Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway

The term “airport” wasn’t always a term an Atlanta hotel wanted in its name. Yet this Marriott-affiliated hotel, rated as “Exceptional” on Booking.com, is exactly that, having opened in May with a party deejayed by hip-hop impresario (and College Park native) Jermaine Dupri, and a performance from R&B/pop singer (and Vanessa L. Williams’ daughter) Lion Babe. The up-to-date interior design of the lobby has the modernized feel of an Midtown ATL lodging establishment but nods to its aviation surroundings, including meeting rooms named after radiotelephonic alphabet terms like “Alpha”, “Bravo” and “Foxtrot” and Echo. Eat and drink at Hickory & Hazel Southern Table and Bar, which serves New-Orleans-meets-Atlanta cuisine including fried green tomato eggs Benedict, shrimp and grits, and BBQ brisket sandwiches, and has a “Bar Ritual” event four nights a week where you can enjoy complimentary punch. There are 204 rooms, including eight suites, each of which has its own custom mural from Atlanta artist Ryan Coman.