Best of Atlanta 2014

Whether your mission is to avoid parking at a Braves game or to get home safely from the Porter, a ride is just a tap away with Uber.

At this Old Fourth Ward hangout, you can rock out to global DJs and soul-infused house music without worrying about bumping into someone every direction you turn.

Even if you’re not a fan, you can’t refute that The Walking Dead has become synonymous with Georgia. It’s undeniable—from the ubiquitous apocalyptic Atlanta skyline via Jackson Street to Senoia’s permanent association as the sickly-sweet town of Woodbury, the landscape has forever become associated with the undead. With all that pop culture fueling fans more rabid than a horde of walkers, Atlanta Movie Tours has capitalized on the filming locales in metro Atlanta and the surrounding countryside by offering two zombie filming tours.

Ford Fry’s empire keeps getting bigger, but we remain partial to the oyster bar at his Westside seafood spot.

Four days. That’s all it took for Gomez to rebound after locking the door to Cardamom Hill, which attracted national attention but not enough local allegiance.

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Atlanta occupies a full floor of a two-story marble-and-mahogany retreat.

Head brewer Jason Pellett stuck with the sours when launching earlier this year, and this plum saison is just the right blend of spicy yeast and cold-pressed fruit.

In August, Stanton expanded next door, and it now sprawls over nearly 14,000 square feet. Light fixtures—geometric, modern, industrial—and upholstered armchairs are particular strengths, though owner Jimmy Stanton has always had a knack for accessories of the moment.

For a taste of Georgia wilderness without going OTP, there’s this two-mile loop in Morningside–Lenox Park.

Midtown’s Auto Spa Bistro amps up a mundane chore with a tiny but efficient restaurant, where patrons can sip cocktails while watching the suds roll off their cars or relax in purple snakeskin chairs that are more ultra lounge than waiting room.