Hotel Indigo, Athens, GA: Comfort Near Downtown And University Campus

Location suitable for walking or neighborhood transit

Hotel Indigo at 500 College Avenue is well-situated within reasonable walking distance of downtown shops and restaurants or the constant stream of activities on the University of Georgia campus. For guests who drive a car, priority parking is given to hybrid, low emission or carpool vehicles. The parking lot surface was designed to reduce heat which is so prevalent in the South during most of the year.

Both a bike rack with complimentary bicycles and a public transit stop outside the lobby encourage alternative transportation. Car-charging stations are available, even Tesla chargers.

Comfortable rooms stress energy conservation

Guest rooms at Hotel Indigo include plush bedding with an upholstered headboard, a spacious work area and coffee from Jittery Joe’s, a local micro-roast company. Bathrooms have low-flow toilets, faucets and shower heads, while the showerheads also feature a hydro massage setting. Aveda toiletries are provided, as well as complimentary Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping and receptacles for in-room recycling.

Convenient hotel-wide amenities

Madison Bar and Bistro in the lobby is open for breakfast and dinner, serving local products such as Red Mule Grits, treats from Ike and Jane Bakery and an assortment of cheeses from Glendale Farms. The large outdoor courtyard features a cistern which collects water from the HVAC system and is then used for irrigating the landscape.

Works by local artists are displayed throughout the common areas, conference rooms are available for businesses, and a fitness center is popular with guests at Hotel Indigo.

Pets are allowed with an additional deposit fee, and the fact that rooms do not have carpet aids the cleanup following overnight stays with pets.

Near a historically-significant welcome center

The Athens Welcome Center at 280 East Dougherty Street is just across the hotel as you exit the lobby. The building is actually the Church-Waddel-Brumby House Museum which was originally built in 1820. In addition to a nice gift shop and dozens of helpful brochures on display, fascinating tours originate from the welcome center. Particularly popular are the Music History Tour (especially if you are a fan of the B52s and R.E.M.), a Civil War tour, the Museum Mile tour, and one of the basic Athens Heritage tours. Guides are well-trained and personable. Many of the tours include transportation along with the narration.

Highlights on the University of Georgia campus

Sports fans will enjoy the Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall which features the trophies and awards received by athletes who are proudly claimed by University of Georgia students and alumni. A particular highlight is the Heisman Trophy won by Herschel Walker in 1982, who was the best college football player in the United States that year.

The Georgia Museum of Art and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia are also worth several hours of your time when you visit Athens.

Be sure to find the Georgia Center for Continuing Education on campus. In the Magnolia Room, you can order their celestial chicken and their strawberry ice cream pie that have been served since the facility opened in 1956.

Great restaurants within an easy drive of Hotel Indigo

Naturally, a university campus with well over 35,000 students enrolled will have plenty of dining options, but allow me to recommend four that I found to be exceptional.

Five and Ten is the brainchild of Executive Chef/Owner Hugh Acheson. It is located at 1073 South Milledge Street, near a prominent row of fraternity and sorority houses. The cuisine is upscale and worthy of a James Beard award-winning chef. It is only open for dinner, and reservations are strongly recommended.

Last Resort Grill, on the corner of Clayton Street and Hull Street, became popular as an entertainment venue in the 1960’s but is now recognized as a delicious option for lunch and dinner with special attention to locally-grown produce and trout from nearby streams.

Mama’s Boy and home.made are two fabulous choices for breakfast and brunch. Mama’s Boy has two locations in Athens. One at 8851 Macon Highway, and the other at 197 Oak Street. Both have hordes of hungry guests 7 days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. I strongly suggest trying their Georgia Peaches French Toast. home.made at 1072 Baxter Street lives up to its name with made-from-scratch dishes with a Southern twist. It opens for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday and for brunch on Saturday. The pickled deviled eggs, sweet potato gratin and green tomato crisp are must-try items in my opinion.