USA Guide
The South
Nightlife
1 B.B. King's Blues Club 147 Beale St 
901/524-KING Despite accusations from purists of having "sold out," this remains Beale's most popular club. It's spacious and lovely, with regular blues (among other music) – and the barbecue's not bad, either. B.B. himself appears once or twice a year.
2 Blues City Café 138 Beale St 901/526-3637 
www.bluescitycafe.com Popular Beale Street barbecue joint where musicians from nearby clubs dine on well-priced ribs, catfish, tamales, and gumbo. Live music nightly until late, in a down-home atmosphere. Opening time: Daily 11am–3am (5am at weekends)
3 Buccaneer Lounge 1368 Monroe Ave 901/278-0909 This grungy midtown venue – with a kind of pirate-themed junk store ambiance – is one of the city's best places to see local underground bands.
4 
Earnestine and Hazel's 531 S Main St 901/523-9754 A legendary brothel-turned-juke joint, this spot was the haunt of everyone from Elvis to the Stax musicians. It's especially good late at night, when the Memphis music juke box blasts and the famed burgers start sizzling.
5 HiTone Café 1913 Poplar Ave 901/278-8663 www.hitonememphis.com From Memphis garage bands to comedians to Elvis impersonators, this eclectic Midtown bar/club is always worth checking out.
6 Hollywood Raiford's 115 Vance Ave 901/528-9313 Considered the most happening after-hours dance club, the hotspot was sold and gut-renovated with the previous owner's blessing. Raiford still comes in to DJ and the party continues to be the place to get down to funk jams from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.
7 New Daisy Theater 330 Beale St 901/525-8981 www.newdaisy.com Restored movie theater at the east end of Beale that attracts a young, pierced crowd for its punk, metal, boxing, and hardcore wrestling.
8 P&H Café 1532 Madison Ave 901/726-0906 www.pandhcafe.com Legendary hole-In-the-wall. The coldest pitchers of beer are poured here, where the local hipsters, artists, and musicians rub shoulders.
9 Rum Boogie Café 182 Beale St 901/528-0150 www.rumboogie.com Live blues is staged in the main room, while the smaller and more intimate Blues Hall, adjoining, is a mocked-up juke joint that regularly hosts anything from boogie blues to frenetic punkabilly.
10 Wild Bill's 1580 Vollintine Ave 901/726-5473 Neighbourhood juke joint where visitors are welcome to join locals at the long tables for laid-back live blues and soul Fri– Sun. Located three miles northeast of downtown, in North Memphis.
11 Young Avenue Deli 2119 Young Ave 901/278-0034 www.youngavenuedeli.com Misleadingly named Cooper-Young favourite, featuring almost nightly local and national rock, folk, punk, and alt bands.