Photograph by City of Chamblee
Once a quiet railroad stop 14 miles northeast of downtown, Chamblee is now DeKalb County’s fastest-growing city. The recent opening of Spruill Studios at the old city hall helped solidify its reputation as an arts hub. A block down the road, Little Thistle Studio offers workshops on art skills like beginners’ sketchbook drawing, and the Distillery of Modern Art welcomes patrons to sip cocktails made with its own craft spirits (try the Nouveau Gin and tonic) while checking out murals by local contemporary artists. Hunting for vintage paintings or pottery? Don’t miss the city’s famed Antique Row: Its 350 dealers offer everything from vintage clothing to 19th-century watercolors and Polish stoneware.
When the weather is nice, there’s no need for a car in this neighborhood. Walk from Chamblee’s MARTA station to the nearly two-mile Rail Trail; lined with outdoor games like bocce and Ping-Pong, it will eventually merge with the Peachtree Creek Greenway. A few blocks east, find downtown’s historic brick storefronts, where you can pop into Kin Coffee Co. for a meticulously crafted latte or sit on the patio at Southbound and order some of the best fried green tomatoes you’ve ever tasted. For dessert, brace yourself for the line at nearby Frosty Caboose; set in a converted train car, this landmark’s cookies-and-cream cone is worth the wait.
Photograph by Carmen K. Sisson/Cloudybright
Courtesy of Southbound
Why it’s hopping:
After decades of stagnation, Chamblee’s downtown began to revitalize in 2000. City leaders developed a master plan to make the area more walkable, and vintage buildings started to fill with restaurants and shops. Recent additions to the downtown scene include micro food hall Chamblee Tap and Market, as well as Atlanta Golf & Social, a golf club and bar in one. It’s all drawing a diverse population—one-third of Chamblee’s residents weren’t born in the United States—that’s also relatively young: The largest segment is in their 30s.
Photograph by Jane Howard Studio
Who calls it home:
Lynn Hale moved to Chamblee a little over a year ago, the same time she opened her downtown wine bar, Chamblee & Vine. “I saw how Chamblee was expanding, and I wanted to get in,” she says. She quickly began collaborating with other neighborhood businesses, hosting “ice cream and wine tastings” with Frosty Caboose and inviting The Alden to host pop-up dinners at her bar after the restaurant was severely damaged by a fire. “We’re a tight-knit community,” she says. “When someone needs help, we all jump in.”
Hale says she enjoys walking the Rail Trail on weekends—she never fails to see her neighbors—and trying the new restaurants there. “Chamblee, to me, is a small town in a big city,” she says. “You walk down the street and you know who people are.”
How the community gathers:
Three times a year, Chamblee’s Urban Art Collective hosts an Art Walk, showcasing the latest works from the group’s 35 artists. This month, the floors of the charming brick warehouse will display jewelry by Ali & Bird, sculptures by Julia Knight, and Dana Reese’s abstract paintings.
Neighbors usually turn out by the hundreds to sip specialty cocktails, nosh on charcuterie, and support the artists. “People tend to stay a while,” says the collective’s manager, Rebecca Parker. “They always say they’re surprised by how much art they love in one building.”
Photograph by J Urban Art Collective
Photograph by J Urban Art Collective
Fall Art Walk
Date: Sunday, September 13
Cost: Free
Location: Urban Art Collective
Good to know: Can’t make it to the Art Walk? You can still catch the artists’ works on display at Chamblee businesses such as Kin Coffee, Sidetracked Wine Co., and Distillery of Modern Art.
Atlanta’s Third Spaces
The term “third space” has been around for decades but jumped into the cultural consciousness during the pandemic. It describes a physical place that’s distinct from home or work—the “first” and “second” spaces. Check out these Atlanta third spaces.
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Decatur Library, Decatur
An inviting columned entryway and five book-lined floors make for a perfect afternoon away from home. Find a nook and enjoy a new read—or, for a social vibe, join one of the library’s book clubs. -
Colony Square, Midtown
This plein air plaza has plenty for the whole family. In addition to restaurants and a movie theater, the little Midtown oasis offers yoga, live music, and game-day watch parties—all of them gratis. -
Monday Night Brewing at The Grove, West End
Catch a break from the workweek with a brew and conversation at this new indoor/outdoor bar and gathering space in the West End. -
Read Shop by The Merchant, Vinings
This charming cafe is also a boutique bookstore: Flop onto a leather couch with a Read Shop mug and a book, or gather the gang to create a literature-inspired salon.
—Makenna Carlton
This article appears in our September 2026 issue.
