What’s New in Buckhead: Five Recent Restaurant Openings
Koshu Club brings an intimate Japanese dining experience to West Paces Ferry from the team behind Michelin-starred Mūjo.
Buckhead’s restaurant landscape continues to evolve, with new concepts opening across the district from Buckhead Village and Peachtree Road to West Paces Ferry and Roswell Road. This year’s arrivals range from ambitious chef-driven concepts to casual neighborhood spots, bringing new investment, new experiences and more reasons to explore different parts of Buckhead. Established Atlanta hospitality groups are introducing new concepts, restaurateurs are expanding their presence in the neighborhood, and brands new to the market are choosing Buckhead as a place to grow.
Here are five recent openings adding something new to the mix.
Y Bar e Ristorante
One of the newest arrivals is Y Bar e Ristorante, which opened this summer in Buckhead Village from Y Hospitality, the Atlanta restaurant group behind Yeppa & Co., Storico Fresco and Forza Storico. The concept takes inspiration from the cafés and bars of 1960s Rimini, the Italian coastal town where Y Hospitality partner Stephen Peterson grew up. The restaurant combines Italian food and cocktails with a setting designed to capture some of that era’s relaxed glamour, including a covered patio and outdoor seating inspired by Italian piazzas.
The opening adds another concept to the already dense collection of restaurants, shops and entertainment destinations surrounding Buckhead Village. Y Bar is located at 3065 Peachtree Road NE.
Koshu Club
A few blocks away, Koshu Club has brought a new Japanese dining experience to West Paces Ferry. The intimate restaurant comes from Castellucci Hospitality Group, the Atlanta team behind Cooks & Soldiers, The Iberian Pig and Michelin-starred Mūjo. Led by Executive Chef J. Trent Harris, Koshu Club blends Japanese and Western influences, with Japanese and American wagyu, seafood, wine and sake at the center of the experience. With just 46 seats, the restaurant represents a different kind of addition to Buckhead’s dining landscape: a small, highly focused concept designed to make the meal itself the destination.
Koshu Club is located at 99 West Paces Ferry Road, across from The St. Regis Atlanta.
Clark’s Steakhouse
Buckhead has a long history as one of Atlanta’s steakhouse destinations, and Clark’s Steakhouse joined that tradition this spring with a new concept on Peachtree Road. Located at 2827 Peachtree Road, Clark’s combines elements of a classic New York steakhouse with Southern influences. Prime steaks cooked over hardwood anchor the menu, joined by seafood, game, seasonal dishes, classic cocktails and an extensive wine program.
The restaurant comes from Rich Clark, the restaurateur behind C&S Seafood and Oyster Bar. In addition to dinner, Clark’s serves weekday lunch, adding another option for Buckhead’s business community as well as residents and visitors.
Mai Thai Kitchen and Bar
The new activity isn’t limited to Buckhead’s major commercial corridors. Along Roswell Road, Mai Thai Kitchen and Bar has added another dining option serving the surrounding residential neighborhoods. Located at 3872 Roswell Road NE, Mai Thai focuses on contemporary presentations of Thai cuisine using imported herbs and spices alongside locally sourced ingredients. The menu includes curries, noodles, seafood and chef specialties, complemented by a full bar and indoor and outdoor seating.
With both lunch and dinner service, Mai Thai represents the kind of neighborhood-oriented restaurant that contributes to the mix of businesses serving Buckhead beyond its central commercial core.
Spread Bagelry
Another recent arrival brings something considerably more casual to the neighborhood. Philadelphia-based Spread Bagelry opened at 47 Irby Avenue, bringing its Montreal-style approach to wood-fired bagels to Buckhead. Its bagels are hand-rolled and wood-fired before becoming everything from traditional bagels with spreads to breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Opening at 6 a.m. daily, Spread adds another breakfast and daytime option to the growing concentration of restaurants and businesses around Irby Avenue.
Its arrival also illustrates the variety of operators finding opportunities in Buckhead, from locally based hospitality groups launching ambitious new restaurants to concepts expanding into the Atlanta market.
A Dining District That Keeps Evolving
Taken together, these five openings offer a snapshot of the continued activity across Buckhead. They also show that restaurant growth isn’t concentrated in a single part of the district. New concepts are appearing in Buckhead Village, along Peachtree Road, on West Paces Ferry, Roswell Road and Irby Avenue, adding activity to commercial areas throughout the community. Restaurants are only one piece of Buckhead’s larger development story, but they are an especially visible one. They activate storefronts, create jobs, draw visitors and give residents and workers more reasons to spend time in the neighborhood.
And with Buckhead’s dining landscape continuing to change, there will undoubtedly be more new tables to discover soon.
