The Burgess Hotel: Atlanta’s Newest Boutique Hotel:

You know how sometimes you walk in a place and the purpose and passion of the people behind it shines through? Every detail seems carefully thought out and welcoming, which is especially important in the hospitality industry. That’s the way I felt walking into The Burgess Hotel in Buckhead in Atlanta. In contrast to its stark dark gray exterior, the interior of this new 102-room boutique hotel is bursting with personality.

The lobby is filled with books, framed photos and colorfully upholstered furniture. A focal point is an elaborately carved mantelpiece flanked by two dark blue bookshelves housing blue books.

Maybe it’s the roaring fire and the abundance of blue, my favorite color, that made me feels so at home. And the rugs in this hotel – just exquisite! Unlike some hotels that can feel cold and austere, The Burgess Hotel felt like walking into a beautifully decorated home, elegant but comfortable.

A communal table in the lobby of The Burgess Hotel. Snacks and drinks for sale are in the cabinets.

The hotel is owned by a couple, Freny and Burges Jokhi. They are from Hong Kong but have called Atlanta home since 1995. Mr. B. Bar is named after Keki Bunshah, Freny’s late father and it’s his stunning photographs from climbing expeditions that are hanging throughout the bar and lobby area. He organized the first Indian expedition to Mount Everest.

The global travel theme is carried throughout the hotel with the seven suites, themed after different destinations that include London, China, Bali and the African safari-themed penthouse. I attended an opening party of the hotel when all the suites were open and joined other guests as we admired the décor of each one.

I could happily spend a night in any of them but felt most at home in Fiji.  You won’t be able to duplicate the look in your home as all of the furniture was custom made.

Chris Butsch in one of the themed suites during an opening party.

The hotel was designed by Kimberly Miller of Duncan Miller Ullman. If I ever opened a big-budget hotel, I’d hire her in a flash. I’m no designer, but can appreciate gorgeous design.

While there is no other hotel in the world like it, The Burgess Hotel in Buckhead is part of the Trademark Collection by Wyndham. So all you points-collectors can stay here and still add to your Wyndham Rewards balance. The Trademark Collection includes independent midscale and upscale hotels.

The Burgess Hotel was formerly the Wingate, opened by Freny and Burges in 2000 as one of the first franchisees of the Wingate brand. They are not newcomers to the hotel industry and were recognized as Wingate’s Hotel of the Year and get top reviews for customer service.

See related story: Amazing Southern Hotels Where We Always Feel Welcome

A Night at the Burgess Hotel in Buckhead

I loved the sofa in our room at The Burgess Hotel.

Although we live only a few miles away, my husband and opted for a night at The Burgess Hotel for a quick getaway after the holidays. We loved our spacious suite that included a L-shaped sofa and table where I perched in the morning to finish up a bit of work. The cute yellow ottoman adds a bright focal point to the room.

Our room had a Keurig coffee maker and a mini fridge with glass door so you can see what’s inside. One thing I really liked is that the closet had a curtain rather than a door. It’s a little thing, but save space in the room.

I was a bit concerned as our room faced the uber busy Piedmont Road, one of the busiest streets in Buckhead, and I wondered about noise when the Monday morning rush hour started the next day.

We heard nothing. Our room was blessedly quiet all night and through the morning. Like a hotel near the Atlanta airport where we once stayed, the windows completely blocked the sound.

Location of The Burgess Hotel in Buckhead

The Burgess Hotel is in a great location for a visit to Atlanta.

The Burgess Hotel is one of a few boutique hotels in Atlanta and the only one in Buckhead. It’s a great choice for any business travelers or leisure travelers who want to be in one of the nicest areas of the city. For you shoppers, it’s near malls that include Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza and also the high-end Shops of Buckhead.

It’s a short distance to Chastain Park Amphitheater, an outdoor venue featuring some amazing shows and concerts.

You can walk from The Burgess Hotel to a few restaurants, including the Landmark Diner, Hal’s on Old Ivy and Tin Roof Cantina.

It’s also not far from Midtown where you’ll find plenty of fantastic restaurants. The Burgess Hotel has its own fabulous restaurant so you can also just take the elevator downstairs, my favorite mode of travel when eating out.

See related story: Atlanta’s Best Restaurants [Midtown, Downtown, Buckhead and The Battery]

Other Amenities

The Burgess Hotel has an outdoor pool area with a fire feature that includes food and beverage service. There’s also a nicely equipped gym, two meeting spaces and the bar mentioned above, Mr. B Bar.

The first time I heard of this bar was from a friend who posted about it on Instagram, which bodes well for locals viewing it as an option for drinks. It can be a challenge for hotel bars and restaurants to draw the locals.

And then there’s the restaurant.

Fia Restaurant

Mr. B Bar is named after the owner’s late father , Keki Bunshah,

We dined at Fia Restaurant with two other couples and enjoyed the open kitchen, lively atmosphere and delicious food. The Mediterranean-inspired menu includes starters like charred octopus, tuna tartare and a huge house charcuterie tray featuring local cheeses.

Entrees include salmon and duck breast while items from the woodfire grill include pork, beef, chicken, branzino and cauliflower steak. No sides come with the entrees so you’ll want to order some like the broccolini, carrots or Brussels sprouts.

Formerly with Bacchanalia, Star Provisions and Quinones, Daniel Porubiansky is in charge of the kitchen.

Fia serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. We made our way down there for breakfast and enjoyed a Mr. B parfait and the chef’s frittata of the day, which was red pepper and goat cheese. It came with a small salad and sour dough bread.

– Jan Schroder, Editor-in-chief