Category: Best of Memphis

Best Beer Selection (in a bar)

1. Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

2. Young Avenue Deli

3. Lucchesi’s Beer Garden

The UFO-themed bar Downtown has made its name by having the best beer selection in the galaxy. Frankly, we wouldn’t be surprised if they could even serve up a Romulan Ale or a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster. Seriously, if anyone could, it would be Flying Saucer. Beam us up.

Best College Hangout

Photographs by Justin Fox Burks

RP Tracks

1. RP Tracks

2. Railgarten

3. Newby’s

Anyone who has spent any time near the University of Memphis campus has popped into RP Tracks for a brew or a bite. It’s the one great uniter between students, professors, and staff. Well, that and maybe getting caught by the train. For excellent BBQ Tofu Nachos and enough beer to float a frat party, it’s got to be RP Tracks.

Best After-Hours Night Spot

1. Alex’s Tavern

2. Earnestine & Hazel’s

3. Paula & Raiford’s Disco

Maybe Granny was right and nothing good ever happens after 2 a.m. But then again, even Granny has been wrong once or twice. So where to go after last call on those nights that just shouldn’t end? Alex’s Tavern. When you need some Rock-Mo’s Chicken Drummies to soak up all that cheap beer? Definitely Alex’s.

Best Nightclub

1. Paula & Raiford’s Disco

2. Lafayette’s Music Room

3. Hernando’s Hide-A-Way

The best option when you want to “dance, dance, dance the night away” has absolutely got to be Paula & Raiford’s Disco. Don’t mind the (sometimes) long line to get inside, because, believe us, it is worth it. Light-up dance floor, signage forbidding drug use, 40-oz. beer, and all the grooviest hits of yesteryear combine to make Raiford’s Memphis’ Best Nightclub.

Best Craft Cocktails

★ BOM 1. Alchemy Memphis

2. The Cove

3. Art Bar at Crosstown Arts

Best Happy Hour

1. Alchemy Memphis

2. The Blue Monkey

3. Babalu

Best Bar

1. Alchemy Memphis

2. Lafayette’s Music Room

3. Art Bar at Crosstown Arts

The mix masters at Alchemy must have found the secret ingredient to a BOM hat trick. With an overwhelming win for Best Craft Cocktails, and wins for Best Happy Hour and the coveted Best Bar title, the tastefully appointed Cooper-Young bar has all the right ingredients for a happy hour hotspot.

Best Gay Bar

1. Dru’s Bar

2. Mollie Fontaine Lounge

3. The Pumping Station

Dru’s is the little neighborhood bar on Madison Avenue with the cool murals outside. They have karaoke, pool, comedy, and drag shows three nights a week. And cold brews served by friendly staff, of course. Like the mural says, Dru’s is “not just a bar, it’s your bar!”

Best Hole in the Wall

1. Earnestine & Hazel’s

2. Alex’s Tavern

3. P&H Cafe

It’s not every hole in the wall that used to be a brothel, or used to host hometown hero Craig Brewer’s famous Heaven and Hell Halloween parties. Or that’s totally haunted, has a long-running jazz night, and serves up a Soul Burger so tasty it’s been known to bring grown men to tears. Maybe that’s why Memphians proudly choose Earnestine & Hazel’s as Memphis’ Best Hole in the Wall.

Best Karaoke

1. P&H Cafe

2. Dru’s Bar

3. The Blue Monkey

The last six or seven months have been a long year. A really long year. But one of the things keeping us going is the thought of karaoke at the P&H Cafe. The mural on the ceiling, the various portraits of Elvis scattered about, the bobcat above the bar — this is the neighborhood dive where you’re always welcome, no matter how off-key your rendition of “Memory” may be. That’s right, we’re singing “Memory” from Cats, and they still serve us. Bless ’em.

Best Place to See Stand-Up

1. Chuckles Comedy House

2. P&H Cafe

3. The Orpheum

In the 14th century, Henri de Mondeville, a professor of surgery, promoted laughter as a post-operative therapy. Laughter, he said, was the best medicine. He’s not wrong. Laughter causes a release of pain-numbing endorphins, and it improves blood flow, too. So get ye to Chuckles for some stand-up comedy and healing humor. Doctor’s orders.

