Party Prohibition-Style at the Blind Bear

Party Prohibition-Style at the New Blind Bear Speakeasy

To get into this speakeasy-style downtown bar, you don't have to know any passwords or secret knocks—you just have to walk in the front door.

(But if you do know the password, you can save a few bucks on cover charges.)

Blind Bear Speakeasy, Memphis, Tenn.

Mind you, when I tried to go to the Blind Bear for the first time, I pulled on the big front door, and though the bar was open, the door wouldn't. So I wandered around the building for a few minutes, trying to find a stealth entrance, impressed that the bar was trying to stick so closely to its prohibition-era theme. As it turns out, the there are no secrets to getting into the bar - you just have to pull on the right door. Lesson learned.

Blind Bear Speakeasy bar, Memphis, Tenn.

The Blind Bear's owners have created a dark and cozy bar that sticks just closely enough to its concept. Inside, there are nooks with couches and plush chairs, a pool table, dining tables with black jack and poker mats.

Inside the Blind Bear, Memphis, Tenn.

But unlike the speakeasies of yore, the Blind Bear has plenty of modern touches. There are three unobtrusive TVs (one by the pool table and two over the bar) that were tuned to Tiger basketball when I visited. They also host karaoke on Wednesdays and live music or a DJ on Saturdays, and burlesque shows and other special parties from time to time. 

On Sundays, they have a Hung Over Like a Bear brunch. They also have a patio.

While the bar is more lounge than restaurant, they do have a fairly extensive food menu. There are a lot of snack-type foods (a sausage and cheese plate, fried mozzarella "bear balls"), but there are some bar food-type dishes with sides (burgers, fish, grilled cheese) if you need to make a meal. I tried the sausage and cheese plate, which came with sliced sausage, mustard and cubed pepperjack and cheddar cheese .

Blind Bear sausage and cheese plate

Go there:

The Blind Bear

119 South Main
Memphis, TN 38103

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Jeannette West
Thank you so much for the blog.  Glad you liked us.  We did start a password on Fridays and Saturdays...the password changes nightly and will be posted on Facebook (Blind Bear Memphis) page and Twitter, @blindbear901.  If you don't know the password there is a cover but you can still get in. This Friday we have Grace Askew playing acoustic from 8-11pm! Hope to see you again!
January 8, 2012 9:57pm