voco Hotel Napoleon, Memphis
The voco Hotel Napoleon in downtown Memphis is a beautiful example of adaptive reuse. Originally built in 1902 as the Scimitar Building, it was commissioned by Napoleon Hill, a wealthy merchant and newspaper owner. Over the decades, the historic structure served as a newspaper office and later as the headquarters for Memphis Light, Gas and Water, before being thoughtfully renovated into the boutique hotel that exists today.
The hotel’s architecture pays homage to its past, retaining the striking stone façade while introducing a modern, refined interior. The renovation, led by the architectural firm UrbanARCH Associates, focuses on creating an intimate, human-scaled experience. Guests will notice charming, subtle details throughout the property, from the velvet seating to antique-inspired telephones that nod to the building’s rich history.
Location-wise, you are perfectly positioned to explore the soul of the city. You are just a short walk from the world-famous Beale Street and the iconic Peabody Hotel, where you can catch the daily duck march. Other cultural heavyweights, such as the National Civil Rights Museum and the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, are also conveniently close by.
Whether you are here for the legendary music scene or to visit the nearby riverfront, the hotel offers a grounded, quiet retreat. Its blend of European-inspired restraint and classic Memphis character makes it a unique home base for anyone looking to experience the city’s vibrant energy without sacrificing comfort or history.
Expert reviews
“The 1902-vintage Winchester office building has recently been repurposed as the Hotel Napoleon Memphis with 58 crisp rooms. In addition to its pedestrian-friendly downtown location, the hotel houses a restaurant serving breakfast and dinner, and offers free coffee anytime in the lobby.”
Featured in New York Times’ 36 Hours in Memphis.
What guests liked
- Top location
- Beale Street
- Friendly staff
- Spacious rooms
- Excellent Wifi
Location
Recent guest reviews
18 April 2026
This hotel is wonderful!
Location is great! Beautiful rooms and lobby! Very comfortable stay!
11 March 2026
Great experience, I would stay again!!
Great location! I enjoyed waking up to breakfast and talking with the staff who were serving breakfast while waiting for my coffee!
Not enough hand soap or clean towels
25 February 2026
Overrated and expensive. Not worth the price
Nothing much really. Just hollow decor, nothing nice about it
Terrible location, no garage. Shady parking lot next door. Unprofessional staff. Bathroom fan did not work, no hooks. Watered down shower gel. Outdated TVs. Not worth the price
15 February 2026
Really enjoyed our stay and the staff were excellent. Great restaurant.
Very Beautiful hotel. Great location.
Parking
11 January 2026
Average
Property could have had more amenities. Bed and pillow were not comfortable.
Close to attractions.
3 January 2026
Horrible overpriced which y'all can do have a shuttle or something to take people to BB King Blues C
I think the hotel was old the food was not good they don't play the right type of music the staff will not courteous the room was not clean I paid for champagne for New Year's Eve I did not get it they said it going to be I don't want to refund I want what I ordered and paid for this hotel is horrible need to do a remodel or the rooms the restaurant food was not good at all the alcohol prices were way too high for water down drinks do better
I did not like anything about this hotel
24 November 2025
Exceptional
Location
13 November 2025
Passable
The reception staff were great.
Everywhere but the lobby could do with a facelift; it all looked very lived in. Our bedding had stains on it, but the rest of the room was clean and basic. Not sure we would stay again.
17 October 2025
Disappointing and overpriced for what we experienced
Staff were very helpful Attention to cleanliness
Basic room - felt more like college dorm room! Really poor quality bedding
7 October 2025
Would never stay there again.
The bed was comfortable.
A barn door to the toilet/shower doesn't give enough privacy. The carpet in the hallway was soiled. The place felt run down. The staff did not support me when I had to make a change through Booking.com.
30 September 2025
Mutton dressed as lamb
Location, appearance looks great
No staff about other than receptionist. bar & restaurant closed other than for breakfast, tv didn’t work, phone didn’t work.
16 May 2025
Friendly staff
Close to all the tourists attractions except for Graceland
Nothing
11 May 2025
Fabulous
Beautiful building. Friendly and accommodating staff. Perfect location.
No hooks to hang up towels in the bathroom. Coffee in lobby needed to be refilled more often.
11 May 2025
Great central hotel to explore Memphis
Great location, very comfy bed and hot shower with good pressure. Car parking is very easy - the carpark is directly next door. Walkable to Beal St, Peabody ducks etc. Felt very safe. Nice lobby and very helpful staff.
There was a bit of noise from the street but it didn’t disturb our sleep. Some of the furniture was a bit tired.
5 May 2025
Very good
The parking
5 May 2025
Good value in convenient downtown Memphis location
Room was modern and comfortable, which was nice for being in what was clearly a historic old building. Location was good, just a few blocks from Beale Street. Comfortable bed, good shower and bathroom. Umbrellas provided to guests came in very handy, as it rained for most of my stay. So overall, a decent stay for the price, with a few good touches.