Best Place to Shoot Pool

1. Young Avenue Deli

2. Highpocket’s

3. P&H Cafe

Ah, the Deli. It’s perfectly situated, stumbling distance from all of Cooper-Young. Fuel your pool game with a reuben or a Sam I Am sandwich and a local beer, sidle up to the green-felted table, and slap your quarters down. Chalk up your cue, sip on your brew, and get ready to win this thing. Rack ’em up!

Best Sports Bar

1. Brookhaven Pub & Grill

2. Bayou Bar & Grill

3. Huey’s

This East Memphis hotspot has everything one could ask for in a sports bar. Impressive selection of foreign, domestic, and local brews? Check. Great pub grub? Check — try Brookhaven favorites like the Memphis Melt or the BLTC. All that, and the game is on. Owner Rick Spell says it best: “We serve fun here.”

Best Strip Club

1. Gold Club

2. The Pony

3. Purple Diamond

At the church picnic, Linda served the fried chicken. One man was having trouble deciding what piece of chicken he preferred. Linda helped him out by saying, “Most men prefer thighs and breasts.” For the hottest thighs and breasts in Memphis, see Linda at the Gold Club.

Best Bartender

1. Allan Creasy, Celtic Crossing

2. Morgan McKinney, Bari

3. David Parks, The Cove

Allan Creasy has topped this list many times in his 15 years behind the bar at Celtic Crossing. But he told the Flyer recently that he feels guilty about it. Others are better at mixology than he is, he said, he’s just quick with a pint and a joke. Nevertheless, hordes of Celtic regulars have decried Creasy’s departure but celebrated his new gig raising political cash for Future 901.

Best New Bar

Slider Inn

1. Slider Inn – Downtown

2. Knifebird Wine Bar

3. Bar Keough

Burgers and beer. What more do you need? With their savory sliders and robust drink menu, Slider Inn’s Downtown location tops the list as the Best New Bar in town.

Best Podcast

1. Chris Vernon Show

2. Night Classy

3. Verbally Effective Podcast

Chris Vernon took his popular sports talk show from FM radio to the internet a few years ago. Listeners managed to follow him and make him the top vote-getter for Best Podcast.

Best Columnist

1. Geoff Calkins, Daily Memphian

2. Wendi Thomas, MLK50

3. Michael Donahue, Memphis Flyer

Geoff Calkins is a perennial winner in this category. Leaving the Commercial Appeal and moving to the online Daily Memphian hasn’t hurt his following among Flyer readers. Sports or human interest, Geoff is the best.

Best Reporter

1. Kontji Anthony

2. Joe Birch

3. Jeremy Pierre

Kontji Anthony takes the prize in

this new category. She’s smart, she’s

on top of her game, and she’s on top of the Flyer‘s poll. Get your news clues from Kontji!

Best Radio Personality

1. Ron Olson

2. Drake Hall

3. Gary Parrish

A longtime and much-traveled veteran of Memphis’ radio wars, Ron Olson moves into the No. 1 slot as Flyer readers’ favorite radio personality. Perseverance pays off!

Best Local Radio Show

1. Gary Parrish Show

2. Ron and Karen

3. South Main Soul Club on WEVL

Gary Parrish’s blend of humor, entertainment, insight, and the occasional political opinion has landed him at the top of the radio dial for hosting the Best Local Radio Show.

Best Sports Radio

1. 92.9 ESPN

2. Chris Vernon Show

3. Gary Parrish

It’s clear that Flyer readers think 92.9’s lineup is the best sports programming in town from dawn to dusk — talking Tigers, Grizzlies, SEC, and smack.

Best Radio Station

Justin Fox Burks

WEVL-FM 89.9

★ BOM 1. WEVL-FM 89.9

2. The River 104.5

3. WKNO

Listener-supported and listener-programmed, WEVL takes this category year after year. And this year is no exception. Tune in for an eclectic mix of music — from hip-hop to bluegrass to Celtic.

Best TV News Anchor

1. Joe Birch

2. Kontji Anthony

3. Mearl Purvis

What can you say about perennial Best News Anchor Joe Birch. He’s won this award so many times we ought to name it after him. Congrats for the millionth year in a row!

