Peach Bowl travel guide: Where to eat, sleep and party in Atlanta
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ASU will compete in the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on New Year's Day. Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images
If you're traveling to Atlanta to cheer on the Sun Devils at the Peach Bowl on New Year's Day, we have some suggestions to make sure you have an enjoyable trip, regardless of the final score.
The big picture: We tapped Axios editor and Atlanta native Ross Terrell to share the restaurants and attractions you should weave into your itinerary.
🏨 Where to stay: Reverb by Hard Rock is a 7-minute walk from Mercedes-Benz Stadium and has a rooftop bar with great views.
- Signia is a Hilton concept mere steps away from the stadium and offers nice views of downtown.
- Hotel Clermont is an Atlanta icon with a rooftop bar and an underground lounge that doubles as a campy strip club.
🍺 Where to pregame: Your ASU fandom commands you're at least a little buzzed before kickoff.
- Taco Mac: Don't be fooled — this is not a taco shop! Instead, load up on classic Atlanta hot wings and a Georgia peach margarita. It's an easy 20-minute metro ride from the stadium.
- Wild Leap: Enjoy craft beer, wine and spirits at this multi-level restaurant and bar just outside the stadium.
- Hudson Grille: Down the street from the stadium, this joint offers plenty of beer and walls of TVs.
🏈 Can't-miss attractions: The College Football Hall of Fame is a natural add-on to your Atlanta trip. Here are a few other touristy highlights:
- World of Coca-Cola: We're told the tasting room at the end of the tour is worth the price of admission alone.
- MLK Center: Pay your respects to the civil rights movement at the burial place of Martin Luther King Jr.
- High Museum of Art: The museum's current special exhibition features artwork from the private collection of musicians Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.
Pro tip: Skip the Ferris wheel, it makes a nice backdrop for a photo but you can do without.
🍽️ Dinner plans: Let Atlanta's chefs show you what they've got.
- Ponce City Market: Located on the Beltline — a 22-mile outdoor loop circling downtown Atlanta — PCM has something for every palate.
- Antico: Enjoy Neopolitan-style pizza in the city's "Little Italia" district.
- Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q: They've got sausage, pork and all the classics, but the sides (brisket chili, Frito pie, collard greens, etc.) may be the star of the show.
🍳 Brunch spots: Atlanta loves brunch, Ross tells us. Indulge in the morning gluttony.
- Bread and Butterfly: This quaint, Parisian-style cafe is as much about ambiance as it is flavor.
- Ria's Bluebird: The menu is divided into "fancy eggs" and "fancy sweets." Say less.
- Thumbs Up Diner: Dig in to southern comfort food.
🧇 Late-night snack: Yes, we have Waffle House in Phoenix, but we bet it hits different when enjoyed in its homeland (the 24-hour breakfast chain was founded by two Georgia neighbors in 1955).
- You can also visit the Waffle House museum just northeast of Atlanta.
🚆Transportation tip: The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) rail system is a convenient way to travel to many of the city's top destinations, including the stadium.