The Best Luxury Hotels in Memphis

River Inn of Harbor Town, 50 Harbor Town Square (tel. 877/222-1531 or 901/260-3333; www.riverinnmemphis.com): A small, European-style hotel tucked within an affluent community on the resortlike residential island of Harbor Town, this hotel is a hidden gem. With sumptuous furnishings, gourmet food, impeccable service, and beautiful walking trails just steps away on the bank of the Mississippi River, it is unlike any other property in Memphis.

The Peabody, 149 Union Ave. (tel. 800/PEABODY [732-2639] or 901/529-4000; www.peabodymemphis.com): Steeped in tradition and brimming with gracious hospitality, this is one of the most elegant hotels in the South. Of course, you'll also be sharing the lobby with the famous Peabody ducks.