Beale Street hotels located right on that party avenue are almost non-existent. This is not necessarily such a bad thing, as most visitors appreciate not being located right over all the revelry of the many Beale clubs and music bars, but there are several hotels that will keep you close to all the action of Beale Street.

It's not until you get all the way to the end of the street that you will find the Inn at Hunt Phelan (pictured), located at 533 Beale Street. This is one of the more elegant Tennessee bed and breakfast inns, set in a beautifully restored antebellum mansion, and is located quite close to Sun Studios where Elvis Presley cut his first record. The inn boasts a celebrated gourmet restaurant, and lovely rooms and suites. One suite is quite large and designed for those on an extended stay and who want privacy. It is a 1,000-square-foot suite with washer and dryer, 1.5 baths, and fully equipped kitchen.

The choices for hotels near Beale Street Festival are plentiful and varied. Many of the options in downtown Memphis are located just off the famous street that erupts in a May Mardi Gras rivaling that of New Orleans. Among the two Beale Street hotels closest to the fabled street are the Westin Memphis Beale Street Hotel (address 170 Lt. George W. Lee Avenue) and the Hampton Inn and Suites at Beale Street (address 175 Peabody Place). These reliable franchise properties are located opposite each other and each a block away from Beale Street. They are each located between South 2nd Street and South 3rd Street.

Tennessee Map

Other reliable and affordable franchise hotels near Beale Street Festival include the Holiday Inn Select, Econo Lodge Downtown, and the Doubletree Hotel. These are located in a cluster of other lodging possibilities about three blocks north of Beale Street and with easy access to attractions like Mud Island and Mississippi riverboat cruises.

If you want Memphis hotels with a bit more character and a bit less conventional atmosphere, you might try the Talbot Heirs Guesthouse, located at 99 South Second Street. It is in the same cluster of hotels near Beale Street Festival as the Doubletree, Holiday Inn, and Econo Lodge. The Talbot Heirs offer eight elegantly appointed suites with all modern amenities like cable television with movies, CD player, and high-speed Internet. All have fully equipped kitchens, and if you supply a grocery list, your kitchen will be fully stocked for you when you arrive. Each floor also has laundry facilities.

Even though Beale Street hotels are few and far between, you can enjoy true luxury only a few blocks away. Try the luxurious Madison Hotel at 79 Madison Avenue, just to the east of Mud Island. If you're coming from Nashville or Little Rock, take the I-40 and use the first exit after crossing the Mississippi River, or the last exit before the river. The Madison boasts luxurious rooms and suites, a gourmet dining spot, lounge and bar, fitness center, indoor lap pool, business center, and rooftop garden with sweeping views of the seascape and river.