Garden Lights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, a forest walk in Decatur, and where to eat after

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights opens November 14 at the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Midtown and runs every night through January 10, 5 p.m. to midnight. This year adds expanded displays along Flower Walk, the return of the mosaiculture dragon, and what the garden calls the world’s largest curtain of light and sound. Prices change by the night, from value to peak, and the garden says it sells out frequently, so buy a timed ticket early. For a daytime walk first, Woodlands Garden in Decatur is 7.1 acres of Piedmont forest six miles east. Here is how to fit them together and where to eat.

We run Botanical Garden Near Me, a directory of public gardens and arboretums across the United States, and we are a guest here. Top of Atlanta asked for the gardens. They supplied the restaurants.

The plan, in order

Walk Woodlands Garden first: it is open seven days a week during daylight hours, with no clock times posted, so go before the afternoon fades. Parking is limited, and restrooms are open only when staff are on site. Then head west to Midtown for your Garden Lights time slot. Tickets are only valid after the slot you buy, and Garden Lights parking in the SAGE deck is $20 a car, card only. If you want the lowest price, pick a value night or come after 9:30 p.m. Peak nights are November 21, 22 and 26 to 28, December 5, December 11 to 13, and December 17 through January 2.

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights

The Atlanta Botanical Garden, at 1345 Piedmont Avenue, has 30 acres of outdoor gardens, the Storza Woods Canopy Walk, the Fuqua Conservatory and the Fuqua Orchid Center. Garden Lights runs nightly from November 14, 2026 through January 10, 2027, 5 p.m. to midnight, with last entry at 11 p.m. General admission for adults is $29.95 on value nights, $44.95 on regular nights and $59.95 on peak nights; children 3 to 12 pay $3 less. The Night Light ticket, for entry after 9:30 p.m., starts at $19.95 for adults. Premium tickets add hologram glasses, a drink ticket and express entry. Members save $5 on every ticket, and children 2 and under do not need one. The event is rain or shine with no rain checks; a $10 Flex add-on covers date changes and weather. By day the garden is closed on Mondays.

Woodlands Garden

Woodlands Garden is an urban preserve of 7.1 acres of natural Piedmont forest in the City of Decatur, six miles east of Atlanta. The entrance is at 932 Scott Boulevard, and the garden says 913 Clairemont Avenue works best for GPS; the Scott Boulevard entrance allows right turns only, in and out. It is open seven days a week during daylight hours, and self-guided tours are free. Parking is limited, so the garden encourages biking and carpooling.

The full list

Hours, prices and directions for each of these, with the official page for each, are on our side. The botanical gardens near Atlanta page on Botanical Garden Near Me lists them, closest first.

Where to eat after

One table near Woodlands for lunch and one near Midtown for dinner before your entry, each checked against its hours. They come from Top of Atlanta lists: Decatur and omakase. The scores are theirs, not ours.

Brick Store Pub

Insider Score7.4

Pubs · Decatur

Lunch near Woodlands. Under a mile away on East Court Square, open from 11:30 a.m. Tuesday to Sunday (4:30 p.m. on Monday). Decatur’s beer standard since 1997, with a classic pub burger and beer-battered fish and chips.

DirectionsCallSee the list

Eight Sushi Lounge

Insider Score7.7

Sushi · Atlanta

Dinner before the lights. About 2 miles from the garden, open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. (11 on Friday and Saturday) and closed Mondays. A chef’s omakase alongside spicy tuna and salmon teriyaki.

DirectionsCallSee the list

Scores are Top of Atlanta Insider Scores. Restaurant photographs from Yelp and Tripadvisor.