Disappointing Experience at a Supposed 5-Star Hotel
My family and I stayed at the Four Seasons Atlanta from July 3rd to July 6th, 2025, and unfortunately, our experience did not meet the expectations of a hotel that markets itself as five-star.
While the check-in process was smooth and the staff offered upgrade options due to it being a slower season, I declined because the upgrade did not seem worth nearly three times the price for only slightly more space. That was the last positive part of our stay.
The most troubling part of our visit happened on July 4th at the hotel's restaurant, Margo (I believe that’s the name). We had a reservation for 10:00 a.m. and arrived at 10:06. The restaurant was practically empty. A white gentleman at the host stand told us there would be a 15-minute wait. We agreed and waited in the outside area, but I was confused as to why we had to wait at all when we had a reservation and the place was not busy. I returned to the host stand, where a different employee—a Black gentleman—was now present. I explained the situation again, and he seated us immediately without issue.
The stark contrast in how the two employees treated us was upsetting and frankly, felt racially biased. The first gentleman’s demeanor was cold and dismissive, and his tone came off as blatantly discriminatory.
The issues didn’t stop there. After our meal, I paid and signed the check at the table—standard practice in most restaurants. As we were leaving, the same white host approached us and demanded I sign the check, implying that I hadn't paid. His condescending tone made it seem as if I was trying to walk out on the bill, which was offensive and humiliating.
I reported the incident to the front desk, who apologized and said they would waive the breakfast charge—not something I asked for or expected. Later that day, the General Manager, Matthew, called to follow up. While he expressed mild concern and said he’d speak to the employee, the overall tone did not feel especially sincere.
The hotel later sent an apologetic tray with candies, popcorn, and a lackluster meat and cheese plate. The gesture felt superficial and failed to address the seriousness of the issue.
To make matters worse, at checkout I noticed they had charged me for the room upgrade I had specifically declined at check-in. This added a significant, unnecessary amount to my bill—nearly three times the original room rate. Thankfully, I caught the error and brought it to their attention, and they did correct it. But had I not reviewed my bill carefully, I would have been overcharged for something I never agreed to.
This experience was deeply disappointing and unacceptable for any hotel—let alone one that claims to offer five-star service. In this day and age, it’s disheartening to still encounter such discriminatory behavior, especially in a place that should be known for hospitality and professionalism.
We will not be returning to the Four Seasons Atlanta, and I would advise others to think twice before booking here. A beautiful lobby can’t make up for poor treatment, questionable billing practices, and a...
Read moreWhile this is a Four Seasons property it is really lacking on Four Seasons quality. The property states that the pool is heated and it was VERY cold, clearly not heated, the hot tub was well above 105+ degrees - you could barely stand in it for more than a couple of minutes, could not even sit in it as it was so hot. The rooms on the upper floors are "updated" but not in Four Seasons quality and care. Our first room was on the 5th floor and was an older room that had a shower and separate tub. The room was well appointed and felt like a Four Seasons room. We had to move because of a very sleepless night due to vehicle noise until 4 am. When we informed the front desk of this experience we were told that they had never heard of this from other guests. Absolutely not possible that guests have not brought this to the attention of the property management in the past. Our second room was on the 17th floor. This room was updated, having the shower removed and the separate tub removed and replaced with a shower stall. The room felt very sparse, the shears had a big stain, and table was extensively scratched. It looked like something out of a garage sale. It was a very lackluster room to say the least. The word sad comes to mind. As the hotel is on a road right off a freeway exit the traffic is speeding through which means that cars and motor cycles are revving their engines and the sound comes up the building into the rooms. The staff are very nice and the food/drink is good. When we checked out we again brought this issue of the vehicle noise to the fount desk (same person we previously spoke with) and they told us that they never heard this complaint from other guests and then a couple of minutes later they said that they did hear from other guests in the past. This was after we told the front desk agent that we had walked over the to Marriott two buildings over and the Marriott told us that this was an ongoing problem with the street and the properties on this street. We stay at Four Seasons properties because we have been sold that we will be taken care of and that issues like noise have been properly dealt with by the property. You pay these rates because you are being guaranteed (by the Brand) that everything about your stay will be without issue or incident. This is Four Seasons property that failed that Brand guarantee. Nice staff, good food and drink but for the most part all other aspects...
Read moreWe stayed at Four Seasons Atlanta, in a quieter part of Midtown near the Arts Center. If you are used to the Four Seasons brand, I would suggest adjusting your expectations here. The service and overall welcome are quite different from other Four Seasons hotels we have experienced.||The welcome and interactions were a mix of warmth and friendliness, but not consistent. Uniforms ranged from impeccable to looking like they had been slept in. On arrival, instead of bags being whisked away as you might expect, we were asked if we wanted help. Being British we politely declined, but usually we would never be put in that situation at a Four Seasons.||The reception and entrance hall look more like an older three-star city hotel, with a vaulted marble ceiling and small chandelier. Some new furniture and carpets have been added, but it feels more like a quick cosmetic fix against an outdated backdrop.||The room, however, was very nice. We stayed in a balcony suite, which was more a room with a large balcony than a true suite, but it was well appointed, comfortable and worked fine for a few days. A welcome note and amenity were a nice touch.||We did have an issue with the shower, it was damaged and sprayed water everywhere when turned on. It was replaced quickly, but this is something that should have been noticed beforehand. Additional hangers we requested also took chasing.||Breakfast was a highlight. The restaurant feels modern and fresh, and service was excellent with the same attentive waitress each morning. One of us used the spa and enjoyed the treatment, though the pool area felt more like a leisure centre with a few luxury touches. It needs more investment to match expectations.||The hotel also feels more like a place people go to be seen. That may come down to pricing not being quite right or a lack of gatekeeping. Whatever the reason, it isn’t managed well and the groups that come in tend to take over, creating a very different atmosphere from other Four Seasons properties. One evening an event completely dominated the entrance. Our taxi couldn’t get in as the driveway was full with cars waiting for valet parking, and we ended up being dropped down the road and walking in. Not impossible, but not the level of service expected.||Overall, this hotel does not reflect the Four Seasons brand at its best. If this had been our first Four Seasons, we would have placed the brand firmly in the mid-range...
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