Set in a separate building fronting Peachtree Street, Craft Atlanta is going to be a welcome addition to the fine dining establishments in Buckhead. The main restaurant will seat 225 people, there will be an outdoor terrace which will seat an additional 20 people (weather permitting, we will most likely wait until Spring to enjoy it) and a bar for about 50 people.

I’m really thrilled some big name chefs (like Tom Colicchio) are coming to Atlanta to open some much needed upscale restaurants. I was on vacation in Los Angeles last week and I went to this amazing restaurant called Sona. If you are in LA, eat there because it makes Bacchanalia (which is fantastic) look like a mediocre restaurant.

Tom Colicchio’s Craft received the James Beard Award for the Best New Restaurant in 2002. Craft combines ultra fresh ingredients, high style presentation and family-style dining all into one amazing experience. 

You can make reservations in a couple weeks if you would like to go check it out. I’m sure Craft is going to be very busy once it’s open for business.

* Additional information below not included in my original post.

The 135-seat Craft Atlanta features an upscale, contemporary American menu of straightforward dishes that showcase the integrity of a single ingredient. Similar to the menu, Craft’s impressive beverage list highlights the best wines from around the world, focusing on smaller producers, as well as seasonal cocktails.

As a more relaxed dining option, Craftbar’s rustic and comfortable dining room offers casual fare and low-key menu items perfect for brunch, quick lunches and snacks, as well as casual dinners. Craftbar is located on the ground floor of the building and has table seating for 80, an intimate eight-seat bar, a wood-burning grill and display kitchen. The menu includes a variety of bruschetta, hearty pasta dishes, roasted and braised meats and fish.

Award-winning architects Bentel & Bentel, who are behind the design of all Craft restaurants, created the interior design for Craft Atlanta and Craftbar. “Tom Colicchio’s approach to cooking motivated us to experiment with a limited set of architectural materials, using the simplest and best craftsmanship required to join them,” said Peter Bentel, one of the firm’s founding partners. The palette used throughout the restaurant features natural elements of walnut, steel, copper, oak, brick, cherry, leather and muslin, designed to celebrate the materials and the simple craftsmanship used to assemble them. These strong materials and hues weave together a series of spaces that evoke the character of traditional Southern interiors in a modern way. 

Download The Mansion Desktop photo.

There has been a lot of discussion about The Mansion on Peachtree’s Gold crown. Some people love it and some people really think it is entirely underwhelming. Consider this: the slim profile of the building, the understated elegance of the exterior, simplicity of the buildings design and terrace setbacks. I’m not really sure what else would have looked great on top of the building. I think it fits in with look of the building. I would have liked a little more height and perhaps the grooves could have been a little more pronounced. Maybe a little more “New York” style? What are your thoughts? I’d love to know so feel free to comment. 

I went to Neo at The Mansion this afternoon for lunch. I took my clients (who just closed on their new home today), so it was quite a treat for both of us. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts delivers on it’s promise to bring ultra luxury and service to Atlanta… finally! The staff was more than accommodating and welcomed us with open arms. When asked if we could see the property, the concierge took us into an amazing suite and arranged for a tour of 29 (The Spa). 

From the moment you step out of your car, to the time you leave, they cater to you and your every wish. Lunch at Neo was simply amazing, the service was attentive without being obtrusive. We had a beautiful table facing the English Garden. The menu had something for everyone and the portions were just right. They had a beautiful wine list, with a page of half bottle selections, assorted imported waters, a full bar with the best bottles of liquor available. Speaking of which, the gorgeous bar runs the entire length of the building along Stratford Road. This is going to be a busy place when word gets around. 

The Mansion on Peachtree is stylish without being the least bit pretentious.

Below: Arriving in style is easy. Step into an oasis off Peachtree Road.

There are many more photos in this post, so click it and go.

Click Here for More Photos & the Rest of the Feature

The hotel portion of The Mansion recently opened at the beginning of May, with just 127 ultra-luxurious rooms waiting for your arrival. The hotel is run by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. The hotel has two restaurants, Tom Colicchio’s Craft is a 225-seat fine dining restaurant with an outdoor terrace that seats an additional 20 people and a 50-seat bar, and NEO – the 95-seat restaurant located within the hotel serves contemporary Italian-inspired cuisine in a casual yet sophisticated atmosphere.  Neo overlooks the English Garden courtyard. A 14,500-square-foot spa and fitness center on the third and fourth floors features a lap pool and a deck. (Below, The Mansion towers over Peachtree Street.)

The Mansion was designed by brilliant/noted architect Robert A. M. Stern and consists of a 42-story tower with 127 hotel rooms and 45 3,000- to 10,600-square-foot residences. Most of the units will have two bedrooms, but owners may alter the layouts of their condos. Many units are the entire floor. There are three Garden Villas facing the English Garden courtyard. I’m not sure if they have been sold yet. Last I heard, The Mansion was about 50% sold. The residents have their own entrance on Stratford Road and all units have private balconies, some covered depending on what floor you are on.

Amenities and Services at the Mansion: concierge service, bellman, valet parking, complete security and key control, internet/wireless, 29 Spa, in-home dining and catering, housekeeping services, laundry/dry cleaning, plant maintenance, private car and airport transportation

Expect to spend anywhere from $2.6 million to $12.6 million for your residence. 

Below, the grand motor court entrance. 

The Mansion reflecting pond and English Garden.

The hotel and residents lobby, respectively.

Look for some updated photos at the end of this week. I’ll be taking some clients to lunch and I’ll bring my camera with me.

The Mansion Google Map

The Mansion on Peachtree

Here is an exclusive look at the reflecting pool and gardens taking shape at The Mansion. You can see the Garden Villas also toward the bottom of the photograph. I imagine it will be quite lovely to look out over the beautifully landscaped area.The 3 Garden Villas are available for purchase.They range from 4100 – 5000 square feet and are between $4,982,400 – $5,926,800.