A few hours before take-off is all you need to get a taste of the ATL Airport District, the laid-back side of Atlanta between Downtown and the world’s most traveled airport.
Extended Layover
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Maybe your flight’s been delayed. Maybe you’ve checked out of your hotel in record time and you find yourself with a few hours on your hands. No matter how you got here, you’ve lucked out: there’s plenty to do in the District! Maximize your travel experience by exploring the area around the airport to quench your thirst, grab a bite, or even check out a museum.
We’re not kidding about brunch being an everyday affair, but we really turn out on the weekends. Any time before 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, expect waits—and a fun, lively atmosphere in and around our brunch spots.
Hang out in Hapeville
Start with coffee at downtown Hapeville’s Coffee Man. Sip by the window and you can watch people and trains passing by.
From there, climb the Instagram-able stairs up to the footbridge (or cross the railroad tracks at street level when the track is clear) to reach the Hapeville Depot Museum. This restored train depot is one of the oldest in Georgia. It houses railroad, aviation, and Hapeville artifacts, and even includes an art gallery featuring local artists.
The Thing To Know
The Hapeville Depot Museum is open Wednesday – Saturday from 11 am - 5 pm. Admission is always free.
If you’re thirsty for something a bit stronger than caffeine, head down the street to woman-owned Beer Girl Growlers and Bottleshop. Enjoy a pint of something new and local from their 42 taps while perusing the more than 500 different beers and 200+ wines.
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Ask for a wristband so that you can sip and stroll down Hapeville’s Arts Alley open container district located just behind the shop, where you’ll find an assortment of eye-catching sculptures and murals.
If you get hungry along the way, there are plenty of food options in downtown Hapeville. For pizza with a crust worth writing home about, order a pie from Hapeville Pizza Company to enjoy at the counter—or take it to go! You can chow down in neighboring Jess Lucas Y-Teen Park, or take it to Beer Girl Growlers and Bottle Shop to take advantage of seating and a beverage discount.
If you’re not in the mood for pizza, that’s fine. (Weird, but fine.) The Hapeville Corner Tavern is a popular local hangout with delicious pub fare, an impressive tap list, and pre- or post-food activities, such as pool, darts, or bocce ball.
The iconic Dwarf House was renovated in 2022, but the original 14 stools on the diner side of the restaurant remain. On that side, you can order from the classic diner menu and enjoy the Dwarf House experience. The other half of the restaurant offers the familiar CFA counter, menu and dining room.
Dine in College Park
If you have time between flights to exit the airport, head over to the Airport MARTA station and ride one stop north to the College Park Station. From here, you’re within walking distance of “Restaurant Row,” a concentration of Black-owned restaurants in Historic Downtown College Park.
