After a day on the water or an evening under the stars at the campsite, explore the diverse dining options surrounding Georgia’s largest lake
LAKE LANIER, GEORGIA—FEBRUARY 2026—It’s a quick drive from Atlanta—only 45 minutes—to peaceful Lake Lanier, Georgia’s largest lake and a favorite destination for campers, RV travelers and outdoor enthusiasts. While days are often spent on the water or relaxing at lakeside campsites, visitors quickly discover that Lake Lanier also delivers an impressive and diverse culinary scene, from a floating tiki bar to a third-generation farmstand to one of America’s “Top 100 Restaurants.”
Surrounding the lake are the welcoming communities of Flowery Branch, Gainesville, and Buford, along with the expansive Lanier Islands Resort—each offering an array of dining options that range from casual, grab-and-go meals to elevated, chef-driven experiences. With nearby farms, farmers markets, lakeside eateries and resort restaurants, Lake Lanier makes it easy for campers and RV guests to enjoy convenient, flavorful meals without straying far from the outdoors. Come hungry—because at Lake Lanier, great adventures are always followed by great food.
Flowery Branch
For more than 10 years Executive Chef Nicholas St. Clair has been serving fine Southern cuisine in a quaint 1890s home in the heart of charming Flowery Branch. Antebellum Restaurant (5510 Church Street, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542; 770-965-8100) features craft cocktails, an extensive wine list and a seasonal menu of innovative traditional Southern dishes derived from local farm ingredients. Filled with delightful ambiance, it’s no wonder Antebellum was recognized as an Opentable “Top 100 Restaurant in America.”
St. Clair’s other restaurants in town include Caroline’s on Main for breakfast, brunch and lunch, WhistleQ serving up “un-cue-ventional” barbecue and Peyton’s Pie Company’s wood-fired pizzas, with an additional location in Gainesville.
When in Flowery Branch, don’t miss a chance to sip small-batch whiskey and bourbon inside Remedy Distillery’s cozy taproom. Remedy Distillery (5540 Atlanta Highway, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542; 470-310-1969) also offers special events such as game nights and barrel tastings.
Gainesville
Just a short drive from Lake Lanier lies the historic town of Gainesville, which offers numerous dining options, many of which are award-winning, in its historic downtown Gainesville Square. Relax and enjoy the sidewalk café and full-service restaurant of Avocados (109 Bradford Street NW, Gainesville, Georgia 30501; 770-532-0001), a favorite about area artists. Or Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse & Tavern (312 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville, Georgia 30501; 678-434-0366) delivering Southern standards and American classics with live music. Top off the day with sweet treats at Southern Baked Pie Company (302 Broad Street SE, Gainesville, Georgia 30501; 678-971-2555), which began in Gainesville in 2012 by University of Georgia graduate and creative entrepreneur Amanda Wilbanks and now ships nationwide.
Starting in April and running every third Friday of the month throughout the summer is Food Truck Fridays at Lake Lanier Olympic Park’s Northeast Georgia Health System Plaza. The Olympic Park was the site of the 1996 Olympic rowing and canoe/kayak competitions so lots to explore in addition to the event’s beer and wine tents, food trucks, live music and retail vendors.
Buford
Historic Buford’s a small-town bursting at the seams with unique dining opportunities. Enjoy authentic Jamaican fare at Blue’s Jamaican Restaurant (5370 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, Georgia 30518; 678-765-2524) or 37 Main Restaurant + Bar (37 East Main Street, Buford, Georgia 30518; 678-288-2030) with its live music, small plates and creative cocktails. Aqua Terra Bistro (55 East Main Street NE, Buford, Georgia 30518; 770-271-3000) marries traditional classics with influences from world cuisine in its fine-dining restaurant.
Lanier Islands Resort
There is literally something delicious for everyone at Lake Islands Resort (7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, Georgia 30518; 770-945-8787), situated on 1100 acres with 27 miles of lakefront shoreline. Visitors to the resort may choose from cocktails on the beach, casual cuisine by the pool or lakeside or a more elevated experience at Sidney’s Restaurant off the hotel lobby.
For a chance to sample local Georgia cuisine in an exciting atmosphere, Chef Tom Brailey at GameChanger (7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, Georgia 30518; 678-318-2027) serves up favorites such as smash burgers, creamy mac and cheese and a house-made pimento known as “Georgia Caviar” in the resort’s new 23,000-square-foot entertainment facility. The floor contains more than 60 amusement games, a dedicated kids’ arcade space, virtual sports suites, axe throwing lanes, an escape room and a nine-hole challenge putting course.
On the Lake
Listen to Jimmy Buffett while enjoying street tacos, cheeseburgers and boat drinks right on Lake Lanier at Margaritaville at Lanier Island’s LandShark Bar & Grill (7650 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, Georgia 30518; 470-323-3440). It’s an ideal spot to relax in the sun overlooking lake waters or in the restaurant’s shelter when those thunderheads pop up in summer.
Two eateries located within lake marinas includes The Twisted Oar at Holiday Marina (6900 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, Georgia 30518; 678-714-7572), which serves up weekly entertainment with its menu, and Pelican Pete’s at Port Royale Marina (8800 Port Royale Drive,
Gainesville, Georgia 30506; 770-887-5715), a floating tiki bar and full-service restaurant.
Regional Farms
Forty-five years ago, the Echols family moved from selling peaches and other fruits and vegetables at a roadside stand to opening J.A.E.M.O.R. Farms along a new interstate, the company named for third-generation owners Jimmy Allen Echols and Valvoreth Morrison Echols. Today, Jaemore Farms (5340 Cornelia Highway/ Georgia Highway 365, Alto, Georgia 30510; 770-869-3999), serves more than a million visitors a year in their market, deli and U-pick fields. Visitors will find seasonal produce, freshly baked products, gifts items, plants and so much more, plus enjoy events such as Peach Palooza in the spring and corn mazes in the fall.
If you go
Accommodations run the gamut at Lake Lanier, from lakefront views in a cozy lodge or cabin, a stylish resort room with amenities or enjoying unique natural experiences while camping or relaxing in an RV, the latter available in the region’s state parks, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreational areas and Camp Margaritaville, to name a few. Add even more to your experience and plan to visit during one of Lake Lanier’s year-round special events, with a full list, here.