What to Do in Memphis: Civil Rights History, Museums, and Music
Sign for the Lorraine Motel at the National Civil Rights Museum
Memphis is a city where music, history, and storytelling are woven into everyday life, and it’s rewarding even when you only have a little time. On two separate work trips, I added extra hours to explore and found myself returning to the city’s most meaningful places: the Withers Museum, which preserves decades of Black history through powerful photography, and the National Civil Rights Museum, an essential stop for reflecting on America’s past and progress. On my most recent visit, I added the Blues Hall of Fame, a sightseeing river cruise, and a long walk along the riverfront, offering quiet and calm to balance out the otherwise lively musical city.
Where to stay
The Arrive is a hip place with spacious, modern rooms, a great bar, “Bar Hustle” serving $7 wine and half off pizza during happy hour, and coffee shop “Hustle and Dough” with good breakfast options.
Another hip option is The Central Station Hotel by Hilton, literally made out of a train station, which maintains the history of the station and incorporates its elements into the art and architecture of the hotel’s spaces.
The Peabody is an historic hotel with updated rooms, despite the old time charm of the common areas, an elegant afternoon tea served in the restaurant Chez Philippe, and a processional through the lobby of the mallard ducks that live on property each day at 11 am and 5 pm.
Places to eat
Have lunch at Alcenia’s World Famous Soul Food. You will likely get to meet the chef-owner in person as she warmly greets diners and the food is delicious southern cooking that feels like a meal you’d have visiting family.
Happy hour at The Lobbyist (one of just a handful of Memphis restaurants mentioned in the Michelin guide) offered great appetizers and drink deals, with friendly service to round out the experience in the sunny outdoor section of this hotel bar and restaurant.
After The Lobbyist, stop next door for a drink and an appetizer at Catherine and Mary’s.
For a novel dinner, if you like to sample different dishes, try Flight, a restaurant where everything is served in flights of three, including drinks, appetizers, entrees, and desserts.
After visiting the Civil Rights Museum (see below), have barbecue at Central BBQ across the street.
For late night entertainment, simple but satisfying food, and warm service, walk over to Ernestine and Hazel’s (next door to the Central Station), a dive bar with a ton of personality and a great burger.
Things to do
Visit the Wither’s Collection Museum. It’s small but has a lot of history, artifacts, and the impressive photography of Dr. Ernest C. Withers.
Go to the National Civil Rights Museum, possibly the most well-known sight in Memphis. It’s an amazing museum made from the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated and it displays the history of his legacy as well as the event of his death in a vivid, while also sobering way that takes the visitor back in time.
Just a block from the Arrive hotel sits the Blues Hall of Fame, a fabulous small hotel with fabulous art, musical artifacts, and a very cool display with a virtual musician who responds to your music requests.
Take a 90-minute sightseeing cruise on the Mississippi River.
After the cruise, walk along Riverside Drive and enjoy the parks, scenic view, and waterfront mansions.
Have drinks and listen to live music on famous Beale Street.
Take in the art in downtown outdoor spaces and storefronts.
Next time
On the next visit, we’re planning to visit one museum we missed - The Rock and Soul Museum - and then try a few places outside of downtown, including the Cozy Corner for barbecue and The Memphis Botanic Garden.
