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Most of Memphis’ restaurants keep fully stocked bars and often have music—live or otherwise—that creates a great atmosphere. Besides having huge selections of alcohol, Memphis restaurants serve some great food with influences hailing from all over the globe. Bosco’s Squared frequently tops Memphis’ "best of" lists for its huge selection of unique beer, delicious food and hip atmosphere. Alfred’s serves up that famous Memphis barbeque alongside modestly priced cocktails and beer. Celtic Crossing is a Memphis Irish pub that has some seriously good deals on food. They have seven different lunches that only cost $7. This will help save money for smooth Irish pints. Fox & Hound English Tavern features British pub favorites, but also keeps locals happy with several barbeque selections. Whatever kind of food or drink you may fancy, Memphis’ restaurant bars are sure to have it in abundance.
Alex’s Tavern
1445 Jackson Ave., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.278.9086
Don’t judge Alex’s Tavern by the seedy exterior—it’s what’s inside that makes this Memphis dive bar worth a visit. Alex’s Tavern is a beloved family-owned pub that’s been a mainstay of Memphis nightlife since the 1950s. The jukebox itself attests to the bar’s long history and plays tunes all night. Cheep beer and perfectly grilled burgers keep celebrities like Don Henley and Dennis Quaid coming back every chance they get. The walls are lined with photographs of other celebs and framed articles about this favorite Memphis bar to locals and visitors in the know. Students and businesspeople alike will love the authentic Memphis atmosphere found at Alex’s Tavern.
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Alfred's
197 Beale St., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.525.3711
Local Memphis favorite, Alfred’s, serves up music, dancing, barbeque and drinks nearly all night to crowds of locals and visitors. Its large patio is a perfect place to enjoy cocktails during happy hour from the full bar or barbeque from the large restaurant menu. This restaurant, club and bar hybrid captures what nightlife in Memphis should be all about: nightly dancing, plentiful drinking, great live music, delicious barbeque and good people. Alfred’s is perfect for long-time friends to rendezvous or for Memphis singles to hit the town.
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B.B. King's
143 Beale St., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.524.5464
B.B. King’s, aptly named after the Memphis’ blues-roots musician, is one of Beale Street’s premier live music bars. This Memphis bar is a hub of the city’s nightlife with live music and dancing throughout the week. The upscale two-story club and restaurant offers not only plenty of booze and blues, but also local cuisine such as BBQ ribs, catfish and gumbo. Beal Street’s B.B. King’s offers a perfect venue for immersion into Memphis culture with plenty of drinks at the bar, blues on the stage and BBQ hot off the grill.
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Beale Street Tap Room
168 Beale St., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.527.4392
With nearly 30 beers on tap, the Beale Street Tap Room’s friendly Memphis atmosphere and prime location in the heart of the city’s nightlife scene make it one of the best places to enjoy a beer in the River City. For patrons not in the mood for beer, excellent food and an extensive liquor selection should leave everyone feeling satisfied. Friendly bartenders add to the comfortable feel of one of Beale Street’s and Memphis’ best drinking establishments sure to satisfy everyone.
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Black Diamond
153 Beale St., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.521.0800
Located on Memphis’ nightlife central—Beale Street—Black Diamond isn’t in the rough. This cozy live blues club is an ideal spot for listening to great music while sipping on cold brews or cocktails from the bar. Black Diamond is also famous for its pizza, generally considered the best that Beale Street has to offer. Boasting reasonable prices, authentic live blues and late night drinking, Black Diamond is an excellent choice for visitors and locals when enjoying a night bar hopping down Beale Street.
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Blue Monkey
2012 Madison Ave., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.272.2583
Fresh ingredients make the pizza, calzoni and Black Angus burgers at Blue Monkey as tasty as their beer and cocktails from the bar. Live music adds to the fun atmosphere and makes this Memphis bar popular for patrons from all walks of life. Locals shoot pool while bobbing their heads to the rocking live bands while visitors soak up the Memphis vibes. Weekend brunches serve delicious omelets and even prime rib that attracts many in the area. More live music clubs should learn from the Blue Monkey: serve awesome food and beer while hosting great local talent and patrons will always leave satisfied.
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Bosco's Squared
2120 Madison Ave., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.432.2222
Bosco’s Squared, or “The Square” for those in the know, is the ultimate restaurant for beer lovers. Its location in Overton Square makes this Memphis bar and restaurant a popular meeting place for post-movie drinking and late-night snacking. Over 50 different hand crafted beers are served at Bosco’s yearly, and each new variety is unveiled during Saturday tastings. Bosco’s is an ideal stop for anyone who enjoys quality food, beer and a lively, hip atmosphere. The bar is usually full of hip twenty-somethings and is a great place to meet new people in Memphis.
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Celtic Crossing
903 S. Cooper St., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.274.5151
Seven lunches for $7—including soda and tax—served in about seven minutes have made Celtic Crossing an incredibly popular Memphis lunch stop. In the evenings, discounted pint nights, live Irish music and awesome atmosphere keep this Memphis Irish pub hopping into the wee hours of the night. Visitors, locals and everyone Irish at heart will love the Boddington’s Pub Ale, Guinness and other imports on tap. Celtic Crossing is Memphis’ best place to catch soccer matches —or football for those UK folks—and eat Irish cuisine while downing pints with friends.
