Downtown Athens is perhaps one of the most pedestrian-friendly cities in the South. Shops, theaters, bars and restaurants line the streets, making it quite easy to roam the sidewalks for hours. The following restaurants are all within walking distance from almost any downtown parking space:

-- The Last Resort Grill is in downtown Athens at 174/184 West Clayton St. Known to many locals simply as "The Resort," the atmosphere here is cozy and eclectic and is a favorite among Athenians and tourists alike. Original artwork (provided by local artists) adorns the walls, and nightly dinner specials are complemented by an excellent wine list. Recommended dishes include salmon and grits with capers and Rosemary's Filet (a grilled beef tenderloin marinated in olive oil and black peppercorn). You can't leave the Last Resort Grill without having something from its dessert case, located directly inside the front door. This scrumptious array of desserts is the first thing you will see and, believe me, you won't soon forget them. After dinner hours, students and locals flock to the restaurant's bar for lively conversation (and perhaps a slice of cake).

-- Also downtown is Harry Bissett's Restaurant (279 East Broad St.) -- home of Athens' quintessential Cajun cuisine. With an excellent wine list and a wonderful, casually elegant atmosphere, "Bissett's" is great for lunch with close friends or a romantic dinner for two. Lunch specials change daily and are available Monday through Friday, with brunch offered on the weekends. Dinner is a little pricier, but well worth it. Dine under the restaurant's unique skylight or upstairs overlooking UGA's picturesque North Campus. After hours, Bissett's bar comes alive with a slightly more sophisticated crowd. If you happen to be in Athens during Mardi Gras, you must stop by for some beads and a beer (just follow the hordes of merry revelers).

-- A few blocks up, you will find Five Star Day at 229 East Broad St. If good, Southern cooking is what you crave, then head here. With generous portions and a quaint, relaxed atmosphere, Five Star Day serves "gourmet soul food" at reasonable prices. From pot roast, blacked-eyed peas and rice and okra, to corn muffins, greens and mashed potatoes, Five Star is the perfect spot for a wholesome meal. In nice weather, students, crossword junkies and business professionals can be found enjoying a meal at an outside table. Vegetarians also will appreciate the meat-free menu choices.

-- Are you craving chips and salsa? How about a margarita? Don't have a lot of cash? Go to Taco Stand at 247 East Broad St. for cheap, excellent Mexican food, prepared while you wait. Its black bean burrito with a side order of chips and cheese dip will have you shouting "ole"! Though you don't have to speak Spanish to eat here, the following tips will help you blend in with the local customers: Before you order, tell the person at the register: 1), your name, and 2), whether your order is "for here" or "to go." Also, place your order and indicate whether you want "hot" or "mild" sauce (if applicable). Wait for your name to be called (you won't wait long) and pick up your meal. If you can, grab a booth or table near the window (or better yet, an outside table) for an excellent view of UGA's historic North Campus.

-- Just around the corner, at 171 College Ave., you'll discover The Grill. As you probably know, everyone gets a little hungry after a night of merry-making. Luckily, The Grill is open long after the bars close. One of Athens' favorite late-night dinner sites, the Grill offers classic diner food within a '50s atmosphere. If you are in town for a University of Georgia football game, you will find this a favorite spot for late-night partygoers. Choose from a menu of traditional American cuisine, with a few twists, such as french fries with feta cheese. Try it -- you'll be surprised how much you like it.

-- An Athens staple for more than a decade, DePalma's Italian Café at 401 East Broad St. is quite a unique experience. Where else can you enjoy a spinach calzone, a great glass of Chianti and first-class service while seated in the famous Elvis booth? In addition to a rich menu of pastas, pizzas, sandwiches and calzones, more than one celebrity has been known to frequent this Athens favorite. As with most downtown restaurants, DePalma's offers outside seating, which is highly recommended as a great place to people watch. For lunch, you can't beat a slice of pizza and a salad, and dinner guests can finish off their meal with an espresso. No trip to Athens would be complete without visiting DePalma's (yes, it's that good).

-- If walking the streets of downtown doesn't appeal to you, Athens offers many other local eateries just a short car ride from downtown. Located in the historic, Five Points area, Five Points Deli & More at 1650 South Lumpkin St. offers traditional deli choices with such sides as carrot and raisin salad, potato salad and parmesan pepper pasta. Five Points also features box lunches and party trays. From bagels and croissants to sunflower seed and cracked wheat, its array of fresh breads makes building your sandwich no easy task. For a truly perfect ending to your lunch, treat yourself to one (or two) of Five Points' lemon squares.

-- Directly across the street from Five Points Deli & More lies one of Athens' best-kept secrets. At 1695 South Lumpkin St., the lunch counter inside Add Drug Store is seemingly frozen in time. There are not many drug-store lunch counters still around, and this one truly captures the Southern charm of Athens. The unparalleled personal attention is enough to make you want to become a regular (and there are a lot of regulars). Seating is limited, so you usually have to wait for others to finish before you can sit, but believe me, it is worth it. Try a grilled, pimento-cheese sandwich, a cheeseburger or, my personal favorite, a grilled cheese with french fries, a Cherry Coke and the best chocolate milkshake in town.

-- 581 South Harris Street, a little closer to the UGA campus, is the home of Loco's Deli & Pub. Sandwiches, subs, hamburgers, pool tables, darts and pinball: What more could you ask for? Loco's sports a laid-back, relaxed atmosphere and is a great place to catch a ballgame on the big-screen TV. On most Sunday nights, you'll find groups of college students enjoying pitchers of beer, shooting pool and listening to live music. In addition to burgers and vegetarian meals, the menu offers sandwiches and subs with quirky names, such as: "The Loony Bird," "The Damage" (roast beef and turkey with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayonnaise, mustard on honey-wheat bread -- this comes highly recommended), "The Beast" and, if you are super-hungry, "The Biggest Thing We've Got."

-- With an ambience that is beyond casual, Allen's Hamburgers, at 1294 Prince Ave., is an Athens tradition. Located in Normaltown, Allen's patrons can enjoy pinball, billiards and a happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. with $1.25 domestic beers. Though the B-52's song, "Dead Beat Club," may have put Allen's on the map, the tasty hamburgers, cheap beer and live music are what really make Allen's famous.

-- When Athens group R.E.M. released its album titled "Automatic for the People" in 1992, everyone in Athens knew the origin of the title. Hanging above the front door of Weaver D's restaurant at 1016 East Broad St. is a sign that reads, "Weaver D's Delicious Fine Foods. Automatic for the People." Now immortalized by R.E.M., Weaver D's is famous for serving down-home soul food. In addition to fish dinners and barbecue pork, people flock here for fresh-from-the-garden vegetables and the best fried chicken in town.

Whatever your taste in cuisine, Athens is sure to offer something that will please even the pickiest diner. From Mexican to soul food, the city offers a variety of restaurants, which are as diverse as Athens itself.