Ponce City Market

Great fun, crowded on weekends but with a high-​energy, fun crowd. Don’t miss h&f hamburgers.

Best food destination in ATL. Just stay away from minero. Everything else is great. Get the H&F burger or the hot chicken. Wander around and have a drink or two. Forget the coffee bar — it is way over rated.

Love the place, hate the parking !
I don’t know my license plate and I don’t need your app on my phone to make it easier to give you money.
There is always a line at the machines, and if I have to extend my time before its up — I have to fill out a paper form to get a credit !? Are you serious ?
JAMESTOWN — put in a gate and charge when people leave. It works GREAT at sweet auburn market, Atlantic station, and countless other similar properties .
The ONLY reason I don’t go to eat at PCM on a regular basis, is THE PARKING !
I talked to staff, tweeted, left feedback at the website — no one has ever offered any explanation or responded at all

One of my favorite places in Atlanta! So many awesome restaurants and very neat that it is on the Beltline. You can rent bikes, but I recommend that you get there early for that otherwise there will be a bit of a wait, but it won’t be too bad. Overall a very cool place to shop, or just stroll around and enjoy the day.

I never park at this place. I usually park in Midtown around the park on the street and then walk down the Beltline to PCM. It’s a much less stressful experience & us Atlantans need some exercise anyway. That being said, I’ll spare you an additional parking nightmare story.
Pros: Connected to the beltline so it’s easy to stop by for a drink or food after a long jog or bike ride. There are plenty of food options. The bathrooms are usually clean.
Cons: Sweet baby nursery, the smell. Perhaps its because a lot of people do what I do– get all sweaty and come in this place to pee and take a reprieve from the oppressive Georgia heat, but this place smells like a mix between a Marshalls & a baby nursery & 1940’s old building. They need to invest in some type of ventilation system because you legit feel like you’re in Athens after game day. Food is overpriced for what it is. Clothes and wares are also overpriced. Venture over into Midtown and you’ll be much better cared for at the bars and restaurants there.
Bottom line: They should really just install showers and lockers so all the people using it as such can at least get clean and stop smelling the joint up.

Nice spot for indoor and outdoor dining, as well as shopping. I would definitely go back.

Ponce City Market is one of the best ways to spend the afternoon and see Atlanta. Located right on the Beltline, the Market offers some great shopping and local favorites from the food scene. This repurposed factory building is a part of a new Atlanta industrial trend. Whether you are trying to get to know the city or looking for something new to try, put Ponce City Market at the top of your list because its sure not to disappoint.

#97
What a super cool place.
I remember when this was just a crappy area with not too much to do but possibly get robbed, pick up a hooker or score drugs on the street.
Well, that was a really long time ago. I guess this is a great example of gentrification working over the years in this area.
We dropped by to check out the place. I am kind of rediscovering ATL this past month. It’s been a journey to say the least. I was away for about 15 years, and gosh, everything has really changed.
We walked around the open space for about an hour just checking things out and hooking up with a couple of friends. I think I could have chosen a few things to eat or drink, but my stomach is actually not big enough to try as many places as I would have liked. There are sit down places as well as counter service spots. So many choices…
I love that they are turning this area into something useful and fun. ATL is really an exciting place – I think it would be safe to say «It’s the NY of the South.»
Stephani Smiles for Ponce City Market ;)
#notjustforhookersanymore

Well lately it all seems to be coming together and theres now enough stores and restaurants open to make it a destination.
I like the idea of using an existing structure, especially one with history and making it into something rather than just level it out and making yet another of the cookie cutter type buildings which dot Midtown and Atlantic Station. Noitice how so many of those all look the same?
Having left artifacts from the old buildings is nice too. They have the old clocks, scales, and more on display. Yeah a 2000 pound scale!
The only drawback in the scare parking and having to pay. Makes it hard for some to come and relax and linger when your paying $ 1 for every 30 minutes. Yes there is an area for quick free parks, but sometimes thats full and its not enough time to actually go eat somewhere.
Some might access it by the beltway also as not everyone wants to drive everywhere. The Kroger will soon start remodeling also and its NOT part of this development but just on the other side of the beltline which would be good for residents who live there.

Walked from Krog Street Market all the way to Ponce City this weekend and I have to say I really liked this place! I can’t exactly note that there’s a stark difference between the two, except the pricing and ambience. This is clearly a more upscale version of Krog with an older clientele, but I’m cool with that. Neither one is better or worse to me, just different.
Loved that they have some shopping and some really neat places for a fancy drink. There’s also food. Yummy, delicious, eclectic food. And coconut water, which was $ 4.00 if you were wondering.
We will definitely be back when we’re not sweating our bums off and in workout gear so we can really give one of these restaurants a try. Lovely place for an afternoon with your loved ones or out of town friends.

What is there not to like about PCM? Well besides having to pay for parking? We were here while the weather permitted walking around and eating outdoors. The food options were good and a tad bit pricey. There is much to do here and much to see. I felt at home as soon as we got here. It reminded me of the Milwaukee Public Market at home.
It was crowded that can be a draw back. I wish that I had more time to venture out and explore but we were on a mission for chicken and we found it at Hop’s which was on point. Next time in ATL I will be sure to get back here and spend more time then I did on this trip.

