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› Accommodation: Loews Midtown has large, comfortable rooms and a full-service spa — called Exhale — where guests can relax. There are also workout facilities. For a fast, healthy lunch, try the excellent salad bar at their Saltwood Bar. Opened in 2006, the hotel has 414 rooms and 44 spacious suites. See loewshotel.com/ atlanta-hotel.

› Food: Every visitor must try historic Mary Mac’s Tea Room, an institution since 1945. Never segregated, it was the place where many of the city’s civil rights leaders met. Family run, two of the waitresses have worked there for more than 40 years. “The only colour we care about is green — the colour of your money,” was the restaurant’s ethos. It serves comfort food southern style. Try the fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits or fried okra. Their southern fried chicken is legendary and their meat loaf comes in heaping helpings. See marymacs.com. Buckhead Diner in the chic Buckhead neighbourhood is a funky eatery with a retro feel. Inexpensive, traditional comfort food with a southern twist. For more, be sure to see buckheadrestaurants.com. For something a little upmarket, try South City Kitchen, where southern food meets sophistication. Traditional garlic-buttered collards, shrimp and grits, and so on, but a little on the lighter side. Ray’s In The City is an elegant seafood restaurant with live jazz. See raysrestaurants.com.

› Travel tips: Finish off an evening with a trip on the SkyView ferris wheel. You get a bird’seye view of the city that is spectacular at night. The gondolas are all enclosed. See skyviewatlanta.com. Save time and money visiting destinations with CityPass. You can purchase a CityPass at any of the attractions, or ahead of time at citypass.com. For more information on Atlanta, see atlanta.net.