Augusta, Georgia food guide: Riverwalk, Broad Street and Masters week

Augusta is one of Georgia's oldest cities, sitting on the Savannah River across from South Carolina, and most of the country knows it for one week in April. The rest of the year, it is a river city with a walkable downtown, a long main street and a food scene that mostly serves locals. An existing guide covers Macon and Augusta together; this one goes deeper on Augusta. It was checked in October 2026 and names no single restaurant, because lists change, so confirm hours before you go.

Where do you eat downtown?

Broad Street is the center of downtown Augusta, a wide, tree-lined street with shops, galleries, bars and restaurants in historic buildings. The tourism bureau describes it as a pleasant path through the center of downtown, with locally owned restaurants and nightlife. The blocks closest to the river hold the densest cluster. Evenings are livelier than lunchtimes, and weekends more than weekdays. Street construction on Broad has gone on in recent years, so check the city's updates if you plan to drive in.

What is the Saturday Market?

The Augusta Market on the River, known to locals as the Saturday Market, sets up at the entrance to the Riverwalk through the warmer months. Writers describe it as a good way to start a weekend, with fresh food from local farmers and chefs, baked goods, artisans and other goods. Go early, buy a coffee and a pastry, and walk the Riverwalk afterward. Confirm the schedule before you go, because seasons and weather change it.

What is the Riverwalk?

A city park along the Savannah River in downtown Augusta. It has gardens, a children's playground, museums and an amphitheater, plus a few restaurants. It is a pleasant place to walk before or after a meal, especially in spring and fall. The Augusta History Museum and the Morris Museum of Art are nearby for a rainy day or a quiet afternoon.

How does Masters week change eating in Augusta?

Dramatically. The Masters Tournament in April fills hotels, rental houses and restaurants. In past years, downtown has been quieter during the day while play is under way, with activity picking up in the evenings and restaurants packed at night. Visitors also spread beyond the city limits: restaurants in North Augusta, across the river in South Carolina, see spillover from the crowds. If you plan to visit during Masters week, make reservations well ahead, expect to eat early or late and be flexible. Many local restaurants change their hours, menus and prices that week.

How do you eat well outside Masters week?

Easily. Restaurants are less crowded, tables are easier to get and locals are around. Downtown has Southern, barbecue, Italian, Mexican, Asian and American restaurants, and the neighborhoods nearby have family-run diners and meat-and-three counters. Augusta is also a college and medical center, with Augusta University and several hospitals bringing in a steady lunch trade. Weekday lunch is busy with workers, and weekday evenings are calm.

What Southern foods should you look for?

The region cooks the Lowcountry-adjacent classics: barbecue with a sweet or mustard-based sauce, fried chicken, collards, boiled peanuts, pimento cheese and peach desserts in summer. Pimento cheese sandwiches are famous at the golf course, and many local restaurants make their own versions. Ask your server about the daily vegetable plate; it is often the best thing on the menu.

How do you get around and park?

Downtown Augusta has street parking and public decks, and most of it is walkable from the Riverwalk to Broad Street. A car is useful for the neighborhoods farther out. Rideshare may be limited in the late evening. Check parking signs, since enforcement can be strict on weekdays.

A good first-time plan outside tournament week is simple. Start on a Saturday morning at the market on the Riverwalk, walk along the water, and spend the early afternoon in one of the downtown museums. Eat a long late lunch on Broad Street, rest, and come back for a drink in the evening when the street is livelier. On Sunday, try a Southern church-day lunch if a restaurant offers one, and drive across the river to North Augusta for a different view of the city.

The surrounding region adds to the trip. Aiken, South Carolina, is a short drive away with its own downtown restaurants, and the Savannah River and Clarks Hill Lake offer fishing, boating and waterside meals. Columbia County, west of Augusta, has newer suburbs with chain and independent restaurants, which can be useful when downtown is full. If you are traveling with a family, check for seasonal events such as festivals, concerts at the amphitheater and holiday lights downtown.

How can you keep track of what you try?

Mosey is a food-first app where diners can rate a dish they ate, keep lists of places to try and search by dish and mood. A list called "open on a Masters week night", made on one visit, is useful when you return in April.

For the rest of the state, start at the Food in Georgia page.

More guides to read next:

• Macon, Georgia food guide: soul food, hot dogs and music history
• Greensboro, NC food guide: Elm Street, Tate Street and the Curb Market
• Allentown and Bethlehem food guide: Hamilton Street to SteelStacks

More in the US food guides and the ranked lists of places.