Make yourself at home: Your city guide to Home Park

Nestled between the sprawling campus of Georgia Tech and the live-work-play bustle of Atlantic Station, Home Park is a compact, historic neighborhood on Atlanta’s west side. It is sometimes lumped under the “West Midtown” name, but Home Park took root over a century before the trendy developments of recent years.

Home Park was incorporated in 1909 and served primarily as a neighborhood for workers at the Atlantic Steel mill, home of modern-day Atlantic Station to the north. The population boomed over the decades, with churches, a school, and small businesses lining the major roads. However, in the latter half of the 20th century, the expansion of Georgia Tech northward to 10th Street consumed a large chunk of the neighborhood, and the Atlantic Steel mill’s closure in 1995 impacted workers.

The university’s growth changed Home Park’s demographics and today a large chunk of residents are college students. Many of the old community buildings have been adapted for other uses, like condos and pizza joints. Today, major developments on the neighborhood’s western front and Midtown’s explosive growth have drawn attention elsewhere, but there’s still lots of great diners and activities to be had in Home Park.

What can I do for fun in Home Park?

Escape boring themes at The Escape Game. This newcomer to the escape room trend doesn’t feature your average murder mystery. Instead, you and up to five friends can travel through time, discover underwater mysteries, or even break out of jail (no murder necessary)! All of their games are engaging with a variety of rooms and puzzles and serve as a great special event activity for puzzle lovers of any skill level.

Discover a new love of paper at the Museum of Papermaking. There’s more to paper than your office printer and the recycle bin. This museum, run by Georgia Tech, is home to thousands of artifacts that chronicle the history of papermaking and communication, showcase its technology, and show off artistic, tactile creations in its exhibit halls. Want to get hands-on? Interactive workshops and educational tours happen periodically.

Where are the best places to eat and drink in Home Park?

Sublime Doughnuts

Do you ever get a craving for sweets at random times? Good news! Sublime Doughnuts’ original location in Home Park is open all-day, every day. Whether you want to start your morning off right, grab a box of doughnuts for the office, or just want a quick treat, Sublime’s selection of creatively-covered confections has you covered. Represent the city with the classic A-town cream-filled doughnut or go specialty with flavors like white chocolate peach or Nestle Crunch.

Location: 535 10th Street NW; Hours: Open 24 hours every day; Website: sublimedoughnuts.com

Wagaya

Zoom down 14th Street and you’d be missing out on this Japanese restaurant’s quality ramen and sushi, where the decor is traditional but the vibe is friendly. Start with some takoyaki or gyoza dumplings as you select from a wide variety of sushi rolls and four rich ramen broths. Can’t choose? Get a combo plate with tonkatsu ramen, rice, and two rolls of crunchy salmon sushi. For an added treat, check out their Japanese grocery store downstairs, which is full of snacks, frozen meals, drinks, and fresh ingredients to take home.

Location: 339 14th Street NW; Hours: Lunch: Weekdays, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 3 p.m.; Dinner: Monday through Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5-10:30 p.m.; Sunday, 5-9:30 p.m.; Website: wagayaatlanta.com

The Silver Skillet

Step back into the Atlantic Steel days at this classic Southern diner on 14th Street. Its classic vibes have led it to be featured in several movies and TV shows, but their classic breakfast plates and lemon ice box pies are the real draws. Dig into some chicken and waffles, a stack of buttery pancakes, or go savory with the country ham drizzled with gravy. And of course, wash it all down with some good, old-fashioned Southern sweet tea.

Location: 200 14th Street NW; Hours: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Website: thesilverskillet.com

Antico Pizza

While the “Little Italia” corner has grown over the years, this famous pizzeria has been a go-to for many Atlantans for a reason. Their savory pizza pies are cooked to order in front of patrons and made with the freshest Italian ingredients. Order at the counter, grab a drink, take a seat and watch as the thin Neapolitan pizza crust is loaded with basil, cheese, and a variety of toppings. (Try the savory sausage of the San Gennaro or the spicy kick of the Diavola.)

Location: 1093 Hemphill Avenue NW; Hours: Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.; Website: littleitalia.com/antico/

Gio’s Chicken Amalfitano

If you want something a little fancier than pizza but still crave the flavors of Italy, simply go next door to Gio’s Chicken. This cozy restaurant is known for their signature poultry, marinated in a zesty blend of citrus, herbs, and peppers (if you’d like). The chicken is tender and the taste will transport you to the Amalfi coast. Pair with their signature chicken soup and a small salad for a filling meal, or dig into a variety of savory pasta dishes if you’d prefer to stay meat-free.

Location: 1099 Hemphill Avenue NW; Hours: Mondays, 4:30-10 p.m.; Tuesday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.; Website: littleitalia.com/gios-chicken/

The Optimist

There’s nothing fishy about this renown seafood restaurant. Start small with some devilled eggs or seasonal produce before you reel in an entrée. The Optimist is known for its generous oyster platters and crunchy lobster rolls, but they also have bluefin tuna, scallops, and other ocean finds, all accented with a variety of rich butters and flavors. Feeling cheap? Oyster happy hour is from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

Location: 914 Howell Mill Road; Hours: Monday through Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday, 5-11 p.m.; Saturday, 3-11 p.m.; Sunday, 3-10 p.m.; Website: theoptimistrestaurant.com/atlanta