The Best Downtown Hotels in Memphis
Downtown Memphis packs the city's best-known sights into a few walkable blocks. Beale Street's blues clubs, the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, FedExForum and the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel are all close together, with the Mississippi riverfront a short walk west. The hotels on this page put you within that core, from an infinity pool near the river to suites with kitchens for longer stays. I also flag one listing tagged downtown that actually sits far out in the eastern suburbs, so you can book with the right map in mind.
Memphis is the city of the blues, soul and rock 'n' roll, from Beale Street's clubs to Sun Studio and Graceland. Downtown sits on bluffs above the Mississippi River, with the South Main district, the National Civil Rights Museum and FedExForum close together, and barbecue on almost every corner.
Staying Close to Beale Street and the River
A downtown base in Memphis lets you walk to Beale Street at night and to the museums by day, without driving or parking. The hotels here sit between Beale Street, the river and the South Main district, and several add a pool or a kitchen.
Beale Street is the obvious base for a first trip, and three hotels put you right beside it. Hampton Inn & Suites Memphis-Beale Street is the most reviewed hotel here, with nearly 1,200 reviews and an 8.6 score, a free daily breakfast and an indoor pool. Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis adds an infinity pool, a garden and a restaurant serving American and Mexican food, with the Mississippi riverfront close by. The Westin Memphis Beale Street faces the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, with spa services and a restaurant, a practical pick for concerts and games at FedExForum.
ARRIVE Memphis holds the best score in this list, 9.1, with modern rooms, walk-in showers, a restaurant and a bar. It suits travelers who prefer a smaller, design-led hotel to a large chain, and it keeps the South Main district, with its galleries and the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, within easy reach. Hilton Garden Inn Memphis Downtown Beale Street offers a pool, spa facilities, a lounge and an American restaurant, while Aloft by Marriott Memphis Downtown has a terrace, a bar and a fitness center. Most of these hotels also accept pets.
For longer stays, two hotels add kitchens. Residence Inn Memphis Downtown has fully equipped kitchens, a terrace and a 24-hour front desk, and scores 8.8. Home2 Suites By Hilton Memphis Downtown offers kitchenettes, balconies and an indoor pool, with an 8.7 score. Both let you cook simple meals between barbecue dinners, which helps on a week-long trip or a family visit. From either one, the riverfront walks, the Big River Crossing over the Mississippi and the music history of Beale Street stay within a short walk or ride from the door.
One property needs a correction. Holiday Inn & Suites Memphis - Wolfchase Galleria by IHG is tagged downtown, but it sits near Interstate 40 by the Wolfchase Galleria shopping mall in the eastern suburbs, a long drive from Beale Street. It has an indoor pool, a hot tub and a 24-hour fitness center, and it can work for drivers passing through on I-40, yet I would not book it if you want to walk to the blues clubs and museums. For a true downtown stay, choose one of the hotels above instead.
A traveler's perspectiveFor a first visit to downtown Memphis, I would book ARRIVE Memphis for its 9.1 score and its design-led rooms, or the Hampton Inn & Suites Memphis-Beale Street for a free breakfast and Beale Street on the doorstep. For a pool with a view, I would choose the Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis, near the river.
The Stallion
Memphis
9 reviews
City centre aparthotel with kitchens, fitness centre, and terrace
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe Stallion works more like a city apartment than a hotel room, which helps families. Every unit has a fully equipped kitchen, a dining area and a washing machine, so breakfasts, picky eaters and muddy clothes are easy to handle without leaving the building. The fitness centre and the terrace give parents a little breathing room, and the downtown location keeps the main Memphis sights within reach. I would pick it for a stay of several nights.
ARRIVE Memphis
Memphis
854 reviews
Modern rooms, American dining, and a vibrant downtown location
Check availabilityWhy guests love itARRIVE Memphis has a 9.1 score from 854 reviews, the main reason I would consider it for a family visit to downtown Memphis. Rooms are modern with walk-in showers, easier than a tub for many adults, and the on-site restaurant serving American food keeps dinner simple after a long day. Pets are accepted. There is a fitness center and a bar, but no pool listed, so this suits families who plan to spend their days out in the city.
Residence Inn Memphis Downtown
Memphis
143 reviews
Spacious downtown suites with full kitchens and a fitness center
Check availabilityWhy guests love itResidence Inn Memphis Downtown gives families a fully equipped kitchen in every room, so breakfasts and dinners can follow the children's rhythm. Guests rate it 8.8 out of 10 across 143 reviews. The hotel is in the city center, a short walk from AutoZone Park for a Memphis Redbirds game and from the Orpheum Theater for a show. A terrace, a fitness center and a 24-hour front desk complete the picture. There is no pool in the listing, so I recommend it for a downtown sightseeing stay.
Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis
Memphis
1,079 reviews
City center hotel with an infinity pool and pet-friendly rooms
Check availabilityWhy guests love itHyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis puts families in downtown Memphis with an infinity pool for the afternoons. Guests rate it 8.7 out of 10 across more than 1,000 reviews. The on-site restaurant serves American and Mexican food, a garden gives a quiet corner, and pets are accepted. Beale Street is on the doorstep, so evenings out need no car. I recommend it to families with older children who want to explore downtown on foot.
Home2 Suites By Hilton Memphis Downtown
Memphis
197 reviews
Family-friendly suites with kitchenettes and a pool in downtown Memphis
Check availabilityWhy guests love itHome2 Suites by Hilton Memphis Downtown has family-friendly rooms in the city center, air-conditioned, with a kitchenette and a balcony. An indoor swimming pool and a fitness room give everyone something to do in any weather, and the spa and wellness area adds a calmer option. An American buffet breakfast is served daily. Guests rate it 8.7 from 197 reviews.
Hampton Inn & Suites Memphis-Beale Street
Memphis
1,197 reviews
Downtown Memphis hotel with an indoor pool and complimentary breakfast
Check availabilityWhy guests love itHampton Inn and Suites Memphis Beale Street sits in downtown Memphis, within walking distance of the entertainment district, so families can explore on foot. The indoor pool gives children a break between outings in any season, and breakfast is included every morning. Rooms and suites come with free WiFi, pets are welcome, and there is a fitness center for parents. Guests rate it 8.6 from 1,197 reviews, a steady result.
Hilton Garden Inn Memphis Downtown Beale Street
Memphis
703 reviews
Downtown Memphis stay with a pool, spa, and pet-friendly options
Check availabilityWhy guests love itHilton Garden Inn Memphis Downtown Beale Street is close to AutoZone Park and the Orpheum Theater, handy for a family ballgame or a show. The pool gives children time to swim, and parents have spa and wellness facilities. An American restaurant, a bar and a shared lounge mean dinner without going far, pets are welcome and WiFi is free throughout. Guests rate it 8.5 from 703 reviews.
The Westin Memphis Beale Street
Memphis
247 reviews
Downtown Memphis hotel with spa services and a pet-friendly policy
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe Westin Memphis Beale Street puts families in downtown Memphis, opposite the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, so a first look at the city's music history needs no car. Guests rate it 8.4 out of 10 across 247 reviews. Rooms have tea and coffee facilities and a flat-screen cable TV, and the restaurant and lounge on site help on tired evenings. Pets are accepted. There is no pool in the listing, so I recommend it for a sightseeing stay rather than a resort break.
Aloft by Marriott Memphis Downtown
Memphis
237 reviews
Modern downtown hotel with family rooms and a lively atmosphere
Check availabilityWhy guests love itAloft by Marriott Memphis Downtown puts families in the city center, so the downtown sights are within easy reach. Guests rate it 8.4 out of 10 across 237 reviews. Family rooms keep everyone together, breakfast options include vegetarian and vegan choices for picky or plant-based eaters, and the terrace offers some air after a day out. The bar runs evening entertainment for parents. There is no pool in the listing, so I would book it for a sightseeing weekend in Memphis.
Holiday Inn & Suites Memphis - Wolfchase Galleria by IHG
Memphis
518 reviews
Spacious rooms with a pool and hot tub, close to Memphis attractions
Check availabilityWhy guests love itI would choose this Holiday Inn & Suites for a family stay in Memphis with an indoor pool and a hot tub. Guests rate it 8.1 across 518 reviews, a respectable score on a good sample. Spacious non-smoking rooms have free wireless internet, the indoor pool and hot tub are on site, and the 24-hour fitness center suits early or late workouts. It sits near Interstate 40, with easy access to the city center.
Local tips
- 1Stay on or beside Beale Street if you want to walk back from the blues clubs at night; the Hampton Inn, the Hyatt Centric and the Westin are closest.
- 2Plan a morning at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, a short walk south of Beale Street toward South Main.
- 3Book the Westin Memphis Beale Street for games and concerts at FedExForum, a few steps from the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum.
- 4Choose Residence Inn or Home2 Suites Memphis Downtown for longer stays, since both offer kitchens or kitchenettes.
- 5Walk the Big River Crossing over the Mississippi at sunset; it starts a short distance south of downtown.
- 6Do not book Holiday Inn & Suites Wolfchase Galleria for a downtown trip; it sits in the eastern suburbs near I-40.