I love Ponce City Market. I take my dogs up the stairs and on to the Belt Line and walk them to Piedmont Park. So why only three stars? The logistics… The parking is so bad. I feel badly for people who work here although the office space is 5 stars and unlike anything I’ve seen before. Also, it is just so crowded.
The crowds suck the fun of hauling two large dogs around to get them onto the belt line. Once they are on the belt line we are dodging bikers and runners and honestly I wonder if my dogs even like it better than just going to Piedmont Park directly or taking their normal walk. I think the crowds freak them out.
I can’t comment on the dining options at Ponce, although I’ve heard good things. I had a smoothie one time and I don’t even remember where I got it but it was dairy free and quite good although expensive. Expensive is a theme at Ponce as you’ve read in other reviews. If I wanted a specific thing like Frye boots or a specific brand of something then sure I would stop by and buy that one thing but no I could not just afford to go on a shopping spree here unfortunately. I do like Ponce better than Krog but just be in the mood to fight to park and spend money when you visit either.

Ugh. The food options are cool and the stores are great but the parking makes me want to scream every. single. time.
I hate to spend money to park just to spend money. Especially when this is a new reno with tons of parking space (we’re talking about multiple garages and open lots, not a tiny spot downtown where space is at a premium). And yet they’ve managed to make it worse by 1. charging too much (wtf am I paying when there’s SO MUCH SPACE), and 2. making it a pain in the ass with a bad lot layout and a crappy app that doesn’t work. Seriously after driving for 20 minutes to get inside the garage, yelling at the app my phone for another five, then tracking down a machine to pay, I just wanted to leave.
Cool space but shitty shitty parking. Kind of tough to enjoy the atmosphere when I’m feeling homicidal by the time I get in the doors.
[Edited because I notice a grammatical error that would have driven me insane. I’m uniquely OCD. Sorry about the ones that don’t bother me and thus remain.]

Amazing shopping, plethora of food, coffee & treats. Honestly the best shopping experience I’ve had in a long time! They’ve made it really easy to navigate which is a breath of fresh air (given Atlanta’s usual frustrating traffic and confusing city streets) I’m so excited I finally experienced it and can’t wait to go back!

I came to Ponce City Market for the Sound+ Vision event and dinner. I passed by Ponce City Market soooo many times, so I was decided to actually try it.
It seems like they have a variety of stores in PCM, but as I people watched, I noticed a lot of people didn’t have shopping bags. This could be because it was a Thursday evening, but with so many shops and boutiques, I expected the stores to be pretty busy,
I was impressed with the food hall. You can have all kinds of food, in one place. The lines weren’t super long, but the wait for certain places was longer than others. I tried Hops Chicken and got through the line and got my food within 10 minutes. A friend has a burger and fries from H and F and we waited for about 20 minutes before they got theirs. There isn’t much seating on the lower level. I didn’t go upstairs to shop, but I did notice there were more tables there.
The event space was amazing. There was exposed brick and it was very spacious. There were a lot of people at Sound+Vision, so I think for the future, fans should be placed around the event space (just a thought). I wasn’t impressed with the parking. I opted to use the app and pay in advance, but I like when you can only pay for the time you’re there. I understand it is Atlanta, but maybe the restaurants could offer SOME validation.
I will definitely be back to try other restaurants and to shop if I can.

PART I: THE DESIGN
Ponce City Market, a reasonably new addition to Atlanta and one that fills me with mixed emotions. Let’s start off by noting that I find the revitalization of old industrial buildings to be extremely exciting and the magic some designers are able to put into these buildings is just mind boggling. On that note, it is hard to debate that the design and build of the Ponce City Market is amazing. I love the touches of industrial machinery left throughout to show the history of the building, the integration of modern elements into industrial design and the easy connectivity to the beltline trail. However, the design here does have a major fallback.
PART 2: THE SMELL
The quote from their website could not be more ironic and more false, «Ponce City Market breathes new life into historic building.» The architects revitalizing this building clearly did not account for the amount of people that would be inside by using proper ventilation! It smells horrific. You know, like when you go to a market and expect smells of amazing cooking and fresh foods to be in the air? Well, it’s none of that. This place is congested, there is no air circulation whatsoever. I was so happy to actually step out on the beltline and get a breath of fresh air.
PART 3: THE SCAM
Lastly, regarding parking. The rates are just ridiculous for this part of town. Are they insane, $ 10 for 4 hours of parking? So if you want to grab a meal, do some shopping and go walk on the belt line, $ 10 is essentially what you’d have to pay. You are already coming here to spend money! Let’s run a comparison against other industrial revitalization projects like Atlantic Station… more centrally located, modern parking system and first 2 hours are free! Anyways, these people are crooks. For it’s location, these kinds of parking rates are the equivalent of stealing cash from people’s wallets. On top of it, I suspect they charge high premiums for food vendors to be in the market because meal prices are RIDICULOUS. Most places will charge $ 13+ for a sandwich, some going as high as $ 16 for a small sandwich. Something is sketchy is happening here from a financial standpoint.

