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The Memphian

Selected

The Memphian - Selected hotel in Memphis, United States

Hotel Details

Location

21 South Cooper Street, Memphis, TN 38104

United States, North America

Location

The Memphian · Memphis, United States

Expert Review: The Memphian

The Memphian, Memphis: A Vibrant Midtown Gem

The Memphian, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, stands out as a highly-regarded boutique property in Memphis, celebrated for its captivating design, prime Midtown location, and exceptional service. Guests consistently praise its unique ambiance and modern amenities, making it a popular choice for both leisure and business travelers seeking an eclectic and upscale experience.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for The Memphian is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing their stays as "excellent" and "wonderful." The hotel consistently receives high ratings across various platforms, with cleanliness often scoring 9.6-9.8 out of 10, location around 9.5, and service/staff receiving ratings of 8.6-9.5. Many reviewers express a strong desire to return, highlighting a truly satisfying guest experience.

2. Key Highlights

Guests particularly love The Memphian for its:

  • Design: The hotel boasts an "elegant design" with "curated art" and an "inviting atmosphere," blending early 20th-century glamour with Midtown Memphis' eclectic style. The lobby, in particular, is noted for its "explosion of colors, patterns, and textures," creating numerous "photo opportunities" and a whimsical, vibrant feel.
  • Location: Situated in the heart of the revitalized Overton Square neighborhood within the Memphis Theater District, the hotel offers excellent accessibility to dining, entertainment, and shopping, with many attractions within walking distance.
  • Amenities: Popular amenities include free WiFi, a 24-hour fitness center, two on-site restaurants, a coffee shop, and a vibrant rooftop bar. Thoughtful touches like hydration stations on every floor with reusable water bottles are also appreciated by guests. The hotel is also pet-friendly.
  • Service: The staff is consistently described as "warm," "friendly," "helpful," and "phenomenal," contributing significantly to the positive guest experience.

3. Room Quality

The 106 guestrooms and suites at The Memphian are described as "spacious" and "comfortable," featuring "unique design elements" and "thoughtfully curated" decor. Rooms include espresso makers, safes, flat-screen televisions with cable channels, desks, phones, and complimentary wireless internet. Bathrooms are equipped with showers featuring rainfall showerheads and hair dryers. While the interior design of the rooms is often more subdued than the vibrant lobby, with soothing colors and simple art, they are consistently praised for being "very clean" and "well laid out." Some guests have noted the beds can be "on the firm side" but generally comfortable, and a few have mentioned rooms feeling "stuffy" at night or an "unusual" open-concept bathroom layout in some standard rooms.

4. Dining Experience

The Memphian offers two distinct on-site dining venues that receive high praise:

  • Complicated Pilgrim: This lobby-level restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a menu inspired by distant lands. Guests rave about the quality of the food, including dishes like smoked salmon Benedict, chocolate overnight oats, grilled airline chicken breast, and shrimp and grits. It also functions as a coffee-to-cocktail bar.
  • Tiger & Peacock: This "coolest rooftop bar" delights guests with "small bites and cocktails" from early evening into the night. Its "seductive" and "whimsical decor," featuring bold colors and unique art, creates an "Instagramable" backdrop, complemented by city views.

Breakfast, whether a la carte or brunch, is frequently highlighted as excellent, though some guests experienced occasional short-staffing in the breakfast area, which the staff worked hard to compensate for.

5. Service & Staff

The service at The Memphian is a consistent strong point, with staff receiving high accolades. Guests frequently use terms like "phenomenal," "warm," "friendly," "helpful," and "super kind" to describe their interactions. Staff members are noted for being accommodating, quickly resolving issues, and providing world-class hospitality, making guests feel "happy, cared for, and at home."

