Hotel Indigo - Memphis Downtown

Guide to Gay Friendly Hotels in Memphis, TN

Search and book Lesbian and Gay friendly hotels Memphis, TN.

Lesbiangaybisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in the United States have evolved in recent decades. However, LGBT Americans may still face some legal and many social challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents, particularly in states with large conservative populations, such as in the Deep South; in rural areas; and in some Native American tribal nations.

U.S. federal law does not explicitly include protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In June 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that sexual orientation and gender identity are included under “sex” as a prohibited ground of employment discrimination in the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the U.S. state of Florida may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity became legal in the state after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Lawrence v. Texas on June 26, 2003, and same-sex marriage has been legal in the state since January 6, 2015.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Tennesseans face some legal challenges that non-LGBT Tennesseans do not. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in the state. Marriage licenses have been issued to same-sex couples in Tennessee since the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015.
Memphis has a long history of being a  gay friendly town and in downtown we can find a few gay friendly bars as well as The Pumping Station or Dru’s Bar & Spectrum Memphis are  the most famous gay bars in Memphis, TN.
Memphis is a city on the Mississippi River in southwest Tennessee, famous for the influential strains of blues, soul and rock ‘n’ roll that originated there. Elvis Presley, B.B. King and Johnny Cash recorded albums at the legendary Sun Studio, and Presley’s Graceland mansion is a popular attraction. Other music landmarks include the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, Blues Hall of Fame and Stax Museum of American Soul Music. 

 Top attractions to visit in Memphis

 Best Day Tours in Memphis

1. Peabody Memphis 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Memphis

Peabody Memphis
Peabody Memphis

Steps away from Beale Street, this famed hotel celebrates the Southern tradition and charm of its past while providing luxury accommodations, including fine dining options, an indoor pool, fitness center and full-service spa.

Each elegantly styled room features a 42-inch flat-screen cable TV and luxurious bathrobes. An executive work desk and plush seating area are also offered in all Memphis Peabody rooms.

Chez Philippe features gourmet French cuisine amid the elegance and prestige of the hotel’s signature dining room. Guests can enjoy Southern specialties for breakfast and premium steaks, pork chops and seafood for dinner at Capriccio Grill. Peabody Corner Bar offers a more casual, cozy setting for guests to enjoy a drink or bite from a selection of food and drink specials.

Half a mile from iconic Beale Street, this landmark 13-story downtown hotel is known for its grand, marble-columned lobby, as well as its resident ducks—whose daily parade to the hall’s fountain is a tradition dating from 1933.

Elegant rooms feature vibrant, contemporary decor, flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi. There are several specialty suites, such as the Romeo and Juliet, which sports a spiral staircase, and a living room with either a fireplace or a wet bar.

There’s an indoor pool, a spa and abundant event space, plus a refined French restaurant, an Italian steakhouse and a renowned lobby bar. Afternoon tea and Sunday brunch are offered.

Historic, luxury hotel located in downtown Memphis, TN, known for its famous marching mallards, The Peabody Ducks. Located just two blocks from the world-famous Beale Street entertainment district, Peabody Place, Memphis Museum of Rock & Soul, FedEx Forum and Autozone Park.

The Peabody is history, it is grand and takes one back to a time when staying at a hotel was a lifestyle rather than a convenience. The rooms are small but elegant and adequately appointed with bathrobes, but no coffeemaker. The lobby is amazing and was full of people drinking and dining and duck spotting throughout the day and night. It really is quite the experience, not to be missed in Memphis.

The location & atmosphere at “The South’s Grand Hotel” is outstanding. Service is very good, the historical nature of the hotel, ambience & story that goes with it is fun and difficult to beat. The downside of a historic hotel is that there can be physical limitations and in this case the bathroom can be very small even by hotel standards, which reduced my room rating down to average.

We stayed in an Executive King and I would not personally consider staying in any smaller of a room for future stays. The room was nice, but the small bathroom is a feature that is difficult to overcome. When it comes to value, that is tough because the rooms are rather pricey for what you get which is the reason for the average rating on value. If you are going to the social atmosphere & historical nature of the hotel, then perhaps the value is a bit higher but in terms of accommodations of the room itself, the “value” rating struggles.

Overall it was a nice stay and if you only have a few nights to stay in downtown Memphis is it worth doing at least one time. As a repeat visitor to downtown Memphis, you might make a different decision over time.

