Pool Piazza at the St. Regis Atlanta / ©The St. Regis
Atlanta has long been a destination for luxury travelers, with some of the world’s best hotel brands, including the Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis and Four Seasons, established decades ago.
Home to Fortune 500 companies, a thriving music and film industry, and a tech sector that rivals Silicon Valley in growth, Atlanta attracts business travelers who stay at its best luxury hotels. But there’s more to Atlanta than just business: its rich history, cultural scene that combines everything from hip hop and street art to world-class museums, numerous stadiums, and abundant green space are just a few of the attractions Atlanta has to offer.
Lonely Planet named Atlanta one of the top five cities in the world to visit in 2022, leading to a string of tastemakers and luxury travel magazines to follow suit. The arrival of the Michelin Guide in fall 2023 and the opening of a string of international fashion houses in the upscale Buckhead neighborhood (the latest being Givenchy) confirm that Atlanta is fast becoming one of the South’s most desirable travel destinations.
“Atlanta’s vibrant dining scene and [the] “With an influx of international business, people are choosing to visit the city for a variety of reasons,” said Guntrum Mell, general manager of the St. Regis Atlanta. “Buckhead continues to grow as Atlanta’s most popular neighborhood with upscale shopping, fine dining, and celebrities are coming to the city.” [The St. Regis] For the past 15 years [since opening].”
To help you experience the best that Atlanta has to offer, we’ve handpicked a list of our favorite luxury hotels in Atlanta that offer five-star comfort combined with Southern hospitality. Conveniently located with easy access to the city’s best shopping, dining and major attractions, many of the hotels we’ve selected have been named Elite Traveler’s World’s Finest Suites, recognizing the best service, amenities and experiences.
[See also: The 8 Best Restaurants In Atlanta]
The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta
The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta AG Steakhouse / ©The Ritz-Carlton
Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, you couldn’t be more centrally located than The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta. Perfectly located in the heart of downtown on famous Peachtree Street, our hotel is just a short walk from the Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Olympic Park, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
From Thursday through Saturday, enjoy live jazz music at the hotel’s Lumen Lounge while sipping on artfully mixed cocktails (order the new French 84, made with cranberry gin liqueur) and tuck into seasonal American fare amid leather booths and vintage photography at AG Steakhouse.
Best Suite to Book: Boasting the highest level of service and some of the finest suites in the city, The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta Downtown is the most popular hotel, but the Ritz-Carlton Suite is the best of the best. At nearly 1,000 square feet, the one-bedroom suite features panoramic skyline views and integrated technology, making it the perfect urban sanctuary for business and leisure travelers alike.
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The Whitley, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Atlanta Buckhead
The Whitley, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Atlanta Buckhead, is named for Buckhead founder John Whitley / © Marriott
Despite its central location, The Whitley, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Atlanta Buckhead immediately puts you at ease the moment you step inside. A modern interpretation of Georgian style and elegance, the lobby takes inspiration from traditional Southern front porches, while the cozy Hearth Lounge is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of champagne in front of the fireplace under the glow of vintage chandeliers.
The Whitley Suite / ©Marriott
Pampering is a priority, with an entire floor dedicated to the spa, offering Himalayan salt rooms, CBD-infused treatments and medical-grade facials, while the hotel’s 507 rooms and suites feature luxurious marble bathrooms with premium amenities from Swedish beauty brand Byredo.
Best Suite to Book: The best suite is the Whitley Suite, which has a grand piano and views of Atlanta from the windows.
Whitley Hotel
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The St. Regis Atlanta
The St. Regis is a landmark hotel in Buckhead, Atlanta / © The St. Regis
A favorite place for Hollywood’s elite to stay when they visit Atlanta for film shoots, the St. Regis is one of Atlanta’s most luxurious hotels.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, the hotel still exudes old-lady charm with lavish décor, custom in-suite butler service, an Italianate courtyard pool and a dreamy afternoon tea served beneath the frescoed ceilings of Astor Court.
The magnificent lobby of the St. Regis Atlanta / © The St. Regis
An impressive collection of 20th century modern art hangs on the walls of the fine dining restaurant, Atlas. The restaurant was recently awarded a Michelin star under the helm of a young British chef who previously worked at the three-star Alain Ducasse in London’s Dorchester. Guests can also toast with Champagne every night with a sabrage, a St. Regis tradition.
The spa, located on the sixth floor, is one of the finest in the city, boasting customizable treatments using products such as Omorovicka’s Blue Diamond Collection.
