Athens, Georgia is a unique place — named, of course, for the birthplace of Western culture, it’s not just home to one of the biggest public universities in the South, but it’s also something of a counterculture capital, with the best music scene this side of Nashville and a bohemian streak a mile wide. Hotel Abacus does its level best to do justice to the local tradition, which in UGA’s case means satisfying diehard Bulldogs fans on game day as well as rock-and-roll types in town for a pilgrimage to the 40 Watt. Despite its boutique-hotel good looks, the atmosphere at Hotel Abacus is plenty down-to-earth — the Foundry restaurant is pure retro Americana, and Iron Works Coffee is a charming grab-and-go café. Meanwhile the rooms and suites marry mid-century modernist style with 21st-century boutique-hotel comforts. And you don’t have to travel far to get a taste of the current Athens music scene: the Foundry restaurant opens onto a small theatre that features a wide array of local and national acts.