The hotel was in a wonderful location. We were within walking distance to Beale Street and Main Street. The room was spotless, large, and beautifully decorated. We had the tasting meal at Chez Philippe and it was well worth it-the service, food and presentation was incredible. We had an evening meal at The Capriccio Grill. I highly recommend the Chicken Pot Pie. The chocolate martini at the Corner Bar is an excellent dessert drink.

Do not miss the Duck March-try to arrive early enough to get a seat within the lobby. Room Service is amazingly quick and very tasty-we did breakfast three times from room service. I highly recommend the Eggs Benedict and the egg white omelet. Every associate we encountered was friendly and helpful. This is a class act in every aspect.

Gay Friendly Hotels Memphis
Gay Friendly Hotels Memphis

How much does a room costs at Peabody Memphis?

Prices start 154$/night for Queen Room. The Deluxe Double Room with Two Double Beds
is  208$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This room offers a seating area with a coffee table, along with motion-sensor floor lighting and smartphone docking station. A hairdryer, safety deposit box and iron are all also provided.

Where to book online – Peabody Memphis Hotel –  Gay Friendly Hotels Memphis – you can find the best hotels deals in Memphis during Memphis in May  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Memphis on Booking.com  or   Agoda.com  or Hotelscombined.com   and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

2. Hotel Indigo – Memphis Downtown 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Memphis TN

Hotel Indigo - Memphis Downtown
Hotel Indigo – Memphis Downtown

Well located in the Downtown Memphis district of Memphis, Hotel Indigo – Memphis Downtown is set 1,650 feet from Fire Museum of Memphis, 0.6 mi from Orpheum Theater and 0.7 mi from AutoZone Park. Featuring a shared lounge, this 4-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom. The hotel offers an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center and a 24-hour front desk.

At the hotel every room includes a desk and a flat-screen TV.

Hotel Indigo – Memphis Downtown offers a à la carte or American breakfast.

Set in Downtown Memphis, this informal hotel is 15 minutes’ walk from the Beale Street Historic District and 12 miles from Memphis International Airport.

Warm rooms and suites with a modern vibe provide Wi-Fi access, HDTVs and coffeemakers; some feature music-themed black-and-white images. Upgraded rooms have mini fridges. Room service is offered.

There’s a restaurant and a cocktail bar. Other amenities include an outdoor pool, a sundeck and a gym. Parking and breakfast are both available for a fee.

Located between Beale Street and the newly renovated Renasant Convention Center, Hotel Indigo Memphis Downtown is steeped in the culture of rhythm and blues that makes Memphis famous. Originally built in 1963 by Holiday Inn founder Kemmons Wilson, we’ve redeveloped our historic hotel to suit the needs of modern explorers, all while retaining the heart and soul of Memphis. Our location may be one of our biggest draws, but Hotel Indigo offers a host of additional services and amenities to enjoy throughout your stay.

Outfitted with complimentary Wi-Fi, 43″ HDTVs, luxurious Frette linens, Aveda bath amenities, and spa-style showers, Hotel Indigo Memphis Downtown offers a memorable stay inspired by the soul, history, and modern character of Memphis. Relax on our rooftop pool. Work up a sweat in our comprehensive fitness center with the latest cardio equipment including a Peloton bike.

Vibrant and modern lobby. This boutique hotel sits atop the 7 story parking garage. The rooms are very nice and aesthetically pleasing. The beds and pillows are amazing! One of the best hotel beds I have slept on.

The pool was right outside our room, on the 8th floor! There is a corn toss game and lawn size jenga. Very nice!

We requested a spare blanket and literally within 30 seconds there was a knock on the door, and we had the extra blanket. Within walking distance of everything. Highly recommend and would stay here again.

The location is excellent! At walking distance of everything you wanna see downtown Autozone park (baseball stadium), Beale street etc etc. The staff were really friendly and helpful.

Great little hotel – rooms are updated with a retro vibe, wet bar area with fridge, and very clean. Pros – Cool “rooftop” type pool area, which can be looked over by many rooms on the top 2 floors. Staff is very friendly. Walking distance to Beale – but there are def other closer options.

Very nice hotel in convenient downtown Memphis location. Near lots of restaurants & shops. Great outdoor pool area and our king size bed was very comfortable. The staff were friendly and accommodating. Davina who was working the front desk in the lobby had great suggestions for great local restaurants and was extremely helpful.

This is our first stay at Hotel Indigo and we stayed comfortably. The retro style deco was fun and cute. The room was a decent size and clean but the shower was a bit narrow once you close the glass door.
The outdoor pool was on the 8th floor and the pool side area was big. We lounged around poolside after dinner and it was very relaxing.

