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Here Now, The 18 Essential Intown Atlanta Hotels

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In today's new release of Curbed's Hotel 18 map, we're once again attacking the question, "Where should I stay in Atlanta?" The city's hotel scene is relatively stable/stagnant depending on your point of view, so not much has changed lately. Still, we've carefully whittled down intown Atlanta's lodging options to the most essential 18.

It took some tough choices to bring you the best of the best, and only those hotels considered most essential via reader and expert recommendations made the cut. From Buckead to downtown, from corporate to boutique, ATL's options are plentiful. We'll be updating the map again in due time, so if you have a favorite that wasn't included, please mention it in the comments or tip us for next time. If you spot a hotel unworthy of the Hotel 18 distinction, we want to hear about that, too.

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Ellis Hotel

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This restored landmark in the heart of downtown is cosmopolitan without pretentiousness, with a hit eatery built in. Popular with business travelers, it’s a memorable stay for sub-$200 per night. Ignore its morbid history as the site of America’s worst hotel fire, which killed 119 people in 1946, back when the Ellis was the Winecoff.

Marriot Marquis, Downtown

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Known for its soaring, 470-foot atrium, the Marriot Marquis is a dominant fixture on the Atlanta skyline, sometimes dubbed “pregnant” for its bulbous exterior. Expect to shell out about $150 or more per night for a nice room with a tantalizing vantage-point on Atlanta. Marvel at the elevator rides, with sweeping interior views (seriously).

Omni Hotel at CNN Center

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Strategically positioned for Atlanta sporting events, the four-diamond Omni Hotel at CNN Center has plenty of attributes for the sub-$200 per night range. It’s luxurious with a welcoming twist, a few steps from Centennial Olympic Park and the burgeoning Luckie Marietta District.

The Westin Peachtree Plaza

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Lodging at Atlanta’s most iconic hotel property will set you back about two bills per night. A tornado’s wallop in 2008 couldn’t cripple the 73-story cylinder, which after nearly 40 years is still the second tallest, all-hotel structure in the Western Hemisphere. Don’t neglect to visit the equally iconic, revolving Sundial restaurant up top.

Glenn Hotel

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With its erotic art and sexy drapery, a common description for the Glenn Hotel is “seductive.” It’s pricey for downtown, but nestled right next to Centennial Olympic Park. The highlight of this boutique is the rooftop bar, with one of Atlanta’s most stellar skyline vistas.

W Atlanta Downtown

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Probably downtown’s most posh lodging option, the W Atlanta Downtown is a scenester haven and frequent movie set. For eating and drinking, it’s hard to quibble with BLT Steak or swanky DRINKSHOP. And it’s worth a dip in WET (trademarked), the heated outdoor pool with views for miles.

Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta

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The pricey Four Seasons is a study in elegance, and it seems to garner rave reviews from patrons who can afford $300-plus nightly rates on weekends. A tip: reserve a south-facing room. Another: hang in the bar, with your celebrity radar on. Charles Barkley sightings are almost guaranteed.

The Georgian Terrace Hotel

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This classy Midtown icon isn’t quite a budget stay, but it’s easier on the wallet than much of its competition. It overlooks the Fox Theatre and is well-positioned for walking to restaurants and clubs, should the in-house Livingston Restaurant + Bar or the newer Proof and Provision not suffice. She hosted the “Gone With The Wind” premiere.

Loews Atlanta Hotel

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The Loews Atlanta Hotel exudes modern style but isn’t prohibitively expensive. Great views abound, as do drinking and dining options on nearby streets like Crescent Avenue. The sleek bar beckons those who like their bourbon.

TWELVE Hotel & Residences/Atlantic Station

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The valet station at this posh, all-suite hotel in Atlantic Station — the Southeast’s largest mixed-use community — is frequently crowded with Lamborghinis, which belies its reasonable rates. The TWELVE is for those who prefer their lodging with exposed concrete.