Best TV Sportscaster

★ BOM 1. Jarvis Greer

Tie 2. Doc Holliday

Jessica Benson

3. Pete Pranica

Jarvis Greer is another of WMC-Channel 5’s year-after-year winners. The former Memphis Tiger has a great attitude and stellar reporting chops, plus that ever-present upbeat hometown spirit.

Best TV Weatherperson

★ BOM 1. Chelsea Chandler

2. Ron Childers

3. Brittany Bryant

Chelsea Chandler steps up to the green screen and talks about the weather better than anybody in town, say our Flyer voters. She’s definitely on the radar these days.

Best Antiques Store

1. Sheffield Antiques Mall

2. Cotton Row Uniques

3. Antique Warehouse Mall

If you just have a short amount of time, you probably still can find something you can’t live without at Sheffield’s Antiques Mall by just going down two or three aisles. If you plan on spending some time, get one of their “grocery” carts. Antiques and other pieces in people’s booths change, so customers find new items every time.

Best Gift Shop

1. Cotton Row Uniques

2. Babcock Gifts

3. The Broom Closet

Best Home Furnishings

1. Cotton Row Uniques

2. Bartlett Home Furnishings

3. The Great American Home Store

Aunt Gladys has everything. Everyone has an Aunt Gladys. What Aunt Gladys doesn’t have is a hand sanitizer tree ornament, a Chewy Vuiton for Puddles, or a Turkish rug stool. Cotton Row Uniques is the Best of Memphis when shopping for gifts and home furnishings for Aunt Gladys (and yourself).

Best Beer Selection (in a store)

1. Buster’s Liquors & Wine

2. Madison Growler and Bottle Shop

3. Joe’s Wines & Liquor

Best Liquor Store

1. Buster’s Liquors & Wines

2. Joe’s Wines & Liquor

3. Kirby Wines & Liquors

It’s official. Memphis finds Buster’s Liquors & Wines intoxicating. Voted the Best of Memphis for best beer selection and liquor store, we couldn’t be hoppier for your un-beer-lievable success. Cheers!

Best Local Athletic Goods Store

★ BOM 1. Outdoors Inc.

2. Fleet Feet Sports

3. Breakaway Running

Best Bicycle Shop

1. Outdoors Inc.

2. Victory Bicycle Studio

3. All About Bikes

For shoes, water vessels, bikes, and everything in between, Memphis goes outdoors with Outdoors Inc. Bike, hike, and launch from the dike geared up from the best local athletic goods store and bike shop.

Best Bookstore

1. Novel

2. Burke’s Book Store

3. Barnes & Noble

What’s the best bookstore for shelf awareness — the place to not only get books, but puzzles, games, crafts, toys, and more? With more stories than the Tower Center, Memphis voted Novel the best bookstore. Let the good tomes roll.

Best Butcher

★ BOM 1. Charlie’s Meat Market

2. The Fresh Market

3. Thomas Meat & Seafood Market

Some places are all meat and no potatoes. Not Charlie’s Meat Market. They’ve got potatoes, too. There’s no mis-steakin’ why Memphis voted this butcher a cut above the rest.

Best Creative Agency

1. Sauce Marketing

2. Archer Malmo

3. Neon Canvas

Oh, you saucy little minx, enticing us with your spicy marketing strategies. You add the most flavor and visual appeal to websites, branding, and growth strategies, according to Memphis Flyer BOM voters. You’re awesome, Sauce.

Best Day Care

for Kids

1. Lindenwood Christian Child Care Center

2. Memphis Jewish Community Center

3. Christ the King Lutheran Church

No kidding, Memphis gave Lindenwood Christian Child Care Center the lion’s share of votes for best day care for kids. With class names for infants to toddlers like lambs, bunnies, and dinosaurs, it’s no wonder they’re the bees’ knees.

Best Event Rental Venue

Memphis Botanic Garden

1. Memphis Botanic Garden

2. Dixon Gallery and Gardens

3. 409 South Main Events

What’s the best place in Memphis to have a wedding, host a party, or plan a meeting? Flyer readers voted Memphis Botanic Garden as the best bloomin’ event rental venue in town. It’s no garden variety space.

