Wouldn’t you love to explore Madison, Georgia, like a true design insider? Jimmy Stanton, owner of popular Atlanta shop Stanton Home Furnishings and subject of a special double feature in our May issue (which you can read here at AtlantaHomesMag.com), has given us the inside scoop on all the things you can do while in town for this Friday and Saturday’s Madison in May Spring Tour of Homes, which will also feature the home of Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts proprietors Dan Belman and Randy Korando. Find out why Atlanta design giants love to get away to the serenity of this fabled Southern town. We encourage you to stay a night at a charming inn—or better still, at the home of a good friend—to get the full experience, but even a day’s excursion is an opportunity for many lovely adventures to unfold. Per Stanton himself: “There are so many wonderful things to see and experience in Madison; here is a list of my favorites. . . . Most are within walking distance from the downtown square.”
TOUR
Heritage Hall
277 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-9627; www.friendsofheritagehall.org
Madison Morgan Cultural Center
434 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-4743; www.mmcc-arts.org
Rogers House/Rose Cottage
179 E. Jefferson Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 343-0190
Madison’s Historic Graveyard
STAY
The James Madison Inn
260 W. Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-7040; www.jamesmadisoninn.com
Farmhouse Inn
1051 Meadow Lane, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-7933; www.thefarmhouseinn.com
EAT
Town 220
220 West Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 752-1445; www.town220.com
The Icehouse Restaurant
271 West Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 343-0040; www.icehouserest.com
Madison Chop House Grill
202 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-9009
Amici’s Italian Cafe
113 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-0000; www.amici-cafe.com
The Madison Gift Mart & Cafe
140 West Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-9940
Order the chicken salad and the Gentleman Jim’s Tea
Claudia’s European Coffee Shop
142 Academy Street, Madison, GA 30650. (404) 293-0338
Adrian’s Place
342 West Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-1600
Best Fried Chicken and fresh vegetables. This is local secret.
Tequila Express
270 West Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-0729
Perk Avenue Cafe
111 West Jefferson Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-2562
Antique Sweets
132 East Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-0034
Known for the “Bulldog Bites”
Scoops
123-B West Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-3002
Ella’s Sweet Shoppe
191 West Jefferson Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-7544; www.ellassweetshoppe.com
Old-time candy shop; this carries items you haven’t seen in years.
SHOP
Madison Markets
144 Academy Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-8795; www.madisonmarkets.com
Multiple antique dealers display their wares in this high-end market
Le Petite Jardin
281 Hancock Street, Madison, GA 30650 Â 770-262-1177
A must-see for plants, flowers and gifts
Belles Beaux & Gifts
115 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-3311; www.bellesbeauxandgifts.com
Antiques and gifts
Godfrey Cox
127 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-2229
Amelia’s & Barkin Dogs Shoe Company
172 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-2986 for Amelia’s and (706) 342-2929 for Barkin Dogs www.barkindogsshoeco.com
J & K Fleas An’Tiques
184 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-3009
Laughing Moon
183 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-8008
In High Cotton
158 West Jefferson Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-7777
Madison Hardware
174 West Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-0217
The star of the store is Tulip, the Jack Russel mix that sleeps in a cardboard box. She goes home around lunchtime to play so you have to see her early in the day.
NOT SO FAR AWAY
The Ritz Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation/Lake Oconee (approx. 25-30 min drive from Madison)
One Lake Oconee Trail, Greensboro, GA 30642. (706) 467-0600; www.ritzcarlton.com/reynolds
Eat at Gaby’s on the Water (great food with an amazing view)
Blue Willow Inn at Social Circle
294 North Cherokee Road, Social Circle, GA 30025. (770) 464-2131; www.bluewillowinn.com
Traditional Southern cooking. . . . I highly suggest reservations.
