By Last Updated on June 27, 2023
Named one of ten luxury Memphis hotels that redefine opulence in Tennessee, you can imagine the decor of the lobby at ARRIVE Memphis. What you wouldn’t expect, however, is its lack of an obvious check-in area.
Upon entering ARRIVE Memphis boutique hotel, I was unsure where to go. Unlike a typical hotel, there is no front desk or concierge greeting you. What lay before me looked more like the living room of a well-to-do friend with eclectic, yet refined and elegant furnishings.
I glanced around the lobby and saw a variety of seating on one side, a busy lobby bar on the other, and in the distance, a coffee shop. Standing in the middle of the room with what I can only imagine was a look of confusion written across my face, a young lady called to me from the coffee shop. It turns out the coffee shop is where you go to check into the hotel.
Once at the register, I was greeted by a lady with a big, welcoming smile. Her demeanor was friendly and almost that of a long-lost friend. This boutique hotel claims to offer down-to-earth luxury travel and hospitality. Mission accomplished; that is precisely what they deliver.
ARRIVE Memphis Boutique Hotel
As I entered my guestroom, I was pleasantly surprised by how bright and airy it felt. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill, stuffy hotel room. It’s got character and a lot of it. The far wall is made out of brick and has three large windows that look out at the city. Patterned wallpaper showcases the king-size bed that sits atop a patterned tapestry. A tufted and weathered brown ottoman stretches across the foot of the bed, beckoning me to rest my weary feet.
The sitting area is both functional and comfortable with a proper desk on one side and on the other, an oversized chair with an accompanying pouf at its foot. From here, you can peer into the bathroom through the floating wall that is both the enclosure to the bathroom, as well as the closet door. It slides effortlessly to divide, or open up the room.
Bathroom amenities are Grown Alchemist, from L’Occitane known for their holistic, scientific approach to beauty. Grown Alchemist is Australian-Certified non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free and formulated with certified organic ingredients. As a travel and wellness fan, I truly appreciated seeing clean products in the bathroom. I tend to steer clear of hotel toiletries and use my own, but that wasn’t the case at ARRIVE Memphis.
When you open the closet, which is also where you access the mini bar, the frosted glass floating wall slides down to close in the bathroom. When the sliding closet door is closed, you can see from the bathroom sink through to the room and out the windows. It’s a design feature that opens up the room and gives it a much larger feeling than if the bathroom were enclosed. The room design is very well thought-out.
Minibars are much more robust than most hotels. Each room has its own mini fridge filled with a variety of both local and popular beer, wine and soft drinks. There is also a basket filled with a multitude of snacks. A hotel with a well-stocked bar is appreciated by those of us who get peckish before bed. I certainly enjoyed a glass of wine with popcorn as a late-night snack one evening while finishing up some work before bed.
And speaking of the beds, if you are a fan of cozy ones with down pillows, you’re going to love it here. Crawling into bed after a long day of sightseeing was akin to being encased in cloud-like comfort, perhaps thanks to their Bellino Fine Linens. I dozed off in no time, which is no small feat when staying in a hotel.
Book your stay at ARRIVE Memphis.
Dining at Hustle & Dough Bakery
As mentioned earlier, the check-in desk at ARRIVE Memphis is stationed at their all-day coffee shop. Don’t be fooled though, at Hustle & Dough, they serve much more than coffee and pastries. Daily, between the hours of 7 am to 2 pm, they serve breakfast and lunch.
I was told their Avocado Toast is a fan favorite, but I opted to try the Egg Salad Sandwich instead. It was served on their country sourdough bread and the crunch of the radishes on top perfectly balanced the soft bread. I enjoyed it with an artfully-presented cappuccino.
The bakery serves Vice & Virtue coffee, a local, micro-batch artisan coffee roaster. Supporting other local businesses is something the ARRIVE brand of hotels prides itself on.
It’s worth noting that with every room reservation, you receive a $20 credit for dining at any of their three in-house restaurants: Hustle & Dough Bakery, Bar Hustle or Longshot.
ARRIVE Memphis hotel Field Guide
Truly leaning into their mantra to support local businesses, ARRIVE Memphis offers what they call a Field Guide to their guests. This is a curated list of their favorite spots in the city including restaurants, bars, shops and sites.
Should you wish to travel like a local, or at least dine like one while in Memphis, this guide is ideal. It contains must-see attractions including Graceland and Sun Studios, as well as some of their favorite eateries such as Gus’ World-Famous Fried Chicken and Hog & Hominy. And of course, it lists a few bars to check out like the hip Art Bar inside Crosstown Arts.
Crosstown Arts itself warrants a visit. This unique concept is a renovated Sears building turned into a vertical urban village housing a variety of businesses. It’s one of the best examples of giving an old building a new life that I’ve ever witnessed.
Bar Hustle
After exploring all day, should you wish to enjoy a nightcap, Bar Hustle is your spot. The sister restaurant to Hustle & Dough, Bar Hustle is the name of their gorgeous lobby bar. Dark blue velvet bar stools line the marble bar where they pour creative cocktails for the Memphis crowd. They also serve local beer and a dozen different wines.
Offering more than just drinks, you can order small bites such as their unique Roman-meets-Detroit-style pizzas served on country sourdough bread from Hustle & Dough.
More than just a hotel lobby bar, Bar Hustle aims to bring members of the community in to mingle with guests during their nightly events, referred to as weekly happenings. On Whisky Wednesdays, they offer a curated whisky flight for $20. Every Friday is B.Y.O.Vinyl where guests are invited to bring their choice of record. Live music is played every Sunday evening from 6 to 8 pm to accompany their cocktail specials.
Longshot Shuffleboard Bar
Down the alley from the front entrance to ARRIVE Memphis is their sports bar. From the outside, Longshot appears to be just another sports bar, only it’s not. Longshot is Bluff City’s go-to shuffleboard bar. Yes, you read that right. This venue is lined with shuffleboards as well as bar stools and booths.
Claiming to serve up big flavors, great drinks, and a little friendly competition, they also have a Shuffleboard league.
Their decor isn’t the only thing that’s varied at Longshot, so is their menu. You’ll find everything from burgers to Frito Pie to salads and even short ribs.
Weekly happenings here include Monday Movie nights accompanied by $4 pints. You’re also invited to test your knowledge at their weekly Trivia Thursdays.
ARRIVE Boutique Hotels Concept
Each location of ARRIVE boutique hotels is tailored to its specific location. While each hotel is unique, they all have a neighborhood-focused approach to hospitality where personality shines at the forefront. ARRIVE Memphis features artwork by Memphis-born artist Michelle Fair.
They’ve done such a fantastic job of marrying luxury and hospitality that they were listed as one of the top 25 best hotels in the U.S. by TripAdvisor.
Cocktail offerings at each lobby bar are also custom to the location. If you have a favorite cocktail at their Palm Springs location, don’t expect it to be in Memphis as well. They currently have four locations across the U.S. with two more ‘arriving’ soon.
If you’re looking for a hotel for a group event or business meeting and want something out of the ordinary, this might be your place. Their board rooms are anything but boring. With brick walls, mismatched chairs and floors lined with colorful tapestries, conversations and creativity are sure to flow.
Should you find yourself in Memphis, or another city with an ARRIVE boutique hotel, I recommend you check them out. I think you’ll find them to be a welcome change from your usual hotel stay. And yes, Fido can come too as they do offer pet-friendly rooms.
Book your stay at ARRIVE Memphis.
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