"Rising 42 stories over Buckhead, the Waldorf Astoria (until fairly recently a Mandarin Oriental) is a local landmark designed by famed architect Robert A.M. Stern. The stark limestone and cast-stone facade is softened by a formal English garden in the back courtyard. In the marble lobby, take note of contemporary art by Atlantan Claire Chambless. Capitalizing on Atlanta’s reputation as a “city in the forest,” the hotel recently rolled out a new spa concept aimed at giving guests a sense of calm. Treatments include Forest Therapy, which incorporates evergreen, cypress, and juniper essential oils in a full-body massage—including a scalp massage. The elegant, neutral-hued furnishings in the bedrooms are nice, but the real highlight are the deep soaking tubs in the white-marble bathrooms. Come for the service, stay for the spa, return for the private balconies." - Allison Weiss Entrekin
