Staycation: Hotel Scene

Above: One of the midcentury-styled king rooms featuring creature comforts such as Frette linens.

HOTEL SCENE

The Kimpton Sylvan breathes new nightlife into Buckhead

The only hint that The Kimpton Sylvan Hotel had a past life as a 1950s-built apartment building is its OG windows. The newly renovated property embraces its past with midcentury styling that’s anything but old fashioned.

What’s so brilliant about its East Paces Ferry location just steps from Buckhead Village is that it serves business travelers, vacationers focused on shopping and locals well. Whether you’re looking for some staycation fun with a partner or friend, the hotel is a gathering spot with plenty on offer, including three stellar in-house locales to dine and imbibe, each with its own attractive energy.

Kicking off a stay with a cocktail and bites at Willow Bar is encouraged. The expansive 6,300-squarefoot inner courtyard setting has an intimate “secret garden” feel and is threaded with private nook seating areas. Everything here plays off of a garden-fresh motif, including the mostly plant-based food menu boasting snacks such as marinated peaches with Holland chili, peanuts and basil, and the falafel with shaved vegetables, tahini ranch and crispy onions. Not to be outdone, the beverages such as The Willow, which pairs el Jimador tequila with blackberry, basil and lime, are infused with shrubs, fruits and herbs.

Save some room for dinner at The Betty, which is also open for breakfast and Sunday brunch. Inspired by supper clubs, the elegant, low-lit restaurant swathed in dark wood and fabrics offers delightful New American cuisine. My server suggested the addition of a pasta course in between an appetizer of crispy pork belly with smoked celery root, morcilla and caramel jus, and an entree of perfectly seared scallops with bouillabaisse, fennel and saffron would not be too indulgent. So I went for it—and didn’t regret it. A glass of Hirsch pinot noir complemented the meal just as well as time spent with a best friend who was my date for the evening.

During your visit, make sure to also stop at St. Julep, the ninth-floor rooftop bar. Whether for happy hour, après supper or the DJ beats on weekends, the panoramic view of Atlanta sets the scene at this bright and airy space that includes a funky indoor bar and a huge outdoor lounge. If you haven’t already had your fill, bar snacks such as loaded pork rinds, gourmet corn dogs and milk and honey soft serve await, alongside local craft beers and unfussy cocktails.

Feeling overserved in the morning? Take advantage of the guestsonly, heated outdoor swimming pool (seasonal) for a lounge session. Plus, the 24/7 fitness center features highperformance machines, including Peloton bikes and a Precor rower, to work it off. Complimentary bicycles and helmets are also available to explore the surrounding neighborhood that’s bathed in luxurious retail therapy.

With so much to see, taste and shop in and around the Sylvan, you might not spend much time in your room. You’ll find it to be well-equipped with simply modern midcentury decor, a comfortable king or two queen beds, Chromecast-enabled TV and Bluetooth speakers, as well as amenities for your pooch, if she tags along for the stay. Common with intown hotels, the individual accommodations are “petite,” perhaps somewhat exaggerated here by low ceilings. “Where would I even put the in-room yoga mat?” I thought. And then I headed out for social hour, which is really the fun of staying there in the first place. n

Above: Don't skip the pasta course at The Betty. Right: The bar scene at The Betty. Above: The heated swimming pool and lounge chairs bring a relaxing oasis mid-city.

Below: Work off the Sylvan's good eats at the fitness center featuring Peloton bikes.

STORY: Karina Antenucci

THE KIMPTON SYLVAN HOTEL

Room rates starting at $265 per night 374 East Paces Ferry Road N.E. Atlanta 30305 470.531.8900 thesylvanhotel.com