Georgia’s iconic Polaris restaurant in Atlanta has been named among America’s top 100 hotel restaurants in a new national ranking.
🏨 What’s Happening: OpenTable and KAYAK have released their first-ever list of the Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America, with Polaris being Georgia’s sole representative. The list comes as new research shows 73% of Americans would return to a hotel because of a positive dining experience, and 38% have booked a hotel specifically for its restaurant.
🍽️ Why It Matters: This recognition puts the Georgia restaurant alongside famous destinations like Wolfgang Puck’s restaurants and Michelin-starred establishments. For Atlanta residents, it confirms what locals have long known about the quality of the revolving blue dome restaurant atop the Hyatt Regency.
🔍 Between the Lines: Hotel restaurants are transforming from convenient options for guests to culinary destinations that attract both travelers and locals. KAYAK reports a 51% year-over-year increase in travelers using their “restaurant” hotel filter when booking accommodations.
🌎 The Big Picture: Food is becoming a primary driver of travel decisions, with nearly half of Americans (47%) saying they’ve specifically planned trips around restaurant visits. This shift represents a fundamental change in how people approach travel planning—choosing destinations based on culinary experiences rather than just attractions.
📱 Social Impact: The research found 45% of Americans admit to posting more about their meals than sightseeing attractions during trips, showing how food experiences have become central to travel identity and social sharing.
The Sources: OpenTable and KAYAK.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
