From new hotels to a German beer garden and a farm-to-table restaurant, Atlanta has a venue for everything from a luxe client dinner to a fully produced party. Here’s a selection of five top spots from the event experts at BizBash.
For a New Downtown Hotel With Spanish Flare: The Melia Hotel Atlanta
Melia Hotel & Resorts, a Spanish hotel chain, made its U.S. debut with Hotel Melia in Atlanta in October 2010. Formerly the Renaissance Atlanta Hotel Downtown, the 502-room property underwent a $35 million renovation and now offers more than 31,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The Georgia Ballroom is the largest room and can accommodate 700. Three on-site restaurants include the Grille at 590 serving traditional American cuisine, the lobby-bar Ashleys, and Coffee Bar, which brews Starbucks. (590 West Peachtree Street NW, 404.877.9000, melia-hotels.com)
For a New Midtown Hotel With Cocktails on the Roof: The Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel
The 304-room Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel opened in March 2011 right in the heart of midtown. The hotel offers seven meeting rooms, providing a total of 10, 612 square feet of meeting space. The 4, 445-square-foot High Ballroom is the largest of the spaces and can accommodate 500 guests. The hotel also contains Briza, an American restaurant focusing on southern-inspired dishes, and Rooftop 866, a rooftop lounge serving appetizers and cocktails. (866 W. Peachtree Street NW, 678.412.2400, marriott.com)
For Raucous, Beer-Focused Events: Der Biergarten German Restaurant
Der Biergarten German Restaurant, Atlanta’s first and only authentic German beer garden, opened downtown in September 2010. The 7,000-square-foot space boasts indoor and outdoor seating, flat-screen TV’s, waiters dressed in traditional German lederhosen. For decor, a German-made model railroad chugs its way around the restaurant. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor event space for as many as 400 guests, as well as dedicated valet, audiovisual services, and German entertainment such as a traditional German Oompah band. (300 Marietta Street, 401.521.2728, derbiergarten.com)
For Farm-To-Table Dishes and Private Dining in Buckhead: Local Three
Local Three opened its doors to Buckhead in December 2010 and serves up dishes with locally grown and seasonal ingredients. Five private dining spaces and a garden with fountains are available for groups. The Bushwood, the largest event space, can be entered through the lobby or the kitchen and can hold 40 guests for lunch or dinner. Also avilalble is the Knights of Revelry wine room, which is hidden behind sliding barn doors and can seat 12. Other event options include a 16-seat communal table in the heart of the dining room, the U-Turn lounge area for 18, and the Patio, which can host cocktail parties for 125. Full buyouts of the entire restaurant are also available. (3290 Northside Parkway NW, 404.968.2700, localthree.com)
For Authentic Southern Cuisine And A Game of Bocce: Empire State South
Chef Hugh Acheson is bringing locals back to their roots (well, their food-roots) in the hectic Downtown area at Empire State South, which opened in late August 2010. The restaurant serves up southern cuisine with a twist made with fresh, local ingredients while obeying the old southern concept “meat and three”—protein, two sides, and bread. The wood decor and dark blue walls harken a traditional southern home, and to keep guests entertained, a bocce ball court sits outside. Full buyouts are available for 150, a private dining rooms seats 30, the main dining room can be partitioned off for 40, and outdoor events along the bocce court can hold 60. (404.541.1105, empirestatesouth.com)
MORE FROM BIZBASH
10 Corporate Party Venues in Miami
10 New and Updated Boston Hotels for Meetings and Events
4 Las Vegas Venues for Outdoor Events and Entertaining
Leave a Reply