Queer travel expert Jack Kenworthy turns 250+ city adventures into your guide for safe, vibrant, and inclusively fabulous global journeys.
Atlanta! While this colorful city is most of all famous for being the economic capital of the US-American Southeast, the capital of Georgia, and one of the most famous locations in the country as a whole, there is a side to the New York of the South that many travelers and even some of its residents have yet to discover.
Not only does Atlanta deserve more than its share of tourist attention thanks to its classic Downtown areas and historic city center, but it is also home to a wide and wonderful range of queer-friendly locations, nightlife hotspots, and gay hotels.
Atlanta is a culture, exploration, and city life heaven, combining all the best aspects of eastern-US cities like New York and Chicago into a mix that hits just right and is somehow different than anything visitors to those other cities will have experienced through their travels.
That’s not to say that Atlanta is an urban jungle that doesn’t allow escape from concrete and steel, however. The city has many green spaces compared to its peers, which offers much-needed relief for those who aren’t fans of spending large amounts of time without touching some grass.
While the city’s Downtown area – like many Downtown areas in other cities – has more than enough queer bars, clubs, and gay-influenced locations to offer than a visitor could need, not everyone comes to a city purely to dig their teeth into the night scene, and thus it is equally important to mention Atlanta’s other strong LGBTQ+ hotspot – a neighborhood known as Midtown.
Midtown also has quite a strong night scene, but it is also home to a wide range of activities to take on during the day, including regular cultural festivals, more fooderies, cafes, and restaurants than you can count, and a wonderful connection to the rest of the city thanks to Atlanta’s quite strong public transport system and openness to bike travel.
Midtown is the perfect spot for queer travelers to set their roots and enjoy their me time, and the benefits don’t stop with safety and understanding accommodation.
Even though Atlanta is a wonderful city for queer travelers to visit, and even though gay hotels within its borders are not at all hard to find, our usual disclaimer still applies. Obviously, in most cases, there aren’t going to be hotels out there marketed directly towards gay people or queer people in general.
We know that, and therefore we’d like to note that the hotels on this list follow the same logic. Most of them have been listed as accommodating, friendly, and unjudgmental to, for, and by queer people in general, as well as being highly rated in general.
So, if that’s settled in and your enthusiasm to learn about the city is planted and growing, let’s move on and discover the top eight gay-friendly hotels that the colorful, diverse city of Atlanta has to offer!
In this article we will cover...
Four Seasons Atlanta
There is no better location to serve as the beginning to this list of wonderful gay hotels and places of accommodation than the Four Seasons Atlanta – a five-star luxury suite complex situated in an impressive, stately tower above the center of the city and its lively atmosphere.
Although this hotel is somewhat on the pricey side of things, which might be a bit of a surprise since it’s the very first one on this list, we promise that the sheer amount of benefits that come along with that larger-than-usual price tag makes it worth every cent. After all, could one expect any less with that view, that location, and the quality of the Four Seasons rooms?
However, before we speak more about the surroundings, let us dig into what the Four Seasons interior offers. The highly praised individual suites have it all, from hot tubs in the bathrooms, separate living spaces, and even kitchens and kitchenettes on request.
Suppose you’re looking for something even more refined. In that case, there’s also the hotel’s in-house spa and relaxation facilities, which are attended to by trained employees and sure to emphasize enjoying your time at the hotel and relaxing.
The Four Seasons Atlanta is specifically targeted for couples, but while this is a definite plus for those looking for a romantic getaway, it doesn’t mean that single pringles can’t enjoy their time there just as much.
As we mentioned earlier, the Four Seasons Atlanta is located directly in the center of Atlanta’s colorful Midtown, providing direct access both to the commercial shopping districts of the city and the more calm residential suburbs – both of which are perfect for strolls and enjoying time out on the town meeting new people and bouncing from restaurant to restaurant.
Hyatt Place Atlanta Buckhead
One need only look at this hotel’s name to get a feeling of luxury. Like the W hotels coming up later in this list, the Hyatt name is very strongly associated with exquisite accommodation and regal services. On the other hand, it’s also understandable to start getting pictures of large bills and four-figure numbers.
This particular location, however, isn’t as expensive as one might think and instead falls into the place of being one of the most affordable locations on this list. Hyatt on a budget and with all of the bells and whistles too!
Calling a modest three stars its own, but regardless of possessing a high-quality pool area and free breakfasts for all guests, the Hyatt Place Buckhead borders right up against some of the best laid-back strolling regions of the city, as well as some popular attractions that guests of other hotels would have to travel quite a while to arrive at.
Access in and out of the suburbs surrounding Hyatt Place is easy enough, thanks to the highway that runs directly through the center of the area, and the general hustle and bustle are strong enough to mean that there are enough eateries, takeaway restaurants and bars for guests to thoroughly enjoy themselves without having to wander deeper into the city.
