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Almost everyone in the south knows someone with a subscription to Southern Living. The writers and staff are known for going the extra mile to research the best hotels, restaurants, bars, stores, and recipes from across the south.

Since ducks began bobbing in the lobby fountain at The Peabody, the Hotel Monteleone’s Carousel Bar started twirling, and 15,000 rolls of Technicolor chintz wallpaper unfurled over the halls of The Greenbrier, the South’s hotels have encapsulated all the joyful, raucous, grand, and graceful traits that make our region’s brand of hospitality the gold standard.Ushered in by properties like Austin’s Hotel San José and the 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville, a new gilded age of Southern hotels has brought restored high-rise relics, converted motor courts, and more. Inside, you will find sought-after restaurants and bars just an elevator ride away, intentional service, and details in the architecture and amenities that speak to a sense of place. No matter their size or style, they share a philosophy of checking guests in—not just to a room but to the local culture.  

From fashion designer Billy Reid to the Muscle Shoals Sound, each of the 10 swank suites in this upstairs hideaway speaks to the big names in this small town. In fact, GunRunner is one of only three hotels in the world with a sanctioned Frank Lloyd Wright suite, which references one of the architect’s homes nearby. Next door, the Sam Phillips suite honors the famous Sun Studio founder and Florence native. In the common area, dotted with leather chairs, it is not unusual to see local musicians writing new material while bartenders test out fresh takes on cocktails at the bar.

Southern Living