This Rough Draft dining series will continue throughout 2025, highlighting restaurants in cities and neighborhoods within easy walking distance or a short bus ride from MARTA rail stations. Check out other guides to Lindbergh Station, Brookhaven, Chamblee, and Doraville on the Gold Line.
Hit the arrow tab on the top left of the map to view each station guide.
As one of the busiest pockets for business, shopping, and dining in Atlanta, Buckhead boasts not one MARTA station, but two (and three if you count Lindbergh). The neighborhood and business district are lush with shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues, with the Buckhead and Lenox MARTA stations and frequent bus service helping people get around the often traffic-choked area of Atlanta.
This dining guide spotlights nine restaurants easily accessible from the Buckhead and Lenox MARTA stations. All of the restaurants listed are a quick bus ride from one or both stations. Buckhead is accessible via the Red Line and connects to the 110 bus bound for Peachtree Road/Buckhead, while people traveling into the Lenox station via the Gold Line will connect up with the 27 bus bound for Cheshire Bridge Road.
Aria ($$$-$$$$)
490 East Paces Ferry Road
- New American; extensive wine list; tasting menu available; reservations
- Walking from Buckhead station: 17 minutes or .7 miles
- Bus 110 from Buckhead station: 2 stops along Peachtree to Maple Drive, then 6 minutes walking or .3 miles.
A renowned restaurant like Aria doesn’t exactly need an introduction to most Atlantans. The 2025 James Beard Award finalist’s accolades speak volumes, especially when it comes to Aria’s hospitality and serious attention to detail. It’s one of Buckhead’s de facto special occasion venues that also so happens to have a slew of weekly regulars because this is where you come to be treated (and fed) extremely well. Founded by Chef Gerry Klaskala in 2000, the kitchen at Aria is not led by Chef Joseph Harrison, who took over the post in June 2025 following Klaskala’s retirement. But the majority of Aria’s menu remains intact, with a few new dishes from Harrison, who is breathing new life into the 25-year-old dining institution.
What to eat: Clem’s carrots; beef tartare; short rib; seasonal desserts/cakes
What to drink: If you’re feeling adventurous, opt for the daily “one & done” pull from Aria’s cellar, available by-the-glass until the bottle is empty. A martini here is always a solid move.
Aviva by Kameel ($-$$)
3300 Piedmont Road
- Middle Eastern, fast-casual counter service with a welcoming atmosphere; beer available.
- Walking from Buckhead station: 11 minutes or .5 miles
Even in a city like Atlanta with hundreds of restaurants, Aviva by Kameel stands out. The restaurant serves halal meat, abstains from using seed oils and ingredients containing hormones, and offers substitutions to fit vegan, gluten-free, and keto diets. But longtime regulars of Aviva by Kameel and its original location in downtown Atlanta know that when you dine here, you’re part of the family. That’s how owner Kameel Srouji and his family operate the restaurant. If Srouji is in the restaurant, don’t be surprised if he greets you with “I love you” and asks you about your meal. You’ll likely be offered samples of bread and soups from across the line at the counter, and have entrees like the salmon grilled to order. It’s all part of the hospitality experience at Aviva by Kameel, and what makes it such a treasure in Atlanta. Aviva by Kameel includes locations in downtown Atlanta and Midtown.
What to eat: Falafel; chicken shawarma; grilled salmon salad
What to drink: Whatever local beer is on tap
St. Cecilia ($$$-$$$$)
3455 Peachtree Road
- Coastal European/contemporary Italian with full bar and outdoor balcony; casual fine dining; Ford Fry restaurant; reservations
- Walking from Lenox or Buckhead station: 12 minutes or .5 miles
- Bus 110 from Buckhead station: 4 stops along Peachtree to Lenox, then 1 minute of walking
It’s all about antipasti, fresh-made pasta, and seafood at St. Cecilia, Ford Fry’s coastal European and Italian restaurant. A full bar dominates the airy, modern interior of the dining room, while a semi-private balcony accommodates up to 40 people for special events. The menu changes daily here, but any pasta (try the stuffed agnolotti if St. Cecelia has it) and Spanish octopus with ‘nduja and potato are always hits.
What to eat: lobster risotto; seafood crudo; tiramisu
What to drink: Good Times Roll; Runnin’ with the Devil; wine
Delbar ($$$)
3060 Peachtree Road
- Persian and Middle Eastern; beer, wine, cocktails; brunch; reservations
- Bus 110 from Buckhead or Lenox: 7 stops along Peachtree to Buckhead Avenue, then 1 minute of walking
Chef Fares Kargar opened this location of his popular Persian restaurant in 2024. And it’s the vibiest location yet with a chic interior. The move at Delbar, of course, sharing a few kebab plates and appetizers such as the kaskh bademjoon (pan-fried eggplant with onions, mint, and cream of whey), chargrilled wings, and, if you’re feeling fancy, sturgeon caviar labneh. Finish things off with pistachio soft serve or faloude, a Persian granita made with rice noodles, rose water, and lime. Walk-ins are welcome for lunch, but make a reservation for large parties or dinner.