W Atlanta Midtown

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Flipped from a bland Sheraton several years ago, the sleek black edifice that is the W Midtown gives the Glenn a run for its money in the sexiness category. The Spice Market concept originated here, and the fifth-floor Wet Deck knows how to throw it down. Pets welcome.

Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead

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The towering Grand Hyatt Atlanta lords over Peachtree in Buckhead, beckoning frequent travelers with refined tastes and specific bed preferences. Rates hover in the $260 range. Lodgers can revel in a combination of 18th-century-style American architecture and Japanese flair.

Mandarin Oriental, Atlanta

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This luxe hotel in a 600-foot Buckhead skyscraper blends “Southern hospitality and Oriental charm” for a price. This needle-like landmark is popular for stay-cations and romantic anniversaries. Advice: pop in the lively, beautiful bar.

InterContinental Buckhead

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All the rage with shopping mall and bourbon aficionados alike, the InterContinental Buckhead won’t break the budget-weary lodger, though you should brace for daily parking and Internet fees. It's a short jaunt from here to all the most wonderful malls — and MARTA.

JW Marriot Hotel Buckhead Atlanta

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This luxury tower, specializing in “timeless elegance,” is linked to Lenox Mall. For all the stuffiness, it offers some pretty swell last-minute deals, even on weekends. Plenty of dinning within strolling distance, and the 25-story property is a stone’s throw from MARTA.

The St. Regis Atlanta

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The St. Regis Atlanta includes some of the priciest lodging in town, but no one said the lap of luxury’s cheap. The tony property bills itself the “crown jewel among Buckhead luxury hotels,” and they probably aren’t exaggerating. Butlers included.

The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead

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Behold the domain of the well-heeled business set — and one killer indoor swimming pool. Called a “cocoon of civility,” this Ritz is known for covering every detail, from curbside cordiality, to Post-It notes at the room desks, to turn-down chocolates. Be warned: A basic breakfast can break you. (Bring a C-note to be safe, but reviewers seem to adore it.)

W Atlanta Buckhead

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Like a paean to geometry, the W Atlanta Buckhead is the cool oddball in uptown lodging — with possibly the cheapest rates in the neighborhood. There are two noteworthy and very different restaurants, but smart money leads to Whiskey Blue on the 12th floor, billed as “Buckhead's hippest rooftop bar.”

Ellis Hotel

This restored landmark in the heart of downtown is cosmopolitan without pretentiousness, with a hit eatery built in. Popular with business travelers, it’s a memorable stay for sub-$200 per night. Ignore its morbid history as the site of America’s worst hotel fire, which killed 119 people in 1946, back when the Ellis was the Winecoff.

Marriot Marquis, Downtown

Known for its soaring, 470-foot atrium, the Marriot Marquis is a dominant fixture on the Atlanta skyline, sometimes dubbed “pregnant” for its bulbous exterior. Expect to shell out about $150 or more per night for a nice room with a tantalizing vantage-point on Atlanta. Marvel at the elevator rides, with sweeping interior views (seriously).

Omni Hotel at CNN Center

Strategically positioned for Atlanta sporting events, the four-diamond Omni Hotel at CNN Center has plenty of attributes for the sub-$200 per night range. It’s luxurious with a welcoming twist, a few steps from Centennial Olympic Park and the burgeoning Luckie Marietta District.

The Westin Peachtree Plaza

Lodging at Atlanta’s most iconic hotel property will set you back about two bills per night. A tornado’s wallop in 2008 couldn’t cripple the 73-story cylinder, which after nearly 40 years is still the second tallest, all-hotel structure in the Western Hemisphere. Don’t neglect to visit the equally iconic, revolving Sundial restaurant up top.

Glenn Hotel

With its erotic art and sexy drapery, a common description for the Glenn Hotel is “seductive.” It’s pricey for downtown, but nestled right next to Centennial Olympic Park. The highlight of this boutique is the rooftop bar, with one of Atlanta’s most stellar skyline vistas.

