The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta: Atlanta's Downtown Luxury Hotel with a New Look

The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta is located in downtown Atlanta in the heart of the business district on Peachtree Street, Atlanta's famous main thoroughfare. Nearby attractions include Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia Dome, Philips Arena, the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola and CNN Center. The Georgia World Congress Center and other Atlanta trade centers are only a few blocks away. The hotel is easily accessed from the Interstate 75/85 Downtown Connector. MARTA, Atlanta's public transit system, has a train station adjacent to the hotel, and several bus lines serve the area.

The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta is a AAA Five-Diamond award winner, one of only three hotels in the city with this designation. A complete renovation of the hotel was completed in early 2009. Public areas, meeting rooms and guest rooms have all been redone with an edgier, more contemporary design. Tod Morrow, the general manager of the hotel, says, "The scope of our renovation ... will redefine the luxury experience downtown. The city is undergoing its own revitalization, and our renovation perfectly parallels Atlanta's ongoing vitality and renewal." The 25-story hotel's 444 rooms, including 22 suites, range in size from 330 to 1,320 square feet. Room amenities include wireless, high-speed Internet access; a bachelor's chest refreshment center; luxurious linens and beds and the most up-to-date technological connections. The exclusive Club Level has a dedicated concierge and a lounge offering food and drinks throughout the day.

Other features of the hotel include a fitness center with cardio and strength equipment, as well as a massage service, and a fully equipped business center with personal computers, printers, copiers and fax machines. The hotel offers two dining options, the Atlanta Grill and Lumen, the lobby bar. The Atlanta Grill has won the AAA Four-Diamond award seven years in a row, as of 2009. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with light fare in between meals. The menu features elegant, upscale Southern-influenced fare and specializes in grilled meats. Lumen, the newly designed bar, offers breakfast and a menu of small plates throughout the rest of the day. Live music plays at Lumen most nights of the week.

The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta has more than 17,000 square feet of meeting space, with two ballrooms and 18 meeting rooms. The larger ballroom is nearly 6,500 square feet and holds up to 700 people reception-style or 500 banquet-style. Meeting and conference rooms vary from around 500 to nearly 2,200 square feet. Audio/visual equipment is available for rental with events. The hotel provides a full line of catering packages, from snacks to dinners.

The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta, since its makeover, has gotten positive reviews. The staff, services and d,cor all get good comments, and the Atlanta Grill gets raves. Guests also love the location in the heart of downtown near many of Atlanta's main tourist attractions. Frommer's says, "Without a doubt, this is Atlanta's top downtown hotel. ... The impeccable service ... harks back to another, more gracious era.'' One guest notes that "the staff was friendly and helpful,'' and another says, "The hotel was extremely nice, recently redone, new bedding and furniture.'' While this hotel is not considered by some guests to be as luxurious as those in Midtown and Buckhead, the Professional Travel Guide says that "this one stands out in the crowd'' of downtown luxury hotels.