6. Location & Accessibility

The Memphian's location in Midtown Memphis, specifically in the Overton Square neighborhood, is a significant draw. It's described as a "good, safe area" and a "perfect location" near "everything you could want to do in Memphis." The hotel is within walking distance of numerous dining, entertainment, and shopping options, including five live performance venues. Key attractions like the Memphis Zoo and Rhodes College are within 2 miles (3 km), while Beale Street and the University of Memphis are within 6 miles (10 km). The hotel is approximately 7.5 miles from Memphis International Airport. On-site parking is available for a fee, and electric car charging stations are provided.

7. Value & Pricing

While specific "Michelin Key" pricing tiers are not applicable here, guests generally consider The Memphian to offer good value for money, with a rating of around 8.4-8.5 out of 10 for value. Room prices can vary significantly depending on the season and day of the week. Cheapest deals are often found in August and December, with Sundays and Wednesdays typically being the most affordable nights. Recent prices observed ranged from approximately $205 to $534 per night, with standard king rooms around $219-$316. The hotel does not charge resort fees.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring minor issues and criticisms include:

  • Parking Fees: While convenient, on-site parking is available for a fee (around $15-$18 per day), which some guests have noted.
  • Firm Beds: A few guests have found the beds to be "on the firm side."
  • Room Stuffy/Temperature Control: Some reviewers wished the rooms weren't "so stuffy at night," suggesting potential issues with individual room temperature control.
  • Open-Concept Bathroom: In some standard rooms, the layout features an "open-concept bathroom" upon entry, which may not appeal to all guests.
  • Breakfast Staffing: Occasional reports of breakfast staffing being "short handed" have been noted, though staff actively worked to compensate.

Sources

  1. ilovememphisblog.com
  2. wearememphis.com
  3. dailymemphian.com
  4. thememphian.com
  5. marriott.com

Points to Consider

  • While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring minor issues and criticisms include:
  • Room Stuffy/Temperature Control: Some reviewers wished the rooms weren't "so stuffy at night," suggesting potential issues with individual room temperature control.

Google Reviews

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4.4

319 reviews

Recent Guest Reviews

Shamika Nichols

Local Guidea week ago

The black woman at the front desk wearing glasses was extremely rude during our visit. A few friends and I had drinks at the hotel’s downstairs bar and afterward stopped in the lobby to take photos. The lobby is beautiful, and we were simply admiring the space like anyone else would. However, she made it seem as though we were disrupting guests who were trying to access the elevators, which was n...

Adrienne Cregar Jandler

Local Guide3 months ago

What a fun, funky hotel! Booked a Memphis weekend and thoroughly enjoyed the stay. Eclectic interior is just plain fun, and the room was very comfortable and well appointed. Super comfy bed, Nespresso in room, and the conveniences you’d expect. Great location in midtown Memphis (Overton Square area). Rooftop bar (Tiger & Peacock) decor is even more interesting and eclectic than the lobby; delightf...

Kristi

Local Guidea month ago

This hotel is so well done! The decor is so fun and comfy. The service was fantastic. We esp loved Tiger and Peacock, the club upstairs. The only thing missing is a pool but we will still go back in the summer.

Tilnisha Abston

3 months ago

My recent stay at The Memphian Hotel was an exceptional experience, made even more memorable by the outstanding service provided by the front desk associate, Jac. From the moment I arrived, he demonstrated the highest level of professionalism, attentiveness, and courtesy. Jac were not only welcoming but also highly informative, ensuring that I had all the details I needed regarding my stay and th...

Kyle Knott

4 months ago

As soon as we arrived, the hotel was striking with it's modern decor and excellent layout. The one team member that really didn't want to be bothered was also very striking. No greeting, no questions, didn't even tell us the room number or anything about the hotel, just slid the envelope and key over and asked "What else do you need?". The rooms are ok; not 5 star but close to 4. The restauran...

Shannon Crone

a month ago

Really like this quirky hotel. My only suggestion is more treadmills in the gym - 2 is not sufficient. 3 people were waiting for them to become available during my last stay. There is room to move the existing equipment closer to add 1, preferably 2, more.

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