Cocktail Bars in Memphis
Memphis cocktails have moved well past the gin and tonic, and much of the craft comes from locally owned rooms. The best cocktail bars in Memphis start in Cooper-Young, where Bar DKDC, short for Don't Know, Don't Care, puts the world in a glass until 3am, and Memphis Whistle, in a former home, builds its drinks on shrubs beside a barrel-aged Negroni. On Union Avenue, Cameo pours cocktails on draft and frozen, and Art Bar at Crosstown Arts, in a converted Sears warehouse, mixes local and foraged ingredients. Budget for tax: Cameo's menu adds a 15% liquor-by-the-drink tax plus sales tax. These are the bars we would start with.
Cocktail BarBar DKDC
Bar DKDC is a bar and music room at 964 South Cooper Street from chef and owner Karen Carrier, pairing specialty cocktails with international street food. The small plates menu ranges from Oaxacan dishes to Spanish tapas and changes every five weeks. The intimate room is filled with textiles from India and masks from Cuernavaca and Taxco, with a vintage photo booth and a calendar of bands, DJs and comedy.
964 S Cooper St, Memphis, TN 38104Daily 5pm-3amFull profile- Art Bar at Crosstown ArtsCocktail Bar
Art Bar at Crosstown Arts
Art Bar is the full-service bar of Crosstown Arts inside Crosstown Concourse in Memphis. It serves a curated list of wines and craft beers with classic cocktails and nightly specials built on local, fresh and foraged ingredients from Memphis and around the world. Musicians who played a Memphis show that day can ask for a separate menu with special prices.
Crosstown Concourse, 1350 Concourse Ave, Memphis, TNTue-Thu 5pm-12am, Fri-Sat 5pm-1am, Sun 5pm-12am, Mon closedFull profile - CameoCocktail Bar
Cameo
Cameo is a cocktail bar at 1835 Union Avenue in Memphis that sums itself up as fancy drinks and party time. Local DJs play on Thursdays. The drinks list changes with the seasons and includes zero-proof options, with a kitchen open until midnight or later.
1835 Union Ave, Suite 103, Memphis, TN 38104Daily 4pm-2amFull profile - Memphis WhistleCocktail Bar
Memphis Whistle
Memphis Whistle is a cocktail bar in a small space on Young Avenue in Cooper-Young, run by Jef and Amanda. Its signature cocktails are built on house shrubs, fruit and vinegar bases infused with herbs and spices, which can also be ordered on their own with soda water. Prohibition-style classics such as the Old Fashioned and a barrel-aged Negroni sit alongside a food menu.
2299 Young Ave, Memphis, TN 38104Mon-Thu 4pm-11pm, Fri-Sat 4pm-12am, Sun 4pm-10pmFull profile
More of Memphis
These are the cocktail bars specifically. The full Memphis guide ranks the best bars of every style, and the directory lists all 6 with a map and filters.
