Starring as everygirl Elena Gilbert and her evil doppelganger Katherine on The Vampire Diaries keeps Nina Dobrev pretty busy. Still, the Toronto native finds time to make herself at home in Atlanta, where the series films. “They call it Hotlanta for a reason,” says Dobrev, 22, who raves about the city’s booming culinary scene. “It’s undergoing a renaissance — great eats, urban living — but it’s very manageable.” She shares with American Way some of her favorite local haunts.

Piedmont Park
1071 Piedmont Ave.
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“It’s beautiful — like a mini version of Central Park,” says Dobrev, who heads to the lush gardens for morning yoga.

Piece of Cake
Multiple locations
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“I always go for the Southern classic: red velvet cake.”

Atlanta Botanical Garden
1345 Piedmont Ave.
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“They’re gorgeous, and so peaceful and quiet. They’re a great place to sit and read and work on my scripts and be private.”

Holeman and Finch Public House
2277 Peachtree Road
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Dobrev offers diners a tasty tip: “If you go at 10 p.m., they take the scraps from all the steaks and make exactly 24 burgers. If you can be one of the lucky 24 to score those burgers, they are amazing.”