Exploring the Best of Atlanta’s Suburbs: A Weekend Travel Guide to Dunwoody, Georgia

Even though it’s located only three and a half hours from Charlotte, the Georgia city of Dunwoody is an unexpected weekend getaway destination – but trust me when I say you shouldn’t sleep on this part of the Atlanta Metro area (you should sleep in it instead!).

Dunwoody officially received its name in 2008, thanks to a community-led initiative to establish the city’s name – a name its residents have long used. Due to its proximity to the Chattahoochee River, this area was the largest trading center in the region for the Cherokee. With the advent of the railroad, the area became a crossroads community, and eventually was named after mill-founder Major Charles Dunwody (second “o” added later).

Our visit to Dunwoody was generously hosted by the team at Discover Dunwoody - the city's premier partner in hospitality. Portions of the itinerary were courtesy of Discover Dunwoody and the destination partners, but as always, all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

These days, Dunwoody is still known for being a city of commerce; the second largest mall in Georgia, the Perimeter Mall, is located within the city limits. Dunwoody is also known for its strong hospitality industry, which explains why it’s just so pleasant to visit. They really know how to make someone feel welcome – I can honestly say we never encountered a sour grape during our visit – each person we interacted with was warm and friendly.

While the city is technically new, many of the places we visited were proud of their longstanding presence in the area. It’s clear that the community is tight-knit and that its residents take pride in their city. Much to my traveler’s heart’s delight, it appears that Dunwoody is growing into a truly global community – with locally-owned shops and restaurants from countries spanning the world.

Though you definitely feel the presence of some of Atlanta’s famed traffic in Dunwoody, you don’t have to go far to find what you’re looking for. In Dunwoody, businesses like shops and restaurants are clustered together, forming unique districts of commerce. Recognizable corporations are mixed in with all of the local spots – but the architecture adds to Dunwoody’s appeal rather than detracting from it. Each one is unique yet somehow they feel harmonious; it’s clear that the community places a high value on thoughtful design.

Have I convinced you to visit Dunwoody? Great! I’ve also got you covered with my weekend guide:

WHERE TO STAY IN DUNWOODY

AC Hotel Atlanta Perimeter

AC Hotel Atlanta Perimeter | 40 Perimeter Center Pl, Dunwoody, GA 30346

The AC Hotel Atlanta Perimeter is located right in the center of it all – directly across from the Perimeter Mall and in the midst of a number of other great places to dine and shop. The hotel looks and feels (and smells!) shiny and new, because it is new. From the moment you walk in everything is noticeably immaculate.

The lobby feels particularly welcoming and inviting, and throughout our stay, we noticed that many people decided to begin and end their trips by relaxing in the open setting.

Hotel and room amenities include the usuals, as well as free coffee and tea, a fitness center, an onsite convenience store, a work desk, waterfall shower head, an open closet, filtered water on every floor, in-room mini-fridge, upscale toiletries, and more (whew!).

The minimalist design of the room is truly a breath of fresh air after a day in the city; even though our Corner King Room included multiple seating options, it felt incredibly spacious. Best of all, we had a great view out over Dunwoody thanks to floor-to-ceiling (and wall-to-wall!) windows.

In addition to the AC Kitchen and the AC Lounge, the AC Hotel Atlanta Perimeter also boasts the neighborhood’s first rooftop bar (more on that in a moment!).

The AC Lounge was closed during the evening of our stay (although we were over the moon to find a delicious charcuterie plate in our room after an afternoon of shopping!), but breakfast the following morning in the AC Kitchen was perfection.

It’s an additional charge but absolutely worth it if you love a Euro-style spread of meats, cheeses, pastries (including croissants imported from France), fruit, yogurt, and hot items like oatmeal, eggs, and bacon. The coffee setup is one of the best I’ve ever encountered in a hotel – with iced coffee, hot brewed coffee, and Nespresso pods waiting to be jazzed up with an assortment of syrups and flavors.

