The Harpeth Franklin Downtown, Curio Collection by Hilton

I spent 4 nights at this boutique hotel in Franklin, in a room with a balcony and a single king bed. The staff were friendly, and the valet was great. My catered event food was high quality, too. The lobby feels cozy, with live music, and the courtyard has igloos where you can sit outside without the elements. There’s also a nice hotel fitness center with two Peletons. The bathroom was large and really nice, with a walk-in glass shower. A pet-friendly hotel is a bonus!

One of my favorite places in Tennessee. It’s convenient to everything, and I often catch sight of a celebrity or two. The breakfast spot attached to the hotel is fantastic. I try to stay here at least once a month. It’s comparable to the Ritz Carlton on many levels, at a fraction of the cost.

Anastasia was an excellent waitress, definitely tip worthy, and Michelle, the manager, took 20% off the food. I didn’t come for a discounted meal, though. I came for the experience and gave the discount back to the waitress, plus more. I’ve lived in Downtown Franklin for more than 15 years and have walked past this building since before it was an “it” thing. The hotel rooms are more than excellent, and the place is boutique, unique, and quiet luxury. I came for a room and dinner by myself, and would come back for the hotel, but I’d walk a block or two for better food. Everything in downtown Franklin is excellent, so try the factory or the local seafood place. This was my third dinner at the restaurant, and they still couldn’t get it right. I’m usually pescatarian, but sometimes eat lamb because of its high iron concentration, and this was a big mistake. They oversold the “porterhouse“ lamb chops, then served small store-bought 3 ounce chops for $70. I asked for medium rare, and one came out right while the other was burnt to the bone. The scalloped potatoes were burnt on the bottom. When I got an exchange, the meat was better cooked but unseasoned, and the scallops were partly cold in the middle. My first two dinners there were salmon, which tasted bland and ordinary. Chef Arensha, not with the correction in name spelling.

The Harpeth is elegant without feeling stuffy, and it’s very family friendly. The location is easy to get around on foot, close to everything, and the rooms are beautiful. August at reception handled a cranky traveler ahead of us with such patience and grace. She and the rest of the team are wonderful, and the service is kind. I’d make a few adjustments to improve access for disabled and elderly guests.