Service and facilities could have been better. Hotel booking confirmation said something about a continental breakfast but that was only available for one of the three mornings of my stay, and other breakfast options in the area were limited. My room was never made up despite me leaving the sign out several times.
3 May 2025
Very boutique hotel about 5 blocks from Beale Street. Memphis is a sad city.
Well updated hotel. It was an office building until converted to a boutique hotel 10 years ago. The room was a little larger than normal and the bathroom as well.
The TV didn't work. We called for maintenance and "The Man" came immediately and took care of us. The entry doors to the hotel broke so it was awkward getting entrance.
28 April 2025
good location and nice room but noise and parking were not great
The room was nice and very clean and the location was convenient.
It would have been nice to have a chair other than the desk chair to sit in during our stay. The fact that there is no parking at the hotel and the desk clerk told us multiple times on check in that the hotel has no affiliation with the garage next door would have been nice to know before we booked the room. We were very concerned about safety of the car during the stay-particularly since it had a number of rather expensive items in it that we had purchased earlier in the trip. It was also very inconvenient to have to walk about a block away to access the garage elevator. We were on the top floor of the hotel, but the street noise was very bad- motorcycles and cars racing up and down the street at all hours of the night. I am not normally bothered too much by outside noise, but this was very noticeable.
24 April 2025
Pleasant
Close to Beal St
22 April 2025
Very good
The building was interesting an room was nice. It was a 15 minute walk to Beale Street.
The parking lot was not convenient.
21 April 2025
OK
Historic building, close to Beale St.
Light fixtures in room appeared to have broken switches. Tried three different rooms before discovering the switches above the fixtures were not the correct switches. Needed to use the switches below the fixtures on the night stand. Staff did not seem to be aware of this. Also, hotel bar closed at 10 PM. This is way too early. Should be open till at least midnight.
20 April 2025
Fabulous
The layout of the room, the bathroom, the cleanliness, the robes
No microwave in room or parking . Had to use a separate garage parking lot and pay $17 for the day .
18 April 2025
April 2025
Location & staff
Lack of restaurant , lack of communal space ,
16 April 2025
Fabulous
Good sized room, comfortable bed. Large bathroom with good shower. Easy walk to Beale Street and main street.
The pillows are too small and soft.
11 April 2025
Great location, good staff, but thumbs down to Housekeeping, and NO VALET PARKING!
Position was fabulous, and we liked the size and layout of the rooms. Unfortunately, housekeeping never cleaned our room (despite us being out of the room all morning, and seeing them at about 2pm and saying we’d be going again in ten mins so they could clean the room, when we got back in the early evening, they’d gone home!) so we had to ask for fresh towels. Also worth noting that, despite it being advertised (and also answered in the questions) there is NO VALET PARKING. There is a garage next to the hotel that guests can use - but only if you have a US phone (our uk ones didn’t work!). Also, despite there being laundry bags in the rooms, there is no laundry service! Just a bit more clarity would be good as the hotel is nice and the staff very helpful.
7 April 2025
Charming old south hotel with great location in city.
Charming older hotel in city. Great location for exploring.
Bathroom lighting could be better.
30 March 2025
Pleasant
Great location for Beale Street
29 March 2025
Two nights in Memphis
Room was comfortably sized. Nicely decorated. Liked the room
Staff was blah and distant.
2 March 2025
Beautiful experience.
The big windows
Didn’t realize it would be so rustic. The window frame was older.
19 February 2025
Better to stay close to town. We walked everywhere
Nicely renovated and preserved old architecture, Bed comfortable and sheets a soft cotton. Right near Peabody Hotel and Beale Street. Check in staff there 24 x 7 and locks front doors at nights. Not all friendly and a day man was giving out incorrect info and paying more attn to his cell phone than the guests
Some vacant building nearby. The Adjoining Restaurant, Archives is only open some evenings, not for Breakfast and lunch. Was expensive for dinner and then we got a surprise 20% service charge plus a tip. Barman was drinking behind the bar. Not associated with the Hotel but drags down their appearance and ambiance
11 February 2025
Pleasant
Good location
No coffee
27 November 2024
Fantastic location with a beautiful lobby
The location was perfect. Only a few minutes from Beale street and the other downtown establishments. Beau was great. Speaking to him was like speaking to an old friend, catching up on lost time. Nathaniel provided great food recommendations. Overall our stay was awesome
The room lighting could have been better. The ceiling area over the bed should have a big light. The small lights don’t beam illuminate enough in the evenings.
