Rock and roll, soul and the blues all filed their first papers within a mile of here. The jukebox at the end of the night is the one that allegedly plays what you need to hear.
- 1 · The Cold Open
Rum Boogie Cafe
Beale Street with a ceiling of signed guitars, house blues band working nightly since 1985. Touristed and unbothered by the fact. Open the file with a longneck under B.B.'s Lucille.
est. 1985 · from afternoon · verified Jul 2026
- 2 · The Detour
Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous
Down an alley and underground since 1948: dry-rub ribs, sawdust history on the walls, waiters who have heard every joke. The only Memphis argument older than the music is wet rub versus dry.
est. 1948 · dinner, closed Sun-Mon · verified Jul 2026
- 3 · The Anchor
Wild Bill's
A cinderblock juke joint in North Memphis where the beer comes in quart bottles and the band plays soul blues at a volume that settles disputes. Sit at a long table with strangers. That is the format.
the juke joint · late, weekends · verified Jul 2026
- 4 · The Wildcard
Lamplighter Lounge
Midtown's stubborn dive: cheap beer, grilled cheese from behind the bar, punk bands in a room the size of a living room. Every Memphis musician has played here or slept it off here.
the Midtown dive · till late · verified Jul 2026
- 5 · The Last Call
Earnestine & Hazel's
A former brothel above a pharmacy, the Soul Burger griddled upstairs, and a jukebox that regulars swear plays your thoughts back at you. Sold in 2021, still open, still haunted by agreement.
the 102-year-old building · evening till very late · verified Jul 2026