This post is written in partnership with The Mandarin Oriental. All words and opinions are my own.
Two weeks ago, my friend Amelia of The Fit and Well Atlanta Belle and I had the most incredible staycation weekend at The Mandarin Oriental here in Atlanta. We indulged in their Ladies of Luxury package, and I can’t recommend it highly enough! We enjoyed a two night stay at the hotel, bespoke facials at their glorious spa, tea time in their restaurant, a NARS makeover party for the two of us, and a Kendra Scott Color Bar jewelry party. We also had incredible meals at two Atlanta favorites that I’ll share about!
First, a note on the hotel itself. What I love about The Mandarin Oriental is how quiet, elegant and under-statedly opulent it is. It is truly high-end without slapping you in the face with grandiosity. The sheets and beds are so soft, the bathrooms and tub are huge and cushy, and don’t get me started on the robes and stellar concierge service. Swoon!
RECONNECTING WITH AN OLD FRIEND
A staycation can be such a fun way to connect with a girlfriend. Amelia and I went to elementary school together and then didn’t see each other for probably 25 years! I’d followed her blog for a while via Facebook and when I moved back to Georgia, we ran into each other at the gym. We’ve stayed in touch and when she invited me to join her on the Ladies of Luxury weekend at The Mandarin Oriental, I was IN! We had such a blast getting to know each other again and bonding over things we both love – fabulous hotels, amazing food, great drinks, shopping, makeup and the spa!!
ATLAS
After settling into our room, we started our weekend off right with a fabulous dinner at Atlas, the restaurant at The St. Regis in Buckhead. WOW, y’all. The cocktails were phenomenal (I recommend the Water Lillies!) and the food rocked our socks off. We were so lucky to have the chef send out taste after taste – the lamb, the squash soup, and the desserts were my favorites. Seriously, don’t leave Atlas without ordering these. And their sommelier paired each plate with the most divine wines. There was live music, great ambiance and the BEST people watching ever. Such a fabulous Buckhead hotspot and such a special experience. A trip to Atlas would be perfect for a special anniversary dinner, birthday or fancy date night! Here’s a link to their amazing menu!
THE SPA
After sleeping our wine off, we woke up and went down to the spa for our Aromatherapy Associates bespoke facials. I am really struggling with acne and sensitive skin right now, so I let their facialist know that while we talked through what type of treatment I’d like. The facial was quite relaxing, and I left with clean and nourished skin. Half the fun of spa treatments for me is actually taking advantage of the spa facilities themselves, too. The Mandarin Oriental Spa has comfy robes, slippers and chairs to lounge in with healthy snacks and a beautiful whirlpool and sauna, as well. Seriously, I could spend all day there. It’s also very quiet and there aren’t too many people wandering through, so you really feel like you have a serene spot to yourself. Even when you’re not on staycation, I’d recommend a service here to feel like a mini-getaway.
After, we went for a quick workout at their gym. Amelia is so motivated by fitness, which is so inspiring. I’ve been struggling to find time to exercise lately, and she encouraged us just to sneak in a quick 30 mins on the treadmill to boost our moods and confidence. It was a perfect pre-cursor to tea time!
TEA TIME
I love a good afternoon tea, and the Mandarin Oriental does it up right with all the fixings and a little bit of bubbly to boot. We enjoyed mini tea sandwiches, pastries, scones and of course, tea! I always choose whatever spicy chai blend a place has because I think it goes well with a little milk and all the sweets and savories that come with high tea. So decadent, and so delicious!
NARS
After tea, it was time to go get our makeup done at NARS! As you know, nothing makes me happier than playing with makeup. When I found out we were heading to the NARS boutique at The Shops at Buckhead, I was so excited. I’d been wanting to get my hands on the Erdem x NARS collection, so when I walked in and saw it in all its glorious packaging, I was in heaven. The makeup artist tried a look that I am LOVING for summer which is to put a different shade of shadow along your bottom lash line than is on your lids. It look so subtle yet super stylish and of-the-moment. I ended up buying an Erdem x NARS lipstick in Moon Orchid (a lovely purple-pink shade) and one of the shadow palettes called Fleur Fatale. NARS shadow palettes and lipsticks are always a good idea and are extremely versatile!
KING & DUKE
After getting our makeup done we walked across the street to King & Duke for dinner. I love this spot and have eaten here before with a few blogging friends. Amelia and I feasted on grilled fresh Georgia peaches with spicy peppers, deviled eggs, scallops and a gorgeous heirloom tomato salad. For dessert, chef sent out a sorbet cocktail that was out of this world. What I love about King & Duke is that it’s the perfect casual date night or girls’ night out spot. The ambience is playful and stylish with great tunes and friendly servers. You can’t go wrong at King & Duke – here’s a link to their menu!
KENDRA SCOTT
The next morning after another fabulous night’s sleep in the amazingly comfy beds at The Mandarin Oriental, we packed up our bags, checked out and headed to Kendra Scott at The Shops Around Lenox to round out our staycation with a bang. A color bar party is so much fun because you get to choose the setting, stones and design of your pieces. How cool is to make your very own customized, on-trend jewelry?! The Kendra Scott team greeted us with mimosas and snacks and was so helpful in recommending different color combos and matching pieces. There’s even a computer app that lets you test out all the looks before you commit. When you host a color bar party, you’ll get a discount on your jewelry, too!
As you can tell, we had pretty much the best weekend ever and truly felt like Ladies of Luxury. I can’t thank The Mandarin Oriental enough for such pampering and amazing customer service. If you’re looking for a little weekend getaway to Atlanta with your greatest gal pal, this package is the only way to go!
Special thanks to Atlas Restaurant and King & Duke restaurant for hosting our unbelievable dining experiences.
Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Belle Meets World up and running!
P.s. If you’re looking for date night ideas, try this post here!
