Where to stay · Memphis · United States
Where to stay in Memphis
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bjoertvedt, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Downtown and Beale Street. Blues clubs, the Peabody's ducks and the riverfront bluff. Best alternatives — families: Midtown and Overton Square; budget: Cooper-Young.
Key facts
- First visit
- Downtown and Beale Street
- Families
- Midtown and Overton Square
- Budget
- Cooper-Young
- Nightlife
- Downtown and Beale Street
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Downtown and Beale Street | Blues clubs, the Peabody's ducks and the riverfront bluff |
| Families | Midtown and Overton Square | Theatres, restaurants and the green space of Overton Park |
| Couples | South Main Arts District | Galleries, restored warehouses and the National Civil Rights Museum |
| Budget | Cooper-Young | Bungalows, independent restaurants and bars around the Cooper and Young intersection |
| Nightlife | Downtown and Beale Street | Blues clubs, the Peabody's ducks and the riverfront bluff |
| Food lovers | South Main Arts District | Galleries, restored warehouses and the National Civil Rights Museum |
| Solo travellers | Downtown and Beale Street | Blues clubs, the Peabody's ducks and the riverfront bluff |
| Shopping | East Memphis | Leafy suburbs with museums, gardens and the city's largest park |
| Quiet stays | Harbor Town | A quiet residential community on Mud Island facing the downtown skyline |
Memphis neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and solo travellers
Downtown and Beale Street
Downtown is the main visitor base, with the historic Peabody hotel, Beale Street's clubs, the FedExForum arena, the Rock 'n' Soul Museum and the riverfront parks. Vintage trolleys run along Main Street, and most hotels are within walking distance of Beale Street and Tom Lee Park.
- Good
- Walk to Beale Street and the riverfront; Wide choice of hotels; Trolley along Main Street
- Watch out
- Some streets feel empty after dark away from Beale Street; Busy and loud on weekend nights
- Nearby
- Beale Street, The Peabody, Tom Lee Park, FedExForum
$$$ · Best for culture, couples and food lovers
South Main Arts District
South of Beale Street, South Main has restored brick warehouses with galleries, restaurants, bars and boutique hotels, including one in the old Central Station rail depot. The National Civil Rights Museum and the Blues Hall of Fame are here, and the trolley runs along Main Street.
- Good
- Characterful streets and good restaurants; Walk to Beale Street; Boutique hotels
- Watch out
- Quieter on weeknights; Limited parking
- Nearby
- National Civil Rights Museum, Blues Hall of Fame, Central Station, Beale Street
$$ · Best for food lovers, families and culture
Midtown and Overton Square
Midtown's Overton Square has theatres, restaurants and bars around a small square, a short walk from Overton Park with the Memphis Zoo, the Levitt Shell and the Old Forest. Nearby Crosstown Concourse, a vast former Sears building, holds cafés, a theatre and galleries.
- Good
- Local dining and theatre; Next to the zoo and park; Good-value rentals
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Need a car or rideshare for downtown sights
- Nearby
- Overton Park, Memphis Zoo, Levitt Shell, Crosstown Concourse
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife and budget
Cooper-Young
A historic district of early-20th-century bungalows in Midtown, Cooper-Young has a cluster of independent restaurants, bars, record and book shops around the intersection that gives it its name. It is known for its September street festival and its guitar-shaped railway trestle sculpture.
- Good
- Some of the city's best local restaurants; Walkable, friendly streets; Local character
- Watch out
- No large hotels; mostly rentals; A rideshare from downtown
- Nearby
- Cooper-Young Festival, Overton Square, Central Avenue
$$ · Best for quiet stays, families and couples
Harbor Town
Built in the 1990s on the northern end of Mud Island, Harbor Town is a planned neighbourhood of houses, apartments and a small inn, with walking paths along the Wolf River Harbor. It is a peaceful base a short drive or bridge walk from downtown.
- Good
- Quiet and green; River views; Close to downtown
- Watch out
- Few restaurants; Limited accommodation
- Nearby
- Downtown, Wolf River Harbor, Greenbelt Park
$$ · Best for first-timers and families
Whitehaven
About 15 km south of downtown, Whitehaven is home to Graceland and the Elvis Presley's Memphis complex across the boulevard, along with the Guest House at Graceland resort and other hotels. It is convenient for Elvis fans and the airport but far from downtown nightlife.
- Good
- Walk to Graceland; Close to the airport; Free parking at most hotels
- Watch out
- Little else to do nearby; A 20-minute drive to downtown
- Nearby
- Graceland, Elvis Presley's Memphis, Memphis International Airport
$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and shopping
East Memphis
East Memphis is a suburban area of shopping centres, office parks and quiet residential streets, home to the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, the Memphis Botanic Garden and the edge of Shelby Farms Park. Chain hotels along Poplar Avenue are often good value for drivers.
- Good
- Good-value hotels with parking; Gardens and parks nearby; Quiet
- Watch out
- Car-dependent; About 20–25 minutes from downtown
- Nearby
- Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis Botanic Garden, Shelby Farms Park
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown and Beale Street | $$$ | Beale Street, The Peabody, Tom Lee Park, FedExForum |
| South Main Arts District | $$$ | National Civil Rights Museum, Blues Hall of Fame, Central Station, Beale Street |
| Midtown and Overton Square | $$ | Overton Park, Memphis Zoo, Levitt Shell, Crosstown Concourse |
| Cooper-Young | $$ | Cooper-Young Festival, Overton Square, Central Avenue |
| Harbor Town | $$ | Downtown, Wolf River Harbor, Greenbelt Park |
| Whitehaven | $$ | Graceland, Elvis Presley's Memphis, Memphis International Airport |
| East Memphis | $$ | Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis Botanic Garden, Shelby Farms Park |
Getting to your hotel
Memphis International Airport (MEM) is about 16 km southeast of downtown, around 20 minutes by car or rideshare. Graceland is about 10 minutes from the airport.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Memphis for first-time visitors?
Downtown and Beale Street. Downtown is the main visitor base, with the historic Peabody hotel, Beale Street's clubs, the FedExForum arena, the Rock 'n' Soul Museum and the riverfront parks.
+Where should families stay in Memphis?
Midtown and Overton Square: Local dining and theatre.
+Which area of Memphis is best for a budget stay?
Cooper-Young ($$): Bungalows, independent restaurants and bars around the Cooper and Young intersection.