Best Things to Do in Downtown Augusta, GA: A Guide [2022]

Downtown is one of the most vibrant areas in the city of Augusta! Every year, it attracts locals from across the CSRA and thousands of tourists, especially in April when the Augusta National Golf Club hosts the Masters Tournament.  The Augusta downtown historic district is located along the banks of the Savannah River.

This area is packed with fun things to do! So, I’ve categorized downtown Augusta’s biggest attractions into four groups: arts & culture, historic sites & museums, dining & imbibing, and hobbies & lifestyle.

Read along to learn about the best places and best things to do in downtown Augusta, Ga!

Arts & Culture

Place/Activity	Location	Reviews
Miller Theater	708 Broad St, Augusta, GA 30901	Google: / 1070+ reviews TripAdvisor: /10+ reviews
Imperial Theatre	749 Broad Street Augusta, GA 30901	Google: /400+ reviews TripAdvisor: /60+ reviews
Sacred Heart Cultural Center	1301 Greene Street Augusta, GA 30901	Google: /410+ reviews TripAdvisor: /165+ reviews
Morris Museum of Art	1 10th St 2nd Floor Augusta, GA 30901	Google: stars/415+ reviews TripAdvisor: /135+ reviews
Augusta Entertainment Complex	James Brown Arena: 601 7th St. Augusta, GA 30901 Bell Auditorium: 712 Telfair Street Augusta, GA 30901	Google: JBA: /215+ reviews Bell: /650+ reviews

Miller Theater

The Miller Theater could really be included in both the Arts & Culture AND history sections! Originally opened in 1940, the theater was one of Augusta’s most prominent entertainment venues until it fell into disrepair in the 1980’s. 

However, the Miller reopened its doors in 2018.  This was due to the the vision and generosity of Augusta businessman and philanthropist Peter Knox IV. Additionally, there was an ambitious capital campaign to raise the remaining funds needed for total renovation,

Once again, the Miller Theater is a top destination to enjoy a variety of types of entertainment. This includes:

View their website here and their calendar of events here. 

Imperial Theatre

The Imperial Theatre is another historic center of the arts in downtown Augusta! It opened in 1918 with the name “The Wells, Augusta’s Beautiful Theater.â€

Fun fact: Charlie Chaplin was one of the first guests of the theater!

Now it is the primary home of the Augusta Players, Augusta’s premier theater company. This company has 4 productions per season. It also hosts concerts for local bands, traveling musicians, and ballet companies, just to name a few. 

View the Imperial Theatre’s calendar of shows here.

Sacred Heart Cultural Center

Sacred Heart Cultural Center opened in 1900 and is a former Catholic church. The gorgeous Victorian architecture features twin spires, fifteen styles of brickwork, ninety four stained glass windows, and a vaulted ceiling. 

The church closed in 1971 and Sacred Heart Cultural Center was opened in 1987, after significant renovations. It now mainly hosts cultural events, which include:

Attending a concert in this venue is highly recommended! The acoustics inside are some of the best in Augusta for enjoying choral and classical music. View Sacred Heart’s schedule of events here. 

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Morris Museum of Art

The Morris Museum of Art is truly a gem in downtown Augusta. They are proud to be “the oldest museum in the country that is specifically devoted to the art and artists of the American South,†as their website states.

More than just a museum, The Morris regularly hosts artist talks, live music, film screenings and various other events regularly. There are even events for participants to create their own art.

The museum offers group tours that can be tailored to fit the interests of your group.

Admission and the guided tour at 3:00 p.m. are free on Sundays! Check out The Morris down near the 10th Street Plaza!

Augusta Entertainment Complex

The Augusta Entertainment Complex consists of the Bell Auditorium (BA) and the James Brown Arena (JBA).

These are two of the largest venues in the CSRA, and therefore attract the biggest acts and performers that come into Augusta! Past performers include Elton John, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, the Harlem Globetrotters, and Celtic Women. Traveling Broadway shows have also come to this complex as well.

The JBA hosts Augusta Beerfest in late summer every year, as well as the Kicks 99 Guitar Pull later on in the fall. This concert draws some of country music’s hottest artists to the Augusta area to raise money for the United Way of the CSRA.

