Where to Stay in Atlanta

Our Favorite Hotels in Atlanta

・ 5-star Amenities: Four Seasons
• 4-A 4-star hotel option is the Indigo Downtown
• 3-star: Artmore Hotel
• For Families: Westin
• Near Airport: AC by Marriott

Where to Stay in Atlanta

Atlanta continues developing into one of America`s trendier cities partly due to successful works like Donald Glover`s acclaimed TV show Atlanta set there. The city houses film studios and culinary innovators adding to its status in the New South. Today Atlanta spans over six million residents across neighborhoods headquartering entities like CNN, Coca-Cola, and the MLK Jr. National Historical Park.

The city of Atlanta has many excellent lodging options. Most accommodations are situated in the heart of town, although alternatives continue to sprout in Atlanta`s famously distinctive outer neighborhoods. The top attractions are overwhelmingly concentrated in the Downtown district, anchored by Centennial Olympic Park. World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium, and National Center for Civil and Human Rights are all found here. Just to the east, Sweet Auburn played host to Martin Luther King Jr`s birth. To the north lies Midtown, the artistic nucleus with various points of interest like the Margaret Mitchell House. Beyond is Buckhead, northern Atlanta`s upscale business and entertainment hub with further sights such as the primary history museum. On either side of this extensive central corridor, the Eastside and Westside neighborhoods flaunt indie shops, parks, bars and innovative eateries.

While exploring Downtown on foot is relatively uncomplicated, using a vehicle or Atlanta’s public transportation is necessary to fully experience the city. The MARTA subway ($2.50 standard fare) provides good connectivity, connecting Downtown with Midtown and Buckhead, the West End, and a handful of neighborhoods on the west and east sides, but it doesn’t cover everywhere.• Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is 10 miles south of downtown Atlanta. Taking the MARTA subway (15 minutes) is the most affordable way into the city • The Atlanta Streetcar runs approximately every 10-15 minutes between Centennial Olympic Park, Peachtree Center, and the King Historic District in Sweet Auburn with a flat $1 fare.
• Driving in Atlanta can be difficult for first-timers – the road scheme is extensive, intricate, and frequently congested; Downtown is interlaced with one-way streets and locals tend to drive aggressively (at minimum for anyone not used to a huge city). Try to avoid the peak rush hours if conceivable (Mon–Fri 7:30–9:30am and 3:30–7pm), though the interstates can be crowded at any time. If you are flying into the Atlanta airport, it’s simple to rent a car there.
• The “Perimeter”” refers to the I-285 beltway that encircles the central Atlanta metropolitan region – locals often distinguish neighborhoods by whether they are inside (ITP) or outside (OTP) the Perimeter. We have covered our favorite places to visit and stay in greater depth below, but with additional time, Druid Hills is also worthwhile exploring. This relatively affluent area lies around 4 miles northeast of Downtown, home to the expansive Emory University campus. For visitors, the chief attractions are the Egyptian mummies at the university`s Michael C. Carlos Museum, the David J. Sencer CDC Museum which provides insight into the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention headquarters, and the excellent Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Children will also enjoy the nearby Fernbank Science Center. Our preferred hotels here are the University Inn at Emory,Emory Conference Center Hotel, and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Atlanta-Emory University Area

Best Places to Stay in Atlanta

• Best Luxury Hotels in Atlanta
  Four Seasons • Candler • Grand Hyatt In Buckhead • JW Marriott Buckhead • Loews • Ritz-Carlson • St. Regis • Thompson Buckhead • Waldorf Astoria Buckhead
• Best Boutique Hotels in Atlanta
  Bellyard, West Midtown • Burgess • Canopy Midtown • Glenn • Clermont • Indigo Downtown • Moxy Midtown • W Atlanta – Wylie
• Best Cheap & Midrange Hotels in Atlanta
  Aloft Downtown Hotel • Artmore Accommodation • Highland Inn & Ballroom Facility • NOHOTEL 2BR Buckhead Lodging • SpringHill Suites Buckhead Hotel
• Best B&Bs in Atlanta
  Greenwood Lodging • Inman Park Accommodations • Stonehurst Location • Sugar Magnolia Lodgings • Urban Oasis Lodging