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Coyote Ugly Saloon
326 Beale St., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.888.UGLY
Coyote Ugly is all about good times, gorgeous women and great drink specials every night to guarantee that partiers will leave satisfied, or at least drunk. Burgers, sandwiches and wings are favorites at this nationally known bar that became famous for the hot ladies in the namesake movie. Coyote Ugly fits in perfectly with Beale Street’s wild nightlife scene and is worth stopping by while enjoying a night out on the town.
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Dan McGuinness
150 Peabody Pl. #115, Memphis; Tel. 901.527.8500
4698 Spottswood, Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.761.3711
Dan McGuinness provides a family friendly atmosphere to enjoy traditional Irish cuisine in the heart of Memphis. Pub grub and pints will satisfy the hungriest—or thirstiest—of patrons. Little lads and lasses can choose from their own kids’ menu while parents relax with a spirit from the pub and enjoy this special Memphis restaurant and bar. Dan McGuinness is a great place for anyone in Memphis who wants a unique place to munch on classic pub grub and swill some pints.
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Fox & Hound English Tavern
5101 Sanderlin Ave. #100, Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.763.2013
An excellent beer selection and delicious barbeque make the Fox & Hound English Tavern the perfect Memphis bar to watch the Grizzlies or to shoot pool with friends. Big screen TVs, darts, shuffle board and video games will keep everyone happy while the excellent food that’s always hot off the grill is sure to fill even the hungriest patrons. Enjoy some rib-sticking barbeque and beer while playing pool or darts for a complete night or as a way to kick off a night of exploring the rest of Memphis’ nightlife.
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Huey's
1927 Madison Ave., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.726.4372
77 S. Second St., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.527.2700
4872 Poplar Ave., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.682.7729
7825 Winchester Rd., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.624.8911
Huey’s, Memphis’ self-proclaimed home of blues, brews and burgers, has been a local favorite for years. Walls at Huey’s are decorated with photos of patrons, drawings and random initials. The ceiling is covered with toothpicks shot out of straws, and each year they are taken down and counted. Feeling lucky? A contest is held to guess the final number and all money received is donated to the Memphis Zoo. After shooting toothpicks at the ceiling or signing the walls, guests can enjoy live music any night of the week. Family charm combined with excellent food and beer make Huey’s the place to be for anyone looking to unwind in a Memphis neighborhood bar.
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Newby’s Bar & Restaurant
539 S. Highland, Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.452.8408
Strong drinks and a young college crowd characterize Newby’s Bar & Restaurant, located a few miles east of Beale Street. University of Memphis students—current and alumni—gather here to play billiards on one of the four pool tables, watch the Grizzlies on one of the 14 TVs or just hang out on the huge patio. Also famous here are the barbeque chicken sandwiches that are always hot off the grill and various local and national bands that play in the enormous auditorium. Newby’s is hard to pass up for anyone who wants to be around a young, lively crowd and love live music.
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R.P. Tracks
3547 Walker Ave., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.327.1471
Trains practically roll through R.P. Tracks, which might sound annoying, but every time a train thunders past, shots are $1 off which will make trains a welcome treat soon enough. The crowd is varied at this Memphis dive with everyone from students to tourists and regulars who can choose from drinks on the three-page cocktail menu. Several microbrews and wines are also served along with a variety of tasty pub food—excellent burgers accompany vegetarian choices on the menu. R.P. Tracks is a great Memphis dive bar to get a taste of real Tennessee nightlife, drink specials when trains roll through and tasty grub from the grill.
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Rum Boogie Cafe
182 Beale St., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.528.0150
Memphis’ Beale Street is known for live music clubs and bars, and the Rum Boogie Cafe is one of the best. Liquor and mixed drink aficionados will love the vast array of rum behind the bar. The Memphis music club also serves up local cuisine: barbeque ribs, fried catfish and gumbo grace the plentiful menu. The Rum Boogie Cafe’s stage has been home to famous national rock acts as well as local Memphis bands. Guitars autographed by Aerosmith and Stevie Ray Vaughan are just two of the hundreds that decorate the walls of the club. The Cafe can’t be missed while exploring all that the Memphis nightlife has to offer.
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The Lounge
145 Lt. George Lee Ave., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.554.7998
Located one block off Beal Street on the ground floor of the Gibson Guitar Factory, The Lounge has music oozing from its walls all the time. Local Memphis singers and bands rock this bar with blues, jazz, country and everything in between almost every night, making it one of the hippest places to hang out in Memphis. Large couches and oversized booths make lounging, listening and drinking with friends not only comfortable but also memorable. Fans of guitars, music or just plain good times won’t be disappointed by The Lounge, one of Memphis’ premier live music clubs.
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Young Avenue Deli
2119 Young Ave., Memphis, Tennessee; Tel. 901.278.3123
Local Memphis bands and the occasional national act play at Young Avenue Deli while patrons enjoy delicious food and a variety of drinks. The fully stocked bar, complete with an assortment of imported beers, make this Memphis bar a favorite for visitors and locals alike. The crowd is truly unique with hard-rocking musicians drinking right alongside suited businesspeople and artsy hipsters. Jazzy tunes, excellent eats and plenty of drink options keep the Young Avenue Deli atop many best Memphis bar and live rock music club lists.
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—Memphis bar and club reviews by David Backes
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