ATL Eats: Twin Smokers BBQ – Downtown Atlanta BBQ
📍 300 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313, United States
🌐 twinsmokersbbq.com
When you explore a city like Atlanta, the food becomes part of the adventure. During MagicCon Atlanta 2025, I made time to dive into the local food scene with an ATL Eats stop at Twin Smokers BBQ. Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, this barbecue spot promises smoky brisket, tangy ribs, and Southern-style sides—perfect fuel for long days of exploring and gaming.
First Impressions
Twin Smokers BBQ exterior sign and entrance
The restaurant sits right on Marietta Street, just steps from Centennial Olympic Park and the convention action. From the outside, the bold black-and-red sign immediately tells you you’re in BBQ country. Inside, the smell of smoke greets you before anything else.
The décor sets the tone: walls lined with wood—hickory, post oak, mesquite, and white oak—stacked floor to ceiling. It’s both rustic decoration and proof that Twin Smokers takes its smoking seriously. Whiskey barrels and exposed brick complete the look, creating the kind of barbecue restaurant atmosphere that feels authentic to Atlanta’s BBQ culture.
Atmosphere & Service
Interior view with stacked wood and bar seating
Twin Smokers BBQ blends a casual smokehouse feel with the energy of a downtown bar. Televisions over the bourbon-stocked shelves play sports, while the crowd is a mix of tourists, convention attendees, and locals.
Ordering is straightforward: you line up at the counter, pick your meats and sides, grab a drink, and your tray is brought to the table. The service was efficient and polite, though not particularly engaging—a setup designed to keep food moving quickly.
The Food
Brisket sandwich, mac & cheese, cornbread muffins
Brisket Sandwich – A modest portion of brisket layered on a bun, showing off a proper smoke ring and bark. The flavor carried that essential wood-fired smokiness, but the meat leaned a little dry, making sauce a welcome addition.
BBQ Plate – Ribs, brisket, collard greens, and beans. The ribs had a good char and chew, but not the melt-in-your-mouth tenderness you find at top-tier Atlanta BBQ restaurants. The brisket was consistent with the sandwich—flavorful but in need of a little more juiciness.
Sides – Mac & cheese was creamy and filling, though standard. Collard greens had the vinegar tang you expect in the South, but could have used more seasoning. The beans were hearty and smoky with bits of pork. The standout was the cornbread muffins—moist, golden, and a perfect counterpoint to the smoky meats.
Trio of BBQ sauces
The house sauces offered variety:
Sweet & Southern – Balanced and molasses-forward.
Vinegar – Carolina-style tang, perfect for brisket.
Texas Spicy – Pepper-driven heat that added needed punch to the ribs.
The sauces were essential—they elevated the meat and gave each plate more personality.
Portions & Price
Plate of ribs, brisket, beans, collard greens, cornbread
If there’s one consistent critique, it’s portion size versus price. For two meals (a brisket sandwich, a BBQ plate with ribs and brisket, sides, cornbread, plus a beer and sodas), the bill came to $63. For downtown Atlanta dining, this isn’t shocking, but the plates felt a little light for the cost.
The Verdict
Twin Smokers BBQ delivers atmosphere and a respectable smokehouse experience, but it lands in the middle tier of Atlanta barbecue spots. The brisket has flavor, the ribs satisfy, and the cornbread stands out, but portion sizes and consistency keep it from being among the city’s best.
⭐ Rating: 3.5 / 5 – Decent downtown barbecue with atmosphere and variety, but not the standout of Atlanta’s BBQ scene.
As part of my ATL Eats recon during MagicCon Atlanta 2025, Twin Smokers BBQ served its purpose: a convenient, smoky pit stop in the heart of the city. For travelers looking for barbecue near the convention center or Georgia Aquarium, it’s an easy option—but if you’re chasing the very best brisket in Atlanta, you may want to explore further.
Note: This is an independent review. Stag & Stow has no affiliation with Twin Smokers BBQ.
