For our first overnight visit in Atlanta, we booked The Georgian Terrace in trendy Midtown. Originally opened in 1911, the hotel has hosted an impressive list of celebrities and politicians, including President Calvin Coolidge, Clark Gable, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Walt Disney and Elvis Presley. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Beaux-Arts-style property is directly across the street from the ornate Fox Theatre, built in the 1920s and featuring more than 250 performances a year.

The suite we booked was more akin to an apartment, with a full kitchen complete with a microwave, coffeemaker, fridge, stove and dishwasher. For extended-stay guests, there is a full-size washer and dryer tucked into a hall closet. The living room features a couch and television. A small dining area accommodates four people. The bedroom and bath are both a comfortable size. The hotel’s $10 million renovation to the guestrooms is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

The historic elements of the property are most evident in the Livingston Restaurant + Bar, with elegant chandeliers and an abundance of columns. The hotel also has a coffee shop, Cafe Mims, on the property serving Starbucks coffee, pastries and sandwiches 6:30 a.m.–4 p.m. daily. We arrived at the hotel before dinner was served in the restaurant and after the café was closed, so we opted for another eatery two blocks down the street. The staff at the front desk was happy to offer suggestions on where to grab a quick bite in the pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

The highlight of our visit was the Atlanta Botanical Garden, located less than two miles from the hotel. By day, the Botanical Garden is a soothing oasis with a lily pond, conservatory, forest and 160 species of hydrangeas. There are dozens of permanent pieces of art — one of the brightest is the Dale Chihuly Parterre Fountain. The twisting blue and white glass symbolizing ice, water and sky sparkles during the day and when lit at night. If you are visiting before Oct. 3, don’t miss “Bruce Munro: Light in the Garden,” a fiber optic installation created by the internationally recognized British artist.

After spending a steamy summer night in the garden, Jim and I returned to the hotel and stopped by Proof and Provision. The basement bar serves a small yet diverse menu: smoked chicken wings, Southern chicken biscuit, chicken and pork bratwurst, blue cheese coleslaw and a variety of pizzas. Wine and beer are available, but the emphasis is on cocktails. I chose a Hemingway Daiquiri, made with Denizen rum, Luxardo maraschino, grapefruit, simple syrup and fresh lime. The tart, cool beverage was the perfect ending to our short Atlanta stay.

The Georgian Terrace

659 Peachtree St. N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30308
tel 866 845 7551