Decatur

Eclectic, easy going and artsy, Decatur is Atlanta with a small-town, Southern twist. Built on a grid with a MARTA station right in the middle, residents and visitors alike pack Decatur Square for legendary gatherings like the Decatur Arts Festival and the AJC Decatur Book Festival.

The Square is also where you’ll find indie stores like Little Shop of Stories and live music venues like Eddie’s Attic. It’s hard to do justice to Decatur’s food and drink scene, but you can start with the fries at Leon’s Full Service, raw oysters at Kimball House, Belgian beers at Brickstore Pub, the zombie cocktail at S.O.S. Tiki Bar and coffee at Dancing Goats or B Side. Or, take a trip around the world at Your DeKalb Farmers Market, where you’ll find rare fruits, veggies and spices for unbelievable prices.

 Unlike other ATL neighborhoods, Decatur is a city all its own. The town motto is “Everything is Greater in Decatur” and that’s pretty much true. Close to Emory and its cultural institutions like the William C. Carlos Museum (check out the mummies!), the city also has one of the highest-ranked school districts in the state. So if you’re looking to call Decatur home, there’s lofts above the shops in Decatur Square, and streets upon streets of artsy little bungalows splashed with every paint color you can imagine.