The food court is definitely the star of Ponce City Market. I like coming here with groups since each person can order from the spot of his/​her stomach’s choosing, and then you can reconvene in the general seating area in the middle. A respectable number of cuisines are represented. I’ve tried El Super Pan, Marrakesh, and Honeysuckle Gelato so far, and have been happy with the offerings at each. And as an added bonus, free wifi!
Well, okay, the actual old-​timey building itself is another star. This mammoth beast linking Ponce and North Avenues was once home to Sears, Roebuck & Co. for the bulk of the 1900s. There was an amusement park on the land even before that, cool.
There are a lot of shops that you can go into and browse. Basically I’m wary of going into any store since the price tags might put me into cardiac arrest. There are still a lot of empty storefronts, and the second level looks pretty dead.
As for the Flats (apartments upstairs), they are very sleek and loft-​like and modern, meaning likely very expensive, like the rest of PCM. A friend lives here, and her place had a rad view of the Atlanta skyline. Guests have to check with the desk staff, how fancy.
Without question, the worst aspect of PCM is the parking situation. Parking is way overpriced ($ 1 for 30 minutes!) and inconvenient to deal with, not to mention confusing. How are you supposed to know how long you’ll be at PCM? It’s a drag when I have to keep reminding myself of the time. Plus it took us forever to use the machine since apparently you are supposed to shove your bills in really hard; it took us a few attempts before figuring that out. There’s an app as an alternative but then you have to pay an added fee apparently. Why can’t you just pay when you leave? I’d be down with validation and/​or one hour free too.

This place is still being renovated and occupied by businesses. So far it’s mostly restaurants and eateries within the main floor. H&F Burger, a coffee place, and a candy shop are some examples. West Elm and William Sonoma are the more recognizable stores. Yes, I am old since I only know furniture places. Lol.
There are more merchants, but they are located on the outside corridor. Some of the brands I have never heard of. It’s more like boutique shops and specialties. Two examples are a hat shop and stationary/​card place.
Parking isn’t free btw… But, let me just say there are free spots you can find elsewhere since there are many shops nearby. ;)

Unilocal STOP TAKING DOWN MY REVIEW, please!
This is my third attempt at writing a review for Ponce City Market. I have been here twice now, once in the scorching heat of the Atlanta summer and now once in the rapidly dropping cold of the Atlanta winter. This is a first-​hand experience. Who do you think I am, writing about a place if I’ve never been there? I guess someone was really hating on my previous 4 star review.
Anyway, Ponce City Market is a new collection of shops off of Ponce de Leon, between the Highlands and Midtown. Reminds me of the Krog Street Market in Old Fourth Ward, and I’m guessing it’s kind of going for the Chelsea Market feel in NYC. I love how it’s located off of the Beltline and is easily accessible for walkers. The atmosphere is great and welcoming. The shops are great for window-​shopping. The «food court» is not just any food court you find in a mall, it’s an upscale smattering of shops and sit down restaurants for you to try. The lines go out the door, especially at H&F Burger, omg.
Well, here comes the not so fun news.
1. Pricey AF. I just can’t afford the $$$ that the stores are asking for. There were some great boutiques that I would have loved to pay for their American made goods, but they were so out of my budget, no wonder we pay for cheap labor outside of the United States. Geez.
2. It was a weekend and there were lines everywhere. I’m sure it will die down once the hype dies down and people realize it’s hard to deal with the debt.
3. Parking costs money… We ended up parking off of Ponce near the Chipotle (BUT NOT THE WHOLE FOODS, JUST DON’T DO IT). You’re already shelling out the big bucks to shop and eat, so why should you be paying to get in? Find free parking outside of PCM and avoid the fee. Atlanta has enough free street parking to avoid that.
Overall, I do love Ponce City Market and all its offerings, but I hope one day they will realize, this is Atlanta, not New York, and parking doesn’t need to cost money. Why else does Ponce City Market have a 3 star overall rating?

I was very excited to try out this new foodie mecca in Atlanta. I admit, the choices were overwhelming at first. There were a few stalls already open for business. Some were small stalls and some were full sit down restaurants. I was hoping small stalls and fast service.
The food choices were four stars but that review is for the restaurants itself. This review is for the building at PCM. My first time there I wanted to sample a little of everything like a real food hawker. The overall prices were decent. The wait time for most stalls were ok as well. See my pictures of the items I ate after three trips to PCM.
I thought the hall itself was small and tight. Some stalls have lines that are not directed properly causing people to form outrageous lines all over. There were confusion and lack of walk space and eating space. Think families with scrollers. I feel that the sit down restaurants didn’t have a clear option for takeaway orders. I was expecting a real food hall with stalls after stalls of food options not greedy collections of full service restaurants in a small space. There wasn’t enough seatings for the fly by lunch crowd. You pay for parking, walk all the way in, fight the crowd, order food and have no place to sit with your friends but to wait or take your food back home while it’s still hot. That’s not very practical to me. The mall has more seatings than PCM.
Over all I give the collection of food, layout and seating options three stars. I’m hoping the second floor and rooftop will offer more options and space.