Best Farmers Market

1. Memphis Farmers Market

2. Agricenter Farmer’s Market

3. Cooper-Young Community Farmers Market

Vegetables and communities must be grown with care. Maybe that’s why Memphis Farmers Market is the pick of the crop when it comes to farmers markets, by adding herb appeal to Downtown Memphis.

Best Florist

1. Pugh’s Flowers

2. Holliday Flowers & Events

3. Rachel’s Flower Shop

Ah, what pray tell is that pungent

scent of roses and honeysuckle filling the air? It must be Pughy, the world’s only delightfully fragrant skunk, who works so hard for the locally owned Pugh’s Flowers family business. It makes scents that Pugh’s is the Best of Memphis florist.

Best Garden Center

1. Dan West Garden Center

2. Urban Earth Garden Center

3. Midtown Nursery

Since 1952, Dan West’s has been the go-to place for your botanic necessities, whether it’s plants, supplies, or knowledge. What you need to grow and what you need to know is either at the original store on Poplar or the facility out in Eads.

Best Golf Course

1. Windyke Country Club

2. Links at Galloway Golf Course

3. TPC Southwind

As a family-oriented country club, Windyke offers not only a terrific golf experience on three courses, but also dining, tennis, and swimming. There are seasonal events throughout the year, and it’s an ideal place to have a banquet or a wedding ceremony.

Best Grocery Store

1. Trader Joe’s

2. ALDI

3. Superlo Foods

What does Germantown have that Memphis doesn’t? Yep, a Trader Joe’s, although there’s considerable sentiment for the grocery chain to open another location in the Bluff City. Fans love the prices, the white cheddar popcorn, the selection, the customer service … well, you get the picture.

Best Specialty Treat Shop

1. Dinstuhl’s Fine Candies

2. Jerry’s Sno Cones

Tie 3. La Michoacana

Muddy’s Bake Shop + Coffee

There are several locations around town (and Downtown has reopened), and doesn’t your mouth water when we mention cashew crunch, caramel apple, chocolate covered pineapple, cat (and bat) suckers, chocolate playing cards, and chocolate pecan fudge? We don’t need Willy Wonka when we have Dinstuhl’s.

Best Shopping Center

1. Shops of Saddle Creek

2. Laurelwood Shopping Center

3. Crosstown Concourse

The Germantown shopping complex is an elegant place to seek out great fashion, beauty, home, and technology goods, from the trendy to the iconic. And then stop for some coffee or a bite to eat. Its architectural design and singular shops make Saddle Creek a lifestyle center.

Best Hotel

Peabody Hotel

★ BOM 1. Peabody Hotel

2. The Central Station Memphis, Curio Collection by Hilton

3. ARRIVE Memphis

It’s called the historic Peabody for a reason. The “South’s Grand Hotel” has charm, elegance, and a warm hospitality to offer guests, along with ducks and their duckmaster, remarkable shops, and a lounge that has entertained the famous, the infamous, and everyday folks.

Best Law Firm

1. Baker Donelson

2. Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz Personal Injury Attorneys

3. Burch Porter & Johnson PLLC

As one of the city’s best-known firms, Baker Donelson offers trusted counsel, innovative services, an award-winning culture, a wide reach and deep bench of talent, and a powerful commitment to the community. That’s why it’s been a prestigious firm for all of its 130 years.

Best Lingerie Shop

★ BOM 1. Coco & Lola’s

2. Trousseau

3. A Fitting Place

They’re more than happy to mention all of the unmentionables at Coco & Lola’s. They’ll show you two-piece bra and panty sets, two- and three-piece garters, chemises, babydolls, bustiers, and corsets. If there’s anything intimate you haven’t thought of, trust them. They have.

Best Local Bank or Credit Union

★ BOM 1. Orion Federal Credit Union

2. First Horizon Bank

3. First South Financial Credit Union

For some time now, Orion has upped the ante on customer service as well as community involvement. It also has something most credit unions don’t: being cool. Just check out its new headquarters in the old Wonder Bread building near Downtown.

