Atlanta: Inman Park Neighborhood Guide
Inman Park is one of Atlanta’s most popular intown neighborhoods. Come down to Inman Park for the atmosphere and stay for the food! This neighborhood was developed in the late 1800s as Atlanta’s first streetcar suburb. Joel Hurt, who developed the neighborhood for Atlanta’s wealthiest residents, ran an electric trolley from the Hurt Building downtown to Inman Park’s Trolley Barn on Edgewood Ave. The adorable Trolley Barn still stands although the streetcars are long gone. Today it functions as a special events venue!
Inman Park Today
The Inman Park neighborhood that we know today is a combination of the original Inman Park, Copenhill, the Atlanta Stove Works and its Mill housing, and the 1893 Hale Development. These neighborhoods provided lower priced houses directly adjacent to Hurt’s prestigious Inman Park. The meager remains of the Copenhill neighborhood are found along North Highland Ave. This neighborhood was almost entirely demolished for the freeway projects. Today’s Inman Park Village was once the site of the Mead Paper Plant. The Inman Park neighborhood runs all the way to Little Five Points on the east side.
The modern Inman Park that we know today is bordered by the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail to the west, Freedom Park to the north, Little Five Points to the East, and Dekalb Ave and the rail lines to the south. To learn more about the neighborhood’s fascinating history, please read this article, Atlanta’s Inman Park: A Neighborhood History.
Restaurants and Retail
Inman Park draws people in for many reasons. It is a fun place to get something good to eat, exercise or shop. There are a few retail centers in Inman Park for you to visit.
The Krog District
This mixed use district that spans from Old Fourth Ward to Inman Park is a fun space to hang out. It may be your final destination or you may simply be passing through on the Beltline. Check out everything that the Krog District has to offer!
A few favorite restaurants include:
- Varuni Napoli
- Gu’s Dumplings
- Superica
- Bell Street Burritos
- Kevin Rathbun Steak – date night! And a new location down the street, but still in Inman Park
Krog Street Market
This corner of town became something really special when Krog Street Market opened. This unique food hall offers local specialty cuisine on the Beltline. There are so many local concepts available to try. If you and your friends have different tastes – no problem – there is something for everyone!
SPX Alley on the Atlanta Beltline
The Inman Park and Old Fourth Ward neighborhoods meet at the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail at SPX Alley. This development is directly adjacent to O4W’s Studioplex Lofts on one side of the Beltline and it is across from Krog Street Market and the Stove Works on the Inman Park side. SPX Alley is an activated urban space with a mix of restaurants and retail that are accessed directly from the Beltline. Residential apartments and townhouses sit above the commercial spaces.
Atlanta Stove Works
The Atlanta Stove Works opened in 1889 as a pot-belly stove and cast iron pan company. The company operated almost 100 years before the site was abandoned in 1988. At that point the building was converted into offices and Kevin Rathbun opened a restaurant here. The Atlanta Stage Works operated as a film studio and for a time functioned as Tyler Perry Studios.
How to get to the Krog District
You can access these restaurant and retail spaces from the Beltline. Paid Parking is available in the Krog Parking Deck at 73 Krog St NE, Atlanta. There is also a paid surface lot including Tesla chargers available at Krog Street Market on the corner of Lake Ave and Waddell St.
Highland Ave Shopping District
You will find great restaurants and other retail restaurants along Highland Ave – near where it intersects with Elizabeth Street. Street Parking is frequently full. Paid Parking is available in the Inman Quarter Parking Deck at 299 North Highland Ave.
A few favorite places include:
- Victory Sandwich Bar
- Julianna’s Coffee & Crepes
- Sotto Sotto – date night!
- Fritti – excellent Italian-style pizza
- Pure Taqueria
- Voga Italian Gelato – and coffee
- Delbar Middle Eastern – date night!
- Wisteria – date night!
- Folk Art – brunch
- The Albert
Edgewood Ave
There are several restaurant and retail locations along Edgewood Ave. The best way to access these spots is to drive, bike, take MARTA and walk from MARTA or the Beltline.
A few favorite places include:
Austin Ave
And I cannot share great places to eat in Inman Park without including the east side of the neighborhood. Inman Park runs into Little Five Points, but before it bleeds into this unique retail district that deserves its own neighborhood guide, don’t miss the Wrecking Bar Brew Pub. This is one of my family’s favorite restaurants. They truly have something for everyone.
Inman Park’s Greenspaces
Inman Park has a variety of parks, paths, and greenspaces for you to enjoy.
Springvale Park
This park is at the center of the Inman Park neighborhood. Springvale Park was part of the original neighborhood design and Joel Hurt deeded it to the City of Atlanta, which preserved this greenspace so that we can enjoy it today. It is divided into two parts. One side is mostly natural and it appears to have a few trails running through it. The other side features a lake, where you are likely to find turtles or ducks hanging out and an excellent playground.
Freedom Park & PATH Trail
Atlanta’s Freedom Park and the PATH Trail were born of the Road Fights – please see the history of Inman Park for a better understanding of this piece of the neighborhood history. The government cleared away homes to create huge swaths of land to build new freeway systems. The neighbors fought tooth and nail to stop these roads from cutting through their neighborhoods. Ultimately the neighborhoods won the road fight but much of the urban fabric had already been bulldozed. Today that land has been revitalized into an urban greenway known as Freedom Park. In addition to park space the PATH trail runs though this linear greenspace. It makes an excellent space to walk, jog and bike.
Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail
The Atlanta Beltline is another rails to trails initiative. The project reclaimed former railroad right of way looping around the center of Atlanta. It currently features a pedestrian and bicycle path that rings the city. Fun retail and restaurant destinations along with public art installations have popped up along the trail. This is an excellent place to people watch. I think of it as a people super highway. The Eastside Trail runs between Inman Park and the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood.
Arts & Culture in Inman Park
Once you are finished eating excellent food in Inman Park or if you need to work up an appetite, there are other opportunities for entertainment in the neighborhood.
Walking Tours of Inman Park
Step back in time and explore the Grand Dames of Inman Park and learn about the families who built these beautiful homes in the 1890s on this Free Self-Guided Walking Tour of Inman Park. Are you looking for a more in depth tour? Sign up for a guided tour with the Atlanta Preservation Center!
Inman Park is designated as an arboretum. As you walk around the neighborhood, you will note that many of the trees are labeled with granite markers at their base. These trees are part of the arboretum. You can follow this Free Self-Guided Arboretum Tour or look for a guided tour that is occasionally available through Trees Atlanta.
Inman Park Trolley Barn
This barn was built at the end of the streetcar service to the garden suburb of Inman Park in the 1890s. It served as the trolley maintenance facility until the line was extended in 1907 and it was no longer needed. The trolley barn served a variety of services over the years, but by 1975 it was in such disrepair that it was on the verge of collapse. Neighbors convinced the City of Atlanta to purchase the property in 1976. Restoration commenced and was finally completed in 1987. The building primarily functions as an events facility today.
Classes and Events that you can participate in at the Trolley Barn:
- Check out the Trolley Barn’s Facebook Page to find out what is happening
- Dance Church – dance and movement class
- Tuesday Contra Dance at The Trolley Barn – social dance class
- Atlanta Preservation Center hosts tours of the Trolley Barn every March during their Phoenix Flies event
The Horizon Theatre Company
The Horizon Theatre offers unique plays in an intimate setting in the Inman Park neighborhood near Little Five Points. They feature contemporary plays that may be local to Atlanta or renowned nationally or internationally. In addition to plays for adult audiences, the theatre offers a family series that is appropriate for children. Check out what the Horizon Theatre has to offer!
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum
The Carter Museum and the Carter Center sit on 35 landscaped acres of Georgia’s rolling hills. The museum’s permanent exhibits walks you through the important milestones in President Jimmy Carter’s life and presidency. The replica of the oval office from Carter’s time in the White House is the highlight. The museum also displays two to four traveling exhibitions each year.
Parking is available onsite. Children 16 and under receive free admission. Learn more about visiting the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum on their website.
Signature Inman Park Events
Inman Park Festival & Tour of Homes
The beloved Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes began in response to the federal government condemning land in the neighborhood to build freeways. The urban pioneers who took a chance on the decaying neighborhood were busy fighting the roads and were lovingly restoring their Victorian homes. The festival and home tour was their way of sharing their work with the rest of Atlanta. It was also a way to attract new neighbors and new investment in the community.
Mark your calendar do the last full weekend at the end of April – this is when the Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes takes place! It lasts for the entire weekend. The festival includes music, kids activities, an artist market and a parade on Saturday afternoon. All events at the festival are free. Neighbors volunteer to put their houses on the Tour of Homes which runs in conjunction with the festival. The tour of homes requires a ticket.
Inman Park Wine Stroll
The Inman Park Wine Stroll is a ticketed event that takes place during the month of October. This wine tasting event takes place at various locations in the Inman Park neighborhood. It features live music plus local arts and crafts. Food trucks will be available so you can grab a bite to eat.
Inman Park Christmas Market at the Trolley Barn
The Inman Park Christmas Market takes place on a weekend in mid-December at the Inman Park Trolley Barn. The market features music, photos with Santa, food, children’s activities, and most importantly gifts are available to purchase!
How to get to Inman Park
Driving
Generally free street parking is readily available in Inman Park unless an event is taking place or you are looking for a spot near a retail area. Street parking is permit only adjacent to Little Five Points. If street parking is full, paid parking is available in a few places:
- Krog Parking Deck: 73 Krog St NE, Atlanta
- Krog Street Market surface lot on the corner of Lake Ave and Waddell St
- Inman Quarter Parking Deck: 299 North Highland Ave
Ride Share: Uber of Lyft
Having someone else drive is always a good idea plus you don’t have to worry about parking!
Public Transportation: MARTA
Take the MARTA train to Inman Park/Reynoldstown Station. MARTA is the best way to get to the neighborhood during special events.
The Atlanta Beltline or PATH Trail
Simply walk, jog, or ride your bike to Inman Park on the Eastside Trail of the Beltline or the PATH Trail that runs through Freedom Park.
Visiting? Places to Stay in Inman Park
Are you visiting Atlanta? There are a few places to stay in the Inman Park neighborhood:
- Sugar Magnolia Bed & Breakfast
- Peach House Bed & Breakfast
- Urban Oasis Bed & Breakfast
- VRBO Vacation Rentals
Hanging out in Inman Park
Have you spent time in Inman Park? Let me know your favorite places to go in the comments!
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