Origin Atlanta, a Wyndham Hotel

The hotel restaurant and bar were excellent, with great food, and the staff are a big reason to stay. Everyone was friendly and went out of their way to make sure I was comfortable and had what I needed. The only reason I’m giving four stars is that there were no closets or dressers, and we like to unpack. If living out of a suitcase doesn’t bother you, that won’t be an issue. We were in town for a conference, and it’s walkable to Congress conference center.

The main areas were beautifully decorated and clean, and the staff were friendly and helpful. My room was a letdown, though. The linens and towels hadn’t been cleaned well, and there was hair in the shower when I arrived. I’m not sure what happened. Parking was another issue: you’re pretty much pushed toward valet at $55 a night unless you use the deck a little way down the road, where there weren’t any spaces on the nights we stayed.

The attached restaurant had a very good burger, and the staff were exceptionally friendly and efficient. When a hiccup came up, they insisted on moving me to another room. I loved the brick walls and modern room design, and the public spaces look great. The bed was comfortable, the bathroom was great, and the water pressure was strong. There’s a cool vanity and towel rack, too. I chose the location to get around by public transportation, and it’s convenient to both the 5-Points and Garnett MARTA stations. It’s two blocks from the capitol, but the neighborhood is still up and coming. There’s a lot of work underway on the roads and buildings, with plenty of money being spent on revitalization. Dining choices nearby are limited for now. Four blocks away there’s a new locally owned coffee shop and some other newer places on that block, plus a long-time diner next door for a good, cheap breakfast or lunch. It’s fine and actually fun to walk around during the day to see the changes, but I wouldn’t walk around there at night.

The friendly staff were the only good part of a very disappointing stay. My room was dirty when I arrived. I asked for housekeeping on the second morning, but by evening all they’d done was take out the trash. The online restaurant menu didn’t match what was available on site. Three things I tried to order were “out,” and the kitchen staff seemed inexperienced. The food tasted reheated, like frozen premade meals. I paid $16 for an egg omelette listed with cheddar, but it was clearly made with Kraft singles. Really unappetizing. Every gym machine was broken each day I stayed, and the gift shop was extremely overpriced. A Coke Zero added to my folio came to $5.25 plus tax. For one drink! The place wants to seem chic and pretentious but felt poorly run and dirty, and didn’t live up to its online presentation. Keep an eye out for management’s scripted “we take this very seriously and appreciate your feedback” response.