What to eat: Wings; sabzi polo; adana kabo;, dill labneh
What to drink: Lime sharbat; Turkish coffee, Back Home Beer (sumac gose)
Lenox MARTA station is close to several restaurants, as well as Lenox Mall and Phipps Plaza. Most restaurants are within easy walking distance. Some nearby restaurants include True Food Kitchen, Seven Lamps, Silom Thai & Sushi Bar, South City Kitchen, and 5Church. All of these restaurants are also accessible via Buckhead MARTA station, including Omakase Table and Urban Wu in the same complex as Aviva by Kameel at Buckhead Landing on Piedmont Road.
Le Bon Nosh ($$-$$$)
65 Irby Ave.
- All-day cafe with wine bar, bakery, and French-Persian dishes using Southern ingredients; breakfast, lunch, happy hour, dinner; mostly French wine list
- Bus 110 from Buckhead station: 6 stops along Peachtree to East Paces Ferry, then 6 minutes of walking
Owned by Chef Forough Vakili, seasonal and organic ingredients shine at Le Bon Nosh, with dishes leaning into her Persian roots and time spent living in Paris while attending Le Cordon Bleu. The interior is darling, regardless of whether you sit in the formal restaurant area or at the half-moon-shaped wine bar with a coffee and pastry in the morning, a fresh grain salad in the afternoon, or grilled red snapper in the evening. Save room for an almond croissant or cardamom cake.
What to eat: Crudité; organic beef tartare; grilled red snapper; parmesan herb fries
What to drink: Negroni spritz; espresso macchiato; wine
Lucian Books & Wine ($$$-$$$$)
306 Buckhead Ave.
- Upscale wine bar with books and European fare open for lunch and dinner; reservations highly recommended
- Bus 110 from Buckhead or Lenox station: 8 stops along Peachtree to Pharr, then 1 minute of walking
Trust a regular — Lucian Books & Wine is one of those places where everything on the menu stuns, and if the food and wine (and its uber popular martini) aren’t enough to impress you, then the artful selection of books sure will. If anything, you must at the very least order a glass from the 40-page wine booklet, curated by co-owner and sommelier Jordan Smelt. But if it’s a bottle you’re after to pair with your meal, ask Smelt for a recommendation.
What to eat: Duck breast; omelette with caviar and crème fraiche; filet mignon with sauce au poivre and fries; peaches with straciatella, fennel, almond, and basil pesto; off-menu fries
What to drink: Wine; Lucian martini; Good vermouth on the rocks
Yeppa & Co. ($$-$$$)
306 Buckhead Ave.
- Italian; trendy spot for pasta; cocktails; lively happy hour; brunch; reservations
- Bus 110 from Buckhead or Lenox station: 7 to 10 stops, depending on the station, then 4 minutes of walking
Yeppa’s flagship location at Buckhead Village is a place for buzz-seekers: whether that feeling comes from cocktails, coffee, or carbohydrates is completely up to you and the experience you’re seeking here. This is a restaurant built for sharing, as evidenced by drink towers and pasta towers on every table. Come to Yeppa on Wednesday for the three-tier pasta tower for $69. But if you do come solo, grab a spot at the 40-seat bar and anticipate getting to know a stranger.
What to eat: Pasta al limone; salame piccante focaccia; artichoke heart, pecorino, and microgreens; cacio e pepe salad
What to drink: Espresso martini; Hugo spritz
Le Colonial ($$-$$$)
3035 Peachtree Road
- Vietnamese-French; sophisticated tables and lush, plant-filled interior; reservations highly recommended
- Bus 110 from Buckhead station: 7 stops along Peachtree to Buckhead Avenue, then 2 minutes of walking
Le Colonial is a Buckhead Village resident that, frankly, lives up to the hype — the French colonial influence on Vietnamese cuisine and culture is nicely balanced at the restaurant. Both the Le Colonial’s interior and patio are distinct enough to feel festive and comfortable, and the entire menu (not just the side dishes and appetizers) can easily be shared family-style. Allergy note: Like other Southeast Asian cuisines, Vietnamese dishes frequently contain peanuts.
What to eat: Cha gio (crispy shrimp and pork roll); ca song (spicy yellowfin tuna tartare); goi du du (crunchy green papaya salad); ca chim (seabass *contains peanuts*)
What to drink: Green makrut gimlet; shaken black tea
Jalisco Mexican Restaurant ($-$$)
2337 Peachtree Road
- Mexican; beer and wine only; no reservations
- Bus 110 from Buckhead station: 19 stops along Peachtree to Peachtree Hills Avenue, then 2 minutes of walking
While much closer to the Lindbergh MARTA station, getting to this Peachtree Hills staple is an easy bus ride away from the Buckhead MARTA station. Jalisco Mexican Restaurant offers some of the most reasonably priced dishes in Buckhead proper, with the added bonus of quick, yet attentive service. Expect tacos, burritos, quesadillas, chalupas, and carnitas dinners here. But if you’re also looking to drink margaritas and yap, go elsewhere, because Jalisco only serves beer and wine. With no reservations, it’s best to come early and to avoid bringing a large party.
What to eat: Chicken enchiladas; chile rellenos
What to drink: Beer and wine only
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