Business Lunch & Dinner
Looking for a restaurant recommendation that feels distinctly Atlanta without adding unnecessary complexity to the day? Virginia Highland District offers an easy alternative to a hotel dining room or a familiar chain: independent restaurants, welcoming service and a walkable neighborhood setting just beyond the city's major business and visitor districts.
For hotel concierges, the district offers options for nearly every request - a polished weekday lunch, a quieter table for conversation, a memorable client dinner, a casual team meal or a Friday-night plan that continues into live music. For leisure travelers, the same restaurants create a natural starting point for an evening of neighborhood shops, cocktails, dessert and entertainment.
This guide is not a ranking. It is a quick decision tool for matching the right Virginia Highland District restaurant to the guest, the occasion and the amount of time available.
At a Glance
- Polished weekday lunch: Murphy's, professional without being formal, and easy to reserve.
- Quiet thai or sushi lunch: Mali, calm, varied, and patio-friendly.
- Efficient lunch with broad appeal: Surin of Thailand, a dependable favorite.
- Creative Friday lunch: Whiskey Bird, Pacific Rim flavors and a livelier, more relaxed vibe.
- Classic client dinner: La Tavola, intimate Italian with warm service.
- Steak and martinis: Highland Tap, a cozy steakhouse with classic appeal.
- Shareable global dinner: Truva, meze, skewers, and small plates made for the table.
- Late dinner or drinks: Yakitori Kona, an intimate izakaya open late on weekends.
- Dinner that becomes late night: Osteria 832, dinner and drinks without changing locations.
Making a Business Lunch Choice
The strongest lunch recommendation depends on the atmosphere that best serves you, whether it’s polished, quiet conversation, speed, or a more distinctive Atlanta experience.
Murphy's
Murphy's is the dependable answer when a guest asks for a polished business lunch with broad appeal. The restaurant has anchored the neighborhood for more than four decades and pairs an established dining room with elevated American comfort food, a full wine program and professional service.
The weekday lunch menu offers salads, seafood, sandwiches and heartier favorites, making it easy to accommodate different appetites without sending the group to an overly formal setting. Lunch items are offered Monday through Friday from 11 am to 4 pm.
Mali Thai & Sushi
Mali is a strong choice when conversation matters as much as the food. Tucked away in Amsterdam Village, the restaurant serves Thai cuisine and sushi in a comfortable dining room with a patio that feels removed from the busiest part of the corridor.
Weekday lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. The menu gives a table plenty of flexibility, from lighter rolls and salads to curries, noodles and composed entrees.
Surin of Thailand & Ocean Wave
These neighboring restaurants are useful concierge recommendations when guests want a straightforward lunch with plenty of choice. Surin of Thailand focuses on Thai dishes, sushi and lunch specials; Ocean Wave leans more heavily toward sushi while also offering Thai favorites.
Both serve weekday lunch from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm and weekend lunch from noon to 2:30 pm, making them especially helpful for Friday meetings or Saturday leisure travelers who want lunch before exploring the district.
Whiskey Bird
For a Friday meeting that should feel more creative than conventional, Whiskey Bird brings Pacific Rim influences to familiar lunch formats. The menu includes shareable gyoza tacos and Japanese street fries alongside salads, sandwiches and brunch-inspired dishes.
Friday lunch is served from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. The restaurant remains open afterward with a limited menu before dinner, making it easy for a leisure traveler to let lunch roll into a longer afternoon.
Where to Send Guests for a Business or Client Dinner
Dinner recommendations should reflect the tone of the evening. Some guests want a quiet table and traditional service; others want shareable plates, a memorable room or a place that can continue into drinks and entertainment.
La Tavola
La Tavola is the classic client-dinner recommendation: an intimate neighborhood trattoria with handmade pasta, Italian comfort and attentive hospitality. The room feels warm and polished rather than corporate, giving out-of-town guests a clear sense of place.
Dinner is served nightly, with later closing times on Friday and Saturday. Valet service is available behind the restaurant and at the nearby bank with validation.
Truva Turkish Kitchen
Truva offers a food-forward dinner built around Turkish and Mediterranean spreads, meze, seafood and char-grilled kebabs. The menu naturally encourages sharing, which can make a team meal or relationship-building dinner feel less structured.
Weekday happy hour and bar bites run from 3 to 6 pm, creating an easy early-evening option before dinner. Truva also offers group-event menus for parties larger than 12.
Highland Tap
Highland Tap is the recommendation for a guest who asks for steak, prime rib, a classic martini or an old-school Atlanta room. Guests descend from the sidewalk into stone walls, dark wood and red leather booths - a memorable contrast to the bright neighborhood outside.
The menu covers steakhouse standards, seafood, salads and familiar appetizers. Its generously poured dirty martini with blue cheese olives is a neighborhood signature.
Yakitori Kona
Yakitori Kona is a more intimate, late-night choice centered on Japanese grilled skewers, sushi and craft cocktails. The izakaya format works well for two to four guests who want a distinctive dinner that feels less expected than a conventional client meal.
The restaurant opens at 6 pm Tuesday through Sunday and stays open until 1 am on Friday and Saturday.
Three Easy Friday or Saturday Plans for Leisure Travelers
For weekend guests, the strongest recommendation is often more than a restaurant. These three compact plans pair dinner with the neighborhood experiences that make Virginia Highland District worth leaving the hotel to explore.
1. Classic Italian Dinner and Gelato
- Dinner at La Tavola for handmade pasta, Italian wine and an intimate neighborhood atmosphere.
- Walk around the Virginia-Highland intersection, then finish at Paolo's Gelato, which currently stays open until 10 pm on Friday and Saturday during its seasonal schedule.
Best for: couples, first-time visitors and travelers who want a relaxed evening with minimal planning.
2. Global Flavors and Live Blues
- Choose Truva, Surin of Thailand or Ocean Wave for Turkish, Thai or sushi-driven dinner options in the historic Atkins Park section.
- Continue to Blind Willie's Blues Club. Friday and Saturday doors currently open at 7 pm, with shows beginning at 9 pm; the performer and cover charge change nightly.
Best for: music fans, guests who want an unmistakably local Atlanta evening and travelers comfortable with a later night.
3. Dinner That Turns into Late Night
- Begin at Osteria 832 for pizza, pasta and a neighborhood Italian dinner.
- On Friday and Saturday, stay in place as the restaurant transitions into Lounge 832 from 9 pm to 1:30 am, with cocktails, small plates and a later-night atmosphere.
Best for: friends traveling together, convention guests extending the evening and anyone who prefers not to coordinate multiple rides.
Before You Visit Virginia Highland District
Park Once
Virginia Highland is made for walking. Start in one spot and explore the neighborhood on foot. Check out our parking guide.
See What's Happening
From the Farmers Market and Porchfest to Mardi Gras and Winterfest, there's almost always something happening. Check out our upcoming events before you visit.
Keep Exploring
Looking for more inspiration? Browse our Happy Hour, Date Night, and Dog-Friendly guides.
Editor's Note
Business hours, menus, group policies, reservations and entertainment schedules may change throughout the year. Be sure to check individual business listings and official websites before recommending or sharing an itinerary.