Best Neighborhoods in Atlanta for…

• Best Part of Town to Stay for First Timers/Sightseeing: Downtown Atlanta
  Being located in downtown Atlanta makes sense if you want to be near the top attractions for families, especially: the World of Coca-Cola,Georgia Aquarium, and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta. There is also a good selection of accommodation and access to Atlanta`s main transportation routes. While there are plenty of good restaurants and bars downtown, the best of Atlanta can be found elsewhere. It is important to note that beyond the busy tourist area around Centennial Olympic Park, much of the commercial district can get fairly calm during evenings and weekends (Peachtree Street being the exception).” Just north of Atlanta`s city center, the area of Midtown often provides better value for accommodation than downtown – it`s also a bit more peaceful.
• Most Romantic Neighborhood: Buckhead
  Though Atlanta isn’t known for being an especially romantic city, it does offer plenty of romantic locations, restaurants, and hotels. Buckhead is a good choice; posh hotels like the St. Regis or Waldorf Astoria offer a slice of luxury and plenty of pampering for couples, while the neighborhood features plenty of deluxe boutiques, restaurants, and bars. Aria and Bistro Niko are perfect spots for a romantic dinner.Alternatively, Midtown is home to Stonehurst Place, the city’s most luxurious and romantic B&B, as well as Piedmont Park and the Botanical Garden. It’s also close to the hip shops, restaurants, bakeries, and cafés of Virginia Highland, just to the east.
• Best Neighborhoods for Nightlife: Buckhead, Midtown, and East Atlanta Village
  Nightclubs, comedy clubs, theaters, cocktail bars, and pubs are scattered all throughout Atlanta, but there are a few regions that particularly stand out. Buckhead remains a solid choice for an evening out and is perfect for bar hopping. Despite its high-end reputation, there are plenty of spots like the popular student hangout Dive Bar Buckhead in addition to nightclubs such as Havana Club ATL and glitzy cocktail bars like the St. Regis Bar. We also enjoy the rooftop lounge at Whiskey Blue, the speakeasy-style Blind Pig Parlour Bar, and the sushi and cocktails at Red Martini.Midtown offers a more diverse nightlife scene, with cocktail bars and nightclubs alongside theaters and live band venues. Historic spots like Fox Theatre and performance centers like the Alliance Theatre and Center Stage Theater offer a variety of concerts and acts, while Laughing Skull Lounge serves up nightly comedy shows. We also appreciate the craft beers at Torched Hop Brewing Company, the retro tiki vibe at Tiki Tango, and local scene at no-frills Eleventh Street Pub.Some of the best nightlife can be found in Atlanta`s outer neighborhoods. East Atlanta Village offers a good introduction, with a compact but lively scene focused on the intersection of Flat Shoals and Glenwood avenues. Check out gastropubs like Argosy. Live bands feature at the Earl,529 Bar, and TEN ATL, with late-night dancing at The Basement.
• Great Areas for Dining and Restaurants: Buckhead, Westside, and Decatur
  The culinary setting in Atlanta offers impressive variety, and while splendid Southern nourishment and barbecue is anticipated, worldwide dishes for example Filipino, Ethiopian, Indian, and Colombian are nearly as normal. Buckhead similarly positions far in this class, home to some of the best lavish feast spots and steakhouses in the city. Noteworthy spots remember Atlas, the refined American gastronomy at Aria, and contemporary Italian bistro St. Cecilia. Meat aficionados should investigate Little Alley Steak.For a progressively vivid scene, head over to neighborhoods like the Westside Provisions District, where great spots like Middle Eastern bistro Aziza, Spanish master Cooks and Soldiers,JCT. Kitchen & Bar,Marcel steakhouse, Redbird, and West Egg Café are all inside stride separation. A little further northwest in Blandtown are innovative restaurants like Star Provisions Market & Café,Bacchanalia, and Twisted Soul Cookhouse, also as an arrangement of sublime prepared breweries ( Round Trip Brewing,Fire Maker Brewing,Steady Hand Beer Co, and more). There’s also the Chattahoochee Food Works dinner corridor from acclaimed cook Andrew Zimmern.Another hotspot for foodies is Decatur on the eastern side of Atlanta. Highlights here remember the New American servings at Kimball House in the antiquated railroad station, Japanese nourishment at Brush Sushi Izakaya, the imaginative servings at the Deer and the Dove, tapas at Iberian Pig, Southern nourishment at Revival, and a branch of neighbourhood string Victory Sandwich Bar.– Downtown Decatur is connected to Downtown Atlanta (6 miles westward) by MARTA underground framework. Good lodgings here incorporate Courtyard Atlanta Decatur Downtown/Emory and Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta Decatur/Emory.
  • If transportation is available, we advise exploring the array of eateries located along Buford Highway in Northeast Atlanta, a major road lined with an abundance of unfussy restaurants and markets representing cuisines from everywhere globally. We especially recommend Kategna Ethiopian Cuisine,Dish Korean Cuisine,Quoc Huong Banh Mi Fast Food, and Mamak Vegan Kitchen, a Malaysian restaurant.
• Best Neighborhoods for Shopping: Buckhead and the west side

