Memphis, Tennessee | 10 Things to Do on Your Next Weekend Getaway

I would argue that good brisket is my favorite food. In February 2022, I got the chance to do a 2-day trip to Memphis, and my biggest goal was to eat good brisket. I knew Memphis was pretty popular, but it is definitely underrated as a tourist destination. We went on a holiday weekend, but it still wasn’t a super crowded place to be!

The history alone makes Memphis an amazing place to visit. BUT, there are also fun experiences, culture, and restaurants that make this one of the places I left already planning my next itinerary.

Again, I was only there for 2 days, and I went to visit my friends who have lived there for a while. These 10 spots are both classic things to do and also some local favorites that ended up being the highlight!

Wiseacre Brewing

I didn’t realize I LOVED the beer at Wiseacre. They are everywhere in stores, but I never really thought to buy it – mostly because I thought I didn’t like the crowd favorite ”Gotta Get Up to Get Down”. This brewery blew me away though!

The design was open, airy, eclectic, and energetic. They have a massive outdoor area and the inside is full of places to sit and plenty of room to walk around. The ceilings are sky high, and the colorful atmosphere make you want to sit there all day and enjoy the delicious and diverse flavors of beer.

Lorraine Motel

I knew I couldn’t go to Memphis without at least seeing the Lorraine Motel. This is the place where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. It is also the home of the National Civil Rights Museum. While I didn’t have time to do the tour of the museum, it is one of the things I have on my next itinerary that I mentioned before.

Walking around the outside of the motel, there are different stations where you can learn about some of the history of the site. Again, you can also take a tour of the museum. It is almost a somber feeling there – the history of knowing what happened in this place encompassing the area and the people who visit.

It is definitely something I think people should always include when going to Memphis.

Loflin Yard

This is one of those places that my friend I visited could not stop recommending. It is a huge restaurant, bar, and event space that has both outdoor and indoor seating. It also has more outdoor fire pit areas than I’ve seen at any restaurant!

Loflin Yard is where I ate the best brisket I’ve ever had. They have a large menu full of smoked meats and other classic southern food. They have a full bar, and I’ve been told it makes a great place to hang out with friends on a nice night or for happy hour after work.

Beale Street

How can you go to Memphis without at least walking down Beale Street? Some might say it’s overrated or overwhelming, but I’m always of the opinion that these places in any city are a small pocket of culture that lets you easily experience the history and vibrant life of the city.

It is a place where you can enter into the street and take a step into another world different from your own. This is why you can’t skip these places!

Sure, they may be filled with tourists, but it’s supposed to be a place where you experience the city on overdrive. You can get food, drinks, shop, and have unique experiences that you typically can’t get anywhere else.

Some places to highlight and visit are BB King’s Blues Club and Silky O’Sullivan’s!

Riverwalk

While it is currently under constructions towards the water, the Riverwalk is an iconic place to see the bridge crossing into Arkansas and the Bass Pro Shop pyramid. This Bass Pro Shop is apparently the 7th largest pyramid in the world AND it has a hotel inside?? Who knew. It’s on my list for next time.

The water looks gorgeous at sunset, and there are multiple walking paths along the river that make it a great place to get a casual walk in. I’ve even had a picnic there before!

Peabody Hotel & Peabody Duck March

For some reason, this was at the top of my Memphis bucket list. I just knew it had to be the cutest thing to watch, and it did not disappoint. Every day at 11am and 5pm there is a march of the ducks. At 11am, the ducks come down from their penthouse suite in an elevator and march across a red carpet to the little fountain in the middle of the lobby. Then, at 5pm, the ducks get out and march back into the elevator and back to their home.

Kids line the red carpet, and the Duck Master has an entire show where he talks about the history and the significance of this event. People get drinks from the bar, and it is a whole event to watch these trained ducks go swimming. We went at 11am and ended up getting a great spot to watch the whole thing.

It is definitely a one-of-a-kind activity, so I would say it’s something you have to see at least once.

Rendezvous

Well, I included this because I’ve heard it is iconic… Unfortunately, we went a little too late and wouldn’t have been served for a very long time. This is an iconic Memphis barbecue and ribs place that apparently has the best brisket, but I will have to live to see it another day.

If you go here, try to go on an off time or be prepared to wait. Funnily enough, it is tucked away in this little alley in downtown Memphis. When you walk in, the smell alone is enough to make your mouth water. It is definitely a popular restaurant, so there are always people waiting to experience some authentic Memphis food.

Young Avenue Deli

This is the first place we went to when we got to Memphis. Our friend gave us 3 choices, and this one looked the best by far. It is a bar and deli type of place, but the food isn’t your typical deli. Yes, it has sandwiches, but it also has amazing appetizers and plenty of fun takes on deli sandwiches.

The bar has the biggest selection of beer I’ve ever seen, and the prices are great. The Munchies section on the menu was definitely my favorite. We got the biggest mozzarella sticks I’ve ever seen and the fried pickle spears to share with the group. They were so good, and I wish I could have had them all to myself. The wait was even really short for lunchtime on a Saturday!

This is definitely a great place to go for a casual meal with a friend or for a nighttime group hang. They have pool tables and a stage too!

Slider Inn

My friend kept trying to get us to go here, and I wasn’t too into it at first, but it ended up being so good. I’m not a big fan of sliders, but when they are done right, I love that they are a little over bite-sized, and you can get more than just one massive sandwich. We went on Sunday around brunch time, and we sat at the bar in the far building.

The service was great, the mimosas were strong, and the fries were to die for. Not to mention I got to try one of their wings and holyyy YUM. I’m a big wing girl and I would probably get those next time. I tried 3 different sliders and loved every one of them. The place is bright and airy, and it is a perfect brunch spot – serving great breakfast sliders, brunch sliders, and anytime sliders.

Hustle & Dough

Waking up Sunday morning after a long day of exploring a little bit of drinking, we wanted to definitely get some coffee and pastries before going to see the Peabody Ducks. I just started looking around on my maps, and I saw a place called Hustle & Dough that was walking distance. We got dressed quickly and set out on a beautiful morning stroll to this cute area of town.

Hustle & Dough is on the bottom floor of a hotel, and it was packed for sure. It seemed to be a hot spot! It is full of mismatched eclectic and vintage furniture. There were people doing work and people catching up with friends. The line was long, but it wasn’t too bad. I got the lemon blueberry scone and I believe a ham and cheese hand pie? I don’t know, I ate them so fast I couldn’t even get a good picture.

My friend also got a massive chocolate chip cookie for us to share, and I was in heaven! Sit outside to enjoy some fresh air and watch the city start to wake up.

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For more things to do in Tennessee, read this: 20 Things to Do on Your SECOND Trip to Nashville