Roswell Georgia Guide: Southern Travel

Hey, y'all! Looking for your next southern trip? Look no further than my Roswell Georgia Guide!

Roswell claims to have "modern soul and southern spirit" - and I couldn't agree more. The city encapsulated everything that I love about living in the south + being a southerner. The people are warm, kind, and have that southern drawl. The food is delicious, well-rounded, with both elevated cuisines + down-home country cooking. The houses - or, in the case of historic Roswell, estates - are well-kept, large, and welcoming (essentially begging me to have a glass of sweet tea on the porch).

On the outskirts of Atlanta, Roswell isn't to be missed -- and when you're there, here are some tips:

This post is in partnership with Roswell Tourism. Thank you all for supporting those that make JCP Eats possible. All opinions expressed are my own. Post originally published September 2019, updated May 2021.

Roswell Georgia Guide

Breakfast + Brunch

Gracious Plenty Bakery & Breakfast: 1164 Canton St. Roswell, GA 30075

Gracious Plenty's menu has one star - and it's the from-scratch biscuits. The menu allows you to build your own biscuit sandwich from southern favorites, such as country ham, fried eggs, pimento cheese, and sausage. Alongside that, Gracious Plenty serves up delicious coffee and bowls of Georgia peaches -- both of which I recommend.

Fellows Cafe: 1088 Green St. Roswell, GA 30075

The team at Fellows tells diners to expect a warm neighborhood feel, an excellent multi-roaster coffee program, and nourishing, delicious food - and I 100% agree with those sentiments. Fellows took inspiration from Australia's forward-thinking culinary scene and Europe's old world design. The result? Delicious, gorgeous, rustic food.

Roswell Georgia Guide: Beer

Roswell is a growing city with a bourgeoning craft beer scene - and it would be erroneous to not check out these local breweries! From delicious pours, to live music, to warm, welcoming atmospheres - this is the perfect way to relax after a day at work, before dinner, or the ideal destination for a nightcap.

Gate City Brewing Company: 43 Magnolia St. Roswell, GA 30075

Gate City’s name derives from Atlanta, Georgia’s nickname, the “Gate City" - and let me tell y'all: the beer stands up to the iconic name. Located at the corner of Canton and Magnolia Streets, the location is perfectly-situated in my favorite area of the city. Apart from the cerveza, you'll also love the ambiance, as the owners converted two Roswell mechanic shops into the taproom (and did a fantastic job, might I add!).

Variant Brewing Company: 66 Norcross St. Roswell, GA 30075

Variant Brewing Company was another one of my favorites in the city. Matt Curling, the owner, said: "The best way to get to know someone is to have a beer with them" - and I couldn't agree more. You'll love their sours (if that's your thing - it is mine!) and the open-concept, neutral-toned taproom. It was gorgeous.

From The Earth Brewing Company: 1570 Holcomb Bridge Rd. Roswell, GA 30076

With a commitment to exceptional brews, supporting the community, and sustainability -- From the Earth Brewing Company directly aligns with many of my core values. They differentiated themselves from the other breweries with a delicious, expansive menu - featuring many farm-to-table influences - and I loved every bite of it.

Roswell Georgia Guide: Activities

Roswell Ghost Tour

Tours depart from the bandstand in the Roswell Town Square (across from the Roswell Visitor’s Center – 617 Atlanta St., Roswell, GA 30075).

Ghost tours are a favorite of many southern travelers - and y'all, through my travels, I have learned that the south can be quite spooky. Roswell, GA is no exception. On this tour, participants learn about Roswell's deep history - from the antebellum mansions, deep ravines, and ruined mills... Roswell is chock-full of scary, petrifying stories.

The tour is roughly 2.5-3 hours and takes place in the historic district of Roswell. For more information on the Roswell Ghost Tour, click here.

Take A Cooking Class At Barrington Hall: 535 Barrington Dr. Roswell, GA 30075

This was only my second time taking a cooking class; however, it was my first time taking one in a Greek Revival-style mansion. And y'all... that will be hard to top.

Barrington Hall was the home of the King Family, the founders of the City of Roswell. Appearing on the National Register of Historic Places, the mansion is immaculately maintained, with a gorgeous interior + stunning exterior gardens.

Oli + Ve: 1003 Canton St. Roswell, GA 30075

If you are a foodie, read this section with intent. If you want to elevate your food/cooking at home, plan your visit to Oli + Ve. It's as a simple as that.

Oli + Ve specializes in ultra-premium extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) from around the world, flavored olive oils,  and balsamic vinegars aged in Modena, Italy. Tasting the oils and the balsamic vinegars was a better experience than any traditional tasting that I have had, whether it be bourbon, wine, cheese, you name it. There's no bread involved - you simply taste the oils and balsamic vinegars.

Roswell Georgia Guide: Dinner

Bistro VG: 70 W. Crossville Rd. Roswell, GA 30075

Bistro VG was my favorite restaurant in Roswell + is now one of my all-time favorite eateries that I have had the privilege of experiencing.

Y’all come back now, ya hear?

My best,

JC

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Thank you so much for visiting the blog today! I’d love to keep in touch via social media. You can follow my content on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Tik Tok, Twitter, and LinkedIn. I also author a sister website to JCP Eats, Unabashedly Southern, on which I write about southern lifestyle. Read Unabashedly Southern here.

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