Alpharetta: Downtown Destination

Alpharetta, Georgia, is no longer a sleepy—albeit upscale—suburb of Atlanta. Its downtown district added destination dining, galleries, and shops so its residents wouldn’t have to leave for Buckhead or Midtown. With a choice of strolling to dinner instead of battling Atlanta traffic, who’s to argue? 

Notable chefs and gallerists answered the call, and Greenville even exported a concept: the second Up on the Roof location opened here last year. The quantity of shopping is impressive, broken up into square blocks, a bit different from the length of Greenville’s Main Street. The need for a boutique stay was palpable, and The Hamilton delivered, making Alpharetta an urban retreat less than two hours away from Greenville. 

I was with my family at Lake Blue Ridge and coaxed my teen daughter, Scottie, to accompany me to a stay at The Hamilton in Alpharetta. Luxe robes and slippers were a big hit with her; this generation knows how to lounge after an afternoon of sightseeing, shopping, and enjoying great food. Here’s a detailed overview of our stay in Alpharetta.

The Hamilton Hotel

Only steps from coffee shops, wine bars, public art, and green spaces, the location is terrific. Beyond the hotel’s front door, there’s something to explore in every direction. Indoors, there’s Carrie’s Conservatory, which sits just behind The Hamilton’s lobby. Stop here for supper, excellent appetizers, and drinks. At twilight, the light-strung courtyard is quintessential North Georgia: a lush green expanse, of oak mixed with native pine, draped in kudzu—a quietude that’s unmistakably Southern.

In the hotel lobby, Scottie recognized art that we spied at Chic Evolution in Art over on Market Street, where we ambled through the gallery with its sizable works from emerging international artists. It was fun to see their artists in The Hamilton,  set amid its aesthetic of vintage charm meets industrial chic.

The rooms are plush, bedecked in navy velvet and menswear fabrics, and well-appointed with integrated, dimmable lighting, minibars, and banquettes that double as comfortable workspace (or a dinner table if you want to feel novel and call for room service). 

Out on the Town

From the Hamilton, we walked to dinner at Lapeer Steak & Seafood, a beautiful restaurant by Chef Blake Hartley and the Maven Restaurant Group. We had oysters, steak, and lobster over house-made spaghetti. Later, we didn’t skimp on burnt Basque cheesecake for dessert. My teen felt perfectly attended to, and the restaurant buzzed with groups of friends and couples on dates amid the stylish interior and artfully arranged plates.

After we ambled back, I checked out The Hamilton’s cocktail bar, Roaring Social. The basement-level speakeasy requires a password, so stop by the front desk before you head down. The bar’s front is RoSo Clothier, and its tailor shop is a fun place to pause and snap photos before entry is granted. The shop harkens to a time when Atlanta was at the forefront of the fashion industry, with its period party clothes, artifacts, and more. It’s worth checking Roaring Social’s calendar when planning a trip; it’s a fun place for music and dancing. There’s even boutique bowling.

Easy Like Sunday Morning

We started our morning at Valor, a precious coffee shop with exquisite lattes and baked goods. It hums with guests that sit both indoors and on the patio, and the peaches and cream muffin did not disappoint. Get a “First Timer” sticker to take home. 

If gluten gives you fits, then just a few doors down is an award-winning certified gluten-free bakery, 2B Whole. With its whole loaves, savory options, and sweet treats, there’s always something worth ordering. I’d feel remiss if I didn’t mention a dynamite men’s store on the same block: Clothes Horse. Brands include jonnie-O, Rhone, Bald Head Blues, and 7 Diamonds. The tiny storefront, stocked floor to ceiling, meanders into other rooms and spaces with vintage postcards and photos.  Like Alpharetta and The Hamilton, it is delightful to peruse.

The Hamilton Fulton Connection

Georgia’s chief engineer in the 1820s Hamilton Fulton is credited with making travel by train possible from Chattanooga to Milledgeville and all the stops in between.

With over 200 miles of rail, it was no small feat. Some believe Fulton County was named for him, but there’s debate over whether the name honors Robert Fulton, who invented the steamship. We know for sure, though, that The Hamilton, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, honors the Scottish train expert’s name and quest to connect Atlanta’s communities.

While staying at The Hamilton in downtown Alpharetta, you’ll hear Mr. Fulton’s trains whistle in the distance several times daily. 

Alpharetta Travel Tips

Pair these local gems together and travel like a local.

Breakfast at The Southern Porch with the Alpharetta Art Walking Tour

A great menu in an adorable location awaits at The Southern Porch. It’s an easy walk from The Hamilton and a fun way to access the town’s public art tour. Including twenty sculptures, the self-guided walking tour has a brochure and an app with an easy-to-follow map. 

Be sure not to miss Torqued Chroma by Tristan Al-Haddad. The dichroic film makes a unique photo opportunity as it throws reflected color across its plain.

Lunch at Carson Kitchen and shopping at Sis and Moon’s

There are deviled eggs, and then there are Carson Kitchen’s caviar-topped deviled eggs. The scratch southern kitchen shines at lunch, and there’s donut bread pudding, if you can save room. 

Walk off the calories at Sis and Moon’s, a local curated shop filled with wares of sixty artists across its eight rooms and working studios. Find sculptures by Nicole Carew Merkens here. 

Alpharetta and Old Milton County History Museum with supper at Milton’s

Open weekdays only, it’s worth planning to get to the museum on a Friday afternoon. Especially if you’re a Southern history buff, Milton County’s role from Cherokee territory to county seat (until 1932) is fascinating. 

Head to Milton’s Cocktails and Cuisine for supper. The 150-year-old farmhouse and 1930s cottage in the Crabapple Historic District is a lively spot with local sensibilities. Chef Derek Dollar grows much of the restaurant’s produce at the adjoining farm, Milton Acre. 

Mark Your Calendar: 9th Annual Wire & Wood Songwriters Festival

On October 7–8, the Wire & Wood Songwriters Festival is back and will light up The Town Green in the heart of Alpharetta, with headliners Samm Henshaw and Eric Hutchinson and six different stages. Over thirty live performances focus on wire and wood instruments and the stories behind the music. 

Photos courtesy of The Hamilton Hilton Hotel.