River Inn of Harbor Town

This place is a beautiful, small hotel located right on the Mississippi. The rooms are cozy and well-​decorated, the beds are SO comfortable. I was stoked to sleep in a king-​size bed all weekend. We stayed here two nights and were immediately greeted with champagne when we walked in on our first night — it was great!
HOWEVER, we noticed that the walls are paper thin. You could hear everything that your neighbor was doing (yes, even using the restroom). Unfortunately, on our second night, there were people in the room next to us who were being extremely loud/​blasting music. I had to call the front desk twice to get them to do something. The staff had the AUDACITY, at 12AM, to ask me to move rooms. I was pretty pissed at this suggestion because I was in my pj’s and had all of my things unpacked.
Eventually, the people quieted down but I couldn’t get to sleep because I was so mad at how rude the staff was — the second girl I talked to acted like she couldn’t do anything about the noise. The first woman I talked to assumed it was the bar across the street making the noise. Gah, so frustrating.
My sister-​in-​law is a dental student in Memphis so we visit frequently. I’m not sure if we will be returning here again. I loved the overall décor/​feel of the hotel but I just wasn’t impressed with the staff and how they handled our situation.

It was hard to find an upscale hotel in Memphis and River Inn is the only one. Its in a unique location, basically a small town within downtown Memphis. The room was well apointed and very clean. We also enjoyed the small bar and food. We mistakenly left some things behind at the hotel and the staff went and got them and we picked them up the following day. Very professional staff. Also delicious free breakfast comes with the room. We will be back

Beautiful hotel. Right on the water. Great beds. Big rooms. Delicious breakfast. Turndown service with chocolate and port every night.

Loved this hotel! Wonderful staff! Amazing river view! Gorgeous suite with great bed and beautiful antique furniture! Fab restaurants! Stayed several days so when I didn’t want to go down to eat they would bring it up!
Day Spa across the sidewalk. Nail salon, cute boutique clothing store, small high end market. Quiet out of DT Memphis! It is a definite return hotel every time I’m in Memphis! So glad I found this gem!!!

Stayed here for my 1 year anniversary and it was a great experience. First of all, you get a complimentary glass of your choice of wine upon entry. The staff at the front couldn’t seem to find our reservation as we had reserved it through Orbitz but after a few minutes he figured it out and to compensate for our time, upgraded us to a river view penthouse suite! it was beautiful and after our night out we were greeted with port wine and chocolate set up in our room. I will definitely be staying at river inn in the future!

Just came home from my Memphis trip and miss the luxury of River Inn! This boutique is one of a kind hotel. Where do I begin? When you first arrive the scenery is that of a movie set. Absolutely cute and serene. The view and running/​bike paths along the Mississippi River are directly across the street. Arrived on a Sunday after a long drive and was greeted with a nice glass of wine at check in. I was there for my birthday and had a complimentary room upgrade!!! I was fortunate enough to stay in the sprague suite room 221. The room was like your own private paradise decorated with southern charm! Bed was comfy, bathroom was well updated and large with walk in shower. The parlor/​sitting room had windows all around with views of the river, bike path, and the small harbor town street. Every night for turn down service I was greeted with wonderful chocolate and port wine. The staff is extremely friendly regardless of position. Everyone goes out of their way to ensure a wonderful stay!!! I would recommend this hotel to everyone. It’s such an intimate setting with only like 28 rooms that you don’t feel like a cog in the machine. Also, free breakfast at Paulette’s every morning! Not some continental cereal spread. Sit down order from menu with table linens and all. Food is superb! Do yourself a favor, get away from the hustle bustle of Beale street and stay here. You can visit Beale street (it’s only like 6 miles away) but staying here means you get to actually rest in peace and safety!

I can only echo the other enthusiastic reviews of the River Inn. Rooms were spacious and very well appointed. There are two separate buildings. The lobby, dining room and bar are in one along with rooms. We were across the entrance way at the other section. From what I could gather, the rooms were pretty much the same. I would request a river view. It’s a little pricey but definitely we felt it was worth it. Can’t say enough about the professional and friendly staff. We have stayed at a lot of hotels and the staff here actually appear to like their jobs and it shows.
If you come to Memphis and don’t drive or rent a car, keep in mind that the River Inn is located on an island. It is a bit of a walk across the bridge to Beale Street if you elect not to use a taxi. There is a very good restaurant at the Inn and there are a few other restaurants within a couple of blocks walk. We saw a coffee shop and a pizza place very close by.
Loved our stay and would highly recommend the River Inn.

Beautiful bed and breakfast along the Mississippi river. I got the romantic escape package which was done nicely. It came with a four course dinner, roses, champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. The staff was very friendly but they did try to come into our room twice in the morning. The room was very cute and a great place for a romantic night with views of the river.