Top Suite to Book: The 3,000-square-foot Empire Suite will warmly welcome you into your charming Southern home away from home, with a gorgeous living room, impressive stone fireplace and marble inlaid floors.
marriott.com/st-regis-atlanta
Nobu Hotel Atlanta
Nobu Restaurant at the Nobu Hotel in Atlanta / ©Nobu
Located in Buckhead’s upscale Phipps Plaza neighborhood, just next to the likes of Dior and Cartier, Nobu Hotel Atlanta is the latest luxury hotel to open in the city’s upscale neighborhood. Such a stylish destination calls for stylish transportation, and hotel guests will be treated to private, chauffeur-driven Nobu electric Porsche Taycan and Porsche Cayenne vehicles.
Bar at Nobu Hotel, Atlanta / ©Nobu
Nobu’s signature minimalist design aesthetic is unmistakable, with subtle Japanese influences found everywhere, from the ikebana floral arrangements to the bright suites with walnut slat wood paneling and hand-painted paper wallpaper reminiscent of shoji screens.
Naturally, food plays a key role, and the restaurant attracts a fashionable clientele with chef Matsuhisa Nobuyuki’s menu, inspired by the flavours of Japan and South America.
Best Suite to Book: The most luxurious accommodation option is The Nobu Villa, located on the ninth floor. This unique stay features a spacious living space with a custom painted piano, a media lounge, a Japanese-inspired bedroom with a spa-like en suite bathroom, and direct access to the rooftop terrace and pool.
nobuhotels.com/Atlanta
Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta
Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta Lobby / ©Don Riddle
Occupying the 19th floor of a 53-story neoclassical skyscraper in Midtown, Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta offers easy access to both Downtown and Buckhead, as well as some of the city’s finest restaurants and iconic Piedmont Park.
A palatial atrium lobby with a dramatic marble staircase and 500 crystal chandeliers greets guests, while the hotel’s 244 luxurious rooms and suites are decorated in muted tones and contemporary local artwork, evoking a residential feel.
Bar Margot at the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta / ©Four Seasons
The newly unveiled spa has been transformed into a state-of-the-art sanctuary by renowned interiors firm Hirsch Bedner Associates, whose recent projects include The OWO Residences by Raffles in London and One&Only One Zabeel in Dubai.
Luxury family hotels are perfectly equipped for guests with young children, with mini slippers and bathrobes, play tents, welcome cookies and child-safe room options.
Best Suite to Book: The luxurious Presidential Suite offers over 2,000 square feet of space with separate living, dining and sleeping areas, and offers spectacular city views.
Atlanta
Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead
Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckheads Brassica Restaurant / © 2024 Hilton
Fresh from a thorough renovation of all 127 guest rooms and suites, the Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead unveiled a sophisticated makeover last year, blending whimsical touches and decorative design befitting Atlanta’s nickname of “the city in the woods.”
Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead Presidential Suite / © 2024 Hilton
Located in a 42-storey tower designed by renowned American architect Robert A. M. Stern, the hotel’s renovation includes the addition of two new Astoria Suites and a striking redesign of the 2,340-square-foot Presidential Suite.
Brassica, the new signature restaurant, serves French brasserie-style cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients, and the retro-inspired marble bar is perfect for pre-dinner cocktails.
Best Suite to Book: The Presidential Suite offers 2,340 square feet of luxury and privacy, with one bedroom, one bathroom, and great space for daily living and in-suite dining.
hilton.com/waldorf-astoria-atlanta-buckhead
[See also: The Best Luxury Hotels in San Francisco]
The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee
The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee is built on a vast site / ©The Ritz-Carlton
Just beyond the edge of Atlanta, The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee transports busy city folk, couples and multi-generational families to another world in a dreamy lakeside paradise nestled beneath towering pine trees and along 30 acres of lakefront.
From our newly opened 27,000 square foot spa to five championship golf courses and 11 delicious restaurants, lakeside living has never been more luxurious. Summer focuses on land and lake with kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and fishing, and in true Ritz-Carlton style, there’s an infinity pool lined with chic cabanas. Winter is just as magical, with ice skating and s’mores by the fireplace.
The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Lake House, Lake Oconee / ©The Ritz-Carlton
Top suites to book: Each unique cottage comes with private access to a cottage concierge and is charmingly named after a local plant, such as our favorite, the two-bedroom Waterfront Wisteria. The most coveted key card at this luxury resort belongs to the Lake House, a three-story, four-bedroom lakefront residence set away from the main hotel and surrounded by mature gardens for privacy.
ritzcarlton.com/Lake Oconee
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