Click here to view upcoming events and buy tickets.

Historic Sites & Museums

Place/Activity	Location	Reviews
Augusta Museum of History	560 Reynolds St. Augusta, GA 30901	Google: /670+ reviews TripAdvisor: /310+ reviews
Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History	1116 Phillips St. Augusta, GA 30901	Google: /70+ reviews TripAdvisor: /20+ reviews
Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson	419 7th St. Augusta, GA 30901	Google: /100+ reviews TripAdvisor: /85+ reviews
Ezekiel Harris House	1822 Broad St. Augusta, GA 30901	Google: /15+ reviews TripAdvisor: 15+ reviews
Augusta Canal National Heritage Area	1450 Greene St. #400 Augusta, GA 30901	Google: / 415+ reviews

Augusta Museum of History

The Augusta Museum of History is your “go-to†for an overview of Augusta’s history. If you want to learn about Augusta, but don’t have much time, this is the place to go!

As stated on their website, they are “Augusta’s oldest historical agency devoted to the preservation and presentation of local and regional history†and “a historical research and resource center.â€

A few of the permanent exhibitions are:

They also have special exhibitions that rotate throughout the season!

Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History

Lucy Craft Laney was a renowned African-American educator from the Augusta community. 

In the 1980’s, the Augusta chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority purchased her home from Ms. Laney’s family to serve as a place to meet and also as a museum to honor her accomplishments as well as those of other outstanding African Americans from Augusta.

Permanent exhibitions include the Lucy Craft Laney Exhibition, the Pilgrim Health and Life Insurance Exhibition, the Alice Davis Collection and the Augusta Ebony Legacy Collection.

For more information about this museum’s rich history and how to support it, visit their website.

Ezekiel Harris House

The Smithsonian Guide to Historic America called the Ezekiel Harris House “the finest eighteenth century house surviving in Georgia.†It was built in 1797 by a prominent tobacco merchant and was fully restored in 1964. It was originally a part of the town of Harrisburg, a town that competed with Augusta for the tobacco trade.

The house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is known for its Federal style architecture. It is managed by the Augusta Museum of History. 

Augusta Canal National Heritage Area

The Augusta Canal was built in 1845 to provide power, water, and an additional means of transportation to the Augusta area.

The canal and its industrial mills are on the National Register of Historic Places and are considered a National Historic Landmark.

The Augusta Canal National Heritage Area offers guided boat tours along the canal. Boat rides feature live music, a Civil War tour, and a history and nature tour.

The Canal Discovery Center allows guests to learn about the canal and its history through interactive exhibits, videos, and models.

For pricing and more information on these tours, click here.

Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson

The Boyhood Home of Woodrow Wilson is a National Historic Landmark. The President lived here as a child during the Civil War and Reconstruction.

It is now a museum that illustrates his life during that time. Visitors also learn what the city itself was like during that time period. 

Wilson’s childhood home is across the street from First Presbyterian Church, and down the road from Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Attendees of these church services pass by the home weekly!

Historic Augusta Inc. bought the house in 1991, restored it, and converted it into the museum it is today. Archaeological experts and historians were hired to evaluate the home and determine how best to utilize it and settled on a museum.

It features 13 pieces of furniture that were in the home while Wilson lived there. 

Tours are available Wednesday through Saturday with discounted prices for seniors, students, military, and children.

Click here for more about the home’s history.

Learn more about Wilson in Woodrow Wilson: A Biography by John Milton Cooper Jr. Find it here on Amazon.

Dining

Place	Location	Reviews
The Brunch House	573 Greene St. Augusta, GA 30901	Google: /350+ reviews Facebook: /110+ reviews
Craft & Vine	1204 Broad St. B Augusta, GA 30901	Google: /451 reviews TripAdvisor: /163 reviews
Second City Beverage Co.	4 8th St. Augusta, GA 30901	Google: /43 reviews TripAdvisor: /4 reviews
The Boll Weevil	10 James Brown Blvd. Augusta, GA 30901	Google: /2,513 reviews TripAdvisor: /842 reviews
Frog Hollow Tavern	1282 Broad Street Augusta, GA 30901	Google: /1006 reviews TripAdvisor: /867 reviews
Edgar’s Above Broad	699 Broad Street #300 Augusta, GA 30901	Google: /292 reviews TripAdvisor: /3 reviews

While downtown Augusta has many great restaurants, each of these listed stands out in a different way. Keep reading to see what makes these so special!

