Where to Stay in Atlanta in 2023 | Best Areas

If you’re a Hawks or a Falcons fan, then you might be wondering about where to stay in Atlanta and get to the game as quickly as possible. On the other hand, you might just be a tourist looking for the best place in town to get a drink. Either way, our article can help you out.

Where to Stay in Atlanta

Most of the old cities in the US have a history behind them. Atlanta is about as old as they come, so it’s only natural that it has plenty of stories to tell and plenty of museums that tell them.

Dating back to when the railroads were being built, the town was known for its role in the Civil War, and there are plenty of artifacts from that time in the many historic sites around the city. If you’re not much of a history buff, Atlanta also has plenty of malls, shops, and boutiques.

Most visitors can easily spend hours and even days just perusing or completely remaking their wardrobe. Aside from that, there are also more than enough theaters and cinemas for anyone that’s interested in a bit of cultural enrichment.

In regard to its sports scene, Atlanta has the Hawks, the Falcons, and the recent World Series champions, the Braves. This means that there are plenty of people in town, regardless if it’s football or baseball season.

All of these people need somewhere to go after the games, and as a result, the city has more than enough bars and restaurants for everyone. If any of this has piqued your attention and you’re wondering about where to stay in Atlanta if you’re ever in the area, then we have a few suggestions for you.

The 5 Best Parts of Atlanta

Atlanta is a decently-sized city, but it’s divided into a few regions. We’ve pointed out all of the major attractions that you might like to visit in each one.

• Midtown: Home of some of the most famous cultural centers in the city
• Buckhead: The best place in town to go if you’re interested in Atlanta’s nightlife
• Downtown: Full of great daytime attractions that are very popular with tourists
• Eastside: Some of the most notable museums in the city
• Westside: Another area of the city that’s just as chic with its unique eateries and museums

Atlanta’s Best Areas and Hotels

While all of the areas have something fun or interesting to see, the hotels are unfortunately largely limited to the center of the city. You’ll still be able to find hotels in all of the regions, but it might be a bit of a walk between them and the attractions that you might be hoping to visit.

Either way, we’ll cover what we believe are the best accommodation options, so you’re sure to get an idea of where you’d like to stay.

1. Midtown

The Midtown region is most famous for its many entertainment venues that more or less make Atlanta the cosmopolitan cultural hub of the South.. The most renowned venues would probably be the Fox Theater and the Alliance Theater, both of which are great choices if you’re in the mood for a play.

This area is also home to both the Museum of Design and the High Museum of Art. The Museum of Design is best known for the fascinating exhibitions that define what “design” means and how much of an effect it has on all of our lives.

The High Museum of Art, on the other hand, has more standard (yet still incredibly beautiful) pieces of classic and contemporary art. You might also be interested in checking out the Atlanta Botanical Garden if you’re in the mood for a stroll.

The ever-evolving greenery is simply begging to be photographed and makes for an altogether relaxing experience. Lastly, if you’re looking for something a bit out of the ordinary, you can pay a visit to the Center for Puppetry Arts and try to catch a marionette show.

If you’ve really exhausted your options, there’s also the Federal Reserve Bank Museum, where you can learn a bit more about the history of the money you’re using to pay for your ticket.

As the name suggests, Midtown is located almost perfectly in the center of the city, and as such, most people will naturally gravitate toward this part of Atlanta. However, this may result in a lot more crowds and busy streets than you were hoping for.

Things to Do

• Check out the many paintings and sculptures that are included in the collection that’s housed in the High Museum of Art.
• Go to the Center for Puppetry Arts and check out the many different puppets that are used to put on the fantastic shows that this theater is known for.
• See what’s on the program and maybe catch a play in either the Fox Theater or the Alliance Theater.
• The Federal Reserve Bank Museum offers an interesting insight into the currency that all of us use and the history behind it.

Where to Eat

• Taste of Greece is where you go if you’re in the mood for a gyro.
• The Steamhouse Lounge has a great menu full of seafood specials like oysters and lobster bisque.
• Pho King Midtown is a Vietnamese eatery that serves classic Asian cuisine.

