17 Best Places to Host a Birthday Dinner in Atlanta
It’s as fun to host a birthday dinner in Atlanta as it is to be the guest of honor. While Atlanta may not be one of the first cities that comes to mind when you think about who has the best restaurants, it should be. As far as the food goes, Atlanta is sometimes described as a melting pot — but it’s really more of a stir-fry. There’s a Southern spirit found in Atlanta cuisine but it’s not all fried chicken and pecan pie. It’s upscale and metropolitan, but still has grit.
There are plenty of great restaurants in Atlanta for a birthday dinner whether you are hosting a major bash or just want to treat the special guest to an intimate dinner for two. Not sure where to start? Get the lay of the land by trying food tours in Atlanta. You’ll discover that the best birthday dinner restaurants in Atlanta can handle your rowdy group when it’s time to really let loose. You’ll also find plenty of more refined restaurants if you want to host a private birthday dinner in Atlanta that is more low-key. Then again, if intimate is your goal, have you considered hiring private chefs in Atlanta that will prepare a special meal in your own home?
The best birthday restaurants in Atlanta are the places where every table is full of friends and family gathering to celebrate someone’s special occasion. We’ve rounded up a list of the best places to have a birthday dinner in Atlanta, but this is just a sampler platter. No matter what type of birthday dinner in Atlanta you decide to host, this city’s a real peach.
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- Southern Belle
- Georgia Boy
- Umi
- Bacchanalia
- Lazy Betty
- Lips
- Eclipse di Luna
- Yebo Beach Haus
- 9 Mile Station
- Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party
- Le Bilboquet
- Mujō
- Delbar
- Atlas
- Punch Bowl Social
- Gather Picnic Co.
- Amore e Amore
1. Southern Belle
Let’s kick off this list of best places to host a birthday dinner in Atlanta with a true Southern Belle. Chef Joey Ward’s restaurant in the Poncey-Highland neighborhood is the epitome of understated elegant and stylish southern hospitality. The unassuming exterior might not at first look like a good choice for a birthday dinner in Atlanta, but then you’ll enter a more intimate dining space with a mixture of classic elements and modern colors/textures that really sets the mood.
Dinner is an ever-changing four-course tasting menu comprised of locally sourced Atlanta foods prepared with the chef’s whimsical signature style. They are happy to discuss private party options in the main dining room, but they also have the best-kept secret for birthday dinners in Atlanta. Check out number two on our list, Georgia Boy.
Southern Belle | 1043 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30306 | $$$
2. Georgia Boy at the Southern Belle
Famous author Roald Dahl once wrote “and above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” As it was with James who found magic inside a giant peach, Georgia Boy rewards those who take a chance on entering a secret passageway off the main dining room of the Southern Belle.
Georgia Boy is a private dining space with a speakeasy feel. The tasting menu offers a multi-course, multi-sensory and intentionally interactive experience. It’s high on the list of coolest things to do in Atlanta and the ideal place to celebrate a birthday dinner in Atlanta.
Georgia Boy | 1043 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30306 | $$$$
3. Umi
Umi is definitely one of the best restaurants for birthday dinners in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood if the guest of honor loves sushi and you really want to impress. This coveted reservation comes with a strict dress code because Umi is a place to see and be seen.
The atmosphere is sophisticated and elegant and sets the proper tone for a special romantic birthday dinner in Atlanta. If it’s Wednesday or Saturday, ask your server about getting access to Himitsu next door for an after-dinner libation. Himitsu, literally “secret” in Japanese, is one of the most exclusive bars in the city and the perfect way to cap off a romantic birthday dinner in Atlanta.
Umi | 3050 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta, GA 30305 | $$$$
4. Bacchanalia
For a single or group-worthy splurge, host your next birthday dinner in Atlanta at Bacchanalia. This restaurant offers a four-course tasting menu of lively and creative dishes made from exclusively organic ingredients sourced from the owner’s farm. The vibe is modern and refined so it’s perfect for a special occasion. Their dining room can accommodate groups of up to 20 for semi-private dining.
Bacchanalia | 1460 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30318 | $$$$
5. Lazy Betty
Another fun restaurant in Atlanta for birthdays is Lazy Betty. Don’t let the completely non-descript brick exterior fool you. Inside you’ll find an elegant and modern dining space that is perfect for birthday dinners in Atlanta with a small group of friends. Lazy Betty has set-seating times and is a tasting-menu-only restaurant offering both six- and eight-course menus with optional wine pairings. It’s a great choice for a birthday dinner in Atlanta if the guest of honor is vegetarian because they offer fully vegetarian tasting menus. Contact the restaurant if you want to host a larger group and they will happily curate a memorable experience for you.
