Ellis Hotel, Atlanta, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

This landmark hotel that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places opened in 1913 as the Winecoff Hotel. But tragedy struck 33 years later, when it caught fire and 119 guests died, including the hotel’s namesake family who resided there. It's considered the deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history. Many of the architectural details on the facade of the 16-story brick building remain, and its interiors are modern, with leather and stainless steel furniture, a bright, back-lit front desk. Dark wood columns with wall sconces hint at the hotel’s history. Given its central downtown location, expect to see a mix of business and leisure travelers who are out most of the day. The nightly wine tastings are a good opportunity to mingle, as guests tend to stay to themselves at this cozy boutique property. 

The Ellis Hotel is centrally located on bustling Peachtree Street, the historic heart of downtownAtlanta. It's a great location for business and leisure travelers, including families, as it's near numerous conference centers and tourist attractions -- like the Georgia Aquarium (the largest in the world) and The Children's Museum. The hotel is about a 12-minute walk to Georgia State University and Philips Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks. There are also many museums and attractions that are a short walk or drive from the hotel, and using the city's public transit system, MARTA, is convenient as well. - Two-minute walk to Peachtree Center MARTA station

• 10-minute walk to Centennial Olympic Park
• 10-minute walk to Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta
• 10-minute walk to the World of Coca Cola Museum
• 11-minute walk to CNN Center Complex
• 13-minute walk to Georgia Aquarium
• 10 minutes to The Center for Civil and Human Rights via public transit
• 11 minutes to Georgia State Capitol via public transit
• Nine-minute drive to the Atlanta Zoo
• 11-minute drive to High Museum of Art
• 11-minute drive to Piedmont Park 
• 12-minute drive to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 

Guest rooms are attractive but not overly stylish, done in light earth tones and royal blue accents on carpeting and beds' bolster pillows. Sleek bamboo walls and upholstered armchairs with chrome frames are design-forward touches. Standard amenities include AC, flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, robes, armchairs, and desks with ergonomic chairs, but units lack safes and only Premium rooms offer mini-fridges. Bathrooms have attractive, black granite vanities and modern fixtures, and feature Gilchrist & Soames bath products. Most contain shower/tub combos although some have spacious walk-in showers, and the Executive Suite we saw had a separate shower and tub.  Some interesting upgrade possibilities exist at this hotel, including a women-only floor with a secure entrance and extra amenities like an L’Occitane toiletries gift bag. The entire 15th floor is designated a "Fresh Air Floor" for travelers who have allergies, and rooms have sealed mattresses and pillows, and Beyond by Aerus air purifiers. Street noise can be heard from rooms on lower floors, so guests who are noise-sensitive may wish to ask for a unit that's higher up. 

This boutique hotel has an array of appealing amenities, including its Terrace Bistro & Lounge that has a pleasant outdoor patio on Peachtree Street. The Terrace features Southern cuisine with a focus on fresh, farm-to-table ingredients. It serves a hot breakfast buffet for a fee that has an omelet station, plus lunch and dinner. The hotel also hosts wine tastings every evening, with $1 wines and free light appetizers. Free coffee is in the lobby each morning as well, and room service is available. The hotel has a 24-hour fitness center with up-to-date equipment. Other amenities include a small business center, and event space for up to 100 people. The valet-only parking is reasonably priced for a central downtown hotel, and includes in/out privileges. There's also concierge services with valet dry cleaning and laundry. The hotel has free Wi-Fi throughout, and allows small pets for a surcharge.