Hotel Indigo Athens - University Area

It’s a rather prosaic name for such an unusual hotel, but it gets to the point — Athens, Georgia is still a small city, and the downtown and the university district are indeed one and the same. Hotel Indigo Athens Downtown - University Area is remarkable even from a distance, thanks to its barnlike silhouette, whose agricultural associations are tempered by its very modern gray-and-red color scheme.

The interiors, too, marry “modern farmstead” architecture with contemporary urban style; the rooms feel a touch studious, in a nod to the neighboring university, but they’re much more stylish and luxurious than any student digs, with particular attention paid to the spa-like bathrooms. And there are some subtle local touches, if you know where to look — the in-room artwork, for example, is full of references to the legendary Athens music scene.

It’s in the Madison Bar & Bistro that the country-meets-city approach pays the clearest dividends. This farm-to-table restaurant and bar showcases not only the produce of local farmers and purveyors, but serves it on farm tables crafted by local artisans; all of it is accompanied by cocktails, wines, and a selection of local microbrews.