The Ellis Hotel is NOT one of the official overflow hotels for Dragon*Con 2012, but is in the vicinity of the convention and may have available space. It is a boutique hotel with comfortable rooms and a pleasant atmosphere: expect for rooms to run around $230 a night including tax for two people.

The Ellis Hotel 

176 Peachtree Street Northwest

404-523-5155

http://ellishotel.com

Rates

Not an official overflow hotel, so there is not a guaranteed group rate. A rate search on January 20, 2012 found that is it impossible to stay the whole event here as Saturday is now sold out. Thursday, Sunday, and Monday have openings.

History

While the Ellis is not an official overflow hotel, some con attendees may be interested in that the building was formerly known as the Winecoff Hotel, which in 1946 suffered the deadliest hotel fire in US history with 119 deaths. Some local merchants and tour guides claim the hotel is haunted as a result of the incident, though as the building has only recently re-opened as a hotel, not many guests have had a chance to experience strange phenomenon. The devastated building stood dormant for many years until beginning a redevelopment project in 2006, and it finally reopened on October 1st, 2007 as the Ellis.

Accommodations

The rooms at the Ellis are smaller than the average hotel room (owing to its age and history: hotel rooms were much smaller at the time it was constructed), but are not cramped for two to three people. Furnishings are quite modern and rather comfortable, with the standard cable TV and available on-demand movies. Free wireless or wired internet access is also available, unlike at most hotels in the area. The rooms don't offer baths but have a nice glass shower. There is a fitness center, office center, and a lounge/bar/restaurant area at the Terrace Restaurant which offers free coffee in the mornings, and complimentary wine tastings in the evening.

It's important to note that the hotel takes security very seriously: you can't use the elevator without swiping your room key (lobby floors do not require this), and after 10pm you must do the same to get in the front door. Female guests may be interested in staying on the tenth floor, which has been designated for women only. Male staff and guests are not allowed.

For what it's worth, the staff is universally friendly and they work to offer a personal touch that you wouldn't get at any of the big hotels. Expect the Ellis to be very quiet and restful.

Restaurant

Attached to the Ellis is the upscale Terrace restaurant. The Terrace offers modern decor inside, or the option of sitting out on the balcony overlooking Peachtree Street (with an excellent view of the D*C parade, incidentally).It would be best to be nicely dressed, perhaps business casual, if you choose to dine there.

The Terrace has become renowned in Atlanta as a consumer of local produce and goods. The chef buys food from 24 Atlanta-local farms, and offers free classes at local farmers markets to teach people how to buy fresh produce. The food is indeed quite good, with friendly wait staff and a nice beer and wine selection, but expect to drop between $50-100 for dinner for two.