Atlanta Smart Splurges

The city’s ritzy Buckhead neighborhood has been enjoying a massive renaissance of late, with the Mansion on Peachtree at the core of this revitalization. The 127-room boutique property oozes refined luxury, with guestrooms touting classy touches like marbled bathrooms (complete with deep-soaking tubs) and fresh-cut flowers on display (bouquets are delivered daily). Personal attention is at a premium, with expertly trained butlers on hand to answer to guests’ every whim. Toast your trip with a cocktail while overlooking the garden terrace at the cozy library bar (Mansion Bar), and retreat for the night to savor the skyline views from your room – they’re yet another gem to be discovered at this 42-story stunner.

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.

Zagat’s repeated pick as the city’s best eatery, Bacchanalia melds freshness,...more

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.

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.

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.