Paces Ferry Apartments

Pros

• Mega and Ro were polite and professional, and gave great recommendations for entertainment.
• The room was nice, comfortable, and very quiet.
• The rooftop offers amazing views of the city skyline.
• Miss Rachel made guests feel safe, supported, and seen.
• Cody swept in, removed the sad dishes, and single-handedly saved the experience.
• The Willow Bar area had beautiful landscaping.
• The hotel is located in a lively area and is walkable to many restaurants and entertainment.
• Mr. Rob was knowledgeable, kind, and composed.

Cons

• The guest was charged $8 for a cookie they never touched and billed for valet that had already been credited.
• Refunds were not promised; the issue would be sent to housekeeping, which felt unsatisfactory.
• Mini bars are outrageously overpriced, with nothing of value provided, not even water.
• The front desk appeared complacent and unconcerned about charges for items not touched, resulting in a one-star review.
• Rooftop music was unreasonably loud, late into the night, disturbing guests.
• The fourth floor smelled musty weed upon exiting the elevator.
• Automated communications felt unmonitored and deceptive, creating a neglectful impression.
• Understaffing caused valet delays and overwhelmed front-desk staff, leading to service delays.
• The room lacked a microwave, and accessing the shared microwave on the fourth floor was inconvenient.
• The room was equipped with a steamer instead of an iron/ironing board, with no suitable surface and lint transfer to clothes.

Review

Across multiple stays and a running thread of guest experiences, the Kimpton Sylvan in Atlanta emerges as a hotel with real highs and equally real lows. Some visitors walk away raving about the people and the vibe, while others vent frustration over billing disputes, miscommunications, and service gaps that pull the experience away from what the brand promises. The result is a property that can feel like two different hotels depending on when you stay, who you encounter, and how much you value quiet, proactive service and dependable amenities.

A recurring grievance centers on charges that guests insist they didn't incur or touch. One guest describes being billed $8 for a "cookie" from the minibar that was never opened, followed by being charged for valet even though a credit had already been used. The response they repeatedly received was not a refund but a notification that their concern would be "sent to housekeeping," a phrasing that felt disheartening and evasive. The refund remained unsettled for this guest, leaving a sour impression despite overall warmth at the front desk. The same reviewer notes a broader dissatisfaction with how the hotel handles mischarges, suggesting that the front desk staff were polite but ultimately complacent about correcting issues that affect guests' wallets and trust.

The physical and auditory environment also drew mixed reactions. Guests report that the rooftop bar's music can be deafening, reaching five floors down and lasting until midnight, with one reviewer explicitly requesting a room away from that area. Compounding the discomfort was a sensory note on the fourth floor - the scent of musty weed as soon as the elevator doors open. For travelers with dogs, the marketing as a dog-friendly property doesn't always match reality: one reviewer mentions only a single strip of grass by the main road for dog walking, which feels insufficient for longer stays. These factors - noise, weed odor, and limited outdoor pet space - color the experience for guests who value a serene environment or who travel with four-legged companions.

Amid these criticisms, the hotel does shine in certain moments through the people who work there. Several guests recount genuinely positive check-in experiences and memorable encounters with staff. Mega and Ro are highlighted as polite and professional during check-in, and one guest singles out the evening manager, Rachel, for making them feel welcome and at home. A particularly uplifting thread centers on Cody the server, who is described as saving the restaurant experience by handling dishes and service with efficiency and grace. Other team members - Fanu, Malcom, Ms. Ash, Mr. Danon, Sam, Demetrius, Mr. Rod, Jayla, Marquaun, Lu, Rob, Christian Kenna, and many more - are praised in scattered reviews for being capable, attentive, and easy to work with. A resident night auditor and a security team member are also credited with contributing to a sense of safety and competence late at night. For guests who encounter disappointment, these names serve as bright spots and reminders that dedicated staff do exist on the floor.

Yet even among these positive interactions, some reviews call out the emotional and logistical strain of understaffing. The hotel relies on a lean single front-desk agent who must juggle check-ins, check-outs, maintenance requests (from issues like low water pressure) and basic amenities. Guests note delays in valet service - often the only parking option in the area, at a steep price - and expect a more responsive, less hands-on approach from the front desk when multiple requests pile up. The tension between a personable, capable staff and an overwhelmed system appears repeatedly: guests appreciate the people, but the operational constraints undermine the overall experience.

