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Restaurants in Downtown Ellijay, GA: On the Square and River Street

The short answer

Downtown Ellijay's restaurants cluster on the square, River Street and North Main. On the square are Back Porch Bistro, Cantaberry Restaurant and Das Kaffee Haus, plus Bavarian Chocolatier for sweets; River Street has The Roof, River Street Tavern, The Butcher and Bottle and Ellijay Wood Fired Pizza. Hours change and directories disagree, so call ahead. Pizza King's address is in East Ellijay.

Facts checked October 17, 2026 Ellijay, Georgia (Gilmer County seat, in the north Georgia mountains), not East Ellijay, which is a separate city next door

A small-town square seen across a curving street: a planted roundabout island with trees and a flagpole flying the U.S. flag, a dark sedan rounding the curve and a row of two-story brick storefronts with awnings behind.
Photo: Thomson200, CC0

This list comes from the downtown directory, the Gilmer Chamber and Explore Georgia, and each row names its source and the date we checked it. We print hours only where an official or Chamber source gives them, because directory hours often conflict. Two places with unresolved addresses (La Catrina Tacos & Margaritas and The Shack) are left out until confirmed.

Name Address What they serve Where Source
Back Porch Bistro 10 Northside Square, Ellijay, GA 30540 Lunch cafe: sandwiches, soups and sweets; vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options On the square downtownellijay.com Dining directory, checked 2026-10-17 (secondary)
Cantaberry Restaurant 5 S. Side Square, Ellijay, GA 30540 Soup, salad and sandwiches (lunch and dinner) On the square downtownellijay.com Dining directory, checked 2026-10-17 (secondary)
Bavarian Chocolatier and Fudge Shop 4 Northside Square, Ellijay, GA 30540 Fudge, chocolates, treats, popcorn, jerky On the square Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17 (primary)
Das Kaffee Haus 2 N Side Square, Ellijay, GA 30540 Coffee / cafe On the square MenuPix (third-party directory), checked 2026-10-17 (secondary)
Cornerstone Café (also styled Corner Stone Café) 76 N. Main St., Ellijay, GA 30540 Breakfast and lunch: eggs, omelets, biscuits, sandwiches Downtown, off the square downtownellijay.com Dining directory, checked 2026-10-17 (secondary)
Hemlock Bazaar (formerly Ellijay Coffeehouse) 131 N. Main St., Ellijay, GA 30540 Coffee shop / Appalachian marketplace (light bites, books, records) Downtown, off the square Explore Georgia, checked 2026-10-17 (primary)
Mr. P’s 295 N. Main St., Ellijay, GA 30540 Southern American, takeout and patio Downtown, off the square downtownellijay.com Dining directory, checked 2026-10-17 (secondary)
Abby’s Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt 24 S. Main St. Ste. E, Ellijay, GA 30540 Ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, sorbet Downtown, off the square downtownellijay.com Dining directory, checked 2026-10-17 (secondary)
River Street Tavern 40 River St. Ste. B, Ellijay, GA 30540 Southern with Asian influences; lunch and dinner Downtown, off the square downtownellijay.com Dining directory, checked 2026-10-17 (secondary)
The Roof Ellijay 16 River St., Ellijay, GA 30540 Southern rooftop kitchen and bar Downtown, off the square downtownellijay.com Dining directory, checked 2026-10-17 (secondary)
The Butcher and Bottle 24 River St., Ellijay, GA 30540 Upscale American; Sunday brunch Downtown, off the square Blue Sky Cabin Rentals guide, checked 2026-10-17 (secondary)
Ellijay Wood Fired Pizza 2 River St., Ellijay, GA 30540 Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizza Downtown, off the square downtownellijay.com Dining directory, checked 2026-10-17 (secondary)
Cajun Depot Grill 67 Depot St. Ste 101, Ellijay, GA 30540 Cajun / Creole Downtown, off the square downtownellijay.com Dining directory, checked 2026-10-17 (secondary)
Pizza King 200 Old Orchard Square, East Ellijay, GA 30540 Pizza, Italian fare, sandwiches, salads East Ellijay downtownellijay.com Dining directory, checked 2026-10-17 (secondary)
Cartecay River Brewing & Kitchen 26 River Terrace Drive, Ste 1A, Ellijay, GA Brewery and kitchen Downtown, off the square Gilmer County Chamber events calendar (venue record), checked 2026-10-17 (secondary)

Two name changes to know

The coffeehouse at 131 N. Main St. is now Hemlock Bazaar, formerly Ellijay Coffeehouse, open daily 8 AM to 5 PM (Explore Georgia). And Bavarian Chocolatier and Fudge Shop is at 4 Northside Square, right on the square (Gilmer Chamber).

On the square

  • Back Porch Bistro

    Lunch cafe: sandwiches, soups and sweets; vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options

    10 Northside Square, Ellijay, GA 30540

    Listed by the downtownellijay.com directory; call ahead to confirm hours.

    On the square

    Source: downtownellijay.com directory, checked 2026-10-17

  • Cantaberry Restaurant

    Soup, salad and sandwiches (lunch and dinner)

    5 S. Side Square, Ellijay, GA 30540

    Listed by the downtownellijay.com directory; call ahead to confirm hours.

    On the square

    Source: downtownellijay.com directory, checked 2026-10-17

  • Bavarian Chocolatier and Fudge Shop

    Fudge, chocolates, treats, popcorn, jerky

    4 Northside Square, Ellijay, GA 30540

    On the square

    Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17

  • Das Kaffee Haus

    Coffee / cafe

    2 N Side Square, Ellijay, GA 30540

    Listed by a single third-party directory; call ahead to confirm it is open.

