Optimist

Top choice in Atlanta


In a short space, we could never do this Westside sustainable-seafood mecca justice. In a word, astonishing! Start with crispy calamari with salsa matcha and almonds then move on to a duck-fat-poached swordfish or a daring whole grilled octopus with aji amarillo and poblano peppers, and finish with a scoop of house-made salted-caramel ice cream.

This is one of the South's most buzzed about hot spots, not a word of it heresy. If you can't get a reservation, plop yourself down at the massive fresh-oyster bar. Alternatively, just practice your putting skills on the three-hole green and smell that miraculous food – arguably a better option than actually eating at lesser establishments.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Atlanta attractions

1. Georgia Aquarium

1.43 MILES

Atlanta's showstopper. It's crowded, but the appeal of this aquarium, the second largest in the US, is hard to deny: whale sharks, playful sea lions at…

2. High Museum of Art

1.48 MILES

Atlanta's modern High Museum was the first to exhibit art from Paris' Louvre and is a destination as much for its architecture as its world-class exhibits…

3. Center for Puppetry Arts

1.48 MILES

A wonderland for visitors of all ages and hands down one of Atlanta's most unique attractions, the museum – expanded in 2015 – houses a treasury of…

4. Margaret Mitchell House & Museum

1.51 MILES

Operated by the Atlanta History Center, this home has been converted into a shrine to the author of Gone With the Wind. Mitchell wrote her epic in a small…

5. Breman Museum

1.54 MILES

Atlanta has the largest Jewish population in the South (outside of South Florida, which is its own region). The Breman Museum explores this history of…

6. Center for Civil and Human Rights

1.55 MILES

The striking Center for Civil and Human Rights was a 2014 addition to Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park. It is a sobering $68-million memorial to the…

7. World of Coca-Cola

1.58 MILES

This self-congratulatory museum might prove entertaining to fans of fizzy beverages and rampant commercialization. The climactic moment comes when guests…

8. Centennial Olympic Park

1.6 MILES

Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park is the city's focal point for visitors. The park itself features a dancing Fountain of Rings water fountain, a Quilt of…