Memphis Restaurants and Dining

(Memphis, Tennessee - TN, USA)

The exciting array of dining experiences and restaurants in Memphis reflects the city's ethnic diversity. From oyster bars, trendy bistros and avant-garde fusion restaurants to Russian delicatessens, cozy Italians and steakhouses, this city has it all. Diversity aside, the city has a proud favorite, a signature cuisine to rival all others - the Memphis Barbecue.

There are hole-in-the-wall barbecue joints and lively barbecue bars on Beale Street, where you can dance off the excess calories after you've eaten at swish grills and restaurants in East Memphis. At the popular month-long Memphis in May Festival, there's even the 'World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest', along with hog roast, coleslaw and hot wings competitions, all of which are taken very seriously by competitors.

Opening Hours

It is possible to grab a bite to eat around the clock in Memphis. If you're looking for late-night eateries, then the Beale Street entertainment district is a safe bet, with its grills and cafés catering for the late night crowd leaving bars and clubs in the early hours. Rendezvous on Second Street serves its famously good ribs until late, while Denny's Restaurant at the Best Western Benchmark Hotel on Unison Avenue is open 24 hours.

Wine and Beer

For almost a century Beale Street has been the place to head for bars and drinking establishments in Memphis, and it is still the first choice for many visitors seeking a beverage and an opportunity to soak up the historical musical ambiance of the town. There are some appealing bars around Overton Square, which are particularly convenient if you're visiting one of the theaters in Midtown Memphis, while the hip Cooper-Young district is a popular drinking haunt among twenty-somethings.

Breakfast

Midtown Memphis has its fare share of pleasant coffee houses, cafés, bakeries and breakfast restaurants, making it a decent choice for breakfast. Also in Midtown is the Barksdale Restaurant, which serves popular all-day breakfasts and traditional Southern-style breakfasts. For a spot of luxury, try a leisurely brunch at the Peabody Memphis, where you can choose from a range of treats including buttermilk pancakes, fresh strawberries, pastries and Canadian bacon.

Lunch

Memphis is awash with great lunch joints and restaurants. Enjoy a spot of people-watching over a fresh deli sandwich in the Cooper-Young district, head downtown for a traditional grill, or take your pick from any number of great eateries and restaurants in East Memphis. If you're lunching to impress, there are some fine restaurants near Overton Square.

Dinner

Memphis boasts some truly first-class restaurants, making it a rival to any of the world's gastronomic capitals. Wood-fired pizzas, jerk pork, Greek dolmades and a whole host of delicious food from around the world can all be found within blocks of each other. Although the choice of restaurants in Memphis can be distracting, don't forget to try some of the spoils of the ubiquitous barbecue.