After a century spent as apartment residences, and following a meticulous two-year transformation, Hotel Granada reopened its Spanish Colonial archways to guests in August 2024. Located at 1302 West Peachtree Street NW, this 120-room property now stands as Midtown Atlanta’s newest design-forward boutique hotel; allowing travellers to lay their weary heads in a modern Southern inn that is rich in both heritage and artistic spirit.
Originally constructed in 1923, the building’s historic bones have been retained with care. Red-tile roofing, stucco walls, and a reanimated central courtyard recall its past life, while the team behind its renewal — Monomoy Property Ventures and Scarp Ridge Capital Partners, in partnership with Aparium Hotel Group — have leaned into its heritage without romanticising it.
The central courtyard has been brought back to life as a restaurant cum social hub for the hotel and surrounding community.
Historic details including the iconic ‘Granada’ inlay tile were carefully preserved during the renovation process.
The Spanish Colonial façade beautifully juxtaposes the modernity of Midtown Atlanta that surrounds it.
Architect Ken Gowland of MetroStudio helmed the preservation efforts, layering historic details like the original ‘Granada’ inlay tile and fountain centrepiece with subtle references to Atlantan iconography. Even the corridor wallpaper folds in nods to the Fox Theatre marquee and 1996 Olympic torch, without ever veering into kitsch.
Inside, designer Cameron Carr’s subtly opulent interiors channel a bohemian-Spanish aesthetic. Rich greens and terracotta tones soften the otherwise urban surroundings; evoking an essence that you’re somewhere completely different. There’s texture in every direction, too: velvet banquettes, antique-stained wood, sculptural lighting … it’s romantic, laidback, tinged with playfulness, and we absolutely adore it.
The 120 rooms and suites vary in layout, staying true to the building’s original footprint. No two are exactly alike, something increasingly rare in an era of uniform boutique offerings. Rooms blend Southern comfort and European intimacy with plush velvet seating, oversized headboards, and bathrobes so snug, you’ll never want to disrobe. Grown Alchemist amenities include Damask Rose, Black Pepper and Sage shampoo and conditioner, as well as Mandarin and Rosemary Leaf body wash and body cream, whilst a locally curated minibar suggests the kind of detail-oriented experience Aparium is known for.
Our Granada Studio King exuded urban sophistication, the 333 square foot urban abode a tasteful retreat that featured a spacious layout and an exceedingly comfortable king-size bed. A separate lounge area provided more space to breathe with a sofa, seating area and workspace. With views of the central courtyard and the quiet bustle of Pom Court, the property’s Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, it makes for a serene getaway with big city life literally on your doorstep.
The hotel’s collaboration with the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) sets a clear tone for how it engages with Atlanta’s creative scene. Public areas are anchored by a rotating curation of works from SCAD Art Sales and alumni artists, including Liz Robb and Angela Burson, while emerald catch-all bowls by Atlanta-based artisan Katie Troisi Pottery, can be found in all bedrooms and suites.
Come day or night, Pom Court is central to all at Hotel Granada.
At the heart of the hotel is Pom Court, the aforementioned restaurant cum social hub that winds its way through the shaded courtyard and lobby. Its culinary approach blends Southern staples with Spanish touches: think Tortilla Española for breakfast, followed by Devilled Eggs with Chicken Chicharron, Green Gazpacho, and Patatas Bravas as the day rolls on. Sharing plates are encouraged, as are late starts and long evenings.
There’s a sharp cocktail menu to match, too: the Warm Welcome with bourbon, pineapple rum, sorghum, and allspice bitters is a rich and surprisingly refreshing alternative to an Old Fashioned, while the frozen Pom Pom leans into watermelon and pomegranate without tipping into sweetness. Wines come mainly from Spain, Italy, France and the USA, alongside options from Germany and Chile, and there’s some excellent craft beer courtesy of local breweries from Georgia. An open-air oasis enticing museum-goers, locals, and hotel guests alike, Pom Court welcomes its guests no matter the time of day.
Located beneath the hotel is May Peel, a cocktail bar that transcends the ordinary. Unfortunately for us it was closed on the Sunday and Monday night we stayed, operating a Wednesday to Saturday schedule, however with an exciting craft cocktail list and interesting DJ line-up, it’s fast becoming one of Midtown’s favourite haunts.
And then there’s that location itself. Situated just across the road from the truly brilliant High Museum of Art (designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architects Richard Meier and Renzo Piano and home to more than 20,000 works of art from historic to modern day) and the convenient MARTA train/rail system, the neighbourhood is caught between academic institutions and impressive high-rise buildings. Take a short stroll through the beautiful Ansley Park residential district to the sprawling Piedmont Park, and you’ll quickly realise why Atlanta is known as the “city in a forest.”
The excellent High Museum of Art is just across the road from the hotel and a real must-visit when in Atlanta.
Piedmont Park is a sprawling urban forest with all you could need to make city centre living as liveable as you could imagine.
The Beltline is a former railway that is now the lifeblood of Atlanta, take it a short stroll down to Ponce City Market.
The Little Five Points neighbourhood is a quirky spot for shopping, dining and drinking.
Green space after green space, it feels as though you’re in a forest first, city second.
Atlanta is a green and beautiful city that constantly surprises.
At the south east corner of the park you can pick up the Beltline, which might seem like Atlanta’s answer to New York’s High Line, but is something a whole lot more impressive. Twenty-two miles of multi-use space formed on a former railway corridor that encircles the core of the city; just one mile of it south and you’ll find Ponce City Market, a staggering mixed-use complex in a vast 2.1 million square foot brick building formerly home to Sears and now offices, apartments, an excellent food hall, shops and a rooftop amusement park among others.
Head a little further to the quirky Little Five Points neighbourhood past countless other green spaces, restaurants, breweries, museums and cultural venues, and kick yourself hard for how little time you’ve left yourself to explore the exquisite capital of Georgia.
Offering a slower city pace in a city that frequently makes you feel as though you were deep in the countryside, Hotel Granada respects its century-old foundations without being confined by them. A hotel for travellers who prefer staying somewhere with memory embedded in its walls, we find it a surprising proposition in a remarkably surprising city.
