Although it’s known as the home of blues, soul, and rock & roll, there are so many more unique things to do in Memphis than cruise Beale Street (although you should still definitely do that). Memphis is known for its music history and culture, which is why many people visit. But I’m here to let you know about all the cool hidden gems beyond that, which make Memphis into a beautiful mix of so many things.
Memphis is a cultural melting pot, reflected in its history and so much more. The gastronomy in this city is second to none, with a few staples and twists on old traditions. There are quite a few unexpected and unusual places in Memphis (which, of course, I will list here), places with fascinating stories, and some unique places only locals frequent.
Keep reading for some of the most unique things to do in Memphis that will add some extra flare to your trip (or give you extra ideas if you are local).
Before These Unique Things to Do in Memphis
If you are traveling to Memphis, here are a few quick things to know about beforehand. It’s a good idea to check out this first-timer’s guide to Memphis to familiarize yourself with its significant history and what kinds of music, food, and activities to expect.
Make sure to have travel insurance anytime you travel – we use Heymondo (read our review here). We were on a big USA road trip, but it’s great to have a car to explore Memphis. Compare rental prices here, or you can always use uber, too. You will definitely need to use transport, as not all areas are walkable.
Check out some of these hidden gems in my video below!
TopUnique Place to Stay in Memphis – The Memphian Hotel
If you are looking for where to stay in Memphis, my recommendation is to stay at The Memphian Hotel in midtown. This hotel is located in Overton Square, which is a trendy and safe area more frequented by locals, surrounded by restaurants, and within walking distance of Cooper-Young.
The Memphian is a unique place to visit in Memphis itself due to its amazing design, boutique rooms, emphasis on art, and feature of a different artist each month in the lobby (as well as monthly gallery evenings to view more of their art).
Some other good areas to stay are near Beale Street or on the waterfront path – the views are amazing!
Unique Things to Do in Memphis
I’ll start with the unique places to go in Memphis (and later continue with unique restaurants and food items).
Visit the Crosstown Concourse
The Crosstown Concourse is surely one of the most unique places to visit in Memphis. It looks almost menacing as you arrive – it’s huge (and I mean, multiple blocks long and 10+ stories tall), and fully made of concrete with narrow barred windows.
It used to be a Sears distribution center, which was left abandoned for about a decade until a big investment was made to make it into what they now call a ‘vertical urban village.’ And that’s exactly what it is! When you enter this place, it will be hard to pick your jaw up off the floor as you gaze up towards the skylights past one of the most impressive atriums in the world!
They have weekend markets both inside and outside, tons of restaurants, shops, a museum area, offices, hotels, apartment buildings, and so much more that truly fit the definition of a vertical urban village. I recommend checking it out during a weekend market full or crafts, food, vintage stalls, art, and more. Check their website for upcoming events.
Listen to a Record at Memphis Listening Lab
Tucked away on the second floor of the Crosstown Concourse is the Memphis Listening Lab, which is an entire area dedicated to different ways to record and listen to music. The entire place has tens of thousands of records stacked up to the ceiling. You can request an artist or record to listen to in comfy listening chairs with your own personal high-quality headphones.
You can also enter the listening room, which is constantly playing different local and classic records over high-quality speakers. There’s even a recording studio right inside which you can book in advance. The entire area is well-designed, with a view out towards the city.
Experience the Crystal Shrine Grotto
It’s not usual that I would recommend a cemetery on any list, but keep reading! The Crystal Shrine Grotto is one of the most unique things to do in Memphis, located in the Memorial Park Cemetery. Upon entering, you would NOT guess that there’s a man-made cavern in the center of the cemetery made ENTIRELY of crystals!
This grotto is quite large and depicts biblical scenes inside, but the most impressive part is that it’s lined in its entirety with huge crystals. Whether you are spiritual or not, it’s super impressive!
If you ARE spiritual, make sure to check out the sound healings they run in here once a month with incredible musicians and local indigenous artists. There’s nothing more special than an hour-long sound healing meditation in a crystal cave!
Chek Out the Sliding Goats at Silky O’Sullivan’s Bar (Previously Beer Drinking Goats)
Of course you will visit Beale Street during your visit to Memphis, so why not check out one of the most unique things to do in Memphis ON Beale Street? Many peoples’ nights eventually lead them into Beale Street’s famous Irish bar, Silky O’Sulllivan’s, whether for the Guinness or for the amazing dueling piano shows.
But, something unbelievable about Silky O’Sullivan’s is the fact that they have pet goats that live on-site and love to climb up a tower in their pen and slide down a big, twisting slide! The goats have learned to love music by now and live happily in their corner of the outside area of the bar, waiting to say hello to curious revelers with cocktails in hand. The goats used to drink beer (and apparently loved it) but the establishment had to shut this down a while back for obvious reasons!
Try BBQ Nachos at Central BBQ (and Other Offbeat BBQ)!
One of the most unique things to eat in Memphis is a twist on the classic BBQ. We all know the area has great BBQ food, and anyone could recommend a lot of great BBQ places. But what about BBQ done in different ways?
The BBQ Nachos at Central BBQ in Memphis was the first time in my life I had seen BBQ nachos, and they are absolutely incredibly DELICIOUS! The meat here is top-notch, and is actually so enjoyable eaten with crispy tortilla chips, melted cheese, BBQ sauce, and jalapeños. Let’s just say it’s a meal I will never forget!
