Set in a convenient Midtown location, adjacent to a MARTA station (North Avenue), near the Fox Theater and more traditional Georgian Terrace, this fun and functional boutique-hotel is InterContinental Hotel Group's volley into the style-hotel market. Unlike Starwood's big-bucks designer W Hotel brand, which attracts well-heeled dot-comers and middle-aged hipsters in search of flashy dining and entertainment, the relatively new Indigo chain (this was the first of the bunch) aims its sights at frugal midrange travelers who appreciate non-standardized whimsy and unorthodox color along with all the expected amenities of a chain link.
What this hotel lacks in sleek urbanity,
it makes up for in funky decor. The small lobby explodes in the chain's hallmark color, indigo. Everywhere you look, the walls are splashed with same shade of electric blue. The hardwood floors and comfy white chairs and sofas help tone down the look. A small breakfast room and bar spill out onto a covered terrace beside the entrance in nice weather.
Active guests can grab a jogging map from the front desk or use the small mirrored gym. There is no pool or sauna here. Meeting facilities are limited to a boardroom with a capacity of 25, and an Internet corner provides contact with the outside world.
A speedy elevator rises to the boldly decorated guest quarters, which feature king and double beds with soft pillows and comfortable blankets, desks, TVs, CD alarm clocks and coffeemakers. Indigo and white are prominent colors, and oversize photographic murals fill entire walls in some rooms. The too-small baths are a major disappointment, with teeny shower stalls and absolutely no vanity space. They were seemingly designed for limber gymnasts, as you need to contort your body to utilize some of the facilities. Soundproofing is good, so the best rooms are those that face the street.
This is a pro-pet hotel, so during this hotel's canine cocktail hour, locals and guests bring their pets for snacks and drinks (both for humans and pooches). It's a kind of social hour for dogs and owners. The hotel's signature blue martini can be garnished with a doggie bone.
Despite the property's shortcomings, these are among the smallest rooms of any chain hotel in Atlanta; this is a very affordable and interesting alternative to the larger convention properties downtown and is worth a try. Close proximity to dining and shopping options makes it ideal.