The Peabody Memphis has been named "Best Historic Hotel" in USA Today’s 2020 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. In addition, Chez Philippe has taken 3rd Place in the “Best Hotel Restaurant” category. Both awards come on the heels of The Peabody’s 150th Anniversary celebration last year. This is the third consecutive year that the “South’s Grand Hotel” has taken the top spot in the contest. A AAA Four Diamond and a Forbes four-star property, The Peabody Memphis has also been named "Best Historic Hotel" by Historic Hotels of America and #1 Historic Hotel by Southern Living. The luxury downtown Memphis hotel opened in 1869 and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977.
This was the first time that The Peabody’s signature dining room, Chez Philippe, has been nominated for a USA Today 10Best Award. Opening in January 1982, shortly after The Peabody Memphis’ noteworthy restoration and reopening, Chez Philippe quickly rose to fame as one of the finest restaurants in the South. It’s refined French cuisine and opulent dining room depicting a masquerade ball have earned the restaurant both Forbes Travel Guide’s Four-Star Award and AAA’s Four Diamond Award every year since 1989.
The Peabody and Chez Philippe were nominated among a field of 20 historic hotels and 20 hotel restaurants from around the country. A panel of experts partnered with 10 Best editors pick the initial 20 nominees, and the Top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
The 2020 Top 10 winners in the ‘Best Historic Hotel' category are as follows:
- The Peabody Memphis (1869) Memphis, Tennessee
- Historic Hotel Bethlehem (1922) Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa (1847) Point Clear, Alabama
- The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa (1876) Riverside, California
- The Francis House, Calistoga, California
- Deer Path Inn, Lake Forest, Illinois
- Grand Hotel (1887) Mackinac Island, Michigan
- The Hermitage Hotel (1910) Nashville, Tennessee
- Congress Hall, Cape May, New Jersey
- The Langham, Huntington, Pasadena, California
The 2020 Top 10 winners in the category ‘Best Hotel Restaurant’ are as follows:
- The Smokehouse Restaurant at Antrim 1844 (1844) Taneytown, Maryland
- The Immigrant Restaurant at The American Club (1918) Kohler, Wisconsin
- Chez Philippe at The Peabody Memphis (1869) Memphis, Tennessee
- Restaurant at Harbor House Inn, Harbor House Inn, Elk, California
- Circa 1886 at Wentworth Mansion (1886) Charleston, South Carolina
- Herons, The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary, North Carolina
- Woods Restaurant at Grand Hotel (1887) Mackinac Island, Michigan
- TÈ at Inn at Leola Village (1867) Leola, Pennsylvania
- Jack Rose, Pontchartrain Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Signature, Inspired by Chef Andrew Weissman, La Cantera Resort & Spa, San Antonio, Texas
Read more about The Peabody Memphis' iconic history here.
Read the full article from Local Memphis here.
About USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards
The 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards highlight the best of the best in contests covering categories such as destinations, food and drink, hotels, and things to do. Nominees in all categories are chosen editorially by a panel of experts. Readers can vote once per category, per day, and new contests are launched every other Monday at noon ET. After four weeks of voting, each contest closes, and the winners will be announced the following Friday.
About Historic Hotels of America®
Historic Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and celebrating the finest Historic Hotels. Historic Hotels of America has more than 300 legendary historic hotels in its distinctive collection. These historic hotels have all faithfully maintained their authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity in the United States of America, including 44 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Historic Hotels of America is comprised of mostly independently owned and operated historic hotels. More than 30 of the world’s finest hospitality brands, chains, and collections are represented in Historic Hotels of America. To be nominated and selected for membership into this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old; has been designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and recognized as having historic significance. For more information, please visit HistoricHotels.org.