Expore Cooper-Young Neighborhood
Donned with the title of ‘historically hip’ as shown on the signs on many street poles, Cooper-Young is definitely the hipster part of Memphis. It’s colorful and full of olf heritage houses turned into bars, breweries, rare book shops, comic book stores, a record shop, and other other Memphis hidden gems.
There are some amazing breweries and restaurants here and an offbeat and artsy culture. Also, make sure to find the statue of Johnny Cash above where he apparently had his first-ever performance.
Eat at The Beauty Shop Restaurant
One of the most unique places to eat in Memphis, this restaurant used to be a beauty shop and still has tables and seating designed like one! It’s actually the same exact location that Priscilla Presley used to get her hair done, in the hip Cooper-Young neighborhood.
The restaurant took its history and ran with it into the modern day, combining edgy and unique design with glass-walled tables with lighting fixtures that look like hood dryers at the salon. The food is upscale, creative, and delicious, and is a great option for dinner after exploring the little shops and breweries of the Cooper-Young neighborhood.
The Memphis Whistle Cocktail Bar
This is one of the coolest cocktail bars (and restaurants) I have ever been to! It’s also in Cooper-Young, which is a neighborhood known for old historic houses. The Memphis Whistle is located inside a house that is over 100 years old, with a tiny bar area with a few tables squished in, some more tables in what would be the living and dining areas of the house, and the kitchen converted into an actual restaurant kitchen.
It’s cramped, but that’s the point! Within minutes of walking inside alone, I was having conversations with everyone in the room and chatting with the servers and bartenders. You don’t sit separately here, you come in and become part of a group right away (I mean, unless you reserve one of the rooms, but even then, people were so welcoming and encouraged me to come in and take a photo).
The tiny house is painted blue and purple, and is one of the most inviting environments I’ve encountered in a bar. And, the cocktails are incredible!
Explore the Sculpture Garden at the Metal Museum
The Metal Museum is one of the lesser-known museums in Memphis which doubles as a wonderful view of the river. The museum itself has different exhibits of metal art, which are worthwhile, but my favorite and most hidden gem part of this spot is the sculpture garden. There are about a dozen or more metal sculptures scattered throughout grassy fields next to the historic brick house containing the museum.
The sculptures are impressive and beautiful, not to mention great for taking photos. Make sure to sit on some of the creative metal benches and spend some time overlooking the river in the Gazebo.
Learn Car History at the Edge Motor Museum
The Edge is a fittingly edgy neighborhood outside of Memphis downtown, which is home to Memphis’ only car museum. The Edge Motor Museum highlights the development and journey of the American sports car and its impact on society (and history’s impact on it). You can read all about the history of the sports car through the decades and check out some impressive cars you wouldn’t find anywhere else.
Check out their website here for one of the most unique things to do in Memphis.
Explore Overton Square
Located in the heart of midtown, you’ll find colorful Overton Square. This is kind of like an outdoor mall, with lots of street art and installations, designer shops, cute restaurants, bars, and galleries. Some of the city’s best restaurants are in the area.
Check out the terrace at Lafayette’s for a great view over a drink, and stay at The Memphian hotel just next door! Make sure to enjoy the vibrant art in every corner of this area.
Have a Drink in the Pink Disco Room at Tiger & Peacock Rooftop Bar
I’ve already shared about the Memphian Hotel, but I have not yet mentioned their animal-themed speakeasy-vibe rooftop bar, Tiger & Peacock. This is a super cool bar already, but many don’t know that there’s a secret room with bright hot pink walls and a HUGE disco ball! Reserve this room for parties or look for it after a few drinks at the bar.
We were lucky and came in for our reservation and requested to sit in this room, and had it all to ourselves! It was so much fun and surely one of the most unique things to do in Memphis. Just one tip – if you sit down to eat in there on a non-party night, maybe stop the disco ball from spinning, as people have gotten dizzy before!!
Enjoy Overlooking the River at Butler Park
While trying to find the more popular Tom Lee Park, I stumbled upon Butler Park, which offers a bird’s eye vantage point of Tom Lee Park as well as the river running by the city.
This is more of a Memphis hidden gem as it’s less crowded, shares a view with some of Memphis’ most amazing homes, and it also a minute’s walk from some great restaurants. Namely, ‘By the Brewery’ Cafe and Fannie Lou’s Gourmet Chicken and Waffles. Check it out!
Marvel at the Bass Pro Shops in the Memphis Pyramid
Visiting the Memphis Bass Pro Shops is not much of a hidden gem, but it’s DEFINITELY a unique thing to do in Memphis. That is, if you consider visiting the 10th largest pyramid in the world as ‘unique.’ Yes, including the ones in Egypt. And yes, that was a rhetorical question!
The Memphis pyramid may have its shape in common with the ancient relics of Egypt, but that’s the extent of it. This pyramid is truly the largest Bass Pro Shops ever, complete with hundreds of thousands of gallons of water features, two restaurants, one viewpoint, an entire hotel (with some rooms looking inside at the shops), and everything you could ever want for outdoor sports and activities.
If nothing else, head inside and marvel at the huge open space that was once a concert and event venue, but is now the most elaborate outdoor store maybe even in the world!
More Tennessee:
- Amazing Tennessee Treehouse Rentals
- Fun Things to Do in Nashville for Couples
- Unique Places to Stay in Tennessee
Thanks to Memphis Tourism for hosting me for the weekend! All words are my own and I can’t wait to return.
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.