I am a very picky traveler as I travel both frequently for both business and leisure. When I read the reviews of the hotel on all the review channels I knew I had to give the River Inn at Harbor Town a shot and I am so glad I did!!! The reviews were dead on. The rooms are spacious, very clean and well appointed. We had a view of the Mississippi River which we were able to see beautiful sunsets. The complimentary breakfast was a great bonus. Service was great all around as well.
The hotel is about an eight minute drive from Beale Street and set within a great community which is also very beautiful and safe. We will undoubtedly staying at the River Inn again the next time we are in town. I am hard to impress and they got it right!!!

LOVED this hotel! The beds are incredibly comfy (sleeping on clouds?), breakfast is delicious and staff is super friendly! The view is also beautiful!
It’s on the pricier side but deservedly so. The rooms are beautiful with nice furnishings, super clean, complimentary water and the best bed in the world. The pillows are big and fluffy, the bed sucks you in and you never want to get out! Can I steal it for my home? Yes please!
Breakfast at Paulette’s was included with my room and it was delicious! The eggs Benedict was so good and the Tennessee sausage is heavenly. Fresh squeezed orange juice to boot! I would’ve had dinner there too but it closes earlier than expected.
Staff was really nice. They checked me in quickly, gave helpful advice, offered refreshments upon arrival, and bring you chocolate before bed. It sounds small but nice touches like that make a world of difference. They were so friendly with everyone I saw, asking about their family, vacation, etc. So much nicer than your generic Hilton who could care less who you are.
Outside across the street is the Mississippi and a park that runs along the banks. The surrounding homes/​apartments are all cute and well kept. It’s a beautiful spot and the sunset was fun to watch!
Highly recommend!

Perfect place to stay when traveling to Memphis. I couldn’t have asked for better accommodations. Everything was first rate, starting with the glass of wine at check in, the beautiful views, the amazing breakfast… did I mention truffles and port in your room every night?!? So close to downtown, but you feel transported far away.
I’m already trying to figure out when I can come back. Thank you River Inn for spoiling me on my vacation!

Very deserving of the high ratings on Unilocal.
I have so many nice things to say about River Inn so I will just list a few.
–never have i stayed at hotel for under $ 200 with such great service and beautiful facility
–most comfortable bed ever
–super cool bar with an excellent bartender and delicious cocktails
–excellent location that’s close to Beale street and in a nice area that has a few options to walk to for drinks or dinner
–delicious breakfast that’s included with your room that’s served in their southern inspired restaurant
–great walkway along the Mississippi River right across the street that’s perfect for going for a run or to watch the sun set over the river
The hotel is not right downtown, but i promise it’s better than any other place to stay in Memphis.

One of the best hotels in the world… and I use to work for Ritz-​Carolton. Seriously, the list of wonderful things is loooong…
Wine at check in
Live music in the lobby
Roof top bar overlooking the Mississippi River
Port and chocolate delivered to your room nightly
The most comfortable beds you’ll sleep in
The staff — we’ve been several time and they remember us
Breakfast
Southern hospitality at its best
Library on each floor with personal coffee service each morning in the library!
When in Memphis don’t even think of staying anywhere else.

Excellent excellent excellent. This is a beautiful, nicely appointed inn. It will ruin you for the big downtown hotels. I find myself traveling between LA and Memphis fairly often now, and this is the best place I have stayed yet. I will be back and will likely make it my first choice.
So often on business we end up staying in the same old corporate or major downtown hotels which are nice, but not very personal. This is such a nice change on so many levels. I am glad I gave this place a chance based on the Unilocal and travelocity reviews.
View of the river from rooms and restaurant. The river and a lovely greenbelt park is right across the street.
Location — this is in Harbortown which looks as if it sprung up in the last 20 years or so. It is north of downtown, heavily residential, and definitely outside the stabby part of town. It is a very low-​key mix of retail, restaurants and beautiful homes. There are a few shops and restaurants within walking distance on very safe residential streets — meaning you can walk down the street and get something to eat in the evening and not worry about it.
NOTE: Room service and restaurant close at 9pm. I keep late hours so finding things open at 10pm was hard. You need to go across the street to Tug’s or to the pizza place a few steps away if you need to eat after 9. This is a residential area, so things close down early.
THE AWESOMENESS:
Glass of wine at check-​in
Free Breakfast at Paulette’s downstairs is an unexpected and really welcome bonus. The morning waitstaff is so friendly.
Staff went out of their way from the front desk to the maids.
Dinner at Paulette’s — excellent.
Rooftop bar has great views.
Port and chocolate brought to your room every day at 7pm.
Bottled water stocked every day.
Rooms really comfortable and nicely furnished. Beds luxurious.
WiFi free and worked well.
Parking free and available on street in front of hotel.
LIve music in the lobby.
Memphis is pretty compact compared to LA. So you are not sacrificing anything by staying on this side of town. Everything is really close by car and you don’t have the hassle with valet parking or general safety on the streets.
RECOMMENDED.
Highly recommended.

