Hotel Forty Five and My Weekend in Macon with Sammy

Do you enjoy weekend getaways? Recently, Sammy and I  drove down to Macon, Georgia, for another girl’s trip. This was the first time I had been to Macon in forty years. When I was a flight attendant in the 80s, I lived briefly with my brother Scott stationed at Warner Robins AFB. Back then, I always looked forward to eating at the fabulous restaurants in Macon. I used to eat at a French restaurant and a restaurant that was a repurposed southern mansion. Sadly, both are no longer there. But Macon still has many fabulous restaurants and shops in the historic district.  Sammy and I stayed at the newly opened Hotel Forty Five, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio Hotel.

Macon is a ninety-minute drive from Atlanta. We arrived on a Sunday, and all the restaurants were busy near the hotel. Live music and Sunday brunches were being served up as we strolled downtown. Macon has lots to offer from festivals, museums, and tours of historic homes. Macon is also home to five colleges.

Read more about things to do in Macon here.

Hotel Forty Five

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Downtown Macon has all kinds of great restaurants, shopping, and activities. But it was missing a hotel until now. Owned by the Marriott, Hotel Forty Five is downtown Macon’s first and only full-service hotel, complete with a restaurant, rooftop bar, and lounge. Minutes away from the best attractions, including the Macon City Auditorium, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and tributes to music legends, Hotel Forty Five offers a timeless, immersive experience to guests visiting the area.

The hotel invited us to come and see firsthand this beautiful historic preservation project while enjoying downtown Macon. As an interior designer, I love seeing buildings preserved and repurposed. This hotel did not disappoint.

Hotel Forty Five is a place “where the soul lives,” celebrating the city’s favorite sons, musical legends Otis Redding, Little Richard, and the Allman Brothers.

History of the Hotel

The 94-room boutique hotel is named for its location on an iconic triangular downtown block –  a 45-degree-angle formed by Cherry and First Streets and flanked by Cotton Avenue. The hotel is an adaptive reuse of the historic Bankers Insurance Building, an 11-story office tower built in 1939. The “golden brick high-rise” was considered the tallest building between New York and Miami following the Great Depression.

Hotel Forty Five celebrates the building’s original character and historical significance.

I love the ceiling lights!

Our Room at Hotel Forty Five

The guestrooms reflect the area’s one-of-a-kind history with preserved architectural elements and the hotel’s design includes vintage elements, pops of color, and a dash of class.

The rooms are a bit of art deco meets industrial style. Both are mixed perfectly in the hotel.

I was greeted upon arrival in our room with this lovely Pinot Noir.

The bathroom was spacious. I forgot to take a picture of the architect’s stamped photograph of the original Bankers Life Building which was over the toilet.

Dining at Hotel Forty Five

The hotel offers three restaurants which we enjoyed on our trip.

Reckon, A Coffee and Wine Bar

We started our mornings with coffee and pastries from Reckon, the coffee and wine bar in the hotel.

In the morning, Reckon offers a rotating seasonal menu with items such as challah French toast, bacon breakfast skillet, cast iron skillet frittata, and more. During the evening, guests can enjoy flatbreads, chimichurri steak, roasted corn & shrimp fritter, and more.

Guests are encouraged to mingle over a menu highlighted by curated wines in the evening.

Hightales Rooftop Bar

Hightales Rooftop Bar offers delicious cocktails and small plates named after famous songs from Macon artists, complemented by skyline views from the sixth floor. Drawing from Macon’s iconic music scene, cocktails have been named after famous artists from Macon.

Sammy and I went up to see the views of downtown Macon and enjoy a cocktail before dinner.

Photos of Macon’s famous sons and music scene were throughout the bar.

I shot this photo of Sammy when the afternoon light was perfect in the bar. It’s probably my favorite one of her. She’s drinking her usual cranberry spritzer.

Sammy was my photographer and companion on this trip. I packed the same maxi dress and knitted poncho from Peach that I wore on my journey to Marco Island. 

Loom Restaurant

A nod to Macon’s roots in the textile industry, Loom is named to draw attention to the many stories weaved in Macon’s history. A historical mural of workers inside a textile mill graces the restaurant’s back wall. I love the ceiling detail, the hand-glazed ivy green tiles, and the copper accents.

For instance, Loom celebrates the southern cooking traditions by paying homage to locally sourced, artisanal ingredients whenever and wherever possible.

I had a delicious Roasted Butternut Squash & Quinoa Salad for lunch at Loom.

Sammy had Loom’s version of a BLT. It was a sandwich with pulled pork, fried green tomato, and pimento cheese.

I highly recommend the Grilled Beef Tenderloin served with grits, sauteed green, and friend sweet onion. Delicious!!

Sammy had the Smash Burger.

Fitness Center

Located on the first floor, a very well-equipped fitness center is open 24 hours. The perfect way to start your day is with this fun mural while working out!

I hope you enjoyed our visit to Hotel Forty Five. If you’re ever staying in Macon, I hope you stay at this historic boutique hotel. Tell them that Robin recommended it!

More of My Travels in Georgia

Cumberland Island

Savannah, Georgia

 Sea Island Georgia

Thanks for stopping by!