Last month, we traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to participate in Memphis Fashion Week. While there, we fell in love with the southern city! Read on for our guide on where to eat, sleep, and visit in Memphis.
Where to Stay:
The Peabody Hotel
Founded in 1925, the Peabody Hotel is full of historic charm and old-world details. Recent additions include a luxurious indoor pool and an expansive rooftop which overlooks the entire city. The hotel is located within walking distance of Beale Street, but is still secluded enough to have a relaxing stay away from the noise of downtown’s nightlife scene. We suggest a glass of southern comfort while watching the ducks parade.
Where to Eat:
Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous
52 S 2nd St, Memphis, TN 38103
Memphis is the barbecue mecca of the world, and there’s no shortage of options within the city limits. They even offer seafood options, for the non meat eaters and plenty of sides to fill up the vegetarians. Come HUNGRY! Rendezvous tops our list for the best dinner spot in Memphis.
Staks Pancake Kitchen
4615 Poplar Ave #102, Memphis, TN 38117
For the most important meal of the day, head over to Staks. The bright & sunny breakfast spot offers a wide selection of omelettes, breakfast burritos, and specialty pancake options. If you’re in a DIY mood, make sure to request a table with a built-in stove – you’ll be given buttermilk batter to make your own pancakes!
Maciel’s
525 S Highland St, Memphis, TN 38111
We discovered Maciel’s early on during our time in Memphis - and their fried avocado tacos kept us coming back! Other highlights included the shrimp salad and seafood tacos, not to mention the secluded & plant-filled outdoor patio.
Belltower Artisans
549 S Highland St., Memphis, TN 38111
Located right next door to Maciel’s, Belltower Artisans is a fairly new addition to the food scene in Memphis. In addition to serving an incredible iced chai latte, Belltower Artisans also offers weekly pottery classes & a sense of community for the city’s younger crowd.
City Silo Table + Pantry
5101 Sanderlin Ave, Memphis, TN 38117
When you start to need a break from the barbecued & deep-fried cuisine, there’s City Silo. Stop here for Memphis’s take on the veggie burger, smoothie bowl, and an array of nutrient-packed salads. They’re also well known for colorful juices, wellness lattes, and kombucha cocktails.
Where to Visit:
Beale Street
Often hailed as “America’s Most Iconic Street”, Beale Street is filled with charming restaurants, kitschy souvenir shops, and lively bars & nightlife venues. The colorful street is the heart of downtown Memphis and is a must-see during every visit - you will want your pic snapped here!
Graceland
Elvis Presley Blvd.
Graceland needs no introduction. Elvis’s final residence was decades before it’s time – every room is a vision of opulence, masterfully decorated & equipped with a television set (very rare for the time period) as well as a button under the dining room table to signal for more food or less company! A very emotional stop for die hard fans of the King like RR. Ask for Kristyn for a private guided tour through Elvis’s home, office, his extensive wardrobe and vehicles. RR tested her on every subject and Kristyn knows it all - shoe size 11- thank you very much! Other highlights include the Entertainer Museum, Automobile Museum, and multiple aircrafts.
Sun Studio Record Shop
706 Union Avenue. Memphis, TN 38103
In 1954, a young Elvis Presley walked into Sun Studio and paid $3.25 to record a song as a gift for his mother. At the time, record producer Sam Phillips was looking for new talent, and Elvis fit the bill perfectly. Known as “The Birthplace of Rock’n’roll”, Sun Studio also gave B.B. King, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis their start in music.
National Civil Rights Museum
450 Mulberry Street
Located across from the Lorraine Motel, the National Civil Rights Museum offers an in-depth look at cultural injustices spanning over five centuries up until present day. Martin Luther King, Jr. was staying at the Lorraine when he was assassinated, and his room has been preserved exactly as he left it. A truly powerful stop on your journey though this historic city. It puts a face and a real life to the phenomenal man that changed the world by age 39. Make sure to stop in the gift shop, the buyer has the most elegant eye. RR came away with hand made giraffes from India. All proceeds go back to the museum.
