Bobbie's Diner
Savannah, GA Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
There's something about a shiny stainless steel diner that makes you want to pull over. Bobbie's Diner has that classic 1950s look, complete with a glowing neon sign that's just as inviting after dark as it is during the day. Originally built in 1952 by the Mountain View Diners Company, the diner was brought to Savannah by SCAD in 1989 and opened here two years later. 04-09
Step inside and you'll find the kind of details you'd hope for, from the cozy diner counter to a vintage jukebox spinning 45s from the 1950s and '60s. It's a fun reminder that not every roadside diner has to stay on the highway where it started.
UPDATE: After sitting closed for nearly eight years, Bobbie's Diner reopened in February 2026 following a careful restoration. The classic neon is shining once again. 08-26
Hillsville Diner
Hillsville, VA Photo courtesy Tony Craig
If you're driving through Hillsville on U.S. 52, this little diner is one of those places that's almost impossible to pass without taking a second look. Hillsville Diner doesn't look much like a modern restaurant. With its rounded roof, rows of windows, and compact shape, it looks more like an old streetcar that somehow ended up parked beside the highway. That's because it was built in the 1920s by the Jerry O'Mahony Diner Company, one of the country's best-known builders of classic lunch cars. 06-10
The diner originally served customers in nearby Mount Airy, North Carolina, before making the trip north to Hillsville in 1946. Since then, it's become a familiar stop for locals and travelers looking for a hearty breakfast or a plate of home cooking. The building may be small, but that's part of its appeal. Pull up a stool at the counter and it's easy to imagine generations of hungry motorists doing exactly the same thing after a long drive through the Blue Ridge.
Hillsville Diner
Hillsville, VA Photo courtesy Tony Craig
The Hillsville Diner has earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Hillsville Historic District, and it's also recognized as the oldest continuously operating streetcar-style diner in Virginia. Those are impressive accomplishments, but it's the building itself that steals the show. The curved stainless steel profile and vintage lunch car design are the kind of roadside sights that have become increasingly rare.
If you're passing through town, it's worth making a stop before continuing down the road. Places like this remind you of a time when diners came in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes looked like they had rolled right off the rails.
UPDATE: The Hillsville Diner is still serving customers today, although it now keeps breakfast and lunch hours instead of staying open all day. 08-26
4 Way Lunch
Cartersville, GA Photo courtesy Tony Craig
The bright hand-painted lettering on the brick front makes 4 Way Lunch easy to spot as you drive through downtown Cartersville. This little diner has been serving hungry customers since 1931 from a building that's even older, and it still has the kind of small-town charm that's becoming harder to find. 11-10
Step inside and you'll find a cozy lunch counter that's been feeding locals and travelers for generations. The diner became a popular stop along the old Dixie Highway, and one thing hasn't changed over the years: if you want to eat here, you'll have to stop by in person. The restaurant has never had a telephone.
A fire in 1993 nearly brought the story to an end, but the people of Cartersville rallied together to help save the diner from demolition and get it back on its feet.
UPDATE: 4 Way Lunch is still serving breakfast and lunch, and the familiar painted storefront continues to welcome travelers passing through town. 08-26
Roy's Grill
Rossville, GA Photo courtesy Alan Culley
That classic roadside marquee still stands watch over Chickamauga Avenue, making Roy's Grill look like the kind of place where a burger and milkshake are never far away. Roy's first opened in 1934, and after the original building was lost to a road widening project in 1949, the diner was rebuilt just a short distance away. The little diner kept its familiar roadside look and remained a favorite stop for both Rossville locals and travelers heading through town. 06-11
Step inside and it wasn't hard to imagine another era. The counter, booths, and diner atmosphere made Roy's feel like a place that had hardly changed over the years. It became a popular gathering spot for high school students, families, and courthouse visitors from just across the street. Whether someone stopped in for breakfast, a burger, or one of the diner-style milkshakes, there was always a good chance of running into someone they knew.
The Roy's Grill diner looking building
Rossville, GA Photo courtesy Alan Culley
The restaurant went through several ups and downs over the years, closing and reopening more than once. Its biggest comeback came in 2021 when new owners gave the interior a fresh 1950s makeover complete with vintage photographs, a jukebox, classic uniforms, and even Moon Pies on the menu. The reopening drew long lines of customers, many of whom hadn't been inside for years and wanted to relive memories of visiting Roy's with parents and grandparents.
UPDATE: The comeback didn't last as long as many had hoped, and Roy's Grill has since closed once again. Even so, the familiar marquee still stands along Chickamauga Avenue, giving passing motorists one more reminder of this longtime Rossville landmark. 08-26
Bobbie's Diner
Hillsville Diner
Hillsville Diner
4 Way Lunch
Roy's Grill
The Roy's Grill diner looking building
