Things to do at Night in Memphis

Pack your itinerary with late nights in this good-time city, where the blues are king, the beers are enormous and the crowds are ready to party.

Whether you love a laid-back night of live music, great conversation over delicious food or dancing the night away with a room full of your newest friends, Memphis aims to please.

With so many things to do in Memphis at night, you won't have many early nights here! No need to worry about what to do when you're still going strong and all the bars are closing. Plenty of places stay open ready to show you a good time right through to the wee hours of the morning.

Here are a few nightlife hotspots to get your Memphis trip planning underway:

Live Music

  • The blues are still going strong in Memphis. Planning a trip to the best blues joints? Head to Beale Street, home to countless live music bars including B.B. King's Blues Club.
  • Love rock music? Check out the New Daisy for the loudest rock bands in town.
  • Railgarten is one of the newest live music venues in Memphis, hosting everybody from hip-hop collectives to folk groups in their buzzing yard complete with bonfires and a tiki bar.

Dining

  • Feed your soul and your stomach with a trip to Soul Fish for Southern comfort food and warm hospitality.
  • Why not treat yourself to some fine dining on your vacation? Chez Philippe, in the historic Peabody Hotel accommodations, deserves every one of its four AAA diamond accolades.
  • Dip into the global flavors offered in the city with dinner at Lucky Cat Ramen, Maciel's Mexican restaurant or the excitingly eclectic Global Café.

Bars & Clubs

Nightlife in Memphis is varied and lively. Kick your night off with one of the happy hours happening around town. Cafe Olé makes an exceptional margarita and margarita cheesecake. Downtown juke joint Lew's Blue Note has that unique down'n'dirty Memphis vibe, while Loflin Yard has a gorgeous patio and equally gorgeous cocktails. Hit the dancefloor at Memphis Sounds Lounge for hot jazz, Hi Tone for late-night rock or Wild Bills for a super friendly atmosphere and a kickin' house band.

Your guide to Memphis

Weather
TEMPERATURE °F
AV. RAINFALL (IN)
41°F J 4
45°F F 4
54°F M 6
64°F A 6
73°F M 6
83°F J 4
86°F J 5
85°F A 4
78°F S 3
66°F O 4
55°F N 4
46°F D 6
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Getting Around

Getting around Memphis is really a matter of personal preference. Streets are wide and easy to navigate, so renting a car makes sense if you plan to frequently venture beyond downtown. If you're planning to spend the majority of your trip in the downtown area, you'll be fine using MATA-the inexpensive public transportation system-or hopping on the trolley or hailing a taxi or rideshare for longer jaunts.

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Best time to Visit

Memphis summers are long and hot. Longer than a boa constrictor. Hotter than a pressure cooker. You get the picture. We're talking average summer highs well into the 90s°F. For this reason, we recommend visiting between April and May or October and November, when there are two windows of great weather. The winter months do get pretty cold, so unless you're dying for an excuse to wear your new sweater, this isn't the best time to visit.

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What to Pack

A trip to Memphis calls for sunscreen and an umbrella; it's very hot and very humid here, so you'll get use out of both. Here are some other things we recommend you put in your suitcase:

  • Cotton clothes: Don't subject yourself to the sticky horror that comes from wearing synthetic fabrics in extreme humidity. All natural, all the time.
  • Insect repellent: Proximity to the Mississippi makes for great photos and great outdoor fun, but also great numbers of mosquitos. Keep them at bay.
  • Shoes for walking: Memphis isn't an overly glamorous city, and while the nightlife is vibrant, it's fairly laid-back. Comfy shoes will serve you well.
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