The Best Luxury Hotels to Book in Tennessee

With a rich, jazz-fueled history dating to 1872, Chattanooga’s Read House is the longest continuously operating hotel in the American Southeast. That history is palpable in its wood-paneled, Roaring ’20s-evoking common area and other vintage treasures throughout (dramatic chandeliers, checkered floors, gilded ceilings), while the 241 rooms are distinguished between those with historic decorative touches and others with more contemporary twists. The hotel’s Georgian-style exterior is a downtown Chattanooga icon, while in-house Bridgeman’s Chophouse is one of the city’s finest dining destinations. In a city that has only recently grasped its hotbed moment, the Read House relishes its place in far deeper historical trenches.

With a location well away from the Spring Break atmosphere of Broadway, the boutique Hutton Hotel forgoes honky tonk bedlam for mid-century modern-accented refinement and sustainable leanings just steps from far more subtle Music Row. Reclaimed WWII barnwood flooring and bamboo-paneled walls stand out as memorable design details in common areas, while the 250 stylish guest rooms meld modern comforts (electronically controlled rain shows, flat-screen televisions) and design forward touches (glass bathroom sinks). The Hutton’s resident music venue, Analog, is a wonderfully intimate spot to take in the local music scene.

Southern elegance meets contemporary sophistication at this luxury Tennessee hotel on Harbor Town Square in Memphis, the centerpiece of a planned, urbanist-style suburb on Mud Island a few miles north of Beale Street. Though a ’90s development, River Inn is flush with old-world charm and antiquated Southern detail. The property’s 28 rooms are divided among two buildings and are awash with upholstered chairs, hardwood armoires, window treatments and four-poster beds. River views are nearly standard, and a nature trail and National Bicycling Route meander outside the hotel.

The stunning James Lee House is the grande dame of Victorian Village, an exquisite historic neighborhood near downtown Memphis. The home, a true Victorian masterpiece, dates as far back as 1848, and was resurrected by the current owner after nearly 60 years of abandonment. Some 14 fireplaces and gorgeous original crown moldings and cornices pepper the home. Each of the five unique suites boasts its own impossibly lavish touches such as clawfoot bathtubs, four-poster beds, brass-accented king-sized mahogany headboards and exposed-brick chimneys. Few B&Bs in the American South have been so elegantly and painstakingly restored.

Once a bustling railway station in the 1800s, the Union Station Hotel in Nashville has 125 guest rooms and suites, decked out with white oak feature walls, cowhide headboards and wire chandeliers. Amenities include flat-screen televisions, luxury ROAM bath products and specially curated artwork in every room.

With 122 pet-friendly rooms and suites, the Hermitage is often referred to as Nashville’s top hotel, and has numerous awards to prove it. The Beaux Arts-style architecture makes the hotel a visually stunning masterpiece: a painted glass skylight, marble floors and ornate chandeliers bring elegance to the hotel’s lobby, while amenities including a spa, famed boutique, and bar-restaurant consolidate the hotel’s luxury status.

The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center is less than 10mi (16km) from Nashville International Airport, but it’s not just the location that makes this an appealing place to stay. Nine acres (4ha) of indoor gardens, two swimming pools, the Relâche Spa and Salon and cascading waterfalls attract visitors from all around the globe. This premium hotel is also close to attractions like the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame, and has plenty of places for eating and shopping on-site.

The multistory Omni Nashville is a non-smoking destination hotel featuring 800 rooms, a fitness center, coffee shop and rooftop pool deck. Thanks to the Omni Kids Crew program, children who stay here receive a backpack filled with goodies, as well as milk and cookies delivered to your door on the first night of your stay.

Enjoy a novelty stay in the Great Smoky Mountains by booking a night at the Margaritaville Island Hotel in Pigeon Forge. Inspired by singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett, this hotel has a laid-back atmosphere and is perfect if you want a fun, upmarket place to hang out. Every room features a Frozen Concoction Maker, which you can use to create your own drinks, with or without following the recipes provided. A word of warning: go easy on the tequila.