Nightlife · Memphis · United States
Memphis nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Memphis, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Thomas R Machnitzki ( thomas machnitzki.com), CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Memphis nightlife is built around live music: blues and soul on Beale Street, local bands in Midtown and Cooper-Young, and occasional concerts at the Levitt Shell and the FedExForum. The main areas are Beale Street, Overton Square, Cooper-Young and South Main.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Downtown and Beale Street
Where to go out
Beale Street
Blues clubs, bars and street performers in a pedestrian zone that stays busy late on weekends.
Overton Square
Theatres, cocktail bars and restaurants with outdoor seating in Midtown.
Cooper-Young
Local bars, live music venues and late-night food.
South Main
Wine bars and cocktail lounges in restored warehouses near the trolley line.
Nightlife tips
- Beale Street can get crowded on weekend nights; keep valuables secure and stay with the crowds.
- Tip the bands in Beale Street clubs, as many musicians rely on tips.
- Use rideshares between Beale Street and Midtown late at night.
Evening sights
Street · Downtown and Beale Street
Beale Street
Walk the full length early in the evening and step into the clubs with live bands; weeknights are calmer and often have no cover charge.
- Time needed
- An evening
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Free
- History
Landmark · Riverfront
Big River Crossing
Walk over at sunset, then stay for the light show; bring water in summer, as there is little shade.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- After dark
- Active
Park · Midtown and Overton Square
Overton Park and the Levitt Shell
Bring a picnic blanket to a free Levitt Shell concert on a warm evening, and walk the Old Forest trails beforehand.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- After dark
- History
- Kids
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 23°C (73°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:11 | 0°C (32°F) | 10 |
| April | About 19:32 | 11°C (52°F) | 10 |
| July | About 20:15 | 23°C (73°F) | 9 |
| October | About 18:25 | 12°C (54°F) | 7 |
Getting home late
- Tram — MATA's vintage-style trolleys run along Main Street downtown and connect South Main, Beale Street, the Peabody area and the Pinch District.
- Bus — MATA buses cover the city, but service can be infrequent; check timetables before relying on them for Graceland or Stax.
- Ride-hailing — Uber and Lyft are widely used to reach Sun Studio, Stax, Graceland and Midtown restaurants without a car.
- Walking — Downtown, South Main and the riverfront parks are close together and easy to explore on foot.
Late-night bites
- Barbecue nachos — Barbecue restaurants and at Grizzlies games at the FedExForum.
- Delta hot tamales — Some Memphis barbecue joints and small tamale shops, and throughout the Delta around Clarksdale and Greenville.
Staying safe at night
Downtown and Beale Street are heavily visited, but some streets nearby feel empty after dark; stay in busy areas at night and use rideshares between neighbourhoods. Car break-ins are common, so never leave anything visible in a parked car. Summer heat and spring storms are the main weather risks.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and solo travellers
Downtown and Beale Street
Downtown is the main visitor base, with the historic Peabody hotel, Beale Street's clubs, the FedExForum arena, the Rock 'n' Soul Museum and the riverfront parks. Vintage trolleys run along Main Street, and most hotels are within walking distance of Beale Street and Tom Lee Park.
- Good
- Walk to Beale Street and the riverfront; Wide choice of hotels; Trolley along Main Street
- Watch out
- Some streets feel empty after dark away from Beale Street; Busy and loud on weekend nights
- Nearby
- Beale Street, The Peabody, Tom Lee Park, FedExForum
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Memphis?
Beale Street, Overton Square and Cooper-Young. Blues clubs, bars and street performers in a pedestrian zone that stays busy late on weekends.
+Which area of Memphis is best for nightlife?
Downtown and Beale Street: Blues clubs, the Peabody's ducks and the riverfront bluff.