If were staying longer, we’d definitely make use of the fitness center, which had a great selection of cardio equipment and free weights/kettlebells. Bottled water and recyclable earbuds are provided in case you forget your own. Oh, and as it’s located on the seventh floor, you’re rewarded for your sweat session with a pretty stellar view. That alone is almost reason enough to return!

DUNWOODY SIGHTS + ATTRACTIONS

Art in the Park

Art in the Park | 4770 N Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338

Art in the Park is a rotating monthly art series dedicated to filling Brook Run Park with murals from commissioned local artists. During our March 2022 visit, the skatepark was filled with eight murals in honor of Women’s History Month.

Michael and I are both huge fans of accessible, local art – and this is such a fun, fresh take on public art. During our visit, they even included a helpful selfie stand to capture the memory.

While you’re at it, take advantage of being in the region’s largest park by walking the trails, playing disc golf, or bringing your four-legged friend to a dedicated dog park. We particularly enjoyed watching all of the families out and about enjoying the beautiful weather and watching some young skateboarders take to the large skatepark.

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Dunwoody Nature Center

Dunwoody Nature Center | 5343 Roberts Dr, Dunwoody, GA 30338

Continue your outdoor fun at Dunwoody Nature Center! This outdoor educational center includes two miles of walking trails that are free and open to the public year-round. The nature center has four distinct habitats you can explore, such as wetlands and forests.

If the kids need to burn off some energy, the park also features a playground with equipment I’ve never encountered before (and you know I just had to try it out!). While you’re there, be sure to tickle the ivories on the Play Me Again piano, and stop by to see if the bees are hard at work.

We loved watching the community come together to enjoy this local asset – after all, these wonderful, hyper-local experiences are why we travel! Be sure to check out the events calendar before you visit to see if anything fun is going on. On the day of our visit, Tai Chi and yoga classes were available (I can’t imagine a more perfect place to practice), but you may luck out and visit during a night hike, bird walk, or the community favorite Monarchs and Margaritas.

DUNWOODY BOUTIQUES + SHOPS

The Enchanted Forest

The Enchanted Forest | 5580 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd #6, Dunwoody, GA 30338

This sweet shop in the Dunwoody Hall shopping center is the perfect place to pick up a few local gifts (even if they’re just for yourself!). The Enchanted Forest rotates much of their stock seasonally, so there’s a good chance you’ll find something brand new on your next visit.

My favorite souvenirs are consumable, so I picked up some great-smelling body butter and some Georgia honey. They also carry some fun local stickers, and my workout water bottle now features a Dunwoody sticker front and center!

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Alon’s Bakery & Market

Alon's Bakery & Market | now closed

We practically had to wade through a crowd of diners on the patio to get inside Alon’s Bakery & Market. It’s clearly a popular local spot!

In addition to a deli and bakery, Alon’s offers a coffee bar, an assortment of international candies and pantry goods, a wine bar, and market dining. If we had more time in Dunwoody, Alon’s would be a perfect picnic assembly spot for an outing at Brook Run Park.

Note: the Dunwoody location has since closed; find Alon’s other locations here.

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E. 48th Street Market

E. 48th Street Market | 2462 Jett Ferry Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338

E. 48th Street Market has been serving up Italian specialty foods to the community of Dunwoody since 1986. The shop may be small, but it is absolutely packed with goods imported from Italy. Not only that, but they also offer up enticing house-made pastries, mountains of meatballs, cheeses, pastas, and other essential fresh ingredients.

It’s a miracle how they’ve managed to squeeze in a vast wine selection for such a small space, and it’s easy to see why they take pride in their history (they’ve been around since before Dunwoody was officially Dunwoody, after all!).

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Spruill Gallery

Spruill Gallery | 4681 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Atlanta, GA 30338

Spruill Gallery is a historic home-turned-gallery in the heart of Dunwoody. If the name sounds familiar, that might be because it was once the home of the EVERYTHING WILL BE OK mural that took on a new meaning at the start of the pandemic.

That particular mural is no longer at Spruill Gallery, but it is still a great place to shop for other pieces of art from local Dunwoody artists.

