The Memphian, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

The Memphian

"Why book? For a fun, centrally-located stay in a space that will leave you feeling refueled, recharged, and creatively inspired. Set the scene The hotel sits in Overton Square, a neighborhood within Midtown Memphis that’s filled with restaurants, shops, and theaters. Tiger and Peacock, the hotel’s indoor/outdoor rooftop bar, looks out onto the heart of the Square. As for the guests, you’ll find everyone from locals enjoying a staycation to young couples headed to nearby weddings to families of all age ranges and groups of business travelers. It would be a great home base for a girls' weekend, too. Visit in April for the Overton Square Crawfish Festival. The backstory The Memphian is a Marriott Tribute Portfolio property, meaning it sits within the travel giant's line of independent boutique hotels. From the outside, you may suspect it’s just another nice hotel, but step inside and you’ll forget any cookie-cutter assumptions that stem from the property’s family tree. It was built by Loeb Properties, a Memphis–based commercial real estate company run by two brothers who bought and renovated Overton Square in the early 2000s, and opened in 2021. They’d long been asked to open a hotel in Midtown, and found the right partner in Marriott. Artist Mary Loeb is to thank for curating—and in some cases creating—the whimsical, impossible-to-ignore artwork, decor, and patterns found throughout the property, supplied by herself and 15 other local artists. Along with funky textures and patterns and splashy art, you’ll see lots of animal prints and imagery, as well as nods to the area’s past with photos of the founders of Overton Square and some of its older restaurants in the lobby. The rooms It took Loeb some time to find an interior design firm who understood her vision, and I can understand why—the mix of prints, fabrics, and art, on paper, would be too much, but in execution, weaves together a rich, colorful tapestry that’s somehow not over the top—especially in the bedrooms. The hotel has four suites and five junior suites, plus around 90 standard rooms with king- and queen-size beds. The suites feel like an apartment decorated by your design-savviest friend, with a large sitting room and cafe table in the first room, followed by a bedroom and massive bathroom, complete with a freestanding tub in the full suites. The first thing I noticed when entering the suites was a large mural that turned out to be a framed wallpaper printed with elegant geese and dragonflies. The animal motifs continue in the chair cushions and throw pillows—bunnies on the bed, zebras on the balcony. A mix of muted and rich greens, browns, and golds keep it all from feeling overwhelming, while large woven rugs and wooden accents add a cozy, inviting touch. Every room in the hotel has a fridge, Lavazza espresso maker, and iron. While the standard rooms have an open layout bathroom, in which the sink is in the wide entryway/dressing area, the arrangement still feels spacious (and separate from the sleeping area). The two-queen room is fairly spacious, but for families who want more space, there are some connecting junior suites-to-standard-room setups.   Food and drink There are two places to dine and drink at The Memphian: The Complicated Pilgrim, a spacious lobby restaurant, cafe, and bar that's open all day, and Tiger and Peacock, the indoor-outdoor rooftop bar that looks like it could be the set of a Baz Luhrmann movie. Take the elevator to the top floor to get to the latter, which is arranged living-room style with plenty of cozy velvet chairs and banquettes as well as couches and bar seating. There’s a small bites menu with dishes meant to share; the short ribs were a hit, tender and well-seasoned. The astrological-based drink menu will pique the interest of anyone who knows their star sign, and matches the hand-painted ceiling, which took Jeniffer Church three months to complete. In the warmer months, you can take your drink outside to the terrace, but as I visited in February, I stayed inside. Designed by GCD Interiors, it’s the type of place you could return to again and again and always find something new to ogle at, from the monkey-dotted lamps to the massive zoo animal creations, zhuzhed-up vintage art, and aforementioned ceiling. The hot pink, Instagram-friendly Champagne Room seats 14, and can be rented out for special occasions. Back downstairs, Complicated Pilgrim serves three meals a day, with about 58 seats. When I visited, several guests were working remotely in the mornings and early afternoons; at night, it was filled with folks sipping cocktails. While more casual and less busy, decor-wise, than Tiger and Peacock, there’s still plenty of fun patterned wallpaper and art pieces to eye while you dine on dishes like biscuits and gravy, salmon BLTs, and shrimp and grits. The neighborhood/area Located in Midtown Memphis’s Overton Square district, the area suits itself to both first-time visitors and returning guests alike. It’s about a 15-minute drive to downtown Memphis (where you can go to Beale Street, visit the National Civil Rights Museum, and eat at some of the most popular barbecue spots), but has plenty within walking distance, too. A thriving area of the city in the ’70s, it was purchased by the Loeb's in 2012, who’ve since brought back a bevy of restaurants and theaters, including Ballet Memphis and Playhouse on the Square, which used to be a movier theater that Elvis Presley would rent out for viewings with family and friends. Nearby, you'll also find the Overton Shell, where free concerts and yoga classes are held; a dozen or so restaurants and bars; plus cafes and candy stores, a movie theater, and a spa. The Memphis Zoo is about a 20-minute walk (or five-minute drive) away. The service You can expect a friendly dose of southern hospitality from everyone you encounter at The Memphian, with a “hello, how’s your day going?” from those at the front desk and housekeepers you pass in the hall. The bar is a bit of a scene, so be sure to make a reservation if you’re there on a weekend.  Eco effort  The standard offerings are present—you can reduce the frequency of housekeeping, and there are water stations on every floor to encourage use of reusable water bottles (a couple are left in every room in case you don’t bring your own). There are electric car charging ports on site, too. Accessibility The main entrance and entrances to the business and fitness centers and downstairs restaurant are flat, and there is an elevator to access rooms and Tiger and Peacock. There is also van accessible on-site parking, hearing accessible rooms, and mobility accessible rooms with a roll-in shower. Service animals are welcome, too. Anything left to mention? Keep your eyes wide open during your stay! No corner of this space's aesthetics have been left untouched, from the varying wallpaper in public bathrooms to the antelope-printed carpet to the books in the common spaces, many of which were donated by local authors. Even the inconspicuous lobby gift shop is filled with whimsy, from the celebrity-printed prayer candles to the disco ball earrings on offer." - Madison Flager