The Hyatt Place’s rooms are also highly praised, with each suite possessing a chic sense of style and immaculate maintenance that is regularly kept up to Hyatt standards by the laundry and room service-wielding staff. No matter what your requirements are, and whether you’re traveling alone, as a couple, or with a child or pet, your needs are filled here at Hyatt Place, with a good amount of glitter and luxury about the edges too.
W Atlanta Downtown
We’ve often spoken about W Hotels through our gay hotel review lists on this site, and this brand has come through repeatedly with impressive results and a direct dedication to acceptable staff policy and guest treatment.
That is especially true for this LGBTQ+ friendly four-start tower situated in the center of Atlanta’s main Downtown area, with reviews hailing the W Atlanta as one of the best as well as one of the most gay-accepting non-specifically queer-targeted hotels they have ever stayed at.
W Hotels are always a little pricey, and as such, this entry on this list sits in the higher rate category, but if you’ve got the wallet to afford even a few nights here, those are sure to be days that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Just like the former W Atlanta Midtown at the very end of this list, the W Atlanta Downtown has a dedicated spa experience attached to its premises and is advertised as free for its guests, meaning that you get the benefits of two separate locations while staying at this hotel.
This modern, stylish atmosphere and vibe extend through every one of the W Atlanta Downtown’s suites and large, spacy rooms, with the vast majority of which possess unparalleled views out over the city and sometimes even 200-degree windows about the edge of the room.
There’s an indoor pool with a stylish infinity mirror and long views, and that’s not to mention the flawless condition and truly impressive style of all the common areas, lounges, lobbies, and even the halls between rooms. Every square foot of the W Atlanta Downtown screams luxury, and you can bet that the caring attentions of the staff back this up to a tee.
The River’s Edge
We know it’s a little different for one of these lists to include a camping, cabin and RV-pitching site, but the notoriety of The River’s Edge and its reputation within the queer community of Atlanta is too strong to be ignored. You won’t find The River’s Edge on Google, and many of the functions of checking in and out and booking spaces operate through direct contact and word of mouth, but all of these things deepen the hands-on experience.
This location isn’t for everyone, but it is a real undiscovered gem. The River’s Edge functions highly as a center for events, a local get-together spot, and a clothing-optional resort for the most hearty and open of travelers, and the list of fun options and intriguing diversity doesn’t stop there.
And all of this is without mentioning the River’s Edge’s rates, which are amazingly affordable, and leave you, not all that far away from the center of Atlanta and everything on the more shiny and modern side that the city’s urban heart has to offer.
Long story short – if you’re okay with staying in a cabin or if you’re down for a bit of roughing it or can bring a camper, a tent, or an RV along on your journey, then this is the perfect place for you as a queer traveler looking for gay accommodation in Atlanta.
Although it may not have shiny rooms and views out over the city like an expensive room in one of the city’s hotels might have, what it has instead is priceless – a feeling of tighter community, more personal service, and a closer connection to the real essence of the queer scene in the city and Atlanta’s beating cultural heart.
Artmore Hotel
The Artmore Hotel – set inside the refurbished and refined hull of an old 19th-century building- this modern place of accommodation nevertheless delivers an up-to-date experience that fills all the boxes to make it a sound entry to this hotel list and much more. The preaching line of the Artmore Hotel is refined living and excellent access to the city at an affordable price, and this one is the start of a long line of promises that it most absolutely delivers upon.
Located in Midtown amongst some of the very best hotels on this list, and enjoying all of the same benefits in proximity and surroundings that they do, but at a much, much for affordable price! The rate pressure in the area is quite impressive, so it must be understood that it is a rare opportunity to see such low prices in such a respectable location, which makes the Artmore Hotel even more enticing!
Amenities and black-on-white statistics wise, the Artmore has it all – excellent access to commonly-visited attractions and the center of Atlanta’s nightlife, direct connection to the city’s public transport system and the airports for travelers who come from out of the state or country, and a healthy selection of both in-house and surrounding eateries and bars to grab a bite at or hang out in.
Suppose you’re more interested in what’s inside the hotel rather than what’s outside. In that case, the list also extends, including an integrated in-house fitness center for all of your daily routine needs, the hotel’s own personal restaurant and bar ensemble, and – of course – amazing room, laundry, and personal care services. There are also rooms available for hire in the hotel, meaning that this is the perfect spot to hold that event or – even better – your romantic gay getaway wedding.
Motel 6 Atlanta
We know that Motels don’t exactly have the best reputation when it comes to being quality places of accommodation, but when it comes to serving as a quality budget option that provides more than enough of the same benefits that a lot of much more expensive hotels on this list do, the Motel 6 hits all targets and keeps on shooting bullseye.
