9 Number 1 Things in Memphis, TN.
More like Number (90)1s, amirite? Welcome to the 901: the zip code with hidden gems around the corner and plenty of friendly locals to guide you with their recommendations as well. Here is my list of 9 number 1s—places you gotta see and things you gotta try when planning a long weekend getaway to one of the South’s most underrated cities:
#1 place to catch local music: Hi Tone
Sure, you can walk down Beale, step into the bars pulsing with music catered to the tourist masses, and click a selfie with the hashtag #WalkinInMemphis—as you should, by the way. Personally, I love a tourist trap. I live to see the things everyone else has seen before me.
BUT, you should also most definitely for sure check out the many Memphis venues that house the vibiest vibes for a Friday (or Saturday) night show. My favorite? Hi Tone Cafe.
Hi Tone is nestled in the Crosstown district, not far from an old Sears building turned metro-all-in-one (I’m talking about Crosstown Concourse: one million square feet [no, really] of restaurants, entertainment, work space, apartments, and everything you could possibly need to survive without ever leaving one single building [unless you want to visit the brewery next door]).
ANYWAY, back to Hi Tone. You can check out their schedule or play it by ear and show up around 7:30pm full of expectation for music you might not hear in many other places. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a set by an elusive local legend such as the ever-evolving Ben Ricketts. Make sure to visit the kitchen for that late night grilled cheese you’ll def want after burning calories swaying in the Small Room (or Big Room, up to you).
#1 place to get that delicious coffee: City & State
I remember first moving to Memphis and knowing I needed to find what would become my favorite coffee shop and favorite drink at said coffee shop. A coffee shop is massively important to my life and makes me feel at home in whatever city I find myself turning into a home: it’s a non-traditional office, a daytime watering hole with friends and neighbors, a respite for solitude with background noise, and a place I go when I know I need to get out of the house for the sake of getting out of the house. Thank God for City & State.
This is more than a coffee shop. Like, really. If you’re looking for a place to get a perfect gift or souvenir while in town, you’ve just lucked out. City & State doubles as one of the funnest gift stores around town, too. They’ve got things for your walls, your pantry, and your water bottle or any other surface you like to cover with stickers.
Did I mention the patio? Try my favorite drink (iced chai latte with oat milk and a shot of espresso) and sit a spell. Meet the folks from around the neighborhood and quite possibly their dogs. Then, walk a few more steps down Broad for more shopping and eats as you continue falling in love with the Bluff City.
#1 place to take a walk: Big River Crossing
Wanna walk across the second longest (by one mile) river in North America? Unless you’ve got miracles in your feet, you’re gonna need a pedestrian bridge. Memphis has you covered with the Big River Crossing. Grab your bug spray and get to walking!
This almost mile-long bridge is the perfect evening stroll from Tennessee to Arkansas; and, I would definitely recommend an evening stroll if you plan to visit any month from April to October (or before 9am if you’re an early riser). Those temps like to hike. Be sure to snap that selfie about halfway across as you straddle an invisible state line putting you in two places at once (look at you, another character in an early 2000s Mandy Moore romcom). You’ll love the city-line view from here, so take a little break and enjoy.
This is a cyclist and dog-friendly bridge as well, so keep your ears open for little dinging bells and friendly woofs. Not tired even knowing it’s another mile back? Spend an extra half hour or so walking the Big River Trail on Arkansas side.
#1 place to grab a bite: Westy’s
We all know you’re going to try 18 plates of BBQ from different places that other listicles have suggested from across the web, so I’m going to suggest something else.
Behold, the place where I introduced a friend from the North to tamales and she was enamored: Westy’s.
Step into this cozy corner of the Pinch district and arrive at the feeling of having sipped a nostalgic cup of black coffee even if you’ve never had the pleasure in actual life (and then order a cup just to say you get it). Need a late-night fix after all the fun you had at Hi tone? Westy’s is a class-act staying open until 2am.
My suggestions: (1) the #4 Westy’s Dos Mex Tamales that changed my unsuspecting friend’s life; (2) Westy’s Red Beans and Rice; (3) the Patty Melt. Wash it all down with some tea or a diet Dr. Pepper and finish off with a slice of the famous hot fudge pie. Take it to-go if you have absolutely no room left to fill.
#1 place to get that book you’ve been meaning to read: Novel
Need a little less commotion for a few hours during your getaway? Head east down Poplar Avenue (not too far though or you’ll hit the ‘burbs) and check out Novel—a bookstore tucked into the back of what looks like any other shopping center in small-city-but-still-a-city America.
