Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Downtown

The Hilton Garden Inn has as simple, bright aesthetic, mixing vaguely Art Deco furniture with modern materials, such as slick wood and metallic touches. The lobby seating area has deep-turquoise couches with a shimmering, crushed-velvet look that makes the green and gray chairs and coffee table seem drab in comparison. A large TV mounted on dark wood sits above a silver fireplace, and a silver wavelike feature ripples across the lobby ceiling, covering the light fixtures. The phrase, "A garden's path can take you anywhere" has been painted on the wall above the dark-wood front desk, over which several oval lamps dangle from curvy wires. The whole look, while certainly eye-catching, is fairly dated, and the beige tile floors don't lend much in the way of style. While there is a good amount of space on the outdoor pool patio overlooking downtown, the hotel is ironically lacking in garden space -- the furnishings are about as green as it gets. Guests include a mix of tourists keen on exploring downtown Atlanta, and some business travelers.   

The Hilton Garden Inn is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, across the street from the World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium. The Centennial Olympic Park, Georgia Dome, and Philips Arena are all within five to 10 minutes' walking distance. The hotel has a Legal Seafoods inside, and there are plenty of other reasonably priced restaurants in the immediate area, as well. The city's metro transportation (MARTA) is about a 15-minute walk, and the airport is a 15- to 30-minute drive away, depending on traffic.

Rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn are reasonably large and simply decorated. They maintain the same color palette as the lobby, with dark-wood furniture, and teal and lime-green carpeting, curtains, and armchairs. Beds are made in clean, white blankets with a textured, tree branch design, which injects some lightness into the space. Each standard room is air-conditioned and has two queens or one king-size bed, a 32-inch flat-screen TV, mini-fridge, microwave, and coffeemaker. Each room also has a cushioned reading chair, and a desk with office chair. Bathrooms are somewhat compact, with beige tile and either shower stalls or shower/tub combos, along with well-designed sink areas with granite countertops and wood shelving; hairdryers and Neutrogena products are provided. The enormous Suites have separate bedrooms and living rooms with flat-screen TVs, as well as wet bars; bathrooms have soaking tubs and shower stalls. Decor in some rooms is showing wear and tear, and some guests have complained of minor housekeeping issues. 

The Hilton Garden Inn meets most expectations of its brand name, with a 24-hour business center, small indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, and a breakfast buffet with cooked-to-order items (for a fee). There's also a Legal Seafoods for lunch and dinner, and affiliated lobby bar on-site. Overlooking the outdoor pool, the gym has a variety of cardio and weight equipment; it's compact but has lots of windows. Some unique features of the hotel include the rooftop helipad, and the large bar/arcade/game room located in the same building. The hotel also has more than 7,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including a minimally decorated rooftop space with views of the city, which extends to a glass-enclosed room with similarly stunning views. There's a 24-hour convenience store with snacks. The hotel's location in the heart of downtown is a great feature, too.