Hotels Reviews

Southern Charm ❤️ The Harpeth Hotel Franklin, TN a Hilton Curio Collection property

a building with a parking lot and a car parked on the side

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Review: The Harpeth Hotel Franklin, TN

A little over a year ago I was whisked away to  Nashville on a surprise bachelor party trip.  My best man, Dave, put together an incredible weekend away at The Joseph. I’d long heard about the city, hadn’t visited since I was a child, and had the best time. The music, the food, the energy, I was hooked. I’ve since been back 4 times in the past year and have tried out a few different spots ( even staying at The Hermitage Twice using up Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts credits ). Downtown Nashville can be a bit of an assault on the senses, and for this trip my wife and I chose the charming, lowkey, storybook town of Franklin, TN roughly 20 minutes south of Nashville. We chose The Harpeth Hotel, a Hilton Curio Collection, and would go back in a heartbeat.

Nashville Hotels I’ve reviewed:

The courtyard at The Harpetha building with stairs and tables and chairs

The Harpeth Franklin, TN Stay Details

  • When: October 2022
  • Where: Franklin, TN
  • Rate: 70k Hilton Honors
  • Status: Diamond
    • Upgrade to Balcony Room
    • 100% bonus on points
    • $15 per person per night dining credit
  • Pet Friendly
    • $100 per pet

a large room with a wood floor and a large door

Booking The Harpeth

Cash rates were in the mid $400s and we elected to use Hilton Honors instead of paying cash. We booked for 70k points, which you could replenish when Hilton has a sale for roughly $350. Not cheap by any means, and if you’d rather stay nearby, but not within walking distance, there are cheaper options like the Hyatt Place and Hyatt House about 5 to 10 minutes outside of downtown Franklin.

a screenshot of a cell phone

The location

Set just off the main roundabout The Harpeth is Franklin’s only downtown hotel and In a great location. We walked to dinner, brunch, coffee, all within 5 minutes. You’re going to pay a premium rate for the location

The main street is just a few minutes walk from the front of the hotel.

a street with cars parked on it

Check In

Upon entering, and immediately to your right, you’ll find check-in. We were told that we had $15 per person per day, expiring at noon, to be used at the dining facilities at the hotel.

a room with a gold cart and chairs

Parking

There is valet parking which is $40 a night, as well as a paid parking garage semi-attached to the building. You get 30 minutes free, but after that, it’s based on per hour charging with a weird reset over night that could balloon your parking charges over the cost of valet. However… just a couple blocks away, there is a free garage that permits overnight parking. We put our vehicle there…which the hotel didn’t mention at check-in.

It’s just behind the First Horizon Bank with the arches in the background of this photo.

a building with a sign on the front

Our Room

We were upgraded to a balcony room which featured french doors, which opened to a large balcony overlooking the entrance of the hotel. If I had to guess, I’d say the balcony was nearly 1/3 the size of the bedroom and really transformed the stay. I spent a solid hour the morning of our departure listening to birds chirp, sitting coffee, and doing some Instagram stories. Idyllic.

a bathroom with a sliding glass door

One thing to keep an eye on, the walls that separate the balconies across the front have a space under them that our dog could easily get under. I’d guess if you have a small child they could find themselves on another guest’s balcony without much trouble as well.a patio with a couch and a table

The room is fresh, spacious, and modern.

The bathroom featured a massive walk in shower with a single vanity.

a bathroom with a glass shower and sink

Communal bath products

A nice seating area built into the nook next to the bed.

a room with a bed and a couch

Dining

There are two spots to grab a bite: 1799 and McGavock’s

1799

On the northern side of the hotel, you’ll find 1799. An upscale restaurant with a lively bar scene. We chose to use our $30 dining credits for a couple of cocktails. They were quite delicious, classic, and if we were to stay here again, I’d definitely try out the food. The burgers, fries, etc that I saw other guests enjoying looked very good

McGavock’s

A lovely cafe on the southern side of the hotel, near the elevators, featuring pastries, sandwiches, and adult beverages at night.

a counter with food on it

Overall

Franklin is an incredibly charming town that I will most certainly visit again.  Would I stay here?  Absolutely if it were a special occasion or making great use of a free night certificate from our Amex Hilton Aspire. Otherwise, I’d do my best to find a sub $300 rate, or perhaps stay a bit outside of town and uber back and forth.

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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1 Comment

  • Jennifer October 12, 2022

    We also enjoyed our stay at the Harpeth on points, cash prices were very high during our visit. Franklin has interesting history and a fantastic ghost tour that we enjoyed later that night. A nice break from Nashville during our visit to the area.

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