    On the square

    Source: MenuPix, checked 2026-10-17

A short walk away

  • Cornerstone Café (also styled Corner Stone Café)

    Breakfast and lunch: eggs, omelets, biscuits, sandwiches

    76 N. Main St., Ellijay, GA 30540

    Listed by the downtownellijay.com directory; call ahead to confirm hours.

    Main Street

    Source: downtownellijay.com directory, checked 2026-10-17

  • Hemlock Bazaar (formerly Ellijay Coffeehouse)

    Coffee shop / Appalachian marketplace (light bites, books, records)

    131 N. Main St., Ellijay, GA 30540

    Main Street

    Source: Explore Georgia, checked 2026-10-17

  • Mr. P's

    Southern American, takeout and patio

    295 N. Main St., Ellijay, GA 30540

    Listed by the downtownellijay.com directory; call ahead to confirm hours.

    Main Street

    Source: downtownellijay.com directory, checked 2026-10-17

  • Abby's Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt

    Ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, sorbet

    24 S. Main St. Ste. E, Ellijay, GA 30540

    Listed by the downtownellijay.com directory; call ahead to confirm hours.

    Main Street

    Source: downtownellijay.com directory, checked 2026-10-17

  • River Street Tavern

    Southern with Asian influences; lunch and dinner

    40 River St. Ste. B, Ellijay, GA 30540

    Listed by the downtownellijay.com directory; call ahead to confirm hours.

    River Street

    Source: downtownellijay.com directory, checked 2026-10-17

  • The Roof Ellijay

    Southern rooftop kitchen and bar

    16 River St., Ellijay, GA 30540

    Listed by the downtownellijay.com directory; call ahead to confirm hours.

    River Street

    Source: downtownellijay.com directory, checked 2026-10-17

  • The Butcher and Bottle

    Upscale American; Sunday brunch

    24 River St., Ellijay, GA 30540

    Listed by a cabin-rental guide only; call ahead to confirm hours.

    River Street

    Source: Blue Sky Cabin Rentals, checked 2026-10-17

  • Ellijay Wood Fired Pizza

    Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizza

    2 River St., Ellijay, GA 30540

    Listed by the downtownellijay.com directory; call ahead to confirm hours.

    River Street

    Source: downtownellijay.com directory, checked 2026-10-17

  • Cajun Depot Grill

    Cajun / Creole

    67 Depot St. Ste 101, Ellijay, GA 30540

    Listed by the downtownellijay.com directory; call ahead to confirm hours.

    Depot Street

    Source: downtownellijay.com directory, checked 2026-10-17

  • La Catrina Tacos & Margaritas

    Mexican

    101 S. Main St., Ellijay, GA 30540

    Address listings disagree; confirm the location before you go.

    Main Street

    Source: downtownellijay.com directory, checked 2026-10-17

  • The Shack

    Asian fusion (per Blue Sky)

    718 N. Main St., Ellijay, GA 30540

    Address listings disagree; confirm the location before you go.

    Main Street

    Source: downtownellijay.com directory, checked 2026-10-17

  • Pizza King

    Pizza, Italian fare, sandwiches, salads

    200 Old Orchard Square, East Ellijay, GA 30540

    Listed by the downtownellijay.com directory; call ahead to confirm hours.

    East Ellijay (a separate city)

    Source: downtownellijay.com directory, checked 2026-10-17

  • Cartecay River Brewing & Kitchen

    Brewery and kitchen

    26 River Terrace Drive, Ste 1A, Ellijay, GA

    Listed by a secondary source; call ahead.

    Ellijay address; check the map

    Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17

Restaurant questions

Which restaurants are on the square?

The downtown directory lists Back Porch Bistro at 10 Northside Square and Cantaberry Restaurant at 5 S. Side Square; Bavarian Chocolatier and Fudge Shop is at 4 Northside Square. Call ahead for hours.

Source: downtownellijay.com

What happened to Ellijay Coffeehouse?

The business at 131 N. Main St. is now Hemlock Bazaar, 'formerly Ellijay Coffeehouse', an Appalachian marketplace open daily 8 AM to 5 PM.

Source: Explore Georgia

Is Pizza King on the square?

No. The downtown directory gives its address as 200 Old Orchard Square, East Ellijay.

Source: downtownellijay.com

Is La Catrina in downtown Ellijay?

Unresolved. The downtown directory lists 101 S. Main St., Ellijay, but a cabin-rental guide gives a Jasper address, so we leave it off our list until it is confirmed.

Source: downtownellijay.com

Why don't you list restaurant hours?

Directory hours conflict and change with the seasons, so we print hours only where an official or Chamber source gives them, and suggest calling ahead.

Source: downtownellijay.com

Dates, hours and fees change. For anything official, the city has the final word: City of Ellijay official site

The red-brick Gilmer County courthouse with its white columned portico and clock tower, photographed from the square on a sunny day with trees in leaf.
Photo: Thomsonmg2000, CC0

Where the rivers meet

Like it here? Ask about living here.

Gold Peach Realty is the North Georgia brokerage behind this guide. If an October weekend at the apple festivals or an afternoon on River Street has you wondering what a house in Ellijay or elsewhere in Gilmer County would look like, the team can walk you through what is on the market and how the mountain towns differ.

Visit Gold Peach Realty Call Gold Peach Realty (770) 283-1223

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