The Motel 6 Atlanta Downtown is the perfect mix between keeping you in the center of it all and not giving too much of the feeling that you are stuck in the urban jungle on a high rise with no way to escape to other areas of the city. The balance is there to be seized and enjoyed, and it certainly pays off in many more ways than just one!
Not only is the hotel’s location right in the center of Atlanta’s goings-on, at the edge of Downtown and the very center of the city, it is also remarkably pleasing to look at both from inside and without, meaning that you won’t have to cringe in shame as you may have had to in the past with other motels.
The Motel 6 is quality without the price tag – presenting comfortable furniture, sizable rooms, and quite decent rooms with occasional balconies. If your pockets are shallow, or if you’re looking to save up your money for a bit more fun out on the town, this is the place for you.
As tones in well with the no-nonsense attitude that Motel 6 holds about itself as a whole, the staff’s attitude towards queer guests is known to be purely professional and unmarred by disrespect, and this sentiment is proven well by the establishment’s squeaky-clean record with previous queer guests and reviewers.
The Starling Atlanta Midtown (Formerly W Midtown)
Another W hotel – or a least a location that used to be one! It might be a little surprising to see two hotels from the same franchise together on this list, but we promise that the difference in location makes all of the difference to warrant them sharing space. Just as we began this list with a top-shelf luxury hotel, it makes sense that we end it with one, and that is the calling that the new Starling Atlanta Midtown rises to fill.
Not only is this place of accommodation much cheaper than the W location that came before it, and also the other location in Downtown Atlanta, but it also maintains that cherished four-star rating and adds to it with an LGBTQ+-friendly label! Both of these points mean that guests can stay in the Starling Atlanta with zero worries about both the money in their pocket and the way they’re going to be treated during their holiday, and if that doesn’t sound like a great start to describing a hotel, then what is?
Not only does the Starling Atlanta possess a truly impressive spa facility that has its marker on the map and operates almost as a separate business while remaining complimentary for guests, but it also has a rooftop pool and an in-house restaurant and bar pair to serve to all of your culinary and drink needs. The rooms have excellent cleaning, laundry, and delivery services, and each suite is sure to truly amaze with its wonderful views, chic design, and pristine amenities.
The Startling is much like the Four Seasons at the beginning of this list in another way: location. The Midtown district is truly the middle ground where everything begins in Atlanta; with this hotel, you can experience it all.
Loews Atlanta
Finally! It is a place where it is possible to both go light on the wallet and afford some luxury while making your tour of Atlanta and looking for a gay hotel! Suppose you’re searching for a middle-rank hotel that nonetheless pulls out all of the stops while serving customers and doing its best to provide a luxurious experience. In that case, the well-kept suites and halls of Loews are definitely for you.
Whereas most of the other hotels on this list are separated into the natural categories of expensive and luxurious and affordable and decent, the Loews Atlanta does the seemingly impossible and manages to deliver a high-flying four-star rating at a comparably affordable price, all while finding itself located in the much-famed Midtown area of Atlanta, where the rates are famously high to stay at any hotel that is even halfway respectable.
This is an advantage that both the Loews Hotel and its guests fully understand and take advantage of, and the hotel’s clean and happy staff attitude is a driving factor in keeping this location both in good business and in good standing with former guests.
It is also one of the few locations on this list to be explicitly marked as LGBTQ+ friendly, which deepens its impression of being attentive, caring, and on top of the ball when it comes to the gay hotel game.
The benefits of the Loews Atlanta are as impressive in person as they are on paper, including some of the city’s only wheelchair-accessible rooms, a pet and child-friendly accommodation experience, and a spa and fitness center ensemble if you’re looking for some me-time away from all of the bustle and rush of the street outside between nights on the town. All the five-star hallmarks are there, except the prices!
Gay Hotel Map Of Atlanta
Feeling a bit lost while planning your journey to Atlanta? No worries, darling! Our detailed LGBTQ+ tailored map is here to guide you. We’ve pinpointed all the vibrant gay-friendly bars, exhilarating clubs, extravagant parties, cozy hotels, relaxing saunas, and soothing massage parlors to ensure you find the perfect spot.
And these aren’t just any spots; we’re talking about the creme de la creme of locations in the heart of the city’s vibrant gay scene. Think panoramic views, easy access to nightlife, and all the amenities to make your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
But hold on to your feather boas! These hot spots are fabulous; they vanish quicker than a drag queen’s five o’clock shadow. Don’t delay; book now to secure the best deals and locations. Remember, the early bird catches the best deals in Atlanta! So, pack your rainbow flag, and get ready to experience the ultimate gay-friendly holiday in Atlanta.