The Brunch House

The Brunch House has come into the spotlight recently since they were featured as #51 on Yelp’s Top 100 US Restaurants 2022. 

Yelp described The Brunch House’s menu as “All-homemade comfort food with a Southern flair, including shrimp and grits or chicken and waffles. A bevy of burgers, sandwiches, and pasta bowls round out the lunch offerings.â€

The inside looks like an old-fashioned diner, complete with red and black booths and a bar that has shiny stools with red cushions. It has such a quaint, familiar feel, coupled with delicious food, so it’s no wonder that it made a national list!

If you are looking for more brunch options, check out Augusta Planet’s Ultimate Guide to Brunch Spots in Augusta.

Craft & Vine

Craft & Vine, a member of the Frog Hollow Hospitality Group, is known around Augusta for their theme events, during which they totally transform the restaurant and create a special themed menu as well.

The team at Craft & Vine is very detail-oriented, as evidenced by the elaborate decor they always pull together for these! During “Summer Camp,†each table is made into a tent, complete with a lantern inside. For “Craft & Carnival,†spiderwebs lined the walls, with plastic skeletons overhead. 

The staff has the most fun costumes that align with the theme and play a big part in helping make these such a success. They are very knowledgeable about the special menus and always make great recommendations!

Check them out on social media to see what theme is next! 

They also made it onto Augusta Planet’s Quick Guide to the Best Pizza in Augusta, GA.

Second City Beverage Co.

Second City Beverage Co. is Augusta’s only distillery! All of their products are “distilled, bottled, and packaged by hand at the distillery†(secondcitybeverageco.com).

Second City produces and sells vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, moonshine, bourbon cream, as well as ready-to-drink canned cocktails. These include a transfusion, bloody Mary, and vodka margarita.

They offer tours and tastings Thursday-Sunday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

The Boll Weevil 

The Boll Weevil, located just steps from the Riverwalk, is known for Southern dishes, such as shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, and hoppin’ john. Their true claim to fame, though, is their desserts.

They are proud to have been given the title of “best desserts†by Augusta Magazine for four years running; “best desserts†by Metro Spirit since the magazine began; and have been featured in Southern Living and Cooking with Paula Deen. (thebollweevil.com)

The Boll Weevil serves over 30 cakes, cheesecakes, and pies! Favorites include red velvet, perfect chocolate cake, turtle crunch cheesecake, and key lime pie. View their menus here.

Another famous place for cakes, Magnolia Bakery, has the perfect cookbook for anyone trying to become a better baker themselves. Find The Magnolia Bakery Handbook: A Complete Guide for the Home Baker on Amazon.

Frog Hollow Tavern

Frog Hollow Tavern is also in the Frog Hollow Hospitality Group, along with Craft & Vine. This restaurant is a bit more refined and sophisticated, but you can still expect a warm, welcoming atmosphere here as well.

Frog Hollow is one of downtown Augusta’s most popular fine dining establishments. They aim to use as many locally and regionally produced foods as possible so that guests can taste the freshness.

The larger plates are the stars of the menu and display the chef’s attention to detail. Frog Hollow serves only the highest quality cuts of meats and types of fishes and each is paired with fresh vegetables that complement them.

View their menu here.

Edgar’s Above Broad

Edgar’s Above Broad is the ultimate rooftop establishment! They are not only a restaurant and bar, but also have a live music venue and a coffee shop. They even have a putting green, bocce ball court, and giant checkerboard made of turf.

You can feel good about visiting Edgar’s, because they are a part of the Edgar’s Hospitality Group, which gives learning opportunities to students at Helms College, a culinary and hospitality school in Augusta.

