The Tennessean
531 Henley St., Knoxville, TN 37902
Lowest prices for your stay
$199
Free cancellation until 08/26/22
$199
Free cancellation until 08/26/22
$200
$164
Hotels.com$199
Travelocity$199
Trip.com$200
View all 18 deals
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Full view
View all photos (152)152
Room & Suite (30)
Dining (16)
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
#5 of 99 hotels in Knoxville
Location
4.8
Cleanliness
4.9
Service
4.7
Value
4.6
Travelers' Choice
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Valet parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Business Center with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Baggage storage
Wifi
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Concierge
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Ironing service
Show more
Room features
Air conditioning
Room service
Safe
VIP room facilities
Iron
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Centrally Located
Business
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Full view
90Good for walkers
Grade: 90 out of 100
36Restaurantswithin 0.3 miles
23Attractionswithin 0.3 miles
Contact
531 Henley St., Knoxville, TN 37902
Getting there
Rental CarsSee rental cars from $19/day
537Reviews7Q+A69Room tips
Reviews
Traveler rating
- 465
- 33
- 16
- 12
- 11
Time of year
Traveler type
Language
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Popular mentions
Sort by:
Most Recent
Very disappointed. When I decided to upgrade to a larger (much more expensive) room I was told that it had a soaking tub. Not the case. The tub is standard if not on the small side. I was told I would be on the quiet side of the hotel. Also not true. The room itself was really really musty. Like the smell of an old carpet. One night the staff was working on fixing a door across from my room. Open and close. Open and close for almost three hours! So much for requesting a quiet room. Shower and water pressure was very low and inconsistent. Only a few of the standard toiletries that you would expect in the most expensive hotel in Knoxville. Overall the staff was very pleasant although as I checked out and handed a tip to the bellman it was up to me to load my bags into the trunk of my car (note this is after I handed over a tip *and* there were zero hotel guests in the area. Only three bellman hanging out at the bell stand chatting away watching me load my suitcases). I’ll try the Hyatt next time. I can’t recommend this hotel, certainly not at the price I paid.…
Read more
Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Find another hotel. There are plenty of better options.
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from A K, General Manager at The Tennessean
Responded 6 days ago
We appreciate your feedback, KEWLBEANS. We're disheartened to hear about the challenges you faced during your stay with us. We strive to offer our guests quality service and comfort. It's unfortunate our services and accommodations was not on par with the high standard we're accustomed to sharing. We'll be addressing your concerns with the appropriate members of our team. Please consider allowing us another chance to provide you with the excellent service we're capable of providing.
Read more
It seems that some hotels, even high end ones, have used hiring challenges as a justification for declining service. Not so at The Tennessean: the staff are unfailingly gracious, efficient, friendly, welcoming, and skillful. The hotel itself is attractive, serene, and immaculate. The bed is luxuriously comfortable, the in-room and restaurant dining were both greatly enjoyable (and in-room dining arrived quickly, which is rare from my experience). This visit was for seeing family in Knoxville, but the hotel was a superb experience on its own, not merely a convenience or necessity. We will never stay anywhere else in Knoxville.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from A K, General Manager at The Tennessean
Responded 1 week ago
Thanks for the great review and rating, Bobby! We're happy that your overall stay at The Tennessean was enjoyable. We are pleased to hear you loved the vibe our hotel and Knoxville has to offer. It's great that you appreciated our wonderful staff and spacious rooms with soft bedding. We will be sure to pass along your kind words to our team. The room service and restaurant really adds to our hotel's charm and makes it stand out among others. We are so glad you choose to stay with us when visiting family. We look forward to seeing you again soon! Thank you for your feedback.
