Boutique Downtown Atlanta Hotel Fresh from Elegant Makeover

As the sun slowly ducks behind the horizon, the peach and pink rays of the sun shine prismatically through wine glasses that rest atop white linen tabletops of The Ellis Hotel's Terrace restaurant. Downtown Atlanta’s main drag, Peachtree Street, bustles just below the patio of the upscale eatery as well-dressed guests order from a varied menu sourced from Georgia farmers and anglers. Fresh from a $28 million renovation, the boutique hotel exudes an aura of classic meeting modern with touches that are pure Atlanta—underlining its central position in the city. By night, the building’s top story glows with spotlights, jutting out like a beacon in the skyline.

Vibrant colors and hints of art deco pop up in the artwork, tables, and couches in the lobby, lending it a sleek appearance. An affinity for natural light pervades the premises: the windows in the guest rooms tease light in, where it bounds off white bedspreads, pillow-top mattresses, and espresso-brown bamboo paneling. Graceful touches mark the bathrooms, where guests can chase off stress and test out new umbrellas under rain showerheads. Comfy slippers greet ladies who stay on the special women-only floor, and back down in the lobby, attentive staff members dedicate themselves to guiding sojourners through the area’s attractions. After a day on the town, lodgers are welcome to toast their trip at the complimentary nightly wine tastings.

More than 25 Georgia farmers, producers, and fishermen source the fresh, organic ingredients present in Terrace’s exquisite farm-to-table meals. Cage-free eggs rest alongside local bacon and gouda cheese in offerings from the breakfast menu. By dinnertime, regional tastes such as Springer Mountain chicken breast and wild Georgia shrimp take center stage.

Atlanta: The Big City of the South

Sprawling along southern hills, booming Atlanta wins plaudits from travelers for its temperate weather, top-notch shopping, restaurants, and major attractions. The Ellis Hotel rubs shoulders with heavy-hitter landmarks in the downtown area, including the World of Coca-Cola, the rushing fountains in Centennial Olympic Park, and the Georgia Aquarium—the largest aquarium in the world that isn’t also an ocean. A host of memorials and museums document the metropolis’s history as a hotbed of activity during the Civil War and civil rights movement.