Hotel Check: W Atlanta

BEST FOR A great midtown location and plenty of Southern charm

DON’T MISS Creative seating nooks tuckedaway in the Living  Room and lobby making clever use of open space

PRICE Internet rates for a traditional room start at $135.

CONTACT W Atlanta-Midtown, 188 14th Street, NE, Atlanta, GA, 30361. Tel +404-892-6000. w-hotels.marriott.com 

VERDICT Sophisticated design and whimsical art pieces make this a special experience for guests looking to enjoy this famous Southern capital city. You can’t help but feel a little cool when staying here.

BACKGROUND This is one of the largest W hotels in the world. The recent redesign with a hidden garden theme adds to its trendy appeal.

WHERE IS IT? During the week, this is a corporate powerhouse, which welcomes business travelers wanting a fashionable stay while they work. Office and residential towers are in every direction. On the weekends, social events and leisure visitors keep rooms full. MARTA stations are in close proximity, and the drive to the airport takes about 30 minutes.

WHAT’S IT LIKE?  The striking, multi-level lobby steals your attention with birdcage-style lamps suspended from the ceiling and a hidden garden theme. Artsy books, animal paintings, and butterfly and flower sculptures add to the eclectic feel. Designers wanted to mix the area’s fauna and flora with the collected treasures of someone who is a world traveler. The variety of seating options entice guests to linger in the lobby and Living Room where green carpeting suggests a forest floor.

ROOMS The 466 rooms and suites showcase a musical theme with new wall coverings, big beds with duvets, cozy sofas beneath bird-themed artwork, and bathrooms with bright lights, Bliss Spa toiletries, and glass shower stalls. The designers chose the theme to highlight Atlanta as a center for music and entertainment. Suites add even more living space and regional design pieces.

FOOD AND DRINK  Trace, on the second level, serves a delectable breakfast buffet with sunlight streaming inside. The rest of the day, light meals and cocktails are available poolside. In the Living Room, residential styling draws guests and locals for a tasty menu enjoyed indoors or on the patio. Like other Ws, DJ booths and live entertainment spice up the lobby several times each week. If you’re looking to dine in the neighborhood, STK is a popular and elegant steakhouse that often partners with the hotel.

BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES A fast and free wireless Internet signal is available everywhere, and computer stations provide space for people to print boarding passes. The ample meeting space here is a big draw for one of the largest Ws in the world.

LEISURE The fifth-floor pool deck hosts DJs regularly and enjoys plenty of Southern sunshine. The hotel’s health spa is popular with locals for its sustainable Comfort Zone products from Italy. After a treatment, sip complimentary champagne or enjoy a relaxing soak in the sauna. A modern fitness center is just outside the spa.