8 reasons to go West(side)
The Westside boasts glossy art galleries and gritty performance spaces alike
Photo credit: CL File
The Westside has a perennial and formidable challenge: Can the neighborhood summon and solidify a number of diverse haunts to anchor it as a viable destination? The short and explicit answer is hell yes. The area offers a spread of attractions that could cradle an intimate brunch or incite a rowdy night out — even lay down some mean (and permanent) ink. The Westside may actually be the best side, after all.
City of Ink tattoos
The Castleberry tattoo parlor, one of Atlanta’s most high-profile shops, doubles as an art gallery and hub for Atlanta’s independent hip-hop scene. The artists on staff take their custom-designed work seriously and have nurtured a cultured customer base as a result. People travel from across the cou...
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Crafted Westside
Modern jewelry, clothing, accessories, decor, and bath and body items — these are the specialities of the independent artisans from Atlanta and the surrounding region whose products are sold here, in an open and woodsy-warm former warehouse space in the Brickworks building.
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KAI LIN ART
A contemporary gallery that hosts quality exhibitions with a focus on emerging local artists who work with photography, sculpture, and hand-crafted art, among other mediums.
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Northside Tavern
This legendary dive bar in West Midtown is Atlanta’s home for live blues. The weekly lineup includes a Monday night jam and a regular Wednesday night slot held down by Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck, who helped make the club a blues hot spot in the 1980s. Weekends bring a grab bag of local and touring acts.
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Octane Coffee (permanently closed)
It’s rare for a place to be so hip and so comfortable. This one has an industrial vibe, a cool-but-not-too-cool staff, locally produced art on the walls, pastries and cookies from Alon’s and, of course, well-crafted coffee drinks and high-quality teas. Of particular note: Octane’s French press coffe...
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Star Provisions (permanently closed)
The takeout menu varies slightly each day, but count on seductively constructed sandwiches such as the shrimp po’boy or the prosciutto and Parmesan, among other options. You’ll also find a butcher and a specialty cheese counter in the back of the space.
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The Goat Farm Arts Center
Originally a cotton-gin manufacturer, the Goat Farm is a Westside haven for working artists and performance companies, a frequent location for movie shoots (cough cough, Hunger Games, cough cough), and a great live music venue.
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West Egg Cafe
This popular Westside cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This place can get packed out, so expect a wait on weekends.
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The list above first appeared in the 2015 CL Cityguide and was updated by CL Staff recently.