How spend date nights in Memphis with your sweetie?
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay
The City of Blues is home to great food (arguably the best barbecue in the U.S.), phenomenal music (duh, this is Elvis’s AND JT’s hometown!), and a boisterous nightlife (three words: beer-drinking goats). Which, by proxy, makes Memphis the perfect city for a date night. Pretty much ever. Especially with the variety of vacation rentals in Memphis, TN to add an extra element of romance and novelty to the experience.
Whether you and your person are into the casual, the unusual, or the sophisticated, Memphis will serve you a date night for the books. So get gussied up and hit the town that’s truly made for lovers.
Movie night
Let’s start with a classic date night option: snuggling up with your plus one in front of the big screen, popcorn and soda in hand. And nothing is as classic as an old fashioned drive-in. Hop in the car with your sweetheart and head out for a late-night double feature at the Malco Summer Drive-In. There are even themed nights for movie buffs who love the classic slashers or monster flicks.
Dinner and a Show
Make sure to pack your finest theatre attire—Memphis boasts a high-profile performing arts scene. Reserve a table at a fine dining establishment like The Majestic Grille or McEwens before taking your seat at the Orpheum Theater for a big Broadway production or a renowned comedian, or even a movie on the silver screen. If you prefer something a bit more funky, how about a bite to eat at The Rendezvous (serving ribs and sausage since 1948 in a basement diner) with a show at the New Daisy Theater, a venue known for attracting indie music. Or find a performance by Ballet Memphis or Opera Memphis to satisfy your sophisticated side.
Drinks and dancing
There’s no place like Memphis to get your boogie on, especially on Beale Street. So put on your dancin’ shoes and head over to Paula & Raiford’s Disco, well-known for its light-up dance floor and high-energy atmosphere. Rum Boogie Cafe is another live music hot spot, sporting Memphis’s staple sound provided by Vince Johnson and the Boogie Blues Band. Prefer a jukebox bar? Try the Rum Boogie Cafe’s Blues Hall right next door, or Earnestine & Hazel’s. If you like the sounds of live music, you’re in luck. Head over to Silky O’Sullivan’s, an Irish pub known for its beer-drinking goats (yes, we’re serious) and the smooth vocals of the one and only Barbara Blue.
Brunch and museum
Who says dates have to take place at night? In fact, one could argue that brunch makes for the perfect date meal! Institutions like The Arcade are a perfect spot for late (or second) breakfast. (Fun fact: Elvis used to frequent this diner—he even has a special booth dedicated to him.) Once your bellies are full, take a tour of one of Memphis’s great museums. Learn about the Civil Rights at the National Civil Rights Museum, built around the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. For the history of music, take a visit to the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, a tour of Graceland, or enjoy the groove at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
Picnic in the park
Make yourself a sweet little basket of snacks from the Midtown Farmers Market and take your sweetie for a little outing at one of Memphis’s beautiful parks, like Shelby Farms Park (there’s even a zip line and a treetop rope trail there!) or Martin Luther King, Jr. Riverside Park.
BBQ sampler
There are over 100 barbecue joints in Memphis. So spend a day tasting your way through Memphis’s best ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, and slaw. Vegetarians rejoice! Memphis has even figured out how to make a mean BBQ tofu.
Beer and nachos at the Ballpark
Speaking of BBQ, many a local will tell you that the best BBQ nachos can be had at AutoZone Stadium while cheering on the Memphis Redbirds. Pair it with an icy marg or a beer while watching for a stray ball and doing the wave.
Something unexpected
Some of the best dates are the weird, quirky kind. Memphis has some truly bizarre points of interest. Like the Pink Palace, a grand mansion built of actual pink stone-turned-museum of oddities. Or the Crystal Shrine Grotto in the Memorial Park Cemetery, a man-made cave that took the artist over 50 years to make. Or the Bass Pro Shop Pyramid. It’s so much more than an outdoor shop. It’s also a Cyprus forest with a live alligator pond…and a bowling alley…and a giant glass pyramid with the nation’s largest free-standing elevator inside. Take the 28-story ride to the very top for a really awesome view. Potential proposal idea? We think so (you’re welcome).