The most luxurious hotel in Athens, Georgia is the Rivet House

Athens, Georgia offers a fascinating mix of college girls and funky hipsters, cool culinary options, and great live music—but one ingredient this iconic college town has been missing was luxury. Enter the Rivet House—a sleek, very cool hotel offering that raises the bar for luxury in the classic city.

Featuring high, light-filled spaces and a chic industrial style, the hotel is housed in a historic, century-old textile factory that once manufactured women’s jeans. After production ceased, the building stood empty for 30 years until Athens-based couple Jessica and James Whitley (co-founder and COO of Landmark Properties) purchased the abandoned property and considered their options. The Whitleys chose the path of greatest resistance – transforming the massive, weathered industrial relic into a stylish boutique hotel with a southern flair. Jessica Whitley, the hotel’s creative director and responsible for the interior design, says: “I spent many a sleepless night because of this. We knew we were pushing the boundaries of what was the norm here in Athens. The design was challenging because the structure was so raw, but I really wanted to keep the history of the building alive.” Whitley can take a bow and get some sleep after successfully transforming a graffiti-covered, rusted industrial shell into a warm and inviting triumph of craftsmanship and Southern hospitality.

The 50-room hotel, managed by Indigo Road Hospitality Group, features a holistic spa, restaurant (the already wildly popular Osteria Olio), and a lavish bar, lounge, and outdoor terrace. The nearly 2,800-square-foot space features reclaimed elements throughout, such as original brickwork and oversized wood beams. Much of the wood and metalwork in the hotel (note the custom doors separating the lobby from the bar) was done by local artisans. Whitley also incorporated international design elements, such as Michelangelo and Tortuga quartzite, hand-laid marble, and natural travertine.

The ground floor houses the spa, a small cafe, bar and lounge, and the Osteria Olio restaurant. The second and third floors are guest rooms. Outside the hotel, a planted terrace stretches the entire facade with curved lounge seating, native plants, and fire pits. The overall look is a harmonious blend of brick, wood, and plants, and will surely be one of the best spots in town on game days. (As a side note, there will be a shuttle for hotel guests on game days that runs from the hotel to the stadium and back, as well as a pop-up Bloody Mary bar, so make your reservations now.)

Each guest room features beautiful, oversized (in many cases floor-to-ceiling) windows. The abundant light and high ceilings give each space a lofty treehouse vibe. Decorated in warm botanical hues accented by custom furniture, rooms are outfitted with luxurious Kassatex linens, Grown Alchemist toiletries, and a fully stocked Nespresso coffee station.

Chef JR Bearden runs the modern Italian restaurant Osteria Olio. He’s already a well-known name in the area (the house was packed on an otherwise quiet Tuesday in August), and he keeps people happy with dishes like agnolotti di mais—a silky handmade pasta with creamed corn, mascarpone, and brown butter—or a simple but spectacular pizza Americano with spicy pepperoni, honey, basil, and Parmigiano. The dining room is as warm and inviting as the kitchen, with walls covered in original artwork and velvet, wood, and brick accents anchored by gorgeous oversized windows. Be sure to order a glass of Whitley Reserve Provencal Rosé—a special bottling made in collaboration with Lydia Mondavi. Whitley, who is also an artist, also painted the label design.

Of course, the hospitality here is warm and welcoming. You’ll find yourself engrossed in a deep conversation with the valet or making friends in the elevator—we are in the South, after all, so friendliness is practically a must. Whitley says, “I felt Athens needed something like this, but I didn’t want it to feel too fake or stuffy. I wanted Rivet House to have an approachable luxury vibe and be a place that locals would enjoy visiting and be proud of.” Well done, guys.