I rarely get a chance to be a tourist in my own city these days. I was contacted about a stay in Atlanta that fell on the heels of my trip to El Paso. It sounded fun so, despite still having a suitcase of dirty clothes on my bedroom floor, I said yes. That’s how I spent a weekend staying in Atlanta’s W Hotels properties.
Editor’s Note: Some of these hotels have since been rebranded. The W Atlanta Midtown has become The Hotel Midtown while the W Buckhead is Hotel Colee.
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W Atlanta Midtown
Bedroom 
The Living Room
The W Atlanta Midtown is the largest W property in the country, boasting over 400 rooms. The black tower was previously another hotel and has been completely renovated. Rooms are equipped with flat-screen televisions, WiFi, minibars, and comfy robes. Guests can enjoy the rooftop pool, the fitness center, and spa, as I did.
Conveniently located between Peachtree Street and Piedmont Park, the hotel’s setting is perfect for visitors to Atlanta or locals like me looking for a staycation. It’s also a short walk from the Arts Center MARTA Station, which is a straight shot from the airport.
Mad Hatter 
Forbidden Garden
The Living Room is the hotel’s hangout with a sleek bar and televisions. It’s just one of many spaces in the hotel where guests can relax. When my room wasn’t quite ready, the team gave me a free drink to help pass the time. I had the Mad Hatter, a tequila-based drink with activated charcoal and edible glitter. I later tried the Forbidden Garden, a drink with gin, rosewater, and edible flowers.
But that’s not the only place to grab food or drinks at the W Midtown Atlanta. Trace has a Southern-inspired menu all day, offering both a buffet and items you can order. During the morning, The Living Room operates as Rise, complete with coffee and pastries.
Book your stay at the W Atlanta Midtown hotel.
Where to Eat & Drink Nearby
If you don’t want to eat at the W Midtown, there are dozens of restaurants and bars just steps away. Colony Square is one block away and is home to Sukoshi, 5Church, and Establishment. Highland Bakery also has an outpost in the area. Other Midtown favorites of mine are Momonoki and Woody’s Cheesesteaks.
But one of the best restaurants in the city is a few blocks away. Empire State South is owned by celebrity chef Hugh Acheson and has won awards for its innovative Southern cuisine. The must-order dish is their farm egg, pictured above. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.
Midtown is also a great neighborhood for cocktail bars. Tiki Tango Hideaway Oasis is a fun tropical bar nearby. The Lawrence is a cozy cocktail bar. Cypress Street Pint and Plate is a beer bar with elevated pub fare. Within a short drive of the hotel is Orpheus Brewing and Park Tavern. The neighborhood is also known for its gay bars like Blake’s, Einstein’s, and My Sister’s Room.
The neighboring Westside, or West Midtown depending on who you ask, has even more options for restaurants and plentiful breweries.
What to See & Do Nearby
While many of the well-known museums and attractions in Atlanta are downtown, there are plenty of things to see in Midtown. The Atlanta Botanical Garden is one of the best, set inside Piedmont Park. It has species of plants from around the world, including orchids, topiaries, and Chihuly sculptures.
The High Museum of Art is one of the region’s best with a diverse collection including early American, Renaissance, and modern works. They also have decorative arts and rotating exhibits.
MODA, the museum of design, is just across the street and has exhibits covering all aspects of modern design. They host frequent classes and events including 3D printing.
If you’re looking for the offbeat and unique museums, check out the Breman Museum, the Center for Puppetry Arts, and the Robert C Williams Paper Museum.
Ponce City Market is an easy walk away via the Beltline, which has plenty of street art to admire along the way.
W Atlanta Buckhead
Guest Room 
Living Room
The W Atlanta Buckhead has a totally different aesthetic, like the stylish younger sister of the society women of Atlanta. The purpose-built hotel is next to the shopping meccas of Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza as well as smaller boutiques.
The rooms are laid out differently than the Midtown location with a seating area where you can enjoy a drink from the minibar. But you can also expect the same amenities like bathrobes and flat-screen televisions. The hotel is also a short walk from both the Buckhead and Lenox MARTA stations.
Like with the Midtown location, the lobby is also called the Living Room, a hangout space for guests with a photo booth and a bar. Here I enjoyed the passion punch cocktail. The next morning, we had breakfast at Cook Hall, a globally inspired restaurant.
Later in the evening, we went to Whiskey Blue, the rooftop nightclub that offers bottle service and seating on the balcony. The hotel also boasts a seasonal rooftop pool (with a Greg Mike mural!) and a fitness center.
Book your stay at the W Atlanta Buckhead hotel.
Where to Eat & Drink Nearby
The W Buckhead is surrounded by incredible restaurants, so you’re never far away. But the top restaurant in the city, in my opinion, is Atlas. The service level is truly incredible and so is their art collection, featuring Hockney, Matisse, and Picasso. They have wines that are hundreds of years old. I loved the butternut squash ravioli and risotto. And be sure to save room for dessert, even if you “aren’t a sweets person.”
Yebo 
Mission + Market
If you aren’t looking to burn through a couple hundred dollars in an evening, Buckhead also has mid-range restaurants. Yebo Beach Haus is a fun South African-inspired restaurant. Mission + Market has lovely cocktails and seared tuna with sesame noodles.
Tamsung Thai is one of my favorite Thai restaurants in the city with a delicious khao soi and Thai movie posters on the wall. Chido and Padre’s has the best happy hour with discounts on margaritas and guacamole. And if you’re looking for Buckhead coffee shops, I recommend Dancing Goats and Brash at the Atlanta History Center.
Buckhead is also known for its nightlife, ranging from dive bars beloved by the post-college crowd to swanky cocktail lounges. The Regent Cocktail Club has craft cocktails at The Shops at Buckhead Atlanta. Johnny’s Hideaway is a dance club popular with the over 50 crowd.
What to See & Do Nearby
While the majority of Atlanta attractions are in Downtown or Midtown, there are also some in Buckhead. The Atlanta History Center is a must-see museum covering all aspects of the history of Atlanta and the South as a whole. They have exhibits on the Civil War, barbecue traditions, and the Olympics. The center also has a cafe and shop, the Cyclorama, the Swan House, and its adjoining Swan Coach House restaurant.
You can also catch a show at one of Buckhead’s venues. Buckhead Theatre hosts national music and comedy acts. The Punchline is a popular stop on the comedy circuit.
W Atlanta Downtown
I didn’t get to stay at the downtown location, but I recently attended an event there and got to see a bit of the space. Local Motives is their new restaurant, a stylish coffee shop with local ingredients like Docent Coffee and meats from Pine Street Market.
The hotel is a short walk from all of the attractions downtown including the World of Coca Cola and the Georgia Aquarium. It’s also convenient for conference and meeting attendees, a few blocks from AmericasMart and the Georgia World Congress Center.
Book your stay at the W Atlanta Downtown hotel.
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