Midtown Budget Hotels

• Motel 6 Atlanta, Ga – Midtown allows you to keep pets in your room, and all of the guests get free parking and wifi, as well as cable TV in every room.
• Sonesta Select Atlanta Midtown Georgia Tech has a fitness center that’s always open, a coffee maker and a cable TV in every room, and a heated outdoor pool.

Midtown Mid-Range Hotels

• Hyatt Centric Midtown Atlanta provides all of the guests with a complimentary American or buffet breakfast each morning, as well as free wifi in every room, and a front desk that’s always on call.
• Hotel Indigo Atlanta Midtown comes with a fitness center that’s equipped with all sorts of workout gear, as well as a business center that comes with a public computer, printer, and scanner services, and they’re both always open.

Midtown Luxury Hotels

• The Georgian Terrace provides all of the guests with either a 37-inch or a 42-inch flat-screen TV in their room, an in-house restaurant and bar where theft can grab a drink and a bite to eat, and a rooftop pool.
• Epicurean Atlanta comes with a complimentary continental breakfast every morning, free wifi throughout the property, a front desk that’s always open, and daily housekeeping services.

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2. Buckhead

The capital city of Georgia has over 50 million tourists on a yearly basis. Some come to see the famous civil war monuments, while others come to check out Chastain Memorial Park… Most notably, though, a lot of people also come to experience Atlanta’s notorious nightlife for themselves.

While there are plenty of clubs, bars, restaurants, and cafes all throughout the city, the biggest and most bombastic ones are in the north in Buckhead.

You won’t need to look very hard for a party in this part of town since it’s always happy hour somewhere, at any time of the day. Just follow the music. While the clubs are without a doubt the biggest draws in this area, Buckhead also has quite a few other interesting attractions that you can visit as well.

There’s Legoland, which is incredibly popular with children (and a lot of adults), and there’s the Lenox Square Mall, which has dozens of great shops and boutiques that you can check out.

Having said that, the biggest issue with this area is the fact that the many clubs and shops that you can visit are very popular. This might not seem like an issue, but their popularity means that the prices here are a lot higher than almost anywhere else in the city.

Things to Do

• Accompany your child, and maybe even relive your childhood as well by trying to see what kind of structure both of you can make in Legoland.
• Take a day trip to Lenox Square and make a whole day out of walking through the massive mall and checking out all of the shops and boutiques that are inside.
• It would be a waste to stay in this part of the city if you’re not planning to visit as many bars as you possibly can and party till you drop.
• Go for a jog, take a walk, or pack and picnic and enjoy the day in the beautiful Chastain Memorial Park.

Where to Eat

• La Grotta Ristorante is where you go if you’re in the mood for some classic Italian dishes.
• KR SteakBar has a great selection of BBQ that you can choose from.
• Varasano’s Pizzeria is the best place to get a slice of pizza.

Buckhead Budget Hotels

• SpringHill Suites by Marriott Atlanta Buckhead has rooms that come with both a 37-inch flat-screen TV and free wifi, and there’s also a buffet breakfast available each morning.
• Hyatt Place Atlanta Buckhead comes with an outdoor swimming pool, an on-site restaurant, and a 24-hour kitchen that makes made-to-order snacks.

Buckhead Mid-Range Hotels

• Homewood Suites by Hilton has a snack bar in the lobby, as well as a 34-hour reception desk that’s only a phone call away, and rooms that come with a cable TV and free wifi.
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites gives all of the guests a microwave, a coffee machine, and a cable TV in every room, as well as dry cleaning facilities and a launderette.

Buckhead Luxury Hotels

• The Whitley comes with a full-service business center that’s equipped with a scanner, a copier, and fax, as well as more leisure-based amenities like an indoor heated swimming pool, a full-service spa, and an on-site restaurant.
• Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead provides all of the guests with a 32-inch flat-screen TV and free wifi in every room, as well as a complimentary breakfast every morning, a seasonal outdoor pool, and an in-house restaurant.

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3. Downtown

Downtown is home to a lot of what we would call “non-standard” attractions. What we mean by this is that they might seem rather strange at first, but most people actually find them pretty fascinating after they check them out.

A prime example of such an attraction is the World of Coca-Cola. As you might have assumed, this is a sort of museum that tells the story of arguably the most popular drink in the entire world.

