Located in the heart of one of America’s top ten most affluent communities, W Atlanta – Buckhead is a hotel as luxurious as its surroundings. In addition to the 291 artfully-conceived rooms and suites, the W also houses WET, one of the area’s only rooftop infinity pools. No matter what you’re doing at the W, you’re at the center of the nightlife, shopping, and entertainment that makes Buckhead the most opulent part of Atlanta.
The Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta has often been compared to Washington DC’s Georgetown and Chicago’s Loop. More recently however, the city’s wealthiest zip code has begun to draw more comparison to Beverly Hills. Situated west of Hollywood and east of Santa Monica in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills has built a reputation for being one of the most exclusive, affluent neighborhoods in the world.
Historically, “The Golden Triangle, with Rodeo Drive at its center, was built and marketed to the rest of the world as the shopping destination of a lifetime. Many other glamorous hotels opened, notably the Beverly Wilshire, attracting visitors from around the world,” says the City of Beverly Hills official website. “The city’s iconic image was enhanced with the spread of television shows and movies set in Beverly Hills.” If that story sounds familiar, it’s because Buckhead is following in Beverly Hills’ gilded footsteps. With some of the best shopping and hotels in Atlanta situated in its center, Buckhead has become the go-to for the well-heeled.
Atlanta, in general, is on the economic rise, with Buckhead leading the pack. According to a study done by the McKinsey Global Institute, from 1978 to 2010, Atlanta rose in the ranks to become the 10th richest city in America. This is due largely in part to the rise in population growth and a shift towards technology-focused and service-oriented industries. The historically low cost of living in Atlanta has led to corporate enterprises such as tech giant MailChimp, The Home Depot and Delta Airlines to make their homes in the city, with the executives of these firms putting down roots themselves in Buckhead. According to Forbes, “executives from Coca-Cola, and more recently CNN, are still clustered in Buckhead. Among members of the Forbes Four Hundred are Anne Cox Chambers, of the Cox newspaper empire, Arthur M. Blank of Home Depot and Ted Turner of Time Warner live in the neighborhood, while rocker Elton John is a part-time resident.” Other celebrities that call Buckhead home include Justin Bieber, Jermain Dupri, Tyler Perry, Kenny Rogers and Toni Braxton.
The cultural hub of the southern United States for many years, Atlanta is now grooming itself as a model metropolis for the rest of the country as well. One of the first things residents of ATL will tell you about the city is that it is sprawling, with traffic that is only rivaled by cities like New York and Los Angeles. Location is key, which makes Buckhead a natural hub for the city’s most wealthy residents. Positioned approximately five miles north of Midtown Atlanta, Buckhead is just far enough removed from the urban center to remain quaint, but still close enough to provide its residents with quick access to the city’s business areas.
Much like Beverly Hills, those looking to invest in real estate in Atlanta’s most prestigious area code can expect an elevated price tag. Purchasing a home in Buckhead will run you more than double the median home value of the rest of the city. In fact, some of the ritziest homes in the whole state of Georgia are located there, with the 9,000-square-foot Georgia Governor’s Mansion being among them. This past May, Real Vinings Buckhead reported that Tyler Perry’s Buckhead estate became the most high-priced real estate transaction in Atlanta history, with Evangelist David Turner purchasing the 17-acre property for $17.5 million.
When Buckhead residents aren’t working hard, they’re playing hard. Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza, located directly across directly across Peachtree Street from one another, boast some of the best shopping in Atlanta, counting Fendi, Henri Bendel, Louis Vuitton, and Prada among their many high-end retail spaces. The Streets of Buckhead, another shopping facility has also recently opened, offering visitors access to exclusive brands such as Hermès and Van Cleef & Arpels. These storefronts also rub shoulders with some of the best dining and nightlife in the South. “In Atlanta, dining out accounts for 57 percent of the city’s average total food and drink spending annually, the highest in the US and 28 percent higher than the US average,” claims The Schumacher Group.
It’s no secret why Atlanta, and particularly Buckhead, has gained a reputation for excellent fine dining within the last decade. The Buckhead Diner, contrary to its humble name, is a high-end eatery that has hosted the likes of Ryan Gosling and other celebrities on more than one occasion. Other notable hotspots include The Tavern at Phipps, a seafood restaurant with a crowd-pleasing bar scene, and The Southern Gentleman, which is known for its beautiful rooftop bar and hand-crafted cocktails. Atlanta’s glamorous reputation is due in large part to the influence Buckhead has had on the rest of the city. The palatial homes and well-to-do celebrity residents in conjunction with the strong nightlife and entertainment ensure that Buckhead will continue to rise as one of America’s most fabulous neighborhoods.
