Your Guide to Memphis, TN

Planning to visit Memphis, TN, soon? Our Shelby County city welcomes you to explore all we have to offer! Experience the culture and cuisine of the South as you wander through Downtown and Beale Street. Whether you are planning a weekend of fun for a group of adults or you are bringing the entire family along for the ride, our more than 60 attractions are sure to keep you busy. See what fun you can find here in Memphis!

Getting to know the area before you move? Rent self storage with Home Star Storage to support your move to Memphis!

Photo by Thomas Hawk via Flickr lic CC BY-NC 2.0

Guide to Memphis, TN

Population: 651,073

Median Salary: $41,228

Median Home Price: $101,800

Sitting along the Mississippi River, Tennessee’s second-most-populated city poses as a popular tourist destination and business hub. You have access to every kind of entertainment—from honkytonks to a Grizzlies game. There’s kid-friendly fun with attractions like the zoo and the Peabody Hotel, home to famous Peabody ducks! And there’s numerous arts, science, and history museums to keep you and your curious kiddos continually learning.

Memphis’ history is rooted in its significant role in the Civil Rights Movement. Today you can walk through that history in the National Civil Rights Museum, as well as experience the culture built from Memphis’ resiliency through its checkered past.

The Home of Blues & Birthplace of Rock n’ Roll

Take a stroll down Beale Street, and you will see how the Memphis blues sound originated. With influences from country, rock and roll, soul, and hip-hop, it is truly one of a kind. From the 1920s-40s, local clubs heard the melodies if B.B. King, Louis Armstrong, and so many more legendary musicians. Pop into one of the clubs or schedule your visit around one of the many music festivals to get a taste of the magic. B.B King’s Blues Club, Jerry Lee Lewis’ Cafe & Honky Tonk, and Blues City Cafe are just a few local joints where you can find nightly entertainment.

In addition to the blues, Memphis claims the title of the “birthplace of rock n’ roll.” Sun Studio, opened in 1950 by Sam Phillips, is thought by many to have recorded the first rock n’ roll recording—”Rocket 88″ by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats. Phillips is also credited with launching the career of Elvis Presley. Elvis’ Graceland remains one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. Along with the mansion, the Elvis The Entertainer Museum, and his Automobile Museum, there also interactive and discovery exhibits for every season. See why Graceland is a must-see Memphis stop!

Graceland lic Public Domain

Southern Comfort Food at Its Finest

Are you familiar with Memphis-style BBQ? Since our city’s location as a port makes us easily accessible to a wide variety of goods, Memphis has benefited from ingredients from all over—including molasses that was shipped up the Mississippi. All of this gets incorporated into the signature Memphis-style BBQ. The tangy tomato-based sauce complements the slow-cooked, dry-rubbed pork.

Memphis has more than 100 BBQ joint options for you to choose from across the city, but here are a few of our favorites.

Bar-B-Q Shop – Check out a restaurant previously voted as “Best Ribs in America” by the Food Network! They are known for their selection of sauces & dry seasonings. The barbecue menu features “dry” and “wet” ribs, as well as their famous slow-cooked pork shoulder.
Commissar y BBQ – The Commissary has been a staple for more than 25 years in Germantown, Tennessee—right outside the Memphis metropolitan area. This restaurant specializes in homemade, slow cooked, Memphis-style BBQ. It has made itself a favorite among celebrities like Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Jimmy Buffett, and Jack Nicklaus.
Cozy Corner BBQ – Open since 1977, Cozy Corner BBQ specializes in barbecued ribs, sausages and poultry.
Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken – Originally founded over 60 years ago in Mason, Tennessee, Gus’s has since expanded to more than 30 locations across 14 states in the US. This acclaimed restaurant has previously been featured in Memphis Commercial Appeal, Saveur, and GQ magazine.
The Majestic Grille – Trying for a romantic night on the town? The Majestic Grille is a popular Downtown restaurant serving steaks and upscale American fare. It sits in a 1913 movie house and honors its history by showing silent films during dinner.
Soul Fish Cafe – Beyond the BBQ, Soul Fish Cafe serves soul food, southern classics, po’ boys and more. It is your a top destination if you want an excellent catfish dish.

Searching for brews to follow up your BBQs? Memphis’ selection of breweries can entertain any taste. Here are a few that we recommend!

Wiseacre Brewing Co. – Wiseacre is a brewery that has won a number of awards for its products, including a Gold Medal at the Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beer for their Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine and a Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival for their American Stout.
Ghost River Brewing Co. – Visit Memphis’s first craft brewery! Ghost River has been independently owned and operated since 2007, and it prides itself in creating exciting and delicious brews for every season.
Crosstown Brewing Co. – Crosstown Brewing Company began with two men with a passion for good beer and strong community. Together, they created a taproom as a place for community members to come together and unwind.

Settle into Memphis, TN, with the Assistance of Home Star Storage

Are you moving to Memphis soon? We hope our guide to the city gave you some ideas for your first few nights out on the town. There’s so much to see, do, and learn here.

As you are packing up your belongings to move, there are local businesses who can support you for an easy transition. Home Star Storage offers convenient self storage rentals to assist you with your move, keep your belongings safe as you settle in, and secure them long-term as you organize life in a new city. Our self storage facility on Summer Avenue provides a range of temperature-controlled storage units that can handle any storage load. Talk through your rental needs with our experts to find the ideal storage unit size for your project, or check out our online storage calculator to get a quick sizing recommendation. Rent storage online today!

Katie Mest

About the Author: Katie Mest is an SEO Specialist at Storage Asset Management in York, PA. She specializes in writing about the self storage industry, including storage tips and helpful resources. Outside of work, Katie enjoys camping, hiking, and exploring the outdoors with her newly adopted Greyhound rescue, Titan.