Read more
My fiancee and I only stayed one night at The Tennessean but it left quite an impression on us. From the valet to the front desk staff to the service in The Drawing Room restaurant, every member of the staff was professional, friendly, and helpful. The decor of the hotel is both beautiful and functional and the rooms are spacious, especially the bathrooms. I have stayed at hotels all over the world and this was the first time a front desk employee extended his hand for a welcoming handshake. We had an absolutely AMAZING dinner at The Drawing Room. We ordered several appetizers / small plates and they were absolutely incredible. We just got back from a trip to Washington state where we stayed and dined at a high end resort and this meal far exceeded any meal we had there. Our bartender / server provided excellent service with a smile and made the best Old Fashioned we have had in a while. Congrats to the management for caring enough to hire and maintain such an outstanding staff and providing such a warm and welcoming atmosphere.…
Read more
Date of stay: July 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from A K, General Manager at The Tennessean
Responded 2 weeks ago
Thank you for sharing this glowing review, Leon! We are delighted to hear about your experience at The Tennessean! We truly appreciate your kind words regarding our team. It's wonderful that you felt valued by each member of our top-notch team. We strive to provide our guests with the warmest hospitality and most efficient service, so this is fantastic to hear! Your compliments are not only rewarding, but also encouraging. We'd love to share another positive, fun experience with you in the future.
Read more
I arrived from overseas and the WiFi was not working for all my stay (2 days). I was not informed before therefore I got disconnected from family and not able to work from the room. The unreasonable solution offered was to go and work from the beside hotel. I got looked out from my room for about 1 hour due to problems with the room lock. No compensation was offered,
Read more
Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled on business
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from A K, General Manager at The Tennessean
Responded 3 weeks ago
We appreciate your feedback, Renato. It's unfortunate you had such challenges during your time with us. We're disheartened that our amenities and services offered weren't up to par with your expectations. We hold ourselves to a higher standard so we'll discuss your concerns with the appropriate members of our team moving forward. We hope for the chance to host you again soon for a more positive experience.
Read more
+1
Oh my goodness! We are a traveling family, and my youngest son is fascinated with all things tourism. He especially loves hotels and finding them on TripAdvisor. We stayed in 5 different hotels on our recent trip across several states, but since the last night was the day before his 12th birthday, I told him he could go online and pick anything in the Knoxville area. Typically, he is indecisive, but he knew what he wanted the moment he first saw this hotel. Somehow, he let this destination become the highlight of our trip. I was a bit nervous that he would feel let down, as Knoxville was just a pass through on the way home. Boy was I wrong! Both of my younger boys want to travel back to downtown Knoxville now, and instead of exploring new hotels, they want to stay at the Tennessean again. We were greeted with courtesy and Southern hospitality. The older gentleman at the front desk was just precious! He gave my boys a cold drink which was awesome on that very hot day. He told us all about the hotel! The room was perfectly clean. (Like insanely clean!) The views were unbelievable, the room was spacious and well laid out, and the amenities were more than adequate. We did some roaming downtown, so we were especially grateful for the central location. We went up in the Sunsphere, did some shopping, had a delicious dinner, and found the cutest ice cream shop for dessert. We took pictures in the artistic park full of sculptures and even played on the unique equipment at the nearby playground. This simple trip became a 10 out of 10. Check out was a breeze, and we stayed right up until the last moment so we could venture out for a yummy lunch. Valet parking is a little expensive, but that’s expected. The staff were kind and accommodating. The beds were just dreamy with the best best linens and pillows. The shower was great. The pressure was good and the water was hot! The room had plenty of receptacles and plenty of places to set our things down. The closet was spacious too. The turndown chocolates were the bomb! Honestly, I have nothing to complain about. I try to be fair in reviews and never point out all good or all bad, so if I had one tiny gripe it was that only one k-cup in our room was not decaf. We just aren’t a decaf family! I found a staff member in the hall, and she gave us 2 more, so it minor problem was easily solved. Overall, this place is a no brainer. It is ideal for families but would also be great for a couples getaway or even business. We will be back! Knoxville has a ton of charm, so we plan to make this a new short getaway location for our family.…
Read more
Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Get reservations for dinner ahead of time. If you have young children, there is a water garden to...
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from A K, General Manager at The Tennessean
Responded 4 weeks ago
Thank you for taking the time to share, 717wendyw! Your opinion is greatly valued and helps us maintain an outstanding standard of service. You having such an amazing stay at The Tennessean lets us know that we're meeting those standards! We're glad our team made you feel so valued during your time here and that you enjoyed your stay! We're thankful for guests like you that take the time to let us know how we're doing! Thank you for the feedback, and we hope to see you again!