W Atlanta Downtown

Probably downtown’s most posh lodging option, the W Atlanta Downtown is a scenester haven and frequent movie set. For eating and drinking, it’s hard to quibble with BLT Steak or swanky DRINKSHOP. And it’s worth a dip in WET (trademarked), the heated outdoor pool with views for miles.

Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta

The pricey Four Seasons is a study in elegance, and it seems to garner rave reviews from patrons who can afford $300-plus nightly rates on weekends. A tip: reserve a south-facing room. Another: hang in the bar, with your celebrity radar on. Charles Barkley sightings are almost guaranteed.

The Georgian Terrace Hotel

This classy Midtown icon isn’t quite a budget stay, but it’s easier on the wallet than much of its competition. It overlooks the Fox Theatre and is well-positioned for walking to restaurants and clubs, should the in-house Livingston Restaurant + Bar or the newer Proof and Provision not suffice. She hosted the “Gone With The Wind” premiere.

Loews Atlanta Hotel

The Loews Atlanta Hotel exudes modern style but isn’t prohibitively expensive. Great views abound, as do drinking and dining options on nearby streets like Crescent Avenue. The sleek bar beckons those who like their bourbon.

TWELVE Hotel & Residences/Atlantic Station

The valet station at this posh, all-suite hotel in Atlantic Station — the Southeast’s largest mixed-use community — is frequently crowded with Lamborghinis, which belies its reasonable rates. The TWELVE is for those who prefer their lodging with exposed concrete.

W Atlanta Midtown

Flipped from a bland Sheraton several years ago, the sleek black edifice that is the W Midtown gives the Glenn a run for its money in the sexiness category. The Spice Market concept originated here, and the fifth-floor Wet Deck knows how to throw it down. Pets welcome.

Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead

The towering Grand Hyatt Atlanta lords over Peachtree in Buckhead, beckoning frequent travelers with refined tastes and specific bed preferences. Rates hover in the $260 range. Lodgers can revel in a combination of 18th-century-style American architecture and Japanese flair.

Mandarin Oriental, Atlanta

This luxe hotel in a 600-foot Buckhead skyscraper blends “Southern hospitality and Oriental charm” for a price. This needle-like landmark is popular for stay-cations and romantic anniversaries. Advice: pop in the lively, beautiful bar.

InterContinental Buckhead

All the rage with shopping mall and bourbon aficionados alike, the InterContinental Buckhead won’t break the budget-weary lodger, though you should brace for daily parking and Internet fees. It's a short jaunt from here to all the most wonderful malls — and MARTA.

JW Marriot Hotel Buckhead Atlanta

This luxury tower, specializing in “timeless elegance,” is linked to Lenox Mall. For all the stuffiness, it offers some pretty swell last-minute deals, even on weekends. Plenty of dinning within strolling distance, and the 25-story property is a stone’s throw from MARTA.

The St. Regis Atlanta

The St. Regis Atlanta includes some of the priciest lodging in town, but no one said the lap of luxury’s cheap. The tony property bills itself the “crown jewel among Buckhead luxury hotels,” and they probably aren’t exaggerating. Butlers included.

The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead

Behold the domain of the well-heeled business set — and one killer indoor swimming pool. Called a “cocoon of civility,” this Ritz is known for covering every detail, from curbside cordiality, to Post-It notes at the room desks, to turn-down chocolates. Be warned: A basic breakfast can break you. (Bring a C-note to be safe, but reviewers seem to adore it.)

W Atlanta Buckhead

Like a paean to geometry, the W Atlanta Buckhead is the cool oddball in uptown lodging — with possibly the cheapest rates in the neighborhood. There are two noteworthy and very different restaurants, but smart money leads to Whiskey Blue on the 12th floor, billed as “Buckhead's hippest rooftop bar.”