Atlanta: Smart Splurges

Bacchanalia Zagat’s repeated pick as the city’s best eatery, Bacchanalia melds freshness, flavor, and earth-friendliness in its fabulous four-course prix-fixe contemporary American cuisine. Midtown; 1198 Howell Mill Rd.; 404-365-0410; www.starprovisions.com
restaurant | expensive | new american

Callaway Gardens Pamper yourself Appalachian-style at this stunning 14,000-acre Pine Mountain resort featuring luscious gardens, scenic hiking trails, a butterfly conservatory, several golf courses, and a full menu of spa treatments. 79 miles southwest of Atlanta; 800-225-5292; www.callawaygardens.com
golf | hiking | spas | day trip

Four Seasons Atlanta With all of the expected opulence that comes with the brand, the Atlanta version's 244 rooms are some of the city’s most comfortable, making this Midtown gem, set in a stunning rose and granite tower near historical Piedmont Park, simply the best temporary address in the city. Amenities include an indoor saline pool and full-service, onsite spa. Midtown; 75 14th St.; 404-881-9898; www.fourseasons.com/atlanta
luxury | hotel | expensive

Kevin Rathbun Steak Iron Chef champion Kevin Rathbun has put Atlanta on the gastronomic map by flaming up delicious, dry-aged chophouse cuts in his signature namesake steakhouse. In a handsome post-industrial warehouse setting, steaks are served with a choice of delectable side sauces, including black butter truffle sauce and stilton bleu cheese butter. 154 Krog Street; Ste. 200; 404-524-8280; www.kevinrathbunsteak.com
restaurant | expensive | new american | notable chef

Miami Circle Antebellum antique shops and contemporary boutiques line the street in this stylish Buckhead shopping district. Score stylish, locally designed Art Deco furniture, European antiquities with vintage Southern flare, and artworks by local painters. Many dealers, such as Antonio Raimo and J. Tribble, will ship for your convenience. Buckhead; Piedmont Rd.; www.buckhead.net
expensive | shopping | antiques | galleries

Opera If your idea of spending an evening at the opera involves rotund sopranos singing Italian ballads, Atlanta’s Opera nightclub, located in a converted movie house in trendy Buckhead, may not be your thing. The décor is posh, the drinks are expensive, and the revelers are dressed to kill. Enjoy exclusive bottle service in the private “Phantom” boxes on the mezzanine. Buckhead; 1150B Peachtree St.; 404-875-0423; www.operaatlanta.com
trendy | expensive | nightlife | dj | club

The Mansion on Peachtree At 127 rooms, the Mansion on Peachtree, which opened in May 2008, feels more intimate than many of the larger, high-end Atlanta hotels. The 42-story building provides guests with fantastic city views to compliment the velvet, satin, and marble bedecked rooms, all of which come with 37” LCD televisions, optional butler service, and fresh flowers daily. Buckhead; 3376 Peachtree Rd., N.E.; 404-995-7500; www.rwmansiononpeachtree.com
luxury | hotel | expensive