Midtown/Overton - Memphis Guide
Midtown is FULL of things to do and places to eat and visit. This is in no way an exhaustive guide, just my favorite places to visit.
Where to Eat
Panta is newer to the area and I love it. The food tastes so fresh and full of flavor. I recommend the shrimp and the meatballs. The interior is also beautiful and I love walking up through the lavender plants - it’s such a nice touch!
Babalu is a great spot for margaritas and small plates. I love their Baba-Rita and their burger. They also make guacamole fresh at your table (I get mine with extra bacon because I’m a heathen). It can be difficult to get a table, but I’ve never had a bad meal here.
Neal and I went on a date recently to Bari Ristorante and had a great time. They give you an entire menu to build your own cheese and charcuterie plate. We ordered a truffle soft cheese and a parmigiano-adjacent cheese. We also ordered 2 pastas, but I can’t remember the name of them. Honestly though, everything was great here.
Slider Inn Midtown has my favorite patio in Memphis.They take forever to bring your food, but with the great patio, Jameson slushies, and good company, you don’t mind that much :)
One of my favorite date night locations is Ecco on Overton Park. It has a similar vibe to Bari, but has great outdoor seating. This spot has amazing pasta and is wonderful for a girls night or a date night.
Los Comales is technically in the Medical District, but it is my favorite Mexican food in Memphis. They have $10 jumbo top shelf margaritas, $2 tacos, and is my go-to.
Sekisui in Midtown is also a weekly go-to spot for me. I order the Saints roll and Stacy’s roll. So yummy :)
Crazy Noodle is a tiny hole in the wall, but their curry noodle is to die for.
Where to Drink
All of the above places have amazing drinks! Below are places that I personally don’t love the food, but will enjoy a drink there.
Lafayette’s is great for live music and drinks. I will say, their music is SO LOUD, but they have a fantastic double-decker patio and it is great when the weather is nice. Neal loves the cajun mac and cheese.
If you’re looking for the diviest of dive bars, Zinnie’s is your spot. Neal and I came here after a boozy Zoo day, and we had a great time.
Local on the Square has decent food, but I prefer their drinks. If you’re looking for a good spot on game days, this is a great place to go.
I try to keep negative reviews to myself (besides Aer Lingus), but I had such a terrible experience at Tiger & Peacock at the rooftop of The Memphian. They made us wait for 2 hours and said the upstairs was full, but when we went up there, there were 3 other people in there. I felt like they were making it seem busier than it was to keep interest in it. I won’t be going back.
Things to Do
Overton Park is a beautiful, flat park perfect for picnics! Hit up Fresh Market for sandwiches or snacks, bring a blanket, and enjoy the sunshine!
Neal flying his kite at Overton Park
Memphis Zoo & Aquarium always wins Top 3 Zoos in America and I LOVE it here. I’m actually a member! Neal and I love going when it’s cold out, and mixing some Bailey’s in our hot chocolate and wandering around a nearly empty zoo.
Feeding the giraffes at the zoo
Formerly known as the Pink Palace, the Museum of Science and History is a hidden gem in Memphis! They have great documentaries, concerts, and movies on their IMAX screen, a planetarium, and plenty of other exciting exhibits. It is an extension of a pink marble mansion which was the home to the founder of Piggly Wiggly!
Brooks Museum of Art is currently at Overton Park, but will be moving Downtown in the next few years. Neal and I came here for our anniversary a few years back and we loved it. I usually don’t choose to go to art museums over other kinds, but I do love the exhibits here.
Concerts at the Levitt Shell are always so much fun. They offer a free concert series every summer (Neal and I went to an Indian-Zydeco fusion band once), but will often have indie bands and singers visit.
Overton Square is always full of life. They have movie series, trivia, and activities in their courtyard, and is surrounded by yoga studies, clothing stores, restaurants, etc. They have an events calendar on their website and is always worth a glance.
