Atlanta’s Best Shops

Best Independent Bookstore: Outwrite Bookstore and Coffeehouse (991 Piedmont Ave., 404/607-0082, www.outwritebooks.com [1], daily 10 a.m.–11 p.m.) is not only the default gathering spot for gay Atlantans, it’s also a surprisingly well-stocked indie bookseller appealing to customers of all persuasions.

Best Fashion-Forward Clothes: Local fashion guru Bill Hallman has built his own small empire of cutting-edge boutiques, including Bill Hallman Men (792 N. Highland Ave., 404/876-6055, www.billhallman.com [2], Mon.–Wed. noon–8 p.m., Thurs. 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun. noon–7 p.m.) and Bill Hallman Flaunt (424 Moreland Ave., 404/522-1010).

Best Consignment Shop: From vintage lovers and picky hipsters to Halloween shoppers and aspiring drag queens, everyone loves the always-provocative goods at Psycho Sisters Consignment (428 Moreland Ave., 404/523-0100, www.psychosistersshops.com [3], daily 10 a.m.–10 p.m.).

Best Gourmet Goodies: A sister shop to be-seen restaurant Bacchanalia, Star Provisions (1198 Howell Mill Rd., 404/365-0410, www.starprovisions.com [4], Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m.) is Atlanta’s best high-end gourmet market.

Best Castle of Kitsch: Oddball gift and clothing shop Junkman’s Daughter (464 Moreland Ave., 404/577-3188, Mon.–Thurs. 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–9 p.m.) could be called a pop-culture blender, garish knickknack store, and trippy sideshow all at once. No place sums up the spirit of Little Five Points better.

Best Mall: It was Georgia’s first mall and one of the first enclosed shopping centers in the region. Today, Lenox Square Mall (3393 Peachtree Rd., 404/233-6767, www.lenoxsquare.com [5], Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. noon–6 p.m.) remains an in-demand retail palace, home to 250 shops.

Best Spa: Blue MedSpa (190 10th St., 404/815-8880, www.bluemedspa.com [6], Mon. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Tues.–Fri. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 1–6 p.m.) is the city’s premier go-to destination for a luxurious day of pampering.