe.

 

 

3. The Georgia Aquarium 

 

I know the Georgia Aquarium is a huge tourist spot in Atlanta, but it is a must see if you are in town. I have been at least 5 times when I lived in the area and it never gets old. The Georgia Aquarium has the largest tank in the whole world, which is amazing in itself. But this tank has a glass tunnel that you walk through and feel like you are in the tank with the fish. 

They also have every sea creature you could ever want to see. They have giant whale sharks, nemos and doris, beluga whales, stingrays, penguins, and otters. They also have an area where you can touch and pick up the animals, which is a pretty unique experience.