Buckhead Village District is the city’s prestigious shopping hub, home to designer boutiques like Christian Louboutin, Dior, and Hermes, as well as Lenox Square Mall, housing Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, and Macy’s, and Phipps Plaza, with another 100 stores (including Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom). Just to the southeast is Miami Circle, an enclave of over 80 antique shops, galleries, and boutiques, while central Buckhead is home to Peachtree Battle Antiques & Interiors and relaxed Andrews Square.For some variety and greater affordability, one may visit Atlanta’s Westside, where an eclectic assortment of over 30 stores are found in Atlantic Station.The Works, The District at Howell Mill mall, and the Westside Provisions District all offer numerous retail experiences. For homeware, furniture, and antiques, visit the West Midtown Design District.

• Best Neighborhood for Local Vibe: East Atlanta Village

Atlanta is filled with distinctive neighborhoods, but our favourite to flee the tourists is East Atlanta Village. Approximately 3 miles southeast from Downtown, it’s a compact, friendly place, anchored via the intersection of Flat Shoals and Glenwood avenues. There is no longer a whole lot to peer on the subject of classic attractions here, but it’s a fun area to explore on foot, with the streets lined with indie stores, eating places, and bars. We especially love Hippin Hops Brewery,Joe’s East Atlanta Coffee Shop, and the barbecue and drinks at The Glenwood. Verify out locally owned furnishings shop Kaboodle for Atlanta arts, crafts, and homeware or Versus ATL for sneakers.

• Unsafe Areas of Atlanta
  Most of the neighborhoods listed here typically have a high level of security (Atlanta`s crime rates having substantially declined in the last 20 years, despite an increase following the COVID pandemic), though the standard safety precautions should be taken at night. The neighborhoods with the highest crime rates tend to be in southern Atlanta (Oakland City, Lakewood Heights).

The 5 Best Neighborhoods in Atlanta for Tourists

1. Downtown Atlanta

The vast majority of visitors to Atlanta logically initiate their visit in Downtown, the city`s premier business district and traditional heart. Though Peachtree Street is the primary corridor, the focus for most attractions is Centennial Olympic Park, a legacy of the 1996 Olympic Games, located just to the west. Families especially enjoy it for good reason – the gigantic SkyView Atlanta observation wheel, Georgia Aquarium,World of Coca-Cola,National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta are all within a short walk of each other. Also nearby is the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and soccer’s Atlanta United. Adjacent State Farm Arena serves the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. Nestled within the Downtown core, the Fairlie-Poplar Historic District is a compact sub-district including artist studios, galleries, restaurants, and bars, home to the Theatrical Outfit,Rialto Center for the Arts, and live venue The Tabernacle. South Downtown encompasses the Georgia State Capitol, with its gold-covered dome and free tours, while neighboring Castleberry Hill is home to more galleries (best experienced during the regular 2nd Friday ArtStrolls), public art, and the quirky Original Selfie Museum.

• While Downtown Atlanta offers plenty of dining, shopping, and nightlife choices as well as a wide assortment of accommodations, exploring the outer neighborhoods is essential to truly experiencing all that the city has to offer.
• Highest Quality Accommodations: Candler – Glenn – Indigo Downtown – Omni at CNN Center – Ritz-Carlton – Twelve Downtown – Westin Peachtree Plaza
• Mid-Priced Downtown Hotels of Note: Aloft Downtown • Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown • Hilton Garden Inn Downtown

2. Midtown

Roughly two miles north of downtown is Midtown, best recognized as the artistic and cultural heart of the city with its wealth of theaters, museums, and parks. Noteworthy spots comprise the historic Fox Theatre,High Museum of Art,Woodruff Arts Center, Center for Puppetry Arts, the Jewish story chronicled at the Breman Museum, and the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film. Piedmont Park is the city`s premier green space, also home to Atlanta Botanical Garden. One of the perennially well-liked attractions is the Margaret Mitchell House, where Atlanta’s most famed author composed “Gone With The Wind”.

• The hotels of Midtown usually offer a slightly more affordable alternative to Downtown, with transport links almost as good. There are also plenty of restaurants here and a decent nightlife scene.
• West Midtown, particularly around Atlantic Station, has significant retail presence, with nearby neighborhoods to the west also offering options.
• Highly Recommended Accommodations: Four Seasons • AC Hotel Midtown • Bellyard, West Midtown • Canopy Midtown • Element Midtown • Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center • Georgian Terrace • Loews • Moxy Midtown
• Best Cheap/Midrange Hotels: Artmore – Residence Inn Atlanta Midtown 17th Street
• Best B&B: Stonehurst Place

3. Buckhead

Commonly referred to as the “Beverly Hills of the East”, Atlanta’s most affluent neighborhood lies some 8 miles north of Downtown at the terminus of the Peachtree Street corridor. It maintains a commercial district in its own right, best known for its high-end dining and shopping venues (including shopping centers such as Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza) as well as a handful of attractions: the Atlanta History Center and adjacent Swan House,LEGOLAND Discovery Center,Chastain Arts Center, and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia. The Governor’s Mansion is also located here (generally open for tours), as is Oglethorpe University’s Museum of Art.

