100 Places You Need to Go in Memphis

100 Places You Need to Go in Memphis

There are way more than 100 places to go in Memphis, but these are some of the best. Some of them are super familiar (like Graceland), but there are plenty that might be uncharted territory for you.

How many of these places have you been? Which ones are next on your list?

1. Earnestine & Hazel's
2. Crystal Shrine Grotto
3. Dyer's Burgers
4. Memphis Botanic Gardens
5. The bluff walk

The Bluff Walk, Memphis, Tenn.

6. Peabody Hotel Lobby (The people watching is excellent.)
7. Meeman-Shelby State Forest (Stop by the general store, get a burger)
8. Shelby Farms Park
9. National Civil Rights Museum
10. Memphis Zoo
11. Woodruff-Fontaine House / Victorian Village
12. Big River Crossing

13. Chickasaw Heritage Park mounds
14. Martyr's Park
15. Court Square (especially during lunchtime on Thursdays; there are food trucks)
16. Peabody Hotel Rooftop
17. FedExForum for a basketball game
18. Flashback (The best place in town for vintage clothing, housewares and oddities.)
19. Pink Palace Museum
20. Maggie's Pharm
21. Center for Southern Folklore
22. Levitt Shell (Most of the concerts and film screenings at the Shell are completely free.)

Memphis' Levitt Shell In Action

23. AutoZone Park
24. Beale Street (especially A. Schwab General Store and the I Love Memphis billboard by Wet Willy's)
25. Brooks Museum of Art
26. The P&H Cafe
27. Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art
28. Cooper-Young Historic District
29. Paula & Raiford's Disco
30. Mollie Fontaine Lounge
31. Mud Island Amphitheatre
32. The Rendezvous alley
33. Tiger Lane
34. I AM A MAN Plaza


35. Overton Square / the bar at Boscos
36. Sun Studio
37. Tom Lee Park
38. Graceland
39. South Main Arts District (Especially on the last Friday of every month for Trolley Tour.)
40. Lichterman Nature Center
41. Rock'n'Soul Museum (If you only have time for one Memphis music museum, make it this one - it's the best of all of them rolled into one.)
42. House of Mews
43. Clark Tower (Have a drink in the Tower Room on the 33rd floor.)

Clark Tower, Memphis, Tenn.

44. The Arcade Restaurant
45. Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid
46. Wild Bill's
47. Alex's Tavern
48. Shelby Farms Greenline
49. Dixon Gallery and Gardens
50. Goner Records (Drop a quarter in the Elvis shrine.)
51. Huey's
52. Shangri-la Records
53. Overton Park Greensward (aka, the huge field in the middle of the park.)
54. Elmwood Cemetery (The final resting place of all sorts of notorious Memphians.)

Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Tenn.

55. Old Dominick Distillery 
56. Bettis Family Cemetery
57. Summer Drive-In Movie Theater
58. Stax Museum of American Soul Music
59. Amurica Photo Booth
60. Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum
61. Fire Museum
62. Children's Museum of Memphis
63.The Memphis room in the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
64. Memphis Farmers Market / Cooper Young Community Farmers Market 
65. Chucalissa
66. Ghost River Brewery
67. Jerry's Snow Cones
68. National Ornamental Metal Museum
69. Melrose High School football stadium
70. Joe's Liquors (Go at night to see the Sputnik in action.)

Joe's Liquors, Memphis, Tenn.

71. Oaklawn Garden
72. Old Forest at Overton Park
73. Hi-Tone Cafe
74. The Remed Mural on Broad Ave.
75. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
76. University of Memphis Art Museum (especially their Ancient Egyptian collection)
77. Memphis Made Brewing Taproom / the Big Red I Love Memphis Mural
78. Rhodes College Library
79. Stereo Alley
80. Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop
81. Wolf River Harbor

Wolf River Harbor, Memphis, Tenn.