It might not seem all that fun, but it’s actually pretty fascinating to learn a bit more about how both the recipes and even the bottle shapes changed due to people’s preferences and the standards of the times requiring it.

The Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame is another interesting attraction, but the name probably makes it kind of hard to figure out what it’s about. This is essentially a museum dedicated to the best players of each college football team.

Regardless of who you support, you’re likely going to find a jersey, a helmet, or an award that ties back to your favorite team. The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is probably the most somber attraction that you’ll find in this area.

Atlanta is a city that’s undeniably tied to the civil rights movement, and this center gives you a bit more of an in-depth look at the most important moments during that movement. The decisions that were made then definitely reverberate today, and you can learn all about them.

This area of the city is close to Buckhead, and as a result, both the hotels and the bars that you’ll find here will be slightly more expensive than what you might find in other areas of the city.

Things to Do

• Go to the famous Fountain of Rings and maybe enjoy a coffee or a bite to eat in the business district of the city.
• The Georgia Aquarium can also be found in this area, and it serves as the home to hundreds of beautiful fish species that you can observe.
• Visit the World of Coka-Cola and learn a bit more about the interesting history of this famous fizzy drink.
• The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is the place to go if you want to learn a bit more about the history of Atlanta and the people that lived there.

Where to Eat

• Atlanta Breakfast Club is where you go if you want some bacon and eggs in the morning.
• Metro Diner and Bar is a classic eatery with great burgers that you can try.
• Noodle Cafe is a small restaurant that serves classic Asian dishes.

Downtown Budget Hotels

• Clarion Inn & Suites Atlanta Downtown has an on-site restaurant, a well-equipped fitness center, and a 37-inch flat-screen TV in every room.
• Inn at the Peachtrees is a hotel that offers guests access to both a business and a fitness center, and there’s also a complimentary breakfast every morning.

Downtown Mid-Range Hotels

• Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott provides guests with an on-site laundrette, a microwave and a refrigerator in every room, and a coffee maker in every room.
• AC Hotel Atlanta Downtown has rooms that come with coffee and tea-making facilities, a 24/7 business center in the lobby, and free wifi throughout the property.

Downtown Luxury Hotels

• W Atlanta Downtown has a full-service spa that comes with plenty of different treatments that guests can choose from, a fitness center that’s always open, and a 37-inch flat-screen TV in every room.
• Courtyard by Marriott provides all of the guests with a hot breakfast every morning, as well as an on-site restaurant with a pretty large menu of dishes to choose from.

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4. Eastside

Atlanta has a rich history, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the east side of the city. Here, you’ll find plenty of museums that’ll take you through some of the most significant events that took place in Atlanta.

The most famous of these museums would have to be the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, while places like the Fernbank Museum cover the more natural side of history.

The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum is the place where you’ll find the largest collection of papers and documents that relate to the Carter Administration and the life of president Jimmy Carter himself.

If you’re curious enough to take the tour of the premises, you’ll learn a lot about the Carter presidency, the decisions that were made, the reasons that they were made, and the long-lasting repercussions of those same decisions.

Another important historical spot in the area is the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. This is where you’ll find monuments and plaques that tell you a little bit more about one of the most significant figures in American History.

On the other hand, if you’re more interested in natural history, then the Fernbank Museum is definitely the spot for you. You’ll find plenty of fun dinosaur exhibits, theaters that play educational movies, interactive exhibits for children, and many more attractions.

The biggest issue with this area of the city is that there really aren’t all that many hotels, and the ones that can be found here are pretty small and not particularly well-equipped.

Things to Do

• If you’re tired of going to museums, then you can check out the Atlanta Zoo instead and see all of the different animals that are housed there.
• The Martin Luther King Jr. Park and the Jimmy Carter Museum is the best place to learn a bit more about a few aspects of US history.
• Rather than the Civil Rights era, the Fernbank Museum has a lot more focus on dinosaurs and other much older historical discoveries.

Where to Eat

• Le Petit Marche is a small eatery where you can grab some breakfast in the morning.
• El Tesoro has plenty of traditional Mexican cuisine that you can choose from.
• PERC is just a small cafe where you can grab a nice coffee in the morning.