Edgar’s was also featured in Augusta Planet’s Rooftop Bars and Restaurants in Augusta, GA.

Lifestyle/Hobbies

Place	Location	Reviews
Grantski Records	1151 Broad Street Augusta, GA 30901	Google: /197 reviews Facebook: /92 reviewsÂ
The Augusta Riverwalk	4 8th St. Augusta, GA 30901	Google: / 3,427 reviews TripAdvisor: /833 reviews
The Augusta Market	8th Street Plaza Augusta, GA 30901	Google: /540 reviews Facebook: /125 votes
The Book Tavern	978 Broad St. Augusta, GA 30901	Google: /315 reviews Facebook: /144 votes
Field Botanicals	215A 12th St. Augusta, GA 30901	Google: /178 reviews TripAdvisor: /43 reviews

Grantski Records

Grantski Records has been open since 2016 and sells new and used records, CD’s, turntables, turntable accessories, and Grantski merchandise so you can represent your new favorite record store. 

They carry records from both older and more current artists and often advertise their new arrivals on their social media pages. You may even see some vintage memorabilia on there as well!

They are currently planning a concert series to raise money to build a stage where guests of all ages can experience live music. Keep an eye on this place. It may become another of Augusta’s great music venues before you know it!

The Augusta Riverwalk

The Augusta Riverwalk is a city park with a walking path along the Savannah River that passes by the Jessye Norman Amphitheater, a playground, the Morris Museum of Art and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

The Jessye Norman Amphitheater is a very prominent outdoor venue in downtown Augusta. Its 1,800 seats and covered stage area make it the perfect place for the concerts, church services, political rallies, and other events.

Look out for the plaques along the Riverwalk that have information about Augusta’s history and be sure to admire the Savannah River from one of the benches along the path.

Find more information about the Augusta Riverwalk here.

The Augusta Market

This is a great place to start your Saturday morning in Augusta!

The Augusta Market, located right off the Riverwalk on the 8th Street Plaza, takes place on Saturdays between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., from March until November. 

It is an open-air market that attracts vendors from all over the CSRA who are looking to sell produce, handmade goods, art, hot meals, and more.

There is also a run called “The Triple 8 Run†that takes place every Saturday that the market takes place. It begins and ends at the fountain at the end of the market and has both 3 and 8-mile runs that take participants over the Savannah River into North Augusta!

Need new shoes for your run? Take a look at these top-rated Hoka shoes for women and men on Amazon.

The Book Tavern

Calling all bookworms! The Book Tavern is a locally owned bookstore that has been in business since 2004. They have had three different locations, all on Broad Street! Needless to say, they are very dedicated to the downtown area and have become an integral part of it over the years.

The Book Tavern is open 7 days a week and carries both new and used books. They frequently host authors for Q&A’s and book signings, and in an intimate setting like this, it’s a very personal experience. They often have events for kids as well.

Let their knowledgeable staff help you find what you’re looking for or make a great recommendation! View their available books on their website.

Field Botanicals

Field Botanicals is an indie beauty store that carries all vegan and cruelty-free products with clean ingredients. Consider this a local, animal-friendly alternative to Sephora and Ulta. They sell: skincare, makeup, bath products, fragrances and small gift items.

Field Botanicals carries 50+ brands, but they also make a couple of products themselves. “Smell My Feet†and “Smell My Bod†are two products have been sold in Urban Outfitters and American Eagle, among other stores. 

Shop on their website if you can’t make it in person!

Right Outside Downtown Augusta

There’s a lot to explore in downtown Augusta! As you explore further, check out some of the other

Phinizy Swamp Nature Park

Along the 14 miles of hiking and biking trails, you can observe wildlife native to the Augusta area.

Some of the most common animals observed are: Alligators, River Otters, Beavers, Egrets, Herons, Red Shouldered Hawks, Cormorants, Grebes, Osprey, and a host of other birds and waterfowl.

SRP Park

SRP Park is the home of our local baseball team the Augusta Greenjackets. Right across the South Carolina border, it’s technically in downtown North Augusta. Games are a blast and tickets are inexpensive.