The room itself and some advertised conveniences come under scrutiny as well. A notable complaint is the absence of a microwave in standard rooms, with a shared microwave on the fourth floor described as an impractical barrier - requiring stairs or a staff-assisted floor access process that many guests find intrusive. Additional room reality checks include the replacement of a traditional iron with a steamer and the absence of a proper ironing rack or surface, forcing guests to place clothes on bedding and deal with lint in the process. These details matter to travelers who prize straightforward, comfortable routines, and they illustrate a disconnect between what some guests expect and what is delivered.

On the brighter side, several guests paint a vivid picture of Kimpton Sylvan's strengths: striking settings, a rooftop with impressive views, and a downtown location that puts walkable dining and entertainment within easy reach. The Betty restaurant's potential is acknowledged, with enthusiastic praise for the space and some standout service moments, even if the food itself doesn't always meet expectations. The rooftop remains a focal point of the property - a place with atmosphere and a certain city-chic allure - but reviewers note that it can clash with the rest of the hotel's experience when service elements don't rise to the same level as the d?cor and views. The surrounding neighborhood's walkability is frequently noted as a major plus, reinforcing why guests are drawn to this Kimpton property even when other aspects fail to impress.

In response to the overall mix of feedback, reviewers who want the Kimpton Sylvan to meet its luxury promise push for stronger accountability and even secret-shopper oversight to ensure service aligns with the brand's stated standards. The sentiment is clear: guests are open to collaboration and want the hotel to succeed, not just survive hotel life. If management can translate the brand's intention into consistent day-to-day execution - through better staffing, more transparent and timely refund processes, improved handling of minibar and parking charges, and easier access to essential amenities like microwaves - this property could reliably deliver the refined, guest-centered experience it aspires to provide. Until then, the Sylvan remains a place of strong personalities, lively public spaces, and a spectrum of guest experiences that can swing from memorable warmth to frustrating gaps in service and policy.

This part of Atlanta, Georgia offers a diverse range of amenities suitable for senior living. There are several parks nearby, such as Fetch Park Buckhead and Peachtree Hills Playground, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. The area also boasts a variety of dining options, including Fado Irish Pub and Roasters, as well as convenient access to pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens. Places of worship such as Second-Ponce De Leon Baptist Church are easily accessible for those seeking spiritual fulfillment. In terms of healthcare, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital and other reputable medical centers are within close proximity. Additionally, transportation options like MARTA stations ensure easy travel around the city. Overall, this neighborhood provides a welcoming and convenient environment for seniors looking to settle in Atlanta.

Parks

• Fetch Park Buckhead (0.2 miles)
• Peachtree Hills Playground (1.2 miles)
• Morningside-Lenox Park Tennis Courts (2.6 miles)
• Piedmont Park (3.8 miles)
• Leafmore Country Club (5.2 miles)
• Pemberton Place (5.3 miles)
• Westside Park (5.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Fado Irish Pub - Atlan (0.2 miles)
• McDonald's (0.5 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.1 miles)
• Roasters (1.2 miles)
• Bartaco Chastain Park (1.4 miles)
• Havana Sandwich Shop (2 miles)
• Little Rey (2.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.2 miles)
• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Second-Ponce De Leon Baptist Church (1 miles)
• Karin Kabalah Center of Atlanta (2.7 miles)
• The Temple (2.9 miles)
• Haygood Memorial United Methodist Church (3.2 miles)
• The Church of the Apostles (3.3 miles)
• St John United Methodist Church (3.6 miles)
• Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation (3.8 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Theatres Phipps Plz 14 (1.2 miles)
• Phipps Plaza (1.2 miles)

Transportation

• MARTA - Lindbergh Center Station (1.2 miles)
• Brookhaven/Oglethorpe University MARTA Rail Station (2.5 miles)
• MARTA - Midtown Station (4.1 miles)
• MARTA - North Avenue Transit Station (4.7 miles)
• Epps Aviation (4.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Piedmont Atlanta Hospital (2.4 miles)
• Northwest Medical Center (3.1 miles)
• Marcus Autism Center (3.1 miles)
• North Dekalb Health Center (4.4 miles)
• Atlanta VA Medical Center (4.5 miles)
• Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite Hospital (4.8 miles)
• Northside Hospital (4.9 miles)

Cafes

• OK Cafe (3.2 miles)
• Starbucks (3.2 miles)
• Cross Creek Cafe (3.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks Reserve (4.2 miles)
• Starbucks (4.7 miles)

Physicians

• Peachtree Orthopedics (4.4 miles)
• Garson Padoan Sonia MD - Piedmont Urgent Care by Wellstreet (4.6 miles)