Eastside Budget Hotels

• America’s Best Inn & Suites – Decatur has a microwave, a small refrigerator, and a cable TV in every room.
• Motel 6-Decatur comes with a reception desk that’s always open, a cable TV in every room, and free wifi throughout the property.

Eastside Mid-Range Hotels

• Econo Lodge Decatur provides all of the guests with a complimentary breakfast every morning, free parking, and daily housekeeping services.
• Super 8 by Wyndham Decatur/Lithonia/Atl Area is a pretty small hotel that comes with free wifi, a microwave, and a refrigerator in every room.

Eastside Luxury Hotels

• Super 8 by Wyndham Decatur/Dntn/Atlanta Area comes with free wifi and a satellite TV in every room, a fitness center that’s always open, and a 24/7 reception desk that’s just a single phone call away.
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites offers a complimentary continental breakfast to all of the guests that stay here, as well as an indoor swimming pool and a sauna, and even a business center with fax and photocopying facilities.

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5. Westside

Westside is another part of the city that has many interesting attractions for history buffs, but also a little extra. Hammond’s House was founded back in 1988, and it’s a cultural center that displays paintings and other types of art from when artists of color were severely underrepresented.

The museum itself was originally meant to be a gathering place where these artworks were displayed so that people can enjoy their beauty, regardless of the color of their skin.

If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the city itself, then the best option would probably be to go on one of the many city tours that take you past all of the most important spots. Not only will you get a history lesson, but you’ll also get to see some of the most beautiful spots in the city.

If you’re in the mood for something a bit more fun and a bit less educational, you can visit The Garage, particularly on a Monday night. Here, you’ll learn a bit more about the brewing process that makes into making some of your favorite drinks.

The best part is that you and your friends can enjoy those same drinks in the in-house bar afterward. The west side of the city has a few interesting attractions, but there really aren’t all that many restaurants or bars, so if you’re looking for a party, your best bet is still the north side of the city, specifically Buckhead.

Things to Do

• Book a tour around the city and check out some of the most important buildings as a guide gives you a bit of backstory on the city.
• Visit Hammond’s House and learn a bit more about the darker side of the history of the city that’s not talked about oo often.
• Check out the Monday Night Brewing session in The Garage and enjoy a nice cold drink with your friends after the tour.

Where to Eat

• Boston Fish Supreme is the best place in the area to get some seafood.
• Casa Grande Bar and Grill is where you go if you want some BBQ or some Mexican food.
• Public House 28 is a classic bar where you can grab a drink.

Westside Budget Hotels

• Extended Stay America Suites is a hotel that comes with free parking, free wifi throughout the property, and an AC unit in every room.
• Country Hearth Inn & Suites Marietta offers free wifi and cable TV in every room, a free continental breakfast every morning, and laundry facilities that guests can use.

Westside Mid-Range Hotels

• Hyatt Place Atlanta/Cobb Galleria has a flat-screen TV and a refrigerator in every room, a fitness center with quite a lot of gear, and even an on-site market.
• Atlanta Marriott Northwest at Galleria comes with an in-house restaurant with a pretty big menu, a fitness center that’s always open, and free wifi throughout the property.

Westside Luxury Hotels

• Hyatt House Atlanta Cobb Galleria has both an in-house restaurant and bar where you can grab a meal and a drink, as well as rooms that come with a flat-screen cable TV, a microwave, a refrigerator, and a coffee maker.
• DoubleTree by Hilton Atlanta comes with a business and a fitness center (both of which are always open), two swimming pools, an in-house restaurant, and a 55-inch flat-screen TV in every room.

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So, Where Should You Stay in Atlanta?

🏰 Best for Cultural Experience	Midtown
🎉 Best Area for Nightlife	Buckhead
🏢 Best for Urban Experience	Downtown
🏛️ Home to the Most Museums	Eastside
🍽️ Best Area for Restaurants	🍽️ Best Area for Restaurants

As always, your final choice on where to stay in Atlanta will depend on what you want to do. Buckhead is where you go if you’re in the mood to just grab a drink with your friends or party all night long.

Eastside is where you’ll find museums on the history of the city, as well as dinosaur exhibits that go a lot further back in time.

Downtown is full of some interesting attractions like the Georgia Aquarium, the Coka-Cola Museum, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and so on.