FORTH Atlanta: Sweat. Sip. Stay a While.

Tiffany Davis finds endless experiences under one very chic roof in Atlanta.

Of course I’d heard about FORTH. Wandering up after a Beltline stroll with girlfriends for a late night dinner at Elektra. Getting the scoop on run-ins with the mayor, culture movers-and-shakers, and visiting fitness celebs at their gym and members-only social club.

But spending a few hours versus a full day at FORTH are distinct experiences. One leaves you feeling flirty. The other leaves you floating.

Located at 800 Rankin Street in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward, the 16-story Michelin Key property is less a hotel than a vertical resort where every floor unfolds with its own dreamy energy. There’s Il Premio, a refined Italian steakhouse; Elektra, a cheeky Mediterranean poolside restaurant; all-day café Bar Premio; two floors of jaw-droppingly pretty fitness space; a full spa with saunas and cold plunge; and Moonlight, a rooftop cocktail lounge that doubles as the city’s best-kept secret laptop-and-chill terrace. All the dynamism of a destination resort, compressed (oh-so-elegantly) into a single building.

The Wellness Experience

The first thing you notice is the light. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the Atlanta Beltline in multiple directions. There’s hardwood underfoot and Technogym equipment all around, including and InBody composition scale, for those in the know. There are 80-plus classes weekly: reformer Pilates, HIIT, spin, yoga, stretch, and more taught by some of the city’s (and the country’s) best trainers.

Down the stairs, the design skews more mood-lit and intimate, housing reformer and fitness studios and a tap-your-own bone broth station care of the Il Premio kitchen team. The art throughout earns a pause: a Yayoi Kusama monograph and pop art book here, a Dr. Susanna Søberg Winter Swimming there. (Whoever curated this place has their finger on the pulse.)

If you come for a massage treatment like I did, you'll find that the locker rooms feel more like a spa ante-chamber than gym changing area: warm tile, wood vanities, Dyson grooming gadgets, and a cushy seating area. Secure your stuff, slip into a robe, and peruse the dossier of FORTH property classes and happenings, considering whether you actually need to go anywhere else today. (You don’t.)

Chill and sip spa water for a sec until your practitioner (like Courtnee, a NMT) retrieves you, guides you down a quiet hall, and tucks you into a suite featuring floor-to-ceiling windows shaded to the vibe of your choice. Every service begins with a scent selection: I chose Arabian — blended with ginger, cumin, nutmeg, and eucalyptus — and opted for the Flow topical CBD treatment add-on, for a boost of tension and inflammation relief. Highly recommend.

The Rooms

Rooms, suits, and residences are spacious and residential, with a calm color palette, rich linens, and stocked mini bars. A lovely feature in some rooms: terraces with outdoor fireplaces. Residences range from studio to two-bedroom apartments with washer/dryer and fully equipped kitchens.

The Club

FORTH’s private members club comes dressed in deep greens, rich textures, and an events calendar that swings wide. Taylor Swift karaoke nights share space on the schedule with omakase tastings, art collecting seminars, and longevity talks from doctors and visiting experts from all over the world.

The Rooftop Lounge

On the top floor is Moonlight, with chrome accents, perfectly restrained animal print, and a '70s-inspired energy that makes the Atlanta skyline feel like the backdrop versus focal point. Shake things up with the Flyby (pistachio gin, butterfly pea flower, rose, lemon) or the brooding Moonshadow, a bourbon-rum situation with red eye bitters that’s recommended with the caviar service and a view.

This Place Is Perfect For

Luxury staycationers, reformer devotees, health-conscious travel buddies, and celebs in town who’d rather not be bothered. Note: The apartment-style suites on the second floor quietly host their share of all three.

But Not So Perfect For

Large groups, rowdy groups, and anyone hoping to pop in and lounge poolside on, say, a day pass (I asked — sigh). Guests under 16 are not permitted in the wellness center.

Book It

FORTH Atlanta | 800 Rankin St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 | 470-470-8010