82. The Cove Cocktail & Oyster Bar
83. The Four Way Restaurant
84. Gibson's Donuts (The earlier in the morning, the better.)
85. Playhouse on the Square
86. High Cotton Brewing's Taproom
87. Chef Tam's
88. Orpheum Theatre
89. City of Memphis skate park (Wear a helmet, ok?)
90. Sushi Gas Station
91. Five In One Social Club
92. Crosstown Concourse
93. Broad Ave. Arts District / Wiseacre Brewing Taproom
94. Public Earthquake Research Center
95. Muddy's Bake Shop (East Memphis or midtown location)
96. Memphis International Airport gate B-17
97. The Warehouse (Also a part of a private residence, but the public parties and events there are some of the best in town.)
98. Al Green's Full Gospel Tabernacle
99. Burke's Books
100. Novel Bookstore in Laurelwood

Ed. Note: This list has been updated as of January 2020.

There's also a 100 Things to Eat in Memphis list. A couple of them, actually.

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Joe
Great list, but the general store with the rooster mentioned in #8 is actually at Shelby Forest, not Shelby Farms
May 21, 2012 2:16pm

Mindy Roberts
The retail shops on central which include Palladio, Market Central, and the one we gets the most raves about is The Memphis Waterworks. These are definitely stops worthy of note for Memphians and out of towners
May 21, 2012 2:40pm

@fantasyrideout
Do not go to Voodoo Village, I heard you might die
May 21, 2012 3:04pm

Jennifer
@fantasyrideout.  You will not die at Voodoo Village!  I have been there.  It's just a neighborhood that people have talked about for years.  Creepy at night but thats it
May 21, 2012 4:23pm

Amy
Seriously?! Why is Voodoo Village even on this list?! It is right in Orange Mound! People DO NOT go there! Other than that good list. Some places I haven't been before and can't wait to check out.
May 21, 2012 6:47pm

PatrickGSR94
90. Sushi Gas Station a.k.a. Lee's Fresh Sushi at the BP on Poplar @ Ridgeway.  It's good stuff, seriously!
May 21, 2012 10:25pm

Zoongria
what about Whatever smoke shop and local strip clubs?
May 22, 2012 8:18am

iAmBaronVonTito
i think the strip clubs in Memphis are probably more dangerous than Orange Mound nowadays.    at any rate...lovely list!
May 22, 2012 10:46am

matt
voodoo village is not in orange mound you nut. 
May 22, 2012 1:43pm

JordenE
forgot Black Lodge...
May 22, 2012 7:07pm

KMAnderson
Unless I missed it on your list already, I would add the Ornamental Metal Museum for the working smithy, the excellent shows, and the incredible view of the river. Great list!
May 22, 2012 9:28pm

margaret leste…
Having worked at the CVB visitors center in past years I really enjoyed your list and suggest you send it to the Welcome Center, Riverside , Jeanette King could probably add to this. Must go place for  me will be THE SHRINE TO THE GODS OF KEEPING ON THE RAILS--thanks, great list                                                      mlester--now at #21
May 23, 2012 10:53am

Cindy
So why do I need to go to Memphis Airport gate B-17?  Anyone? 
May 23, 2012 1:28pm

Kerry (Admin)
Because it's Memphis Belle themed. (The Belle was a B-17 bomber.)
May 23, 2012 3:33pm

Allison
Where is the philadelphia cemetery? I have not been able to find anything on it at all.
May 27, 2012 12:07pm

JANE
HEY JOE... IT SAYS THE ROOSTER IS AT SHELBY FOREST!!!  
June 26, 2012 7:47pm

Zhalih
I am also interested in knowing where Old Philadelphia cemetery is located.
July 27, 2012 3:50pm

Karisa
ok so Orange Mound isnt the worst place in Memphis, not the nicest but not the worst, most of the strip clubs are closed, and whatever smoke shop is awesome, this list is pretty cool, lived in memphis for 6 years and literally haven't done half of what is on the list.
August 18, 2012 10:17am

Gale
I forgot the exact name of it to say it correctly, but the Ornamental Ironworks and Museum over by the river bluff  is a great place too!
October 9, 2012 6:46pm

Gale
Scratch that. It IS ON THE LIST..SORRY..  National Ornamental Metal Museum.  A great place!
October 9, 2012 6:49pm

Kristin
I think the Downtown Fogelman YMCA should be mentioned in there along with Alcenia's
September 9, 2013 10:29am

Allison
The railroad museum under the amtrak station is really cool!  Lots of model trains.  Great list!
January 10, 2015 10:09am

