From high style to standout service, The Bristol Hotel doesn’t miss a beat
Hugged by the rounded shoulders of the Blue Ridge Mountains in southwestern Virginia, Bristol straddles the border of Tennessee, where the city touts its claim to fame as the place where the first recordings of country music were made in 1927. And in this town that hangs its hat on music, the historic Bristol Hotel is a remix of old and new.
Hardin Reynolds, nephew of tobacco mogul R.J. Reynolds, constructed the Classical Revival-style building in 1925 as a hotel, but it eventually became an office space known as the Executive Plaza. The landmark held offices into the twenty-first century, after which time it sat empty for years before the owner, real estate developer Marcus McCall of Greenville-based McCall Capital, brought it back to life as a hotel.
In 2018, The Bristol Hotel reopened as the city’s first boutique hotel. Its location couldn’t be more convenient: the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, is right next door, while State Street, the hub of downtown, is a short two blocks away.
You could say State Street has a split personality, as one side of Bristol’s main thoroughfare lies in Virginia, and the other in Tennessee. Stand in the middle of the street and you can literally have one foot in each state—how’s that for a photo op?
Blending historic elements with modern design, the Bristol welcomes guests to its stylish lobby, where sleek furnishings complement a section of the original terrazzo floor (which was copied in the restoration) and 1920s-era elevator car.
The 65 guestrooms, which include 11 suites, sport a contemporary vibe with navy blue accents and large baths; a few rooms even include the structure’s original brick walls. If you want to treat yourself, book A Good Place To Live suite—which echoes Bristol’s tagline. On the seventh floor, this spacious suite boasts a king room plus a separate sitting room with its own half-bath.
Off the lobby, Vivian’s restaurant stands out for its fine dining. Billing itself as an Appalachian-style chophouse, the casually elegant dining room bears the name and hospitable spirit of McCall’s mother. From the grill come proteins from prime ribeye to salmon, while composed plates present a taste of the region in dishes like Country Cordon Bleu (biscuit fried chicken with country ham) and rainbow trout.
A stay here is not complete without a visit to LUMAC, Bristol’s only rooftop bar. Named for McCall’s grandmother, consummate entertainer Lulu McCall, the bar is a perfect roost for watching the sunset. Its outdoor seating affords 360-degree views of downtown, including the iconic Bristol sign. Lit up at night, the sign arches over State Street, proclaiming “BRISTOL VA–TENN, A Good Place To Live.”
Whether you come to Bristol to drum up its country music heritage, watch a NASCAR race at the Bristol Speedway, cast for trout in mountain streams, or rock out at the annual Rhythm and Roots music festival in September, you can count on The Bristol Hotel for a chart-topping stay.
115 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, bristolhotelva.com
Cradle of Country Music
Next door to The Bristol Hotel, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum celebrates the 1927 Bristol Sessions—the first recordings of country music—through theater experiences, listening stations, and a collection of related objects and photographs. New York record producer Ralph Peer from the Victor Talking Machine Company came to Bristol with his recording equipment—including the newly developed electric microphone—in summer 1927.
From July 25 to August 5, Peer recorded 19 performers of Appalachian music. Of those, the acknowledged stars were Ernest Stoneman, Jimmie Rodgers, and the Carter Family. Widely known as the “big bang of country music,” the Bristol Sessions informed, instructed, and inspired generations of country musicians to come.
Learn more at birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.
