Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Downtown, Atlanta

The Hilton Garden Inn is a 242-room chain hotel in downtown Atlanta. Next to the World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium, this mid-range property is conveniently located for tourists, but also offers attractive business-oriented features, such as the 24-hour business center and loads of meeting space. Rooms are fairly large, with desk space, flat-screen TVs, microwaves, and mini-fridges. The hotel serves a breakfast buffet, and has a Legal Seafoods restaurant and lobby bar on premises. There are also indoor and outdoor pools and a gym. Some guest rooms are showing wear and tear, and housekeeping is sometimes lacking. Guests seeking a smaller, boutique property downtown could try the similarly priced Ellis Hotel. 

This gigantic upper-middle-range downtown hotel, with just over 1,000 rooms, is situated in one of the five tallest buildings in Atlanta and offers spectacular views from its rotating rooftop restaurant, pool, and some guest rooms. The downtown location is within a short drive (or somewhat lengthy, but doable, walk) of nearby attractions including the Georgia Dome and World of Coca Cola, making the hotel a hub of activity and popular site for conferences and celebrations. Rooms have an apartment-like feel, all with floor-to-ceiling windows, and some with spectacular views of the city. However, there is some degree of nickel-and-diming (for example, for Wi-Fi), and the giant property makes for a somewhat impersonal experience. 

This upper-middle-range property is a high-rise with 102 condominium-style rooms that are each outfitted with full kitchens and writing desks. The hotel prides itself on a high level of tech functionality, and the in-room computers have software that allows for ordering room service and other requests. The property is centrally located in downtown Atlanta, within walking distance of the financial district and a number of attractions, and is situated across the street from public transit. There have been a few complaints about malfunctions with the room keycard system, and some rooms can be noisy due to highway proximity.

The three-and-a-half-pearl Ellis Hotel is housed in a stately building that dates to 1913, located on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta. Today, it’s a modern boutique hotel with 127 comfortable guest rooms that are all equipped with flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, robes, and high-end Gilchrist & Soames bath products, but units lack safes and not all have mini-fridges. There's no free breakfast, but highlight features include a farm-to-table restaurant that serves Southern cuisine and a 24-hour fitness center, plus perks like free Wi-Fi and $1 nightly wine tastings add value.  Travelers seeking a similar central location who want to spend less can check out Residence Inn Atlanta Downtown. 

The two-and-a-half pearl Holiday Inn Express & Suites Atlanta Downtown is within walking distance of many of the city’s major attractions. Its 130 guest rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated, and have microwaves, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi. A free hot breakfast buffet is included in the room rate, and concierge services are available. Given its location and rates, the hotel stays busy with a mix of tourists and convention-goers. Travelers might want to also check out the Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta-Downtown, which offers comparable rates and amenities.