Read more
+1
I booked the Tennessean for a visit to UT with my daughter. I am very picky about hotel cleanliness and thought I did my homework. I am here for 2 more nights and in our third room. The first room was dusty with toothpaste stains on the bathroom wall. I asked for the room to be cleaned again immediately after we settled in. Later, after showering, I found the towels to be like old rags. Ripped and full of holes. I called the front desk and was immediately brought much nicer towels. The next day, An odor, which was faint at first, got stronger and was quite unpleasant. The stained carpet? The pillows? I’m not sure but I couldn’t continue to sleep with it. Our second room was not as updated as the first. The furniture was visibly worn, the carpet dirty, and there was debris on the floor near the bed and in a bathroom corner (a hair tie, and small pieces of trash). For me, this oversight speaks to a much deeper level of unsanitary. If housekeeping is missing visible debris, I cannot be certain basic sanitization has occurred. Our third room has stained and worn carpet, a shower that is struggling to drain properly, with bathroom tiles and grout that could use updating. This will have to do as I suspect the hotel cannot offer better. Complaints to the front desk were Initially met with inconsistency. The initial room cleaning and ripped towels were met with sincere apologies. The complaint of the odor, and complaints of the dirty second room to two different employees were received without one apology or Attempt to properly address the situation. In fact, I felt embarrassed for complaining despite showing the employees photos of the stated issues. This experience has been disappointing and not on par with what one would expect from a four diamond rating. I’m curious if the attached Marriot has a better quality room.…
Read more
Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from A K, General Manager at The Tennessean
Responded Jun 23, 2022
Thank you for your review. We have brought your concerns regarding the cleanliness of the room to the attention of the Housekeeping Manager and upper management of the hotel. We did make every single effort to exceed your expectations and make your stay comfortable. Each situation that was brought to our attention was taken care of promptly. The stain noted on the carpet has been addressed by housekeeping and engineering, and we are currently in the process of deep cleaning all carpeting in the hotel rooms to maintain our high cleanliness standard. In regards to your concern with the pillows, there are 2 yellow pillows in the room (yellow pillows are foam) and the white pillows inside the pillow casings are our feather pillows. They are different hues of color if any of our guests have allergies and are more identifiable.
Read more
The Tennessean is a beautiful nightmare. The check-in was smooth, the room large, the shower also huge (either Tennesseans must be universally large or maybe I was given the offensive tackle suite; grateful, nonetheless). They have the bare basics of a four-star hotel down, but, leapin' Dollywood, are they messed up on the finer details. The key to a great hotel is impeccable, relentlessly finicky customer service, but with non-intrusive grace, transparency, and aplomb. A key component of great customer service is composure under fire. Even a barely paid Capitol Hill intern understands that, especially with an angry constituent chewing him or her out. An overtly distressed middle aged woman was running the Tennessean's second floor breakfast service, which, at first blush, had a fairly dignified setup. There weren't that many tables, but she, nevertheless, seemed overwhelmed---another casualty of the lack of trained personnel everywhere. I tried to calm her down––I was ready to even help!––but she kept loudly complaining about how overworked she was. It was hardly the kind of decorum one would expect from such a high-priced hotel, the second highest-rated in Knoxville. The second key component of customer service is authentic congeniality (a certain front desk clerk at the Hotel Santa Fe in Santa Fe, NM is my Platonic form of this signature virtue). Hotel service is kabuki theater at its finest, and all the players must act their part. If one wants to excel in this rewarding career, one must carry at least the believable veneer of agreeable professionalism wherever one goes, inside or outside the hotel. As in the movie The Prestige, the act must become one's life. Sadly, that kind of rigor was missing at the Tennessean: the walls were thin, such that I could hear the drunk person in the room next door banging against the wall and drunkenly gabbing on the phone after midnight. The cleaning crew was talking loudly at 7:30 AM and slamming doors or letting doors slam without a care in the world. This is a particular bugaboo for me. Cleaning persons need to be instructed by hotel management to slowly and meticulously close doors so they don't make any noise or to prop them open, and to never talk before noon (in case a guest is sleeping late). If they have to speak to each other, they should whisper. The cleaning crew at The Tennessean acted like this was some daily party in which they could loudly laugh and gossip before 8 AM. All this discussion should be done with a whisper far off the floor. It's inconsiderate, crude, and rude, and completely unbecoming of a four-star hotel. Hotel management in America today seems to rest on the belief that if you smile, all sins are forgiven. Just the opposite is true. What top-paying customers want, and will pay for, is mindful, smart, moment-to-moment attention to detail (a smile is nice, but not necessary if the customer service is astute). The Tennessean has the potential to get there. I would start by requiring the reading and discussion of Horst Schulze's Excellence Wins, followed by a rigorous daily review of the defects I noted above. And then pay extra money to hire the best and brightest in the hotel game (think Asia and Europe). I think it will help the hotel elevate its game to at least the above average level of the adjacent University of Tennessee Volunteers football program.…
Read more
Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from A K, General Manager at The Tennessean
Responded Jun 8, 2022
We appreciate the feedback. We're disappointed that your time with us was less than ideal. Your experience is not on par with the level of service we're accustomed to providing. We hold ourselves to a higher standard so we'll address your concerns with the appropriate members of our team moving forward. We hope you give us another opportunity to share a more positive experience with you soon.