WHERE TO EAT + DRINK IN DUNWOODY

Bar Peri

Bar Peri | 40 Perimeter Center Pl, Dunwoody, GA 30346

Bar Peri is Dunwoody’s very first rooftop bar – a shiny new gem atop the AC Hotel Atlanta Perimeter granting patrons a great view of the local skyline (be sure to visit around sunset to catch nature’s nightly display of color!). But Bar Peri doesn’t just rely on the novelty of the space or the inviting interior, as some rooftop bars do. The cocktail program itself is incredibly strong.

Bar Peri’s menu is delightfully edited down to just a few spectacular creations. During our visit, we had the chance to enjoy a Peri Sunset (a great low-proof cocktail with Aperol, passionfruit, lime, and soda), Spellbound (an utterly mesmerizing cocktail prepared with empress gin, prickly pear, lime, and soda), and a Georgia Mule (a twist on the classic with local ASW vodka, honey, lime, and ginger beer).

The drink prices are on par with cocktails in a large city (around $14 each), and frankly are cheaper than many of the rooftop bars in my home city. Michael and I were both too full from our dinner to try any of the small plates on offer, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feasting with my eyes on other bar-goers’ flatbreads!

I hope you experience good weather during your visit to Bar Peri, but even if it isn’t ideal, staff can modify the outdoor awning to provide extra coverage (and honestly, the inside is just as beautiful). While visiting, we learned that a sister property is joining the skyline in 2024, so the view from Bar Peri will continue to evolve in the coming years.

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Café Intermezzo

Café Intermezzo | 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30346

A slice of Europe in Dunwoody, Café Intermezzo serves up a wonderful Sunday brunch. Even though it was chilly on the morning of our visit, we were comfortable on the glass-enclosed patio thanks to the provided heaters – and the patio seating brought me right back to people-watching in Paris.

Inside, the vibe also reminds me of a brasserie, with its dark wood accents and mirrors on nearly every surface. The croque monsieur and American breakfast were just what we needed after an evening at Bar Peri, but even if you’re visiting on another day or at another time, you can always order off the breakfast menu.

The beverage menu is as adventurous as the food menu – it includes an array of global coffee styles (boozy too, if you’re so inclined). We didn’t indulge, but we enjoyed watching our neighbors order breakfast cocktails for a fête le dimanche.

Café Intermezzo feels a bit like an institution in Dunwoody with forty-plus years of service under its belt, but you can also find branches in Midtown Atlanta and Alpharetta if you happen to find yourself in another part of this region.

If the food and atmosphere aren’t enough of a reason to visit, Café Intermezzo also gives back to its community in a meaningful way (past recipients include Feeding America, World Central Kitchen, and the Atlanta Community Foodbank). I can’t wait to return to indulge in some of their delicious cakes and tartes made at their dedicated bakery knowing my support helps fund a good cause.

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Iron Hill Brewery

Iron Hill Brewery | 1224 Hammond Dr, Dunwoody, GA 30346

You know I’m no stranger to a good brewery, and I felt right at home at the Dunwoody outpost of Iron Hill Brewery.

Unlike many brewpubs that have expanded into multiple states, Iron Hill brews right on-site – meaning the beer in your glass was in the tanks near your table not too long ago. Much like Charlotte, Dunwoody is IPA territory – and Iron Hill has a lot of those, as well as a fairly diverse list of other styles.

Building a flight is the best way to sample the brewery’s offerings, but if you’re looking for a recommendation for a full pour, I really enjoyed the Strawberries And Cream Milkshake IPA and the Brambleberry Farmhouse Ale (just be warned: the beer menu is updated regularly, so your options may look a little different than mine!).

Although the food menu features brewpub classics like pizza and burgers, it’s clear there’s a large global influence, which I adore. Vegetarian items are clearly marked on the menu, so there’s no guesswork required when it’s time to order. Also clearly marked? Menu items that are beer-inspired (and they are everywhere, as they should be!).