Lazy Betty | 1530 Dekalb Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 | $$$$
6. Lips
We’ve covered some of the really nice birthday restaurants in Atlanta. Now it’s time for something naughty. When the birthday celebration calls for an all-out blockbuster of a good time, make your birthday dinner in Atlanta unforgettable at Lips.
Offering a drag show dinner club five nights a week and the ability to accommodate up to 200 of your closest friends, Lips is the ultimate destination for a birthday dinner in Atlanta. The atmosphere is exactly what you want — over-the-top outrageous. Food is a pre-fixe menu and offers something for everyone but more importantly, their cocktail menu packs a punch. Get your group together, get out your tiaras and feather boas, and get ready to have the best time you’ve had in a long time.
Lips | 3011 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 | $$
7. Eclipse di Luna
Another top pick for fun restaurants in Atlanta for birthdays is Eclipse di Luna. This come-as-you-are Spanish tapas restaurant has the ideal festive vibe for birthday dinners in Atlanta and offers live Latin music and free salsa lessons several nights a week.
Eclipse di Luna offers three restaurants in Atlanta for birthday dinners — Buckhead, Dunwoody and Alpharetta. Check out their events page for entertainment dates and times, or contact the restaurant for more information on planning for a group. If you want to host a birthday dinner in Atlanta at your own location, Eclipse di Luna can help with off-site catering as well.
Eclipse di Luna | Multiple Locations | $$
8. Yebo Beach Haus/Ski Haus
When you want to host a birthday dinner at the beach but you live in the city, say yes to Yebo Beach Haus. Yebo literally translates to “YES!” (with the exclamation point) in Zulu. This elegant and upscale South African restaurant is designed to feel like you’ve been transported to the South African coast.
During the majority of the year, the vibe is designed to feel warm, welcoming and coastal. But during the winter months, Yebo transforms itself into something more après ski than après surf.
South African cuisine is totally different and totally special. What kind of food do you get at a South African restaurant? It’s a fusion of Indian, French, Malaysian and Mediterranean flavors making it the best birthday dinner in Atlanta for those who appreciate worldly cuisine. Diners are encouraged to share not only appetizers but entrées as well. Yebo will gladly work with you to plan the best birthday dinner in Atlanta for any group size.
Yebo | 56 E Andrews Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA 30305 | $$$
9. 9 Mile Station
One of the best things about hosting birthday dinners in Atlanta is that the weather is perfect for rooftop dining most of the year. 9 Mile Station at Ponce City Market is one of the best Atlanta restaurants for birthday dinners because they can handle any group size (up to 300) and they offer both indoor and outdoor options. They also have an unbeatable rooftop location offering views of the city that set the perfect backdrop for birthday dinners in Atlanta day or night.
9 Mile Station | 675 Ponce De Leon Ave., Atlanta, GA 30308 | $$
10. Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party
If you are looking for the best restaurants for birthdays in Atlanta that are more low-key and not all about glitz, glam and complicated menus, Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party has your remedy. This eclectic hidden gem in Atlanta’s historic Candler Park neighborhood is part book store, part tea room. High tea parties can be arranged with advance reservations and they recently added the ability to host private tea parties in their piano room. The best part of supporting this birthday restaurant in Atlanta is that a portion of their proceeds goes to The Learning Tea, their women’s education project in Darjeeling, India.
Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party | 1645 Mclendon Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 | $$
11. Le Bilboquet
Le Bilboquet is one of the best places for a birthday dinner in Atlanta because there is nothing like fine French dining when it’s time for a celebration. Modeled after the world-famous original in New York, Le Bilboquet in Atlanta feels like an upscale Parisian bistro complete with alfresco patio dining on traditional French bistro rattan woven chairs.
This is one of the best birthday restaurants in Atlanta when it’s just the two of you but they also welcome inquiries about private events if you have a group. Make sure they know who the guest of honor is because you don’t miss out on seeing their birthday sparklers delivered with dessert.
