Kandi Burruss's weekend guide to Atlanta
Atlanta – the state capital of Georgia and the unofficial capital of the American South – started its life as a railroad terminus in 1837 and has served as a hub for American culture ever since.
Ranking among the top cities for US tourism, Atlanta consistently draws visitors with its dynamic contemporary art scene and iconic soul food, as well as its abundance of greenery and sprawling historic estates. One of the main epicentres of the hip hop industry, it has also secured its place in music history, nurturing a long line of homegrown talent – like Kandi Burruss, the Atlanta-born singer, songwriter, producer and star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
The future songstress was raised in the Atlanta suburb of East Point, where she attended Tri-Cities High School of Visual and Performing Arts and met the other members of R&B girl group Xscape; later going on to co-write the 1993 hit No Scrubs for TLC. Burruss joined the Real Housewives of Atlanta cast for its sophomore season in 2010, becoming a fan favourite and one of the longest-tenured housewives before leaving the show in 2024. Her latest venture takes her to New York City as she and her husband, Todd Tucker, co-produce the new Broadway production of Othello at the Barrymore Theatre, starring Academy Award winners Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal.
But Burruss is an Atlanta girl through and through. "I was born and raised in Atlanta, so I am Atlanta," she says. "This is home base for me."
Her time on Real Housewives allowed her to celebrate her Atlanta roots, and chronicled meeting her husband and the birth of her son, Ace. "It's been kind of cool to say I can go back and watch 14 years of my life," she says. "It was a great experience."
Cameras followed Burruss and her co-stars as they crisscrossed the city to attend fashion shows; local restaurants, like 80-year-old Mary Mac's Tea Room; and major landmarks like the Georgia Aquarium, which set the scene for one of the show's beloved end-of-season reunions.
Burruss owns various enterprises in town, including two restaurants and her business camp The Kandi Factory HQ ("You have to have an invite," she says), which put her at the heart of Atlanta's often over-the-top social scene.
"Atlanta is a vibe," she declares. "It's a great place for work, fun, and the weather hits all four seasons; it's such a place to be."
Here are Burruss's favourite ways to experience her hometown of Atlanta.
1. Best shopping: Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza
If visitors are looking to drop some major coin, Burruss isn't against hitting up some of the most recognisable spots in Atlanta.
"People always go to Lenox [Square] or Phipps [Plaza] if they want to shop," she says.
Both malls are in the city's upscale Buckhead neighbourhood and include the designer labels that Burruss and her co-stars wear on the show, like Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Dior. The Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead and the InterContinental Buckhead Altanta hotels, both located nearby, played host to the Real Housewives of Atlanta for various events, like Nene Leakes's wedding in 2013.
Website: https://www.simon.com/mall/lenox-square/Address: 3393 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326Phone: +14042336767Instagram: @lenoxsqmall
Website: https://www.simon.com/mall/phipps-plazaAddress: 3500 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326Phone: +14042620992Instagram: @shopphippsplaza
2. Best brunch: Toast
Atlanta has 53 restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide (and eateries like Fishmonger and Staplehouse have taken top spots on Bon Appétit's Best New Restaurants listings in recent years), but diners can also enjoy the city's iconic Southern dishes like fried chicken at The Busy Bee Cafe and peach cobbler at Ms Ruby's Peach Cobbler Café in Buckhead.
Anyone looking to refuel after a late night or keep the party going after a big celebration can opt for brunch; another reality TV standby. While Burruss famously doesn't imbibe, she's happy to recommend her favourite spot.
"If I wanted to get up and go to brunch, it's a place called Toast. They have a great brunch," Burruss says of the trendy eatery, found just outside of Atlanta's Buckhead neighbourhood. "The food is really good."
Visitors can feast on "New American Brunch" dishes like strawberry-shortcake French toast or fried catfish and grits, while fans of Real Housewives will recognise the restaurant as the spot where Burruss feuded with her co-star Marlo Hampton at Shereé Whitfield's Keepin' it Gucci brunch in 2023.
Website: https://www.toastonlenoxatl.com/Address: 2770 Lenox Rd Suite B-1, Atlanta, GA 30324Phone: +14047484594Instagram: @toastonlenox
3. Best place to catch up with your girlfriends: Frost Bistro & Bar
As Burruss knows, getting a group of girlfriends together is no easy feat. So she looks for venues with good vibes and good music to accompany any tea that might get spilled (gossip) when she and her girls get together.
"My friend Rasheeda owns a place called Frost Bistro. We might hang out there, because they play good music," Burruss says. Fans of reality TV may also remember the restaurant from VH1's Love & Hip Hop Atlanta. Rasheeda and Kirk Frost, who have headlined the show since 2012, opened the casual Southern-style bistro back in 2020, offering a breakfast and brunch menu full of inventive cocktails and modern, stick-to-your-ribs Georgia-style dishes.
"I like the oxtail and grits, the snapper and the French toast," says Burruss.
Website: https://frostbistro.com/Address: 281 Peters St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313Phone: +14049635495Instagram: @frostbistro
4. Best place to bring first-time visitors: Atlantic Station
Atlantic Station is a favourite for locals and tourists, thanks to its views, restaurants and family-friendly attractions.
The building was once a steel mill and has since been transformed into a collection of boutiques, eateries and apartments in addition to a rooftop amusement park. Its location between Atlanta's West Side, Home Park and South Buckhead makes it easy for visitors to get to no matter where they're coming from.
"You want to go to Atlantic Station. They always have a lot of kids hanging out and playing," Burruss says. "I just took my son and his friends to Skyline Park at Ponce City Market. [They] have great restaurants in that building and on the rooftop is where Skyline Park is. So, you get an amazing view of the city."
Skyline Park includes a miniature golf course, a three-storey slide, and Heege Tower, which gives riders a 360-degree view of Bucktown, Midtown and downtown Atlanta.
Website: https://atlanticstation.com/Address: 1380 Atlantic Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30363Phone: +14049007900Instagram: @atlanticstation
5. Best outdoor experience: the Beltline
In a past life, Atlanta's Beltline was a rail corridor that circled the city. Now, it's a pedestrian-friendly path where Burruss goes to soak up the sun. The star notes that it attracts people from all over the city, making it prime for people-watching. Its trails extend more than 11 miles and notable stops include the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum, The Beacon and Krog Street Market. Public art is on display, too, including rotating exhibitions of sculptures, murals and performances throughout the year.
"Especially when the weather is good," Burrus says. "That's a fun time, because I like to just walk and people-watch. There's stops along the way where you can eat. In the summer, I like to ride my bike on the Beltline. I think that's kind of cool and fun."
Website: https://beltline.org/Address: 619 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312Phone: +14044773003Instagram: @atlantabeltline
BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers.
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