Justin Fox Burks
Best Bar
1. Railgarten
2. The Cove
3. Alchemy Memphis
In 2018, everybody goes to Railgarten. The primo live music selections and diverse entertainment options (beach volleyball! Ping pong!) have put it on top for the first time. They also make a mean meatloaf.
Best Bartender
1. Dave Parks, the Cove
2. Allan Creasy, Celtic Crossing
3. Vincent Hale, Dodici at Bari
He’s the captain of the pirate-themed bar of your dreams, master of the craft cocktail, and pourer of pints. Tip him, and everyone else on our list, well.
Best Beer Selection in a Bar
1. Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
2. Young Avenue Deli
3. Boscos — tie —Lucchesi’s Beer Garden
All we’re going to say about the Flying Saucer’s extensive draught selection is this: They have a beer search engine on their website.
Best College Hangout
1. RP Tracks
2. Railgarten
3. Newby’s
If you go to the University of Memphis, or know someone who goes to the University of Memphis, or know a vegan who likes nachos, you’ve probably been to RP Tracks. It’s one of those places that seems eternal, even when it’s changing with the times.
Justin Fox Burks
Best Dance Club
BOM 1. Paula & Raiford’s Disco
2. Lafayette’s Music Room
3. Rumba Room
Best After Hours Night Spot
1. Paula & Raiford’s Disco
2. Earnestine & Hazel’s
3. Alex’s Tavern
Best Nightclub
1. Paula & Raiford’s Disco
2. Lafayette’s Music Room
3. B.B. King’s Blues Club
The readers have spoken: Paula Raiford is the queen of Memphis nightlife. Raiford’s reign predates the Downtown Memphis revival, making it a true Bluff City original. If you’re down for a good time, you know where to go.
Justin Fox Burks
Best New Bar
1. Carolina Watershed
2. Atomic Tiki
3. The Gray Canary
Carolina Watershed is a cool space, no doubt about it. Set in grain bins with an enclosed garden-like patio out back. The water features and patio envelope diners in a wave of serenity backed up by an excellent beer selection and menu from chef Andy Knight.
Best date bar
1. Alchemy Memphis
2. Loflin Yard
3. Lafayette’s Music Room
Best Happy Hour
1. Alchemy Memphis
2. Bardog Tavern
3. Babalu Tapas & Tacos — tie — The Blue Monkey
Best Craft Cocktails
1. Alchemy Memphis
2. Hog & Hominy
3. Dodici at Bari
Taking the win in three very important categories, Alchemy hits all the right notes for a night out. With a half-price happy hour and creative cocktails like the Memphis Jam, a concoction of Old Dominick Honeybell, fresh lime, cane sugar, and a hint of local jelly, this Cooper-Young spot is a reader favorite.
Best Gay Bar
1. Mollie Fontaine Lounge
2. Dru’s Bar
3. The Pumping Station
Memphians love this historic haunt for its late-night DJ sets, perfectly potent cocktails, and eclectic ambience. Pick your poison at the bar and dance the night away until, as they say, the spirits go to sleep.
Best Jukebox
1. Earnestine & Hazel’s
2. Alex’s Tavern
3. Young Avenue Deli
Best Hole in the Wall
1. Earnestine & Hazel’s
2. Alex’s Tavern
3. The Cove
Always a good choice, Earnestine & Hazel’s Soul Burgers, topped with a perfectly simple mix of mustard and caramelized onions, are known as a middle-of-the-night pick-me-up to usher in a second wind. If the night is without live music, no worries. The E&H jukebox is filled with classics to please even the most persnickety patrons.
Best Karaoke
1. P&H Cafe
2. The Blue Monkey
3. Dru’s Bar
When Memphians are ready to grab a mic and belt out their favorite tunes, on key or not, their go-to is the beloved P&H Cafe. Don’t stop believin’ — their karaoke game is on point, and we’ll be there to kill it with our best rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Best Place to See Stand-up
1. Chuckle’s Comedy House
2. P&H Cafe
3. Minglewood Hall
Nothing heals the soul like a good, hard laugh. At Chuckle’s, comedy is king and our readers enjoy the venue’s lineup of nationally renowned acts — and resulting guttural laughs. Fun just got funnier at this Cordova gem.
Best Place to Shoot Pool
1. Young Avenue Deli
2. Highpockets
3. The Absinthe Room
The game is on at Young Avenue Deli, where the pool tables stay racked and packed. A pocket full of quarters and some geometric strategy line your night up for a straight shot across the green. Eight ball, corner pocket!
Best Sports Bar
1. Brookhaven Pub & Grill
2. Celtic Crossing
3. Bayou Bar & Grill
This neighborhood spot, where everybody knows your name, is loved well beyond its borders. Live music, weekly trivia, and sports on the big screens keep ’em coming in to hang with their favorite friends and bartenders.
Best Strip Club
1. Gold Club
2. The Pony
3. Purple Diamond Gentlemen’s Club
At Gold Club, the pole and patrons get plenty of attention. Whether stopping by for a strip show or settling in with a private lap dance, when our readers want a little risqué action, this is their happy place.