Read more
Really enjoyed our experience here. The hotel rooms are somewhat dated, but everything is generally clean and functional. I especially liked that the bathroom was large and had a closed off section for the toilet. The TV and remote come with Netflix, and the nightstands offer sufficient space for sundry items. Same point for the desk. Location is excellent - within walking distance of Old Town and Market Square. You can also walk to the University if desired (though a longer walk). Gym is clean and offers a variety of equipment. All in all, we would happily return.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from A K, General Manager at The Tennessean
Responded May 2, 2022
It was a pleasure hosting you! We strive to offer top-notch service and comfort for all of our guests here at The Tennessean, so it makes us happy that you had such a pleasant experience with us. It's great to know you loved your comfortable accommodations and our prime location, and that you had a memorable stay at our property. When you're back in town, come see us again!
Read more
A hotel that is centrally located and within walking distance to all the tourist spots in the area. My friends and I were very impressed at the cleanliness of the room and how upgraded even the very basic room. The staff were knowledgeable and helpful...and the pillows are so good that I even asked for the brand and learned it was a luxury one. Highly recommended hotel!
Read more
Date of stay: April 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from A K, General Manager at The Tennessean
Responded Apr 29, 2022
Thanks for the wonderful review! We're thrilled you had such a fantastic stay at The Tennessean! It's excellent your room was refreshed properly and that you appreciated our comfortable and clean facilities. We strive for excellence and your praise lets us know we're doing our job! We look forward to seeing you again soon for another fantastic experience. Thank you again for sharing your feedback!
Read more
The hotel is perfecty situated between UT and Market Square. It is a luxury hotel and the rooms were very nice. The bathroom was very large and well-appointed. High end finishes throughout the room. Service was impeccable and friendly. We would definitely stay here again.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from A K, General Manager at The Tennessean
Responded Apr 24, 2022
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're delighted your time at The Tennessean was so wonderful! It's fantastic you took advantage of our convenient location in the heart of the city. We endeavor to offer a memorable experience for all of our guests. We look forward to hosting you again soon for another excellent experience! Please come see us again soon!
Read more
PRICE RANGE
$220 - $314 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United StatesTennesseeKnoxville
NUMBER OF ROOMS
82
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about The Tennessean
Which popular attractions are close to The Tennessean?
Nearby attractions include East Tennesse Historical Society (0.3 miles), Knoxville Museum of Art (0.1 miles), and Market Square (0.3 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at The Tennessean?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at The Tennessean?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at The Tennessean?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to The Tennessean?
Conveniently located restaurants include Yassin's Falafel House, Chesapeake's Downtown, and The French Market Creperie.
Are there opportunities to exercise at The Tennessean?
Yes, guests have access to a fitness center during their stay.
Is The Tennessean located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.05 miles away from the center of Knoxville.
Are any cleaning services offered at The Tennessean?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Are pets allowed at The Tennessean?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Does The Tennessean offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business center, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.