What to Do in Atlanta While You’re in Town for FIFA 2026 World Cup
As an Atlanta native, I think it's important for travelers to unearth some Old Atlanta when they visit for FIFA’s 2026 World Cup. You could do the typical tourist itinerary between matches—World of Coke, Aquarium, Centennial Olympic Park, Beltline—but here are some Atlanta experiences. By that, I mean experience you can’t have anywhere BUT Atlanta.
And if you’re not sure what’s closest to where you are at the moment, don’t worry: I made you a map!
Where should I eat while I’m in Atlanta for FIFA World Cup?
Here are the most “Atlanta” restaurants in the city—they’ve all been open for at least a decade, so there are no tourist traps listed.
Paschal's
This downtown staple is not only famous for its soul food, but it was the meeting place of many Atlanta Civil Rights leaders, like John Lewis and Martin Luther King, Jr. (it's even pictured in the Atlanta History Center).
Image courtesy of Atlanta History Center, Paschal Brothers Restaurant Sign at its original location
Photographer: Robertson, Paul
Homegrown
For brunch, there is no other. They cater to dietary restrictions, but the real show-stopper is the Comfy Chicken biscuit: the open-faced fried chicken breast smothered in sausage gravy. You'll never be hungry again.
The Northside Tavern
The lone cinder-block building in a sea of luxe housing, the Northside Tavern DOES serve food sometimes, but patrons come here for their nightly live music, call drinks, and to see who brought aluminum-foiled dishes, block-party style.
The Busy Bee
The most famous Soul Food restaurant on the Atlanta University System block.
Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry) and Darius (Lakeith Stanfield) wait for their to-go order of chicken wings… lemon pepper wet, at J.R. Crickets. From the FX show Atlanta.
J.R. Crickets
Home (birthplace?) of the lemon pepper hot (wet) chicken wing. Now, with multiple locations!
Magic City
Yes, it's firstly a strip club, but they've been voted as the best chicken wings in Atlanta, too. (That meme about Atlanta being home to two kinds of chicken? That is, Christian chicken and stripper chicken? They’re talking about Magic City specifically. And Chik-fil-A. And in Atlanta, we hold space for both. And both of them are closed on Sundays.
The Local
Atlanta has good chicken wings, but the best in my opinion are at the dive bar on Ponce de Leon (pronounced “PONTS duh LEE-ahn,” here. I don’t make the rules. I’m just trying to keep you from embarrassing yourself.) Get there early. They’re always down a smoker, and they run out early.
What should I do in Atlanta while I’m in town for FIFA World Cup 2026?
If you have some down time between matches, here are the things I would recommend to my friends when they’re visiting Atlanta—stuff you really can’t get anywhere else.
Atlanta History Center
For a rundown of the city from its founding through the American Civil War and through the Civil Rights Movement, this is the stop. If you’re in town now, you should consider attending their FREE Juneteenth celebration this Friday, June 19, 10-4.
You might also be interested in visiting the Margaret Mitchell House Museum. It’s in the Gone with the Wind author’s apartment, which she affectionately nicknamed “the dump.” It is not a dump. It is very nice, full of cinephile history—for example, did you know that Hattie McDaniel and other Black co-stars were not allowed to attend the Atlanta film premiere because of segregation laws? (That theater burned down in the ’70s, FYI.)
The Fabulous Fox Theater
This historical theater has all the glamor you'd expect from a 1920s masterpiece--and it even has its original theater organ, “Mighty Moe.” You can see a show if your stars align, but they also offer architectural and history tours.
The Trap Music Museum
Atlanta was and is a major point in rap music, and this museum funded by Atlanta natives T.I. and 2 Chainz displays its history from bottom to top--and don't miss the "Escape the Trap" escape room... where you literally have to escape a trap house. It’s fun, but also harrowing. (When we went, comedian Kevin Young was our host. He started the night off, “Where y’all been? Y’all late as shit.”)
Center for Puppetry Arts
If there’s one thing you should not miss while you’re in Atlanta for any reason, it’s the Center for Puppetry Arts. It houses one of the largest puppet museums in the world (THE largest in the U.S.A.) full of Jim Henson history and much more. Entry to view it is complimentary with a show ticket. During July-August, they’re playingAmerican Tall Tales. Tickets come with a build-your-own puppet workshop of Babe the Blue Ox!
Where should I stay while I’m in Atlanta for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Hotels I would recommend, with a real Atlanta flare.
The Clermont Hotel
Featuring Tiny Lou's and the Clermont Lounge
Tiny Lou's is the gem of the recently restored Clermont Hotel. It's fine dining at its bougiest, but the best thing about the Clermont Hotel is that it has something for everyone. This boutique lodging was once the Motor Hotel. Now, it has a beautiful rooftop view up top, but it's the same old grimy novelty strip club in the basement's Clermont Lounge. It's truly not to be missed. You can't find this anywhere else. (This is the place you’re most likely to encounter a celebrity. FTR, Jon Hamm got kicked out of here.)
The Georgian Terrace
Right across the street from the historic Fox Theater, the Georgian Terrace is a glamorous hotel in the heart of midtown. It's been in operation since 1910, and just to give you the vibe, F. Scott Fitzgerald stayed there.
Don’t forget, if you want to know where all this stuff is in relation to where you will be, I made you this map!
And if you want more quirky travel, film, and history, be sure to follow me here.
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