What a fantastic place to stay. The service was outstanding-​especially Patrick in Paulette’s. We enjoyed the glass of champagne on arrival and relaxing on the roof top bar with a beverage. It’s a very short cab ride to Beale street and a short drive on your own to Graceland or Tunica for the casinos. We absolutely would come back… The only thing to be wary of is the laundry list of taxes on your bill. Expect up-​charges of about 20%. We did not try Tugs but it was constantly busy.

Holy crap. Maybe I’m just used to staying in mediocre corporate places because that is what I pick because I don’t know any better. That is definitely possible. But this place is awesome to me!
Reasons:
1. The man at the desk was supremely polite.
2. He offered me a complimentary glass of wine, which was nice after a day of work and travel.
3.There was an actual man playing piano. I really liked it and I would have stayed and enjoyed it if I didn’t have stuff to do.
4, When I got off the elevator I saw a little library with docs to read and sitting chairs. Very comforting.
5. 4 poster bed. Very cosy.

This hotel is amazing. I sent my parents there for a weekend stay and purchased the Romantic Escapes package. While a little pricey, it was well worth it. The atmosphere was amazing and the customer service was second to none. Included in the package was complimentary wine upon check in, a bottle of wine for the room, a dozen roses, chocolate covered strawberries, a 4 course epicurean meal at Currents Restaurant (inside the hotel), breakfast, and much more. My parents raved about the food stating that it was some of the best food they had ever eaten!
My parents exclaimed most about the customer service, stating they were greeted warmly upon arrival and throughout the stay. The staff was attentive, well mannered, and professional looking. I can’t wait to send them back for another weekend get away. I would highly recommend this hotel!

This place is awesome! On a recent stay, our first, but not our last, it was pouring down rain. We were pulling a large trailer and having a hard time finding a place to park. The doorman, Dave, told us where to park around back and use a rear entrance door into the lobby. He then met us around back with a huge umbrella for us, while he got our bags. Upon arrival in in the lobby, we were offered a choice of red wine, white wine or champange, which was brought to our room shortly thereafter. Our room was small, but beautifully decorated, overlooking the Mississippi river. Two bottles each of complimentary sparkling, and flat bottled water where in the room. We had dinner at the more casual restaurant on site, Tugs. Food and service, both great. When we returned to our room, there were two glasses of complimentary port wine awaiting us. A very nice surprise, however, we did have the «Do Not Disturb» sign on the door. As mentioned by the other reviews, the cooked to order, complimentary gourmet breakfast was delicious. The roof-​top patio was closed for a private event the night we were there, but we went up Sunday morning to check it out and it looks like a great place for «Happy Hour». Bottom line, we love the River Inn.

Our stay at this boutique hotel was an excellent experience. We found the hotel through an on line search and decided to try something different. This was definitely different in a good sort of way!
For starters, check-​in was pleasantly enhanced by drinks before dinner. You could choose from a selection which included white or red wine. Our room over-​looked the river, and was tastefully appointed with elegant white linens and handsome burnished mahogany furniture.
The lobby area on our floor had a reading library and coffee was supplied the next morning prior to a FREE gourmet breakfast that was excellent! That night, we enjoyed dinner @ Currants restaurant on the main level. It was a 3 course meal and the service was top notch.
Service is a big deal at this establishment. From the concierge to the manager to the wait staff… you’re always asked what they can do to make your stay more comfortable. In fact, we had 2 personalized notes Thanking us for staying and requesting suggestions.
If you’re in Memphis, give yourself a treat and stay here! You won’t regret it. Promise. :)

It’s always an interesting experience to stay at a hotel in your hometown. We went to the River Inn on a vacation-​in-​town (they’re called ‘staycations’, apparently, but that’s too lame a word for me to actually use).
If I could give the River Inn six stars, I would.
To start with, we found an amazingly cheap deal on the internet. When we arrived after dinner, we were greeted with glasses of very decent champagne (white and red wine were also available). We were then told our room had been upgraded, for no good reason that we could tell. In our beautiful, plush room were chocolate covered strawberries, a bottle of port, and two glasses; we devoured them in the insanely comfortable bed in our complimentary robes after test-​driving the jacuzzi. A bottle of champagne that we ordered from room service was very, very reasonable ($ 30 including fees and a tip!).
A particular incident really sold me: At two in the morning, my boyfriend decided he couldn’t sleep without a fan. He called the front desk, and three minutes later they brought him a fan! At two in the morning!
The breakfast at Currents (the hotel restaurant that we now frequent) was also free and absolutely huge; it was the first time we’d eaten there, and it knocked our socks off.
To wrap up our stay, we took a long, leisurely stroll around Harbor Town (a small-​town area which is designed for long, leisurely strolls) and along the river.
The Madison– one of Memphis’ few other boutique hotels– pales terribly in comparison. Should you be in Memphis, and be able to afford it, the River Inn is the absolute best lodging in town.
Even (especially!) if you live right down the street, it’s the ultimate in romantic getaways.