Novel has you covered like the book you’re about to purchase. From the classics to what will be a classic fifty years from now, a sweet little comics + graphic novels section, and the best southern lit shelves in all of Memphis, let this bookstore be your oasis before heading out for another night of fun. Or, hang out a little longer for a quieter night of fun and catch a visiting author.
You can grab a bite at Libro, their in-store dining experience, or walk to any of a dozen locations of American chain food fare. Be honest, sometimes all you want is to feel God in this Chili’s tonight and that’s totally fine.
#1 thing to do if you like very specific hobbies: Memphis Armored Fight Club
Considering lightly getting into larping but not sure where to start in your own city? Well, you lucky duck, check out the Memphis Armored Fight Club next time you’re in town.
If you love ye olde school entertainment and/or are up for checking out the left-of-center, I one million percent recommend spending an evening watching your new favorite knights in shining armor battle it out for bragging rights. All snark aside, the skill and commitment level exhibited by these guys is unmatched. Memphis Armored Fight Club is for sure a hidden gem of the city.
Check out something new and enjoy an event that perhaps isn’t on your first draft of “Must Sees.” The venue is in a habit of changing, so be sure to follow them on Instagram to see where they pop up next!
#1 thing to do if you want to step back in time: Time Warp at Summer Drive-In
Ever wondered what it felt like to be Cherry Valance just trying to watch a movie while Dally Winston wouldn’t keep his gross mouth shut? Maybe not, but you can at least experience the thrill of a weekend night under the stars watching a favorite throw back on a HUGE screen while the film’s audio blasts through your car radio.
Yes, I’m talking about a good old-fashioned drive-in movie theater. There are around 300 drive-ins left in the good ole U.S. of A., and the Summer Drive-In of Memphis boasts 4 screens to choose from during your visit to what some grandparents (but definitely not all) like to remember as a simpler time.
I completely suggest visiting on one of the Time Warp weekends. One weekend a month, one of the screens hosts throwbacks with a different genre in mind each time. Pack some snacks or visit the concession stand, come ready with bug spray and plenty of water if it’s summer time, and settle in for a triple-feature of themed classics.
If you make it through all three films, don’t rush off Summer Avenue too fast—which we all know is far superior to Poplar Avenue. Head back westward driving towards the river and stop by Yum’s Restaurant, where I was almost on the receiving end of a proposal one night, for some late-night wings or pork fried rice.
#1 place to hang all afternoon: Cooper-Young
Want to park the car and just chill in one area for a while? Head to Cooper-Young, a midtown neighborhood eclectically occupying a few dozen blocks in your new favorite southern city.
Let me be very specific and suggest you plan to visit Cooper-Young on a Saturday so you can stop by the Farmer’s Market before noon, located in the parking lot of the First Congregational Church. After sampling and supporting local vendors, head to the apex of it all where the perpendicularly-running Cooper Street and Young Avenue cross. From here, you can walk to any little chill thing your heart desires.
Fancy a sandwich? Get an early lunch at Young Avenue Deli (the reuben is top tier). Hungry and vegan? Imagine Vegan Cafe has you covered. Not hungry, just thirsty? Java Cabana will keep you fueled for the afternoon. Record nerd? Stop by one of my favorite places in all of Memphis and surrounding areas: Goner Records. Didn’t quite get your comic book itch scratched at Novel? 901 Comics is there to save the day.
If you can dream it, Cooper-Young has it. Do not skip this little pocket when planning your Memphis holiday.
#1 thing to do on your last morning before heading home: One More Little Drive
No, that’s not the name of anything ever but it should be. It’s just the thing to do. Drive around the city one more good time, perhaps looking for that last piece of street art for one more photo, or finding one more historic marker regarding a myriad of history that makes Memphis, well Memphis.
My suggestion? Stop by Gibson’s Donuts for a blueberry cake donut or whatever seasonal favorite is on hand and then pop down Poplar a little further until you reach Memorial Park Cemetery. Don’t worry. It’s not gonna get too weird. Pull in and veer to the left, following signs for the Crystal Shrine Grotto. It’s already been a weekend of oddities, so why not spend half an hour walking around this man-made grotto of Messianic biblical scenes? Honestly, this has been one of my favorite little finds in any city where I’ve ever lived. It’s so strange and lovely.
Walk for a minute directly across from the grotto and visit the burial site of musical legend and Stax Records genius, Isaac Hayes.
There are a million other things to do in the great city of Memphis, TN. But, while you’re weeding through all the musts, be sure not to skip out on the quieter hidden treasures that lurk with the locals—it’s where the most fun is.