The self-parking garage that connects to the hotel lobby was very convenient, the front desk staff were kind and polite, and it was at great location.

Gay Friendly Hotels Memphis
Gay Friendly Hotels Memphis

How much does a room costs at Hotel Indigo – Memphis Downtown?

Prices start 141$/night for Leisure King Room. The Feature King Room is  166$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This double room features air conditioning.

Where to book online – Hotel Indigo – Memphis Downtown-  Gay Friendly Hotels Memphis – you can find the best hotels deals in Memphis during Memphis in May  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Memphis on Booking.com  or   Agoda.com  or Hotelscombined.com   and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

3. The James Lee House 3*LGBT Friendly Hotels Memphis

The James Lee House
The James Lee House

This elegant B&B housed in a grand mid-1800s Victorian Italianate mansion was once an arts college. It’s next door to the Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum and 0.4 miles from Sun Studio.

The 5 polished suites feature high ceilings, fireplaces and sitting areas, plus flat-screen TVs and free WiFi. The bathrooms include marble tilework, oversized tubs and walk-in showers.

Full breakfast is provided. Common areas include a genteel living room with a century-old Steinway piano and a front veranda with rocking chairs.

The James Lee House is an exclusive property, offering five-star amenities and services without the crowds and impersonal service of larger establishments. The extraordinary craftsmanship of this historic home caters to travelers with the most discriminating tastes.
Our five meticulously appointed suites are thoughtfully and handsomely decorated to make your stay with us truly unforgettable. We welcome the opportunity to help you make your stay at The James Lee House a thoroughly memorable Memphis experience. Visit our National Historic Landmark today.
Beautifully restored, spacious, and relaxing, this bed and breakfast is the perfect place to stay when visiting Memphis. The hosts are pleasant to talk to and obviously love what they do. There’s a gated parking lot and downtown Memphis is a literally a couple minutes away.
The owners have renovated this house to the highest standard. The room was huge, bed so comfortable with a remote to make the bed harder or softer for either side of the bed. The bathroom was also huge. The breakfasts were delicious, homemade courgette bread, delicious and the owners could not more helpful with advice where to go or what to see. Better than any large 5 star hotel.
Absolutely stunning romantic weekend getaway at the most beautiful B&B! The James Lee House is oozing with luxury. The new owners did an absolute amazing job with the renovations. The rooms are spectacular.
The beds are so comfortable and let me tell you about the bathroom…the soaking tub up in the window is a beautiful retreat but for me that large steam shower – OMG! I love this place and want to return. The breakfast also was so good and love the parfaits.
Our suite was lovely and the bed was very comfy. The breakfasts kept us full through lunch and were delicious. Homemade cream scones, cheesy grits, eggs prepared a la minute, applewood smoked bacon; all so yummy. The day previous was blueberry pancakes and chicken sausage. José and his wife were involved in every stage of the renovation of this stunner of a Victorian and are only too happy to answer questions. Gated off street parking was fabulous, as well, and there are great dining options within a mile or so of the house. This is a super choice for exploring Memphis.
The James Lee house is nestled in the middle of a quiet, historic neighbourhood, The Old Victorian Village. This beautifully restored nineteenth century house and former art college is a hidden gem of Memphis. The house has a large, gated parking space which was very important for us as we were traveling by car.
We stayed two nights in the Isabel room and everything was superb: a mix of antique and contemporary décor like in the rest of the house; comfortable bed and fine bedding; large and fancy bathroom which made us wish to renovate our bathroom back home; books, including a biography of Elvis and a few classics; a big-screen TV; a coffee maker for the guest’s convenience and the list goes on. It was a pleasure to return in the evening to the comfortably cool, quiet atmosphere of the house and of the room after a long day of exploring the wonders of Memphis.
Gay Friendly Hotels Memphis
Gay Friendly Hotels Memphis

How much does a room costs at The James Lee House?

Prices start 450$/night for King Room.

Where to book online – The James Lee House –  Gay Friendly Hotels Memphis – you can find the best hotels deals in Memphis during Memphis in May  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Memphis on Hotels.com  or  Expedia.com  or Hotelscombined.com   and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

by Sorin

Sorin is a freelance travel writer. He is an experienced travel writer and traveller. Since 2012 he explored more than 60 countries on 4 continents: Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Currently is based in Romania after spending the last 7 years in Myanmar.