The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta
"What are your first impressions?On Peachtree Street in the center of downtown, the Ritz-Carlton is near it all: a short walk to the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the Center for Civil and Human Rights. The lobby sets a mod-meets-glam tone, where contemporary art hangs above white leather chairs and drum pendants encircle glittering chandeliers. Tuesdays through Saturdays, live music spills out of Lumen, the lobby bar, and there’s always a line for espresso at Jittery Joe’s, Atlanta’s only outpost of the beloved Georgia coffee company, located near the front desk. So, who's staying here?Business travelers during the week, families on the weekends What can you tell us about the rooms?Deluxe Rooms are the standard room category, with a marble foyer that leads to one or two beds covered in 400-thread-count Fritte linens. The neutral colors and staid furnishings didn’t wow me, but the extraordinary views of the downtown skyline did. Any special touches in your room?I love an in-room Nespresso machine, so between that and Jittery Joe’s downstairs, I’m more than a little caffeinated. It's late and we're hungry—what can we order to the room?The 30-page-long room-service menu has build-your-own salads (toppings include shaved fennel and local goat cheese), steak tartare, and vanilla bean crème brulee. Which means there’s absolutely no reason to go to bed hungry here. Anything stand out about other services and features? Thoughtful touches are found throughout the hotel: In the lobby, a kids’ station offers a coloring book with crayons and a self-guided hotel scavenger hunt. The once-stuffy on-site restaurant recently reopened as AG, a retro-chic steakhouse with a focus on local purveyors and classic cocktails. Order a smoky Old Fashioned—which is literally lit on fire before you—or a Georgia peach bellini, alongside the New York strip, served with steak sauce made by Atlanta-based Preserving Place and a side of duck-fat potatoes. (They’re worth every last calorie.) Newly expanded and updated, the 24-hour fitness center is equipped with Peloton bikes (and accompanying live-stream classes), TechnoGym equipment, and a Movement Studio with a wide variety of virtual classes available on demand. Drivers be warned: There is no self-parking and valet costs $50/day. Why should we book a room here?Want to stay in downtown Atlanta? This may be one of the priciest options, but it's among the best. Beautifully designed, with top-notch service and terrific food and drinks, this hotel is worth the splurge." - Allison Weiss Entrekin
