Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel

The five-story Heartbreak Hotel serves as a convenient headquarters for visitors of the celebrated Graceland Mansion and its related attractions. The hotel is a mix of 1950s retro chic, with its bright red window treatments in the front entrance that resemble old Hollywood stage curtains, and Elvis-inspired kitsch, with its massive, high-ceiling lobby ablaze with retina-scorching bright red and gold floors, golden yellow walls, and small seating areas with colorful clusters of purple wing chairs, lush ruby-red couches, and, as a nod to Elvis’ Jungle Room at Graceland, faux animal print chairs. The grandeur might feel a little over the top, but that's sort of the point, and it speaks to the history of the Graceland landmark. A home-style breakfast room with a row of windows allows plenty of natural light to bathe the space. The hotel is geared toward Elvis enthusiasts, so guests will probably find only other Elvis fans around the premises.

Long-time fans of this 1980s-era hotel will be saddened by the fact that it is slated for demolition after the new Guest House at Graceland opens in 2016.

The hotel is across the street from Graceland, a mecca for Elvis fans. The surrounding neighborhood, filled with empty businesses, vacant lots, and fast-food joints, is somewhat gritty and is not really safe to wander after dark. The hotel is a five-minute walk to a row of Elvis-themed stores and a one-minute walk to Boulevard Souvenirs, a Memphis landmark offering 4,000 square-feet of Elvis memorabilia that die-hard Elvis fans should not pass up. Beale Street, the most famous street in Memphis, is a 15-minute drive away and has a nighttime party vibe fueled by its many clubs, live music, and authentic soul food. The hotel offers a convenient evening shuttle to and from Beale Street for a nominal fee, and Memphis International Airport is a six-minute drive from the hotel.  

The 128-room hotel features four Elvis-themed suites. The Gold & Platinum Suite, inspired by Elvis's chart toppers, features gold and platinum records on the walls and a dining room table top resembling a vinyl record. Themed rooms are over 1,000 square feet and have separate seating and dining areas -- the upgraded price tag reflects the extra luxuries. All rooms come with blonde wood furnishings that evoke a 1950s vibe, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, free HBO, a 24/7 Elvis movie TV channel, and kitchenettes equipped with sinks, mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers. Standard rooms are more subdued, accented with only Elvis-framed photos, but the overall feel is more out-of-date than ‘50s fun, with worn carpeting and warped and cracking sections of wall surrounding the air-conditioning units. Themed baths are sizable and stylish, with double sinks and contemporary shower stalls (no tubs). Standard room baths have shower/tub combos but are smaller and feel dated.

Free daily continental breakfast is served in the airy, home-style breakfast room. The Jungle Room lounge and bar off the lobby offers sandwiches, specialty drinks, and a convivial atmosphere, but the hotel lacks a full on-site restaurant. The heart-shaped pool is the only one of its kind in Memphis and it’s surrounded by a mix of  lounge chairs, tables with umbrellas, and a charming gazebo. The lobby has a 24-hour reception desk, an Elvis memorabilia gift shop, and free Wi-Fi throughout the property. The 24-hour fitness center is crammed with a nautilus machine, dumbbells, one treadmill, and one bike, making it inconveniently small for a hotel of this size. The hotel offers free shuttle to and from the airport, and there is plenty of free, security-patrolled self-parking on site.