• Buckhead forms its own self-contained urban centre within Atlanta, with various options for entertainment and activities. However, residing here may feel somewhat removed from the rest of the city. The subway connects it to Midtown and Downtown but more travel time is needed for touring all parts of Atlanta.
• Accommodations here often have high quality but also high prices, though some more affordable options exist, such as the NOHOTEL 2BR Buckhead>.
• Top Accommodations:AC Hotel Buckhead – Burgess – Grand Hyatt In Buckhead – InterContinental Buckhead – JW Marriott Buckhead – St. Regis – Thompson Buckhead – Colee – Buckhead – Waldorf Astoria Buckhead – Westin Buckhead
• Recommended Budget and Mid-Priced Hotels:Hilton Garden Inn Buckhead – NOHOTEL 2BR Buckhead – Quality Suites Buckhead Village North – SpringHill Suites Buckhead

4. Eastside

Atlanta’s Eastside encompasses a variety of unique neighborhoods that effectively start just across the I-85 roadway from Downtown. First is Sweet Auburn, best known today for the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, which commemorates the birthplace and burial site of the renowned Civil Rights pioneer, as well as his Ebenezer Baptist Church and a museum focused on his life.

The neighboring Inman Park community has Victorian homes and tree-lined roads, as well as the popular Krog Street Market. It is also home to the annual Inman Park Festival and a portion of Atlanta`s beloved BeltLine, a multi-use rail trail. To the east is Little Five Points, a trendy district for independent shops, bars, and restaurants, while to the north the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library is a fascinating memorial chronicling the life and career of the 39th US president. The BeltLine continues north into Old Fourth Ward, where Ponce City Market is one of Atlanta`s most exciting food halls.

Other worthwhile Eastside neighborhoods to explore include Virginia-Highland, known for its local cuisine and boutique shopping, particularly on North Highland and Virginia avenues; compact East Atlanta Village, with its bars, restaurants, and live venues; and Cabbagetown, where the Historic Oakland Cemetery is the final resting place of many famous Atlantans. Finally, Grant Park is home to family-friendly Zoo Atlanta.

Location: The Rio. It’s west of the Strip and across the street from the newly renovated Palms, although it’s not an easy walk between the two resorts. Your best choice is a taxi or rideshare.
• Staying out here can present a challenge when exploring the rest of the city using public transportation, but it will provide a much more intimate understanding of life in Atlanta.
• Best Hotels: Clermont • Wylie
• Best Cheap/Midrange Hotel: Highland Inn & Ballroom
• Highest quality B&Bs:Greenwood Bed and Breakfast – Inman Park Bed & Breakfast – Peach House – Sugar Magnolia Bed & Breakfast – Urban Oasis Bed and Breakfast

5. Westside

The parts of Atlanta situated on the Westside tend to have a slightly more creative and edgy vibe compared to the Eastside, with former industrial and warehouse districts evolving into trendy shopping and dining areas. Some of the city’s best craft breweries also reside here, such as Atlanta Brewing Company,Monday Night Brewing, and Second Self.

Situated just west of downtown is the interconnected campuses of the historically black colleges located in the Atlanta University Center. Taking walks throughout the joined grounds is pleasant. In terms of sights, the Clark Atlanta University Art Museum has a focus on art from Africa and the African diaspora, while the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art is partially dedicated to works created by women of the African diaspora. Nearby, the Beaux-Arts Herndon Home Museum retains the residence of Alonzo Herndon, a former enslaved person who climbed to becoming Atlanta’s first black millionaire.

Southwest of the university district lies the historic West End, which contains Victorian homes dating back to the 1830s. Attractions here include the Hammonds House Museum, dedicated to artists of African descent, and the Wren’s Nest, former residence of Joel Chandler Harris, author of the Brer Rabbit stories. The West End is also the starting point of the BeltLine Westside Trail. Further north, the Westside Provisions District is a major shopping and dining hub.

• Rented housing units are ideal to stay in the Westside area – otherwise, the Downtown and Midtown regions are close by train rides. Take the MARTA lines utilizing red or gold to the West End station.