Westin Atlanta Gwinnett Brings Style to the Suburbs

I’ve stayed a lot of suburban chain hotels over the years, the ones near office parks, strip malls, and airports, and most blend together in a soup of blandness in my memory. Westin Atlanta Gwinnett is a different story, a stylish and beautifully designed hotel that’s full of personality, despite its location 27 miles northeast of the city center of Atlanta, a bit north of Stone Mountain. 

What’s around the hotel itself is typical new suburbia, with brand-new buildings holding offices, bank branches and wooded areas holding new housing developments. Cool downtown Duluth is only about five minutes away, however. This area is a big draw in itself, however, with a theater, a convention center, and a next-door arena big enough to host major concerts (Kelly Clarkson, Kendrick Lamar, and U2 played there) and Cirque de Soleil shows. 

This Gas South District development (formerly Infinity Energy Center) has a story deeper than what you see on the surface too. First of all, the whole complex is 118 acres and a good amount of that area has been left in a wild and natural state, taking it back in time to what it was like before the human immigrants from Europe messed up the water flow. There are walkways through the marshy sections that have been returned to a state more like they were in the 1600s, attracting wildlife back. 

Fitness and Wellness at the Westin

Westin is one of the wellness-focused brands from the sprawling Marriott corporation and they take this to heart in several ways. There’s a “running concierge” that will take you on a guided jog around the area in the mornings and a walking concierge that will lead you on a shorter route. The fitness center here is a thing of wonder, with free weights and a wide range of machines and bands. 

Beyond the gym is an indoor swimming pool and there’s plenty of space for walking on your own without even leaving the Gas South District complex.

The complex has put a high emphasis on sustainability and it’s encouraging to see the Westin Gwinnett taking that to heart in a prominent design feature in the lobby: a dedicated water refilling station that’s also beautiful to look at. Made from polished layers of carved birch wood, it reminds us that we’re a part of a broader natural world as we keep some plastic out of the landfills and streams. There’s regular, alkaline, and sparkling coming out of the three nozzles.

Dining and Drinking at Westin Atlanta Gwinnett

You’ve got a few options for where to eat and drink at this suburban Westin hotel, plus you don’t have to go very far to try something different if you want to get out and about. We had a fantastic breakfast at Just Brunch, which was only a couple of minutes up the street by car, and at Local on North in downtown Duluth. (The latter is next to the excellent Good Word Brewing too.)

The Sweetsong Kitchen and Bar is a big step up from a standard hotel restaurant though, with a solid sense of place and interesting menu items that nod at the area’s Asian population. There’s a Beef Bulgogi Cheesesteak and a Korean Rice Bowl, for instance, joining farm-fresh healthy Georgia choices like like a southern grain bowl, a hominy and lima bean succotash, and roasted local mushrooms. 

The interior design got as much thought as the menu, with a ceiling that’s hammered metal in the main dining room and full slabs of wood from mature trees in a smaller room off to the side. Some of the tables are made from the same free-form slabs and the custom-designed light fixtures have an organic feel. 

Sweetsong offer seven local beers on tap, a respectable wine list, and some signature cocktails. Next to the restaurant is an attractive lobby lounge with custom furniture and a large centerpiece bar with interesting light fixtures. At the other end of the lobby is a real Starbucks (not just a stand that buys their coffee).

The big draw at this Gwinnett Westin opens up at night and glows in changing colors: the Overstory Bar on the rooftop. Partially indoors, partially outdoors, it pulls in lots of locals looking for a good vibe and visitors having a drink before or after a concert. With an outdoor fire pit next to a fountain, a long bar, and interesting lighting, it’s a great place to go with a group or as a couple. See more info on it here. 

Rooms and Suites

There are nearly 350 rooms at this Westin near Duluth, but the place gets filled up when there’s a conference going on. That can happen without the convention center too since the hotel itself has two ballrooms on different floors, 5,000 and 10,000 square feet, each with panels to subdivide the space. 

The standards here are well-equipped, with second-generation Heavenly Beds, padded headboards, interesting light fixtures, and a full work desk with plenty of outlets. One great feature I wish more hotels would employ: a motion-sensor dim light under the bed that helps you find your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night. 

King rooms have a big divan to stretch out on. If you step up to a suite, you’ll likely get a big sectional sofa that can also fold out to be a bed for a third guest or children. Freeform rugs top laminate hardwood floors. 

A suite at the Westin Atlanta Gwinnett Hotel

There’s a long list of amenities here. Ignore the note on their website about there not being coffee makers in the room: they actually have nice Lavazza capsule machines if you don’t want to change out of your bathrobe to hit the Starbucks. There’s also a fridge, electronic safe, 51-inch TV, and a bathroom with full toiletry bottles mounted in the shower and two shower heads (rainshower and handheld). Accessible rooms with a tub and wider doorways are available too. 

Booking a Stay at Westin Atlanta Gwinnett

Rates at the Westin Atlanta Gwinnett hotel vary a lot depending on whether there’s an event going on at the convention center or there’s a concert at the arena. Standards are generally $215 to $355 most nights, with suites available at a higher rate. Ignore the first rate you see on the screen though: you’ll pay around 18% more when you add the taxes and what I assume is a resort fee ambiguously bunched under “Estimated Government Taxes and Fees.”

See more information at the official Marriott website and book there (you’ll save a little if you’re a Bonvoy member) or online at Expedia or Booking.com, where you’ll sometimes find better deals. If you’re coming for a concert though, check for packages direct with the property because they offer concert and a stay deals where you get access a VIP entrance.

Garage parking for guests is $20 for self-parking, $25 for valet. Pets are welcome for an additional fee.  

Review and photos by Hotel Scoop editor Tim Leffel. He was hosted at the Westin by Explore Gwinnett while working on a feature story for another publication. As always, all opinions are his own.