Michael and I started our meal with the buffalo chicken egg rolls, which were fantastic. We love spicy food but appreciated that they put the sauce on the side for those who can’t handle the heat. I immediately knew I wanted to order the fried chicken sandwich with Korean BBQ sauce and pickled veggies (and was greatly rewarded for this decision), but Michael struggled to order because he wanted one of everything.

Eventually, he landed on the voodoo chicken pizza (it’s hearth-baked with ingredients like smoked gouda cheese and bacon, yum), and was wise to follow our server’s suggestion to add sliced serrano peppers for a bit more heat. The pizza was more than enough food for one, and he happily carried a few slices back to our hotel (did I catch him eating cold pizza at midnight? Yes, yes I did).

If you happen to visit during the week, slide into Iron Hill Brewery between 3 and 6 p.m. for Happy Hour (a tradition I greatly miss having in North Carolina!). Whether you call it a late lunch or an early dinner, it’s a great deal.

A quick note on parking: if you miss entering the lot on the first try (as we did – embarrassingly, we missed it twice), you’ll need to circle around the block. To make it easier to find, I’m linking a map showing the parking garage right here. Of course, if you’re making the trek from Midtown Atlanta, Iron Hill is just steps away from the Dunwoody MARTA stop and you won’t even need to worry about parking.

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Sankranti Kitchen

Sankranti Kitchen | 237 Perimeter Center Pkwy NE Suite H-56, Dunwoody, GA 30346

Sankranti Kitchen officially opened its doors a few days before our visit, and I can’t believe I’ve never visited a fast-casual Indian restaurant like it before. Located in the State Farm building, you’ll only need to follow your nose to find the entrance.

The menu is easy to navigate, and I truly think there’s something for first-timers and more adventurous eaters to love. Like at your favorite fast-casual burrito joint, ordering is simple: choose between Indie Bowls, Karma Rolls, or Curry Bowls and build it yourself.

Michael and I shared a Chicken Kurma Curry Bowl over both Pulao and Jeera rice. With the additional spicy chicken and paratha bread add-ons, it was more than enough food for the two of us (but that didn’t stop us from enjoying the Gulab Jamun either!).

Everything is made fresh from scratch daily – the owner shared that nothing goes back in the fridge overnight – and we could tell how much care and attention went into each dish. The restaurant is one-of-a-kind for now, but we hope someone in Charlotte will franchise as it’s so rare to find quick meals with great quality!

WITH MORE TIME IN DUNWOODY

If you’re lucky enough to have an extra day or two in the fastest-growing city in the Metro Atlanta region, other fun activities might include: attending events and classes at the Spruill Center for the Arts, catching a performance at the Stage Door Theatre, and experiencing the thrills at Treetop Quest.

Of course, you know I always complain that there are too many amazing restaurants I want to try, and not enough meals in the day – on my next visit other places I’d like to try are Novo Cucina, Cafe Sababa, Nai Thai Cuisine, and Yao.

As you plan your visit to Dunwoody, don’t forget that CVBs are an invaluable resource for trip planning. No matter the destination, official city guides from the local tourism board are always one of the first resources I use when designing my trip itinerary – and the team at Discover Dunwoody has you covered with a range of itineraries for all types of getaways.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON VISITING DUNWOODY

Oftentimes when visiting large cities, you lose that community feeling – but not in Dunwoody. The city seamlessly blends suburban charm and urban convenience, making it an ideal destination for travelers seeking a peaceful retreat within proximity to Atlanta’s bold and vibrant offerings. In fact, it’s completely changed my mind about what an Atlanta-area visit can look like. I can’t wait to return to the region to discover more of its unique communities.

Thank you to the team at Discover Dunwoody for hosting our weekend getaway in your beautiful city - and thank you to each of the partners included here (AC Hotel Atlanta Perimeter, Art in the Park at Brook Run Park, Bar Peri, Café Intermezzo, Dunwoody Nature Center, Iron Hill Brewery, and The Enchanted Forest) for sharing your story and your generous hospitality!

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Are you planning a Dunwoody visit soon? What are you looking forward to seeing (and eating!)?