Travel The South's Best The South's Best Hotels 2019 By Valerie Fraser Luesse Valerie Fraser Luesse Valerie Fraser Luesse has been affiliated with Southern Living and its parent company since 1988. She has written some 30 Southern Journal essays for the magazine and extensively covered the unique cultural pockets of the South, including Acadian Louisiana, the Mississippi Delta, South Florida, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She released her fourth Southern novel with Revell in 2021. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 7, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Peter Frank Edwards/Redux There are hotels and then there are hotels. A great one can make your vacation. A bad one can ruin it. Fortunately for us, some of the best stays you'll find anywhere are right here in the South. When we polled readers online and asked them to name their favorites, their choices ranged from the historic to the modern, from family owned for five generations to sleek and artsy. But all of the Top 10 shared some common traits, like impeccable service, great style, and originality. Most important of all, they reflect and show an appreciation for their city or town. You can step into these lobbies and immediately get a sense of where you are and why it's special. From the equestrian art at The Willcox in horse-loving Aiken, South Carolina, to the Beaux Arts opulence of The Jefferson in Richmond, Virginia, you'll feel a true sense of place the minute you check in. The views aren't bad, either. *Southern Living Hotel Collection Member 10. Williamsburg Inn Courtesy Colonial Williamsburg Foundation; Tom Green Williamsburg, VirginiaAn upscale property in Colonial Williamsburg, the inn offers plush accommodations and gourmet dining—indoors and out—all convenient to attractions and premier golf. The hotel is a AAA Five Diamond Award winner.colonialwilliamsburghotels.com 9. 21c Museum Hotel Courtesy 21c Museum Hotel Louisville, KentuckyYou can actually snooze in a sculptural installation called Asleep in the Cyclone at this boutique hotel, which was the first in a small collection of sister properties, all of them part lodging, part art museum. Find the hotel on West Main Street's Museum Row. And don't miss the Proof on Main restaurant.21cmuseumhotelslouisville.com See Why These Hotels are Reader Favorites 8. The Brown Hotel Courtesy of The Brown Hotel Louisville, KentuckyA Louisville landmark since the 1920s, the brown is famous for inventing the Kentucky Hot Brown, but there are so many other reasons to stay here: the gorgeous Lobby Bar, sumptuous English Grill, and proximity to downtown attractions like the Brown Theatre right across the street.brownhotel.com 7. Belmond Charleston Place Courtesy of Belmond Charleston Place Charleston, South CarolinaThis property is what you picture when someone says "Charleston"—elegant interiors, iron balconies, courtyards, and amazing food. The Charleston Grill divides its menu into Social & Shared, Roots & Stems, Waves & Marsh, and Field & Pasture.belmondcharlestonplace.com 6. The Roosevelt Courtesy of The Roosevelt New Orleans, LouisianaDon't miss this hotel at Christmastime, when the 125-year-old Roosevelt redefines over-the-top. In warm weather, enjoy the hotel's rooftop pool, offering spectacular views of New Orleans. Or grab a stool at The Sazerac and have a cocktail at The Roosevelt's famous bar.theroosevelthotel.com 5. The Jefferson Robbie Caponetto Richmond, VirginiaThis stunner of a Beaux Arts hotel was the brainchild of Richmond's very wealthy businessman and philanthropist, Lewis Ginter. It opened in 1895 and continues to wow guests, pairing modern accommodations with the kind of architecture that landed The Jefferson on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.jeffersonhotel.com 4. Hotel Monteleone Courtesy of Hotel Monteleone New Orleans, LouisianaTruman Capote famously claimed to have been born at this French Quarter landmark, which has been owned by the same family since 1886. (Capote wasn't born here, but don't tell anybody.) Relax in the Carousel Bar & Lounge and ponder what the Monteleone was like when the likes of William Faulkner and Tennessee Williams were regulars.hotelmonteleone.com 3. The Peabody Robbie Caponetto Memphis, TennesseeFrom the sharply attired bellmen to the elegant lobby and bar, from sumptuous furnishings to those world-famous ducks in the fountain (don't even try to be blasé about the ducks—nobody will believe you), The Peabody makes you feel that you've arrived. And you have.peabodymemphis.com 2. The Inn on Biltmore Estate Robbie Caponetto Asheville, North CarolinaIf you've never taken a seat near the piano in its soaring lobby and sipped a glass of wine while you gazed out at Blue Ridge Mountains—you really, really should. While you're there, tour one of the most impressive estates and wineries in the South.biltmore.com 1. The Willcox* Peter Frank Edwards/Redux Aiken, South CarolinaA sweeping front porch on this white-columned, historic hotel is lined with rocking chairs, while guestrooms look more like the bedrooms in a well-appointed Southern home than hotel accommodations. The lobby welcomes all of Aiken on live music nights.thewillcox.com Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit