Updated April 2023 by Di Faulkner
Temperatures are climbing, the sun is setting later, and we’re daydreaming about long evenings filled with delicious cocktails. If you love people-watching and soaking up the ambiance with a carefully curated cocktail in hand, we’ve got you covered. These 13 spots around town boast some of the best vibes and libations Memphis has to offer. Cheers!
Alchemy
940 Cooper St., Memphis, TN 38104 • (901) 726-4444
Hours: Monday through Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Thursday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Dim lights, yummy drinks, and small bites … Alchemy is paradise. The bar menu offers a selection of signature cocktails featuring a wide variety of spirits like the Memphis Jam (Old Dominick Honeyball Vodka and Laird’s Applejack), so you can try a variety of flavor profiles before the night is over. If you’re not in the cocktail mood, you can also order from an extensive beer and wine list.
Happy hour is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. every Wednesday through Saturday.
Looking to unwind after a long workday? Alchemy’s happy hour is the ideal spot every Wednesday through Saturday. Image: Alchemy Memphis
Bar Hustle
477 S. Main St., Memphis, TN 38103 • (901) 701-7490
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to midnight
Located inside the ARRIVE hotel in downtown Memphis, Bar Hustle is an intimate neighborhood bar with a cocktail menu featuring seasonal rotations and classic mainstays. Inside, you can expect eclectic-modern decor with a relaxing ambiance. Beyond cocktails, they offer a steady selection of wines, beer, and cider.
Check out the daily happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., with a cocktail of the day for $8, house wine by the glass for $7, beer of the day for $4, and a snack of French onion dip with kettle chips for $5.
At Bar Hustle, every seat in the house has a great view. Image: Bar Hustle
BarWare
276 S. Front St., Memphis, TN 38103 • (901) 443-5807
Hours: Tuesday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Thursday, 5 p.m. to 111 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to midnight; closed Sunday and Monday
Whether dining in, grabbing a seat outside, or dropping by for takeout, BarWare is the spot for an after-work pick-me-up. Enjoy signature cocktails, wines, select spirits, amd beer, and if you need a bit of sustenance, check out small plates like flatbread and grilled cheese. Ready for dinner? Entrées such as lamb and roast beef look delicious, too.
On Friday and Saturday, BarWare offers late-night sammies until 1 a.m.
Blind Bear
119 S. Main St., Ste. 100, Memphis, TN 38103 • (901) 417-8435
Hours: Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 3 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Blind Bear is a cozy speakeasy with a prohibition-era feel where the fun never stops. The menu boasts “giggle water,” dinner, and weekend brunch, and you can enjoy regular theme nights like karaoke and poker nights, so keep an eye on their events. Reservations are available on Resy.
Late-night hunger pangs? A special “after-hours” weekend menu runs from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Head to Blind Bear to sip cocktails, speakeasy-style. Image: Blind Bear
Bog & Barley Irish Pub and Restaurant
6150 Poplar Ave., Ste. 124, Memphis, TN 38119 • (901) 805-2262
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight; closed Sunday
Memphis’s newest hot watering hole is Bog & Barley, where you can sip cocktails with names like The 447 and Hemingway’s Getaway. Who could resist? And the tasty libations will only set you back $12 or $13 on average. Not into cocktails? Opt for beer or whiskey. The food menu boasts an authentic taste of Ireland with a modern twist, so come hungry.
Stop by Bog & Barley, Memphis’s hot new watering hole, for a taste of Ireland in Tennessee. Image: Facebook
Cameo
1835 Union Ave., Ste. 103, Memphis, TN 38104 • (901) 305-6911
Hours: Daily, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Cameo promises fancy drinks, party time, and a generous beverage menu featuring signature and classic cocktails, frozen drinks, shooters, and more. Corn-Fed Festival Girls and Season Tickets to Dollywood are just two cocktails that might catch your eye. Cameo offers low- and zero-proof cocktails for a more mellow evening. If you’re feeling peckish, grab a charcuterie board, some salty bar snacks, or a burger.
Happy hour runs all day Monday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. House wines are $6 per glass, draft beers are $2 off, and select classics are $8.
Pretty and summery, pictured here is Season Tickets to Dollywood. Image: Facebook
The Cove
2559 Broad Ave., Memphis, TN 38112 • (901) 730-0719
Hours: Daily, 4 p.m. to midnight
The Cove is a retro, nautical-themed bar with New Orleans vibes that offers an extensive list of classic cocktails and a more comprehensive selection of bourbons and rums than any other bar in town. While grabbing a drink, accompany your libations with fresh oysters and shrimp remoulades. They even offer Café Du Monde coffee — a NOLA staple!
Their happy hour is seven days a week from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and features oyster and cocktail specials.
“The Aviation” is a vibrant choice made with gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and a cherry. Image: The Cove
Crosstown Art Bar
1350 Concourse Ave., Ste. 280, Memphis, TN 38104 • (901) 507-8010
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.; closed Monday
Located inside Crosstown Concourse, Art Bar is a full-service bar with a heavy focus on locally sourced ingredients — imaginative cocktails with fresh fruit, herbs, and florals. True to its name, the space has an artistic, eclectic ambiance with framed art, exposed brick, and several cozy corners to camp out in. The bar also hosts rotating art exhibits — as if we needed another reason to return again and again.
Explore Crosstown Concourse, then grab a drink at Art Bar. Image: Art Bar
Eight & Sand
545 S. Main St., Memphis, TN 38103 • (901) 524-5247
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 4 p.m. until 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Step inside the Central Station Hotel to spot Eight & Sand, the fabulous lobby bar. The drink list is extensive, with classic and creative cocktails, plus beer and wine. The decor is music-inspired, with a wall of speakers and ladders leading to shelves upon shelves of vinyl records. While you sip on seasonal cocktails, take a peek at the curated vinyl selection, which boasts over 20,000 titles. It’s the perfect spot to take visiting guests — particularly if they’re music lovers.
Listen to some tunes and grab a drink. Image: Central Station Memphis
Ibis Cocktail Bar
314 S. Main St., Memphis, TN 38103 • (901) 748-5187
Hours: Thursday, 5 p.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Monday through Wednesday
This swanky bar and lounge serves everything you’re looking for and more when it comes to cocktails. One glance at the drink menu, and you’ll see for yourself as you browse carefully crafted and cleverly named beverages like the Smokin’ Gin & Phonics (gin, cardamom, orange juice, tonic, and smoked ice). Beyond cocktails, it’s a great spot for a special dinner or brunch with the girls.
Happy hour is available every day, Thursday through Sunday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Maximo’s on Broad
2617 Broad Ave., Memphis, TN 38112 • (901) 452-1111
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday
Broad Avenue is full of fun, and that’s where you can find Maximo’s on Broad. Specializing in tapas and wine, Maximo’s is a festive dining spot, but it’s also a wonderful place to grab a drink with friends. A lively wine list, handcrafted cocktails, and outdoor seating make it ideal for patio season.
The happy hour is Tuesday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with $4 sangria, house wine, draft beer, and well liquor.
Pictured is one of Maximo’s seasonal cocktails, “The Concubine.” Image: Maximo’s on Broad
Silly Goose
100 Peabody Pl., Ste. 190, Memphis, TN 38103 • (901) 435-6915
Hours: Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 3 a.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. to 3 a.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.
There’s nothing like handcrafted cocktails and wood-fired pizza. The Silly Goose in downtown Memphis boasts fine cocktails, imported and domestic beer, and wine. If you like a clubby atmosphere and a dimly lit lounge, this is your place. Silly Goose is a destination spot for pizza, but they also offer pasta, salads, and apps.
Happy hour is every Monday through Thursday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Silly Goose is the spot in downtown Memphis for cocktails and wood-fired pizza. Image: Facebook
Tiger and Peacock
21 Cooper St., Memphis, TN 38104
Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to midnight; Sunday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; closed Monday
Say hello to your next girls’ night out locale, perfect for kicking off birthday parties, bachelorette parties, and beyond. This vibrant, electric, FUN cocktail bar is a great spot to spend time with friends and snag that perfect photo op. With several signature cocktails and delicious bites from the kitchen, you may want to spend your whole evening at Tiger and Peacock.
The ultimate girls’ night starts at Tiger and Peacock. Image: Tiger and Peacock
Cheers, Memphis!
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