The Memphian
The Memphian is easily the best hotel in Midtown because, well, it’s the only one that’s not more motel than hotel. But it would be top of the list even with competitors, thanks to decor specific to its location, like a huge chandelier in the lobby crafted from fishing bobbins (a tip of the hat to the Mississippi River’s bounty). It’s just one of the many artistic elements in a hotel that has no fear of bright colors, velvet sofas, animal prints, or whimsy. Guestrooms are huge, with wonderfully comfortable beds, fun art, and clean, bright, spacious bathrooms that are lit by the types of lights you’d see in a theater’s dressing room (a nod to the area’s playhouses). The one quibble I have is dining. The hotel’s main restaurant, Complicated Pilgrim, has spotty service, inconsistent food, and, obviously, the world’s dumbest name. The rooftop bar, Tiger and Peacock, has a cumbersome entry system that may be a security precaution—I’ve seen a crowd in Midtown get unruly a time or two—but ends up being, frankly, annoying, despite the fact that the actual space is stunning. All that said, the most crucial parts of this hotel experience—comfortable guestrooms, unique décor, convenient location, rooftop views, and tasty cocktails—outshine those shortcomings and make it well worth a stay.
The Memphian is easily the best hotel in Midtown because, well, it’s the only one that’s not more motel than hotel. But it would be top of the list even with competitors, thanks to decor specific to its location, like a huge chandelier in the lobby crafted from fishing bobbins (a tip of the hat to the Mississippi River’s bounty). It’s just one of the many artistic elements in a hotel that has no fear of bright colors, velvet sofas, animal prints, or whimsy. Guestrooms are huge, with wonderfully comfortable beds, fun art, and clean, bright, spacious bathrooms that are lit by the types of lights you’d see in a theater’s dressing room (a nod to the area’s playhouses). The one quibble I have is dining. The hotel’s main restaurant, Complicated Pilgrim, has spotty service, inconsistent food, and, obviously, the world’s dumbest name. The rooftop bar, Tiger and Peacock, has a cumbersome entry system that may be a security precaution—I’ve seen a crowd in Midtown get unruly a time or two—but ends up being, frankly, annoying, despite the fact that the actual space is stunning. All that said, the most crucial parts of this hotel experience—comfortable guestrooms, unique décor, convenient location, rooftop views, and tasty cocktails—outshine those shortcomings and make it well worth a stay.
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