Come fall’s cooler weather, Georgia’s capital city’s nickname, “Hotlanta,” no longer rings true. In fact, Atlanta becomes quite an underrated vacation spot from September to November. As the calendar starts bursting with football, festivals and other outdoor activities, stay at Midtown’s Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta for the easiest access to all the fall fun.
But as you’ll read below, location isn’t the only reason the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel may be the ATL’s most attractive address this autumn.
The Rooms
It’s understandable that the 2,200-square-foot Presidential Suite, with its marble foyer, Peloton bike and gorgeous 19th-floor views, entices. We even see how the Terrace Room, with its inviting patio, draws interest.
But the Luxury Suite also hits all the marks. The living space offers a half bath and a spacious sofa bed. The bedroom is spacious enough to fit a 65-inch TV and a fainting chair. The clincher is the marble-clad bathroom equipped with a soaking tub, a separate rainforest shower and beautifully scented Atelier Cologne toiletries.
If you have a little one joining you for the getaway, splurge on Sweet Dreams Sleepovers’ glamping amenity that comes with a tent, stuffed toys and a specialty mattress that your back might appreciate more than your child.
The Food and Drinks
Park 75’s weekend brunch is the stuff of legends. Years from now, folks will tell their grandchildren stories of how they once scored a table without a reservation because a group of four canceled at the last minute, reminiscing fondly over the picture of pound cake French toast posted one Sunday that garnered more than 100 likes in an hour.
Thankfully, chef Chad “Sosa” Hester’s ballyhooed brunch will continue being at the center of conversations. Starting on September 18, the famed spread makes a tasteful return with red velvet waffles, a three-part carving area, a “Southern Classics” station (including fried chicken thighs, housemade biscuits and grits), a chilled raw bar and much more.
Bar Margot, positioned just across the quaint Bridge sitting area from Park 75, provides meals for every other time of day. While the bar’s vegetarian options (a mushroom sandwich and margherita flatbread) stand out at lunch, dinner is highlighted by photogenic plates of pastas, plum-drizzled shrimp and more.
Thoughtfully arranged by Vinnie Dugan and Nick Middlebrooks, Bar Margot’s drinks menu comes to life every night courtesy of the team of affable servers. Whether you order the Queen Helena (vodka, Georgia peach, lime, pink peppercorn, basil and bubbles), Window Seat Spritzer (rosé, preserved grapefruit, lavender and sparkling wine) or something else, it’ll be delivered with a smile. End the night with talented pastry chef Daniella Lea Rada’s bread pudding or key lime cheesecake, ensuring your meal ends with a satisfied grin of your own.
The Relaxation
Whether you dealt with Atlanta’s airport or merely its highway traffic on your journey to the Four Seasons, you will want to decompress after checking in. Luckily, the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta has an excellent spa. The new Reiki Energy Healing and Midtown Massage are perfect services for the fall. The former is a non-invasive procedure where warm, positive energy is passed through your chakras to help clear your head and reduce stress. The latter is full-body pampering in the form of a scalp massage, gentle foot stretches and a thorough muscle rub. The 10-room facility known for helping others rejuvenate their skin is slated to get its own facelift with a 2023 renovation.
Should you seek even more calm, find it at the heated saltwater pool and whirlpool bath. Hanging greenery and rattan daybeds set the hotel oasis’ mood so effortlessly that, if it weren’t for the ATL skyline peering through the floor-to-ceiling windows, you’d swear you were transported to a coastal resort somewhere.
The Events
While many hotels pride themselves on lavish Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations, Four Seasons Atlanta doesn’t wait until December for its holiday festivities. The hotel hosts one of its most memorable evenings on the annual calendar around Halloween. Over the big weekend, the property will host Magic & Mixology, a night of fun that intermingles an illusionist’s tricks with a cocktail-making class. Don your favorite fictional character or simply come dressed as a hotel guest looking for a thrill.
In November, the Atlanta hotel’s elaborate Thanksgiving brunch returns. The meal takes over the mezzanine level with 10 stations that offer breakfast staples (French toast and made-to-order mini-waffles), impressive seafood (caviar, snow crabs and sushi), risotto (prepared in a Parmesan wheel with your choice of add-ins) and traditional holiday favorites (turkey, cornbread-sage stuffing and truffle mashed potatoes).
The Location
As tempting as your room and all the Four Seasons’ amenities make it to stay put, the hotel’s prime address begs you to do some exploring around town. Just one street over you’ll find Crescent Avenue, a bustling block filled with lively bars and eateries. Silver Skillet, an Atlanta AM institution for decades, is only a 10-minute walk to the west. The revitalized Colony Square, with its brand-new food hall, sit-down restaurants and snazzy movie theater, is an even shorter hop from the luxury hotel in the other direction. And because Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Fox Theatre, Center for Puppetry Arts and Piedmont Park are just a quick Uber ride away, their busy fall calendars are even more enticing.
