Urban Oasis Bed and Breakfast

Bright and playful, Urban Oasis recognises that not every traveller wants a boudoir furnished for an Agatha Christie novel. Instead of stuffy antiques, the decor of this spacious four-bedroom Inman Park loft goes almost overboard with contemporary accents: lime green walls, bold blue stripes, geometric patterns everywhere – though the palette gets toned down in the comfortable guestrooms. The property sits on the new Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail, providing a handy pedestrian path that runs all the way to Piedmont Park.
• 130 A Krog Street, +1 770 714 8618, urbanoasisbandb.com. Doubles from $125

Artmore

This handsome boutique hotel, the reinvention of a historic 1924 apartment building with Spanish accents, appears unassuming from the street but the interior is a must-see. With 102 guest rooms (including some quirky split-level suites, but all with clean modern lines), the Artmore has become a popular choice for weddings and other events thanks partly to its courtyard and one-of-a-kind fiery fountain. It's within an easy walk to Midtown's many museums (hence the name), including the High Museum of Art, the Museum of Design Atlanta, and the Center for Puppetry Arts.
• 1302 West Peachtree Street, +1 404 876 6100, artmorehotel.com. Doubles from $110

The Highland Inn

When a hotel is described as having "lots of character" or "a quirky, vintage vibe", it's often code for, "The noisy rooms haven't been updated since the last moon landing"(1972, now that you ask). The Highland Inn, established in 1927, wears its vintage character as a badge of honour: the walls are decorated with old metal advertising signs for Dr Pepper, Bette Davis posters etc. Yes, it's quirky; yes, the room sizes are irregular; the floors are creaky; the street life is loud. The upside? A break from the generic competitors, plus incredible value in a prime location between two lively neighbourhoods, Virginia-Highland and Little Five Points. Downstairs, the inn's famous Highland Ballroom hosts bands, dance parties and literary events.
• 644 North Highland Avenue, +1 404 874 5756, thehighlandinn.com. Doubles from $86.85

Shellmont Inn Bed and Breakfast

Although it sits on a busy stretch of Piedmont Avenue only a couple of blocks from the commotion of Peachtree Street, the Shellmont Inn gives the impression of stepping back to a far less frantic time. The pleasant six-room inn, a restored 1891 Victorian home on the National Register of Historic Places, includes an irresistible back porch with rocking chairs overlooking a small pond. The rooms, while heavy on antiques, are comfortable.
• 821 Piedmont Avenue, +1 404 872 9290, shellmont.com. Doubles from $175

Stonehurst Place

Compared to some of Atlanta's bed and breakfasts, Stonehurst Place can seem pricey: the most in-demand rooms go for $429 per night and are booked months in advance. Other rooms, such as the The Piedmont – which has a working fireplace and its original 1940's bathroom, custom-made draperies and a walk-in closet – are more reasonably priced. The gorgeous 1896 estate was the home of a prominent Midtown family for more than 100 years. Recent renovations have honoured the building's historic pedigree, while room amenities include up-to-date technology and modern furnishings.
• 923 Piedmont Avenue, +1 404 881 0722, stonehurstplace.com. Doubles from $169

Glenn Hotel

If your agenda involves seeing downtown's biggest sites – the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola and CNN Center – the Glenn Hotel gets points for proximity. Sitting barely a block away from Centennial Olympic Park, the Glenn opened in 2006 after the sweeping conversion of a historic 10-storey building. The rooms are smartly furnished but some are on the small side. Escape to the SkyLounge rooftop deck, where the panoramic view of the downtown skyline is unrivalled.
• 110 Marietta Street, +1 404 521 2250, glennhotel.com. Doubles from $169

Ellis Hotel

The Ellis Hotel brings something unusual to the Atlanta market: a women's-only floor with extra security at the entrance and easy access to the spa. There's also a "Fresh Air Floor", where the rooms have been treated to minimise allergens and feature always-running air filtering machines. The 127-room hotel is definitely geared toward business travellers but it makes for a nice change from neighbouring convention hotels.
• 176 Peachtree Street, +1 404 523 5155, ellishotel.com. Doubles from $119

1890 King-Keith House Bed and Breakfast

Inman Park is architectural eye candy, a neighbourhood made up of mansions dating from the late 19th century and a famous Beaux Arts estate once owned by Coca-Cola magnate Asa Candler. But even Callan Castle can scarcely compete with the King-Keith House for curb appeal. The flamboyant peach and lavender Queen Anne home looks like a storybook creation. Interior furnishings include many (very many) period-style antiques among more modern amenities (hot tubs, free Wi-Fi). It's certainly not ideal for everyone: those averse to nostalgia, steer clear.
• 889 Edgewood Avenue, +1 404 688 7330, kingkeith.com. Doubles from $150

Social Goat Bed and Breakfast

Not to be confused with the Goat Farm, a busy Atlanta arts complex, this urban farmstead in Grant Park features six lodging options spread out over three homes – from a French-themed room in the main house to a one-bedroom modern-style apartment built over a three-car garage. Perhaps taking a cue from nearby Zoo Atlanta, the Social Goat doubles as a sort of petting zoo with resident Nigerian goats, chickens, rabbits, turkeys and koi – plus three house cats. It's good value and loads of fun for the tykes, even if the location requires a 12-15-minute drive to get to more dynamic areas of town.
• 548 Robinson Avenue, +1 404 626 4830, thesocialgoatbandb.com. Doubles from $125

Twelve Hotel Atlantic Station

If you're determined to find a room with a view, Twelve Hotel gets points for its personality and choice location. The 26-storey midrise houses residential units and hotel rooms, so each of the 101 suites features the amenities of a high-end apartment: expansive kitchens, posh baths, ample furniture for impromptu parties. Best of all may be the wide balconies – a rarity for local hotels. Perched atop Atlantic Station, a transformative city-within-a-city redevelopment that arrived in 2005, Twelve delivers easy pedestrian access to a nearby supermarket, cinema, gym and loads of shops and restaurants. Its identical sister Twelve Centennial Park sits on the outside edge of the downtown tourist district.
• 361 17th Street, +1 404 961 1212, twelvehotels.com/atlanticstation. Doubles from $155

• Prices exclusive of local and state taxes

Tray Butler is a writer and illustrator based in Atlanta. He is the author of Moon Atlanta, a guide to the city

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