6 November 2024
Very good
As I was travelling and was very early the team did their best to accommodate me to an early check in, lucky it wasn't high season. Facilities and staff are excellent. Location so close to everywhere. You even get a nice surprise during your stay....I will keep that as a surprise, a lovely touch. Thank you all at Hotel Napoleon Memphis
21 October 2024
comfortable hotel helpful staff
location was very good easy access to Beale street and places of interest for us
air conditioning wasn;t working properly in our room but staff resolved our problems - offered another room or deduction in the bill, Resolved to our satisfaction this should be in liked option
21 September 2024
Very good
The location and staff
It was under construction and the floors were wet and dirty in the room
1 September 2024
Pleasant
Renovations made getting bags up & down from checking desk difficult
31 August 2024
Fabulous
Though the hotel was under construction at the time this is a beautiful hotel. I love the chic style.
Nothing! Everything was great
20 August 2024
Very enjoyable.
No breakfast due to construction. Excellent location.
Construction but was notified in advance.
8 July 2024
Lovely, my favorite hotel.
Location and style of building, over looking the street.
28 June 2024
Very good
Great staff. Nice, nostalgic, and convenient hotel and location.
The pillows were very uncomfortable, and the bed was so, so.
14 April 2024
Nice room. Not the best experience. But great coffee from Rocky.
Rocky - he was a complete superstar! Hold on to him! So knowledgable and helpful.
Whilst the hotel is nice, it doesn’t seem finished. Eg the bathroom door continued to slide open when closed. And there are empty walls (no art) and wires showing in the lobby. We had issues with the car parking - and it took forever to get the right contact number, for then not to be able to use the hotel phone from the room to make a call. Finally, our room didn’t get serviced for our stay over - apparently you have to request this. As seasoned travellers this was news to us. Whilst the staff were polite and keen to help, it just didn’t move quickly.
11 April 2024
Friendly employees and great experience
Location and bathroom
Little expensive
2 March 2024
Great spot to stay. Just need better parking.
The property was clean and I felt safe. The price was reasonable as well.
The parking paid garage. It was hard to get in and out of.
7 December 2023
Very good
Was told we were being charged additional fees that we could not decline but would include beverages in the bar lounge area but the area was so busy we could not get anyone to take our drink orders even after they acknowledged we were there.
19 November 2023
Great hotel, but no sleep.
We loved the entire property. It was beautiful!
The mattresses are like a rock, and neither of us slept. Heard road noise all night long.
5 November 2023
Stay was very enjoyable - clean rooms, quiet building, and central area make it a return choice.
Customer service, including the text service, was great. Everyone was polite and accommodating. The room was freshly cleaned and sanitized, and the bed was comfortable. Also, enjoyed the little complimentary items in the lobby.
The only weird thing we weren't happy with was the lack of room service. One would think it'd be a given considering the restaurant is in the same building and that it's one of the best and most expensive hotels in Memphis.
1 October 2023
A terrific value for upscale accommodations.
Location was excellent, right in the heart of downtown and a close walk to Beale Street. The Peabody ducks were just down the street. Unfortunately the Main Street trolley wasn't running while we were there. It would have made getting around even easier. Complimentary wine was very welcoming as we came "home" tired at the end of the day. Desk staff were wonderful.
The on-site restaurant was handy, but with limited offerings.
3 August 2023
A safe & clean place to sleep
Location was good. Hotel was clean. The asst GM and GM were very helpful. A place we felt safe to be.
The chk in process, (admittedly late in the eve), was difficult. Several aspects of room needed maintenance, (sink taps leaked & door lock didn't work). We were offered another room but not to same spec. No windows to open & so no fresh air to circulate - air con v cold. Although senior staff on the ball, other members lacking i.e. didn't know how to order a taxi or local info. A safe & clean place to sleep rather than a hotel with full facilities.
1 August 2023
Very good
The hotel was really nice I loved that they kept the character of the old building. The rooms were big and clean, the beds were very comfortable. Location was walking distance to Beale street.
That the little restaurant and bar closed early
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Fruits (additional charge)
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Express check-in/check-out
- - Luggage storage
- - Private check-in/check-out
- - Invoice provided
Activities
- - Fitness centre
- - Fitness
- - Happy hour (additional charge)
General
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Facilities for disabled guests
- - Family rooms
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
- - Designated smoking area
- - Vending machine (drinks)
- - Vending machine (snacks)
- - Minimarket on site
Business facilities
- - Fax/photocopying
Cleaning services
- - Daily housekeeping
Parking
- - Parking garage
Accessibility
- - Wheelchair accessible
- - Toilet with grab rails
- - Raised toilet
- - Lower bathroom sink
- - Visual aids: Braille
- - Visual aids: Tactile signs
Miscellaneous
- - Key card access
- - Smoke alarms
- - CCTV in common areas
- - Fire extinguishers
- - Breakfast takeaway containers
- - Face masks for guests available

More photos

28 May 2026
My new go-to accommodations in Memphis