A neighbourhood guide to Atlanta’s Little Five Points

Quirky, art-centric Little Five Points in Atlanta has long been a favourite neighbourhood for locals and travellers seeking an edgy place to shop, eat, and explore. This district sits at the busy in-town thoroughfares of Moreland Avenue, Euclid Avenue, and McLendon Avenue and supports a diverse, bohemian crowd with artistic inclinations. Street performers, vintage stores and record shops are all part of the landscape here. Easily explored in a day, set off at a leisurely pace, and use our neighbourhood guide to visit some of the best shops, bars, and venues in the area.

Vintage shopping

Used goods are valued in Little Five Points, where thrift and novelty shops rule. Eclectic oddities warehouse, Junkman’s Daughter, is the place to go for the pop-culture junkie in your life – inside, you’ll find everything from life-size Star Wars cut-outs to shoes, wigs, costumes, and posters.

Perhaps it’s the popular Little 5 Points Halloween Festival and Parade (attracting around 30,000 people each Halloween), or the neighbourhood’s general reputation for being a tad wacky, that invites such a large proportion of thrift stores. Regardless, if you’re a fan of vintage finds you’ve come to the right place. Visit local favourites like Rag-O-Rama and The Clothing Warehouse to decade-specific duds at Psycho Sisters.

Music lovers can also indulge in some vintage shopping at record stores Wax n’ Facts, Moods Music, and Criminal Records, all of which offer selections of new and used CDs and records.

Brew crew

Embracing the laid-back and low-key over the high-end, the restaurants and bars in Little Five Points tend to be relaxed affairs. Brewpubs and bars dot the landscape and offer patrons tasty, no-fuss fare. The Vortex Bar & Grill, marked by a giant laughing skull near the entrance, is a local favourite for its juicy burgers and fries, while just a few steps away, dive bar The Euclid Avenue Yacht Club serves up standard domestic beers, pub food and a few interesting international pours.

Real beer aficionados, however, should head down to The Porter Beer Bar for a dressed-down vibe and jaw-dropping selection of beers (more than 800). The restaurant serves up typical pub standards as well as more thoughtful eats, like the duck confit rueben and the chickpea falafel. If you go, let your server help you choose a beer to compliment your food order, and make sure to try the addictive salt and vinegar popcorn.

Additional beer drinking awaits at Wrecking Bar Brewpub. Making its home inside a distinctive Victorian house, the food menu ventures into adventurous territory with a range of small plates, salads, sandwiches, and entrees including dishes like beef heart tartare, a vegan Korean sandwich, and Georgia shrimp dumplings. The restaurant also hosts live music on Sundays and regular themed nights like Vegan-Veggie Tuesday and the occasional yoga and beer night.

Evening entertainment

Little Five Points isn’t shy when it comes to entertainment. Beloved local comedy and improv powerhouse, Dad’s Garage Theatre Company, has long made a home in the neighbourhood. Now occupying a building in the Old 4th Ward, the company continues to run productions through local theatre hub, 7 Stages. Horizon Theatre Company, meanwhile, is the place to go if you’re looking to see local talent and new productions. The theatre supports and fosters local and Southern playwrights through numerous workshops and events.

Around the corner, music and events venue Variety Playhouse regularly brings in a wide range of local and national acts ranging from Americana and rock to hip-hop. For a more hardcore ambiance and line-up, check out nearby hangout The Star Community Bar. Don’t see a band playing that you’re interested in? Swing by the intimate standing-room-only venue Aisle 5 for local and national acts playing everything from Southern rock to funk.

Written by Kelly Skinner