SC
I second the depressing lack of Black Lodge on this list. 
January 10, 2015 10:10am

Red
You have to see Jamie in Amurica in his place or the PhotoBooth.
January 10, 2015 10:13am

Gayle
Love this list! Sadly, the rooster (I forget his name!) @ Shelby Forest General Store has passed on to rooster heaven. Have been to most of these (including the indoor trailer park -don't miss it if you have a chance!!) but saw a few things I haven't done, but will soon, thanks!
January 10, 2015 10:32am

Lesvia
Club Rumba on 303 Main Street , the best place to dance Latin music, meet people, learn salsa and have so much fun!!
January 10, 2015 10:54am

Erica
  I second the Black Lodge nod. Great movie selection, fun music events and parties, and Matt is one of Memphis most interesting people (at least in my opinion).
January 10, 2015 10:56am

Dan Levin
You're breaking the hearts of those nice people at The Cotton Museum, 65 Union Ave. :)
January 10, 2015 11:19am

Lindsay Wilhite
Elwood Shack on Summer 
January 10, 2015 11:38am

Kathy
They missed the Central Gardens Home & Garden Tour! Each September, residents in the historic neighborhood open their doors to show how these 100+ yr old homes have stood the test of time. Love to see the eclectic decor and how these homes have been adapted over the years. Most have awesome millworke and stained glass.
January 10, 2015 1:25pm

Judy
Would not go to Egyptian exhibit.  Was treated rudely there. May be that person no longer works there. I have visited most of the other laces and I agree worth the trip
January 10, 2015 1:57pm

paul
Broadway pizza is a must, and no bbq joints! Interstate bbq, Neely's, etc.
January 10, 2015 2:30pm

howard
what about prince mongo's house.
January 10, 2015 2:47pm

mitch
hickory hill budha is in foxmeadows....not hickory hill
January 11, 2015 9:55am

Jacqueline
Check out The Brighter Side of Memphis page on facebook. I am currently covering all these places for a year. THeres a lot out there.
January 11, 2015 10:32am

Bob
I am surprised to say that I have been to about 1/3 of these places and I live in California.  My wife is from Memphis and I love exploring when we're there.  I loved the Old Arcade Restaurant when Harry Z was still there.  My inlaw's are terrified to go to the Cat Fish Cabin, but on the occasions we did go, I had the best Catfish and Hushpuppy's ever.  I also love the Memphis in May barbeque event. May I recommend the movie Mystery Train.
January 11, 2015 2:16pm

Alex May
Graceland is number one place dummies lol
January 11, 2015 2:47pm

Sam
James Lee House!
January 11, 2015 2:48pm

Barry
Allie Cat arts in cooper young 
January 11, 2015 9:17pm

Linda
the Heartbreak Hotel
January 12, 2015 10:27am

Curt
What about the High Point Pub? Smallest and coolest neighborhood dive bar in town.
January 12, 2015 11:16am

Sheila Hahn
Are these in order?
January 12, 2015 12:56pm

Holly Whitfield
Sheila, These are in no particular order.
January 12, 2015 1:05pm

Glenn
Do they still have tour busses that goes thru Frayer? There was some talk about making all Frayer a gated community.
January 14, 2015 12:15am

Dylon
Bryant's breakfast!
January 16, 2015 12:19am

Melvina
Hatiloo Theater in Cooper Young area.
January 17, 2015 10:01am

IBLaura
Everyone is a critic....great job.  I'm off to get a sno-cone and visit Orange Mound.
January 22, 2015 1:13pm

Daniel
The Beauty Shop!
January 29, 2015 4:38pm

Shelby Elkins
#33 is wrong because Memphis football actually made the top 25 AP Poll and was their conference champions and won their bowl game. Just saying. 
January 31, 2015 8:49pm

Beverly
Memphis has one of the best zoos anywhere.  Did I miss it on this list?  I live in Atlanta now :=(.  Do the still have the Bison range at Shelby Farms?  Is the Pinch District still cool?  Overton Square is reviving!  OMG....now I'm HOMESICK.   Also.....please delete the comment about the U of M football team.  They ain't too shabby these days!
February 1, 2015 10:13am

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