by Kerstan Szczepanski
What to do when there’s no breakout meeting or the panels are done for the day? Where to go when you need a little time away from the hubbub of convention chaos? Exhibit City News’ 5 in 15 offers five places to go to eat, relax, or simply stay that are a fifteen minute or less walk from the convention center. In Atlanta, that means downtown Atlanta and the fourth largest convention venue in the US: the Georgia World Congress Center.
Atlanta Breakfast Club (249 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW). If you’re looking for a classic Southern breakfast like the iconic chicken and waffles, this retro-styled restaurant has it. Open 6:30 am to 2:30 pm every day, we recommend you try the gulf shrimp and grits, breakfast burritos, Southern Benedict, or a straightforward two egg, bacon, biscuit plate. For lunch there’s seafood gumbo, Shrimp Po Boy, or a classic burger.
The Yard Milkshake Bar (341 Marietta St. NW). Owners Logan and Chelsea Greene love ice cream. When they opened The Yard—their second ice cream shop, they wanted it to be different. You’d think a specialty milkshake shop would be enough, but that just begins to describe the cold, creamy indulgence that is The Yard. With 24 or more flavors, 60 toppings, and eight edible cookie doughs, there are enough milkshake and sundae combinations to make your head spin. “Over the top desserts” is a phrase used often on their website, and they mean it.
The Signia by Hilton Atlanta (159 Northside Drive NW). Slated to open in January 2024, this new hotel will be connected to the Congress Center. Luxury accommodations that are pet- and family-friendly, the latest in Hilton’s Signia line will have nearly 1,000 rooms, free WiFi, an onsite restaurant, a concierge, party and pool terraces, and a variety of children’s activities. Lavish lobbies greet guests, while venues—Club Signia, Nest on Four, Homespun, and signature their restaurant Capolinea—provide guests with plenty to do in Atlanta without ever leaving the building.
The Starling (188 14th Street). This upscale hotel, with over 450 rooms spread over 26 floors, is less than a mile from the Georgia World Congress Center. With 43,000 square feet of meeting space and 25 private event rooms, the property is established as more than just a high-end place to rest your head. Have breakfast in the Commons and dinner in the lobby lounge and restaurant Lantana. Pet-friendly with a pool, parking, laundry facilities, and a 24-hour business center mean there’s more to your stay than just gorgeous design.
As the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr., Atlanta has a special connection to the US Civil Rights movement. The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park contains the reverend’s boyhood home and the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he and his father were both pastors. The National Center for Civil and Human Rights (100 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd), both a museum and organization, tells the story of the struggle for human rights.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights: This center is located 1.7 miles from the Georgia World Congress Center and is dedicated to the global human rights movement.
This story originally appeared in the Q1 2024 issue of Exhibit City News, p. 82. For original layout, visit https://issuu.com/exhibitcitynews/docs/ecn_q1_2024.
