The Varsity

The overview

What'll ya have?

The Varsity has been Atlanta's original drive-in since 1928, and it claims the title of the world's largest, sprawling over two downtown acres beside the Georgia Tech campus. Car-hops, chili dogs, onion rings, and the frosted-orange 'F.O.' come with the famous greeting, 'What'll ya have?'

A red-and-white Atlanta landmark for nearly a century, the Varsity still moves staggering quantities of hot dogs and fries a day — a fast-food institution that predates and has outlasted the chains.

The public record

What reviewers already knew.

A Centurion Award doesn’t replace the public record — it verifies it. Read it for yourself, on the platforms where it lives.

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Reviews, photos & directions Read reviews →

Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.

The verification

Why this business cleared the bar.

Selection is by the published criteria, evaluated on public evidence. The Varsity cleared every one.

✓Years in operation. Operating in Atlanta since 1928 — 97 years of continuous business.
✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Atlanta.
✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Atlanta has kept The Varsity busy for 97 years.
✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Atlanta regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
✓Recognition in the local community. Named best drive-in in Atlanta for 2025 for chili dogs, frosted oranges, and a downtown drive-in that has roared since 1928.

The full verification report — the specific data behind this award — is held by the business. The exact thresholds stay internal so the bar can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.

Award record

2025

Best Drive-In in Atlanta Atlanta, GA · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation

All awards for The Varsity →

Visit The Varsity

Websitethevarsity.com ↗

Location61 North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30308

In business since1928

Find them onFacebook · Instagram · Yelp

Facts at a glance

The sourceable record.

Clean, checkable facts about The Varsity — for readers, search engines, and answer tools alike.

Legal / trading name: The Varsity
Category: Restaurant
Founded: 1928, Atlanta, GA
Location: Atlanta, GA
Centurion Award: Best Drive-In in Atlanta — 2025
Record last verified: July 2026

A signal you can check.

This is a dated award record, published by The Centurion Awards after The Varsity cleared the 2025 evaluation for its market and category. It was not bought, voted on, or sponsored — the criteria are public, only winners are published, and an award that stops holding up is revoked, not quietly removed. Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. For everything else — hours, bookings, live reviews — go straight to the business itself.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions.

What is The Varsity?

Open since 1928, the Varsity's downtown drive-in and its 'What'll ya have?' greeting are Atlanta institutions.

Is The Varsity award-winning?

Yes — The Varsity is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Drive-In in Atlanta, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best drive-in in Atlanta for 2025 for chili dogs, frosted oranges, and a downtown drive-in that has roared since 1928.

Where is The Varsity?

The Varsity is in Atlanta, GA.