Le Bilboquet | 3027 Bolling Way NE, Atlanta, GA 30305 | $$$
12. Mujō
If you want to host a private birthday dinner in Atlanta and don’t have a budget, then Mujō is an excellent choice. Mujō is modeled after the traditional Japanese edomae experience (edomae means sushi made from fish caught near Tokyo Bay) and follows the Ichi-go Ichi-e style of “one time, one meeting.” In other words, this special place to have a birthday dinner in Atlanta offers a single seating each night with a very limited number of seats and reservations are required.
The vibe is calm and low-key. The restaurant also offers one private room that can accommodate up to six guests with a premium omakase menu starting at $275 per person. This would be one of the best restaurants for a birthday dinner in Atlanta when you have a major birthday milestone to celebrate and plan to spare no expense.
Mujō | 691 14th St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 | $$$$
13. Delbar
Birthday dinners in Atlanta should be something special. Instead of going to the usual suspects, expand your horizons. Delbar is one of the best restaurants for a birthday dinner in Atlanta when your goal is romance because Delbar translates to “heart, captured” in Farsi.
They offer both classy casual indoor seating and patio seating with an upbeat, social vibe. The menu may be intimidating at first but Delbar wants you to feel like family and will gladly help guide you so that you can experience this memorable cuisine. Delbar is also the perfect birthday restaurant in Atlanta because they offer private dining for groups with options for both preset and customized menus.
Delbar | 870 Inman Village Pkwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 | $$$
14. Atlas
One of the best birthday dinner restaurants in Atlanta is undoubtedly Atlas. This is the ultimate in elegant, high-brow dining located in the St. Regis Hotel and tops the list of potential places when you need fancy date ideas in Atlanta. Their menu is more flexible than the typical five-star with several options for tasting menus including one that is fully vegetarian. They also have a “for the table” menu which is perfect for birthday dinners in Atlanta with family.
One of the other reasons that Atlas is one of the best Atlanta restaurants for a birthday dinner is because you can start or finish the big event next door at The Garden Room. The courtyard bar and dining space feels like something out of Alice in Wonderland. Just the kind of magic you want for a special birthday dinner in Atlanta. They offer a very enticing food and cocktail menu, so you might just want to make The Garden Room the main course for birthday dinners in Atlanta.
Atlas | 88 W Paces Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta GA 30305 | $$$$
15. Punch Bowl Social
Hosting a birthday dinner in Atlanta doesn’t have to be a sit-down affair. Take the group to Punch Bowl Social for fun and games instead. Ideally located in The Battery Atlanta entertainment district, Punch Bowl Social is “25,000 square feet of sheer awesomeness.”
This bar-hopping-meets-bowling alley concept will keep the party going all night. From ping-pong to billiards, and classic arcade games to virtual reality games, it’s the perfect venue for birthday dinners in Atlanta where dinner isn’t the main course.
Punch Bowl Social | 875 Battery Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30339 | $$
16. Gather Picnic Co.
If you are looking to host a totally unique birthday dinner in Atlanta, you’re in luck. Gather Picnic Co. serves the Atlanta area and can curate a fabulous outdoor picnic celebration (or picnic date idea) in the location of your choice.
How does it work? You either pick the location or let them help you find the right spot. They do the rest. Packages include full setup and breakdown of a custom-themed picnic event including the food and décor, all the serving dishes and utensils, flowers and even Bluetooth speakers.
They partner with Graze Atlanta for charcuterie boards, and everyone knows wine and cheese make for the best kind of picnic. The best birthday dinner in Atlanta might be in your own backyard.
Gather Picnic Co. | gatherpicnicco@gmail.com | $$$
17. Amore e Amore
The final spot on our list of best restaurants for birthdays in Atlanta is all about the atmosphere. The best way to describe the dining room at Amore e Amore is to say that someone shoved a huge party into a bottle of Champagne and then pulled the cork. It’s a cornucopia of paper lanterns and tinsel. Amore e Amore often hosts theme nights like a recent "Harry Potter Goes to Hogwarts" party, so contact the restaurant to see what’s coming next. The food is your standard Italian fare and a little on the pricey side, but hey, it’s your birthday so you’re not paying anyway!
Amore e Amore | 467 N Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 | $$
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When you need just the right place to host a birthday dinner in Atlanta, there’s plenty on the menu. Is this going to be a romantic and intimate evening or do you hope to be doing the YMCA by the end of the night? Our list of the best Atlanta restaurants for a birthday dinner will be sure to keep Georgia on your mind for a long time.
For even more fun ways to explore Atlanta, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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