Georgia Trend. Dec 2024

We all have our preferred neighborhood restaurants where we go to comfort our cravings. But if you’re seeking a variety of culinary options in a beautiful setting, you may want to head to the biophilic wellness community of Serenbe, about 35 miles southwest of Atlanta. Spend the day or a weekend enjoying all the area has to offer. Known as a residential area surrounded by forests and open spaces, Serenbe is also a destination for relaxation, where you can get a massage, ride horses, visit a bookshop, stroll around vegetable gardens or hike the area’s many trails, in addition to enjoying a plethora of restaurants.

The Farmhouse Inn

Breakfast at The Farmhouse

There’s nothing quite like entering a cozy dining room with a roaring fire, and taking in the aroma of fresh made biscuits, pancakes and bacon after a night at the Inn at Serenbe. The Farmhouse at Serenbe serves a Southern-style breakfast and brunch and nightly dinner. For Christmas, you can enjoy a four-course dinner complete with holiday-themed cocktails. There’s also a five-course tasting menu on New Year’s Eve and a special New Year’s Day brunch. The organic ingredients used at The Farmhouse come from the restaurant’s own garden, as well as neighboring Serenbe Farms and other Chattahoochee Hills and regional producers.

Hydrate at Bamboo Juices

Before you hit the trails, head to Bamboo Juices in Serenbe’s Mado neighborhood for a healthy start. It offers raw, organic, cold pressed and handcrafted juices, smoothies and elixirs. My personal favorites are the lemon-ginger juice that tastes just like lemonade, the spiced banana smoothie with cardamom and ginger, and the deep chocolate almond milk, sweetened with dates with a hint of sea salt. Bamboo offers a Holiday Gift Kit which includes chocolate peppermint almond milk, cinnamon superfood almond milk, spinach apple juice and lemon ginger juice. Take one for yourself and gift one to friends who needs a little boost. Bamboo Juices also has a delivery option to nearby areas, including parts of DeKalb, Cobb, Fulton, Coweta, Fayette and Clayton counties.

Lunch at Halsa

Healthy eaters and vegetarians will love the options at Halsa, a Scandinavian-inspired casual eatery. The vegan chili on the lunch menu is hearty and warming on a cold winter day. Or try the crispy kale and brussels sprout tacos with chipotle-marinated tofu. You can also build your own snack plates, burgers, or bowls. The bowls come with grains, greens, proteins, dressings and toppings. For breakfast, indulge in pancakes and doppio or flat white coffee.

Cocktails at Austin’s

Austin’s is named after Father Austin Ford, an Episcopal priest and cherished friend of Steve and Marie Nygren, who founded Serenbe. The setting is reminiscent of the jazzy 1920s-style cocktail lounges found in big cities. On the cocktail menu, try a Front Porch Swing with bourbon, ginger liqueur, lemon, thyme, tea and honey, or opt for one of the zero-proof choices like the Sour Flower with lavender, grapefruit, lemon, lime and edible orchid. Pair your pre-dinner drinks with a special caviar service served with a light and fluffy French omelette and all the fixings. Both the Hamachi and Shrimp Toast are also great for sharing. Ask your server for the rotating snack of the day.

Austin’s has an oyster happy hour each Tuesday through Saturday, jazz on Saturdays and a New Year’s Eve Party featuring a live DJ and a midnight champagne toast.

Dinner at The Hill

For Southern classics like fried green tomatoes, pan-seared pork chops, grass-fed short ribs, and ham hock collards, The Hill, located at Serenbe’s first hamlet, is a spot where you can satisfy your tastebuds without the guilt. The seasonal menu includes organic vegetables from sustainable, locally sourced growers.

There’s also an array of cocktails (try the smokey Hill Old Fashioned) in an elegant setting. The Hill is open for brunch, Friday lunch and dinner.