"How did it strike you on arrival?On a busy residential street in Midtown, Stonehurst Place is intown Atlanta’s unicorn: a luxury boutique inn. Built as a residence in 1896 and meticulously restored by the current owner 12 years ago, the shingle-style mansion still has its original stone porch and heart pine floors. Vintage chandeliers hang from 14-foot ceilings, and museum-quality art, most of it modern, decks the walls. Check-in occurs in the music room, where I help myself to a glass of wine from the bar and admire the grand piano by the window. Above the original fireplace, an Andy Warhol piece depicts noted violinist Fritz Kreisler playing with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Innkeepers John and Grace Cardona help me with my things and show me to my room, pointing out a Dale Chihuly sculpture and photographs of the home’s original owners as we go. What type of crowd does it draw?When I was there, my fellow guests included: a well-known screenwriter and her mother, an architect interested in historic renovations, and a Brit in town on business. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.The master suite I stayed in occupies much of the second floor and is outfitted with an office, a fireside sitting room, and a bedroom with incredible views of the Midtown skyline. The 600-thread-count sheets are so comfortable and popular, the inn now sells them. In the bathroom, follow the heated marble floors to the two-person Corian shower with multiple showerheads. The soaking tub sits beneath a large window with more skyline views. The art in the rooms is also stunning: I saw a William Wegman photolithograph of a Weimaraner on roller skates, four pencil sketches by Jason Polan, and an untitled woodcut by Lynd Ward. How about the little things?In this sunny, window-lit room, blackout curtains that go up or down with the flip of a switch are a fantastic feature. So is having Alexa on the nightstand. Plus, high-speed Wi-Fi is complimentary. Staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why?Innkeepers John and Grace Cardona know how to be helpful without hovering, knowledgeable without acting like know-it-alls. And Grace gets up at 3 a.m. every day to make an exquisite breakfast. Gotta appreciate that. What really blew your mind about this hotel?A two-course breakfast is served each morning, along with tea or French press coffee. I started with a parmesan-crisp amuse-bouche and a cup of fresh fruit before the main event: Breakfast Rockefeller Royale, a puff pastry made with spinach, bacon, eggs, ricotta, and Swiss cheeses, served with red and purple potatoes and a dollop of rémoulade. It’s so good, you’d never guess Grace Cardona is self-taught. Guests can also take advantage of complimentary off-street parking (with charging stations for electric vehicles), a rarity in Midtown. Final thoughts?In this city with plenty of luxury hotels but precious few luxury boutique inns, Stonehurst is in a class by itself." - Allison Weiss Entrekin