Best Local Fine Jewelry Store

1. Ed Harris Jewelry

2. Mednikow Jewelers

3. Sissy’s Log Cabin

With its large inventory of designer watches, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and rings, Ed Harris is ready to provide what’s needed for an engagement, wedding, anniversary, birthday, or special occasion. If you’re looking for something elegant and unique, he’s got it.

Best Regional College

University of Memphis

★ BOM 1. University of Memphis

2. Southwest Tennessee Community College

3. Rhodes College

The Tigers are roaring, and it’s not because of their football or basketball teams. The latest issue of U.S. News & World Report now ranks the U of M at No. 126 in its national list of the nation’s “Top Public Universities,” one of only three schools in Tennessee mentioned in that category. What’s more, Memphis made the top-100 in “Top Performers in Social Mobility,” and its engineering program was ranked No. 161 nationwide.

Best Independent School

1. Christian Brothers High School

2. Lausanne Collegiate School

Tie 3. Briarcrest Christian School

St. Mary’s Episcopal School

Academics? Last year, every graduate of CBHS was accepted to college. Athletics? How about 17 different sports and 45 state championship appearances. Combine that with learning based on the Lasallian tradition, low student-teacher ratio, and a school that considers itself a community instead of just a campus, and the Brothers are a winner.

Best Local

Public School

1. White Station High School

2. Snowden School

3. Houston High School

Let’s see: Accomplished teachers, up-to-date facilities, winning sports teams, state-of-the-art equipment for in-person or remote learning, and a record of achievement at every level. It’s easy to see why parents and students picked White Station as the best public school in the Memphis area.

Best Place to

Get Vintage/

Used Clothing

1. Flashback

2. Goodwill

3. City Thrift

“Used clothing”? Oh please, this is like stepping into a vintage department store, packed to the rafters with classic clothes in styles that have remained timeless. And it’s not just clothes — how about lamps, furniture, and other items from times past? We have no idea where longtime owner Millett Vance finds these wonderful treasures, but we’re glad she does.

Best Local Store for Men’s Clothing

1. Oak Hall

2. Dixie Pickers

3. Outdoors Inc.

Best Local Store for Men’s Shoes

1. Oak Hall

2. Outdoors Inc.

3. Breakaway Running

Founded in Memphis in 1859, Oak Hall is one of the country’s oldest family-owned businesses. If you’re looking for the very best designer clothes, shoes, and accessories, combined with a relaxing shopping experience and first-class customer service, look here first. As one of their old advertisements proclaimed, “Oak Hall is the store with more.”

Best Local Store for Women’s Clothing

1. Indigo

2. The Ivory Closet

3. Crazy Beautiful

At first, it seems a bold move to open a boutique that offers mainly denim clothing, but Indigo takes it a step further than just designer jeans. Customers won’t get the blues when they encounter the selection of tops, handbags, shoes, jewelry, and other first-rate accessories.

Best Local Store for Women’s Shoes

1. Joseph

2. Kaufman Shoes

3. Cook & Love Shoes

When the Wexner family opened a tiny shoe store Downtown in 1930, they probably never imagined modern-day customers would consider it one of the top-rated high-fashion stores in Memphis. But if you’re looking for international designers like Louboutin, Prada, St. Laurent, Gucci, and more, this is the place that lets you put your best foot forward.

Best Music Equipment Store

1. Amro Music

2. Memphis Drum Shop

3. Martin Music

Need a guitar so you can become a rock star? Sure, you can buy one here. But if you’d rather play the flute, bassoon, French horn, or even the oboe, you can find those here, too. For anybody who wants to march to the beat of a different drummer, Amro’s the store for you. Oh, and they sell drums, too.

Best Pet Boarding/Day Care

Photographs by Justin Fox Burks

Browndog Lodge

1. BrownDog Lodge

2. Dogs Rule Day Care & School

3. Claridge Spa Pet Resort

Man’s best friend gets Best of Show treatment at BrownDog, where pets are pampered with a private room, bed, flat-screen TV, three walks daily, a real grass yard, and even personal massages. Heck, we’d stay there ourselves if we could.

Best Pet Store

★ BOM 1. Hollywood Feed

2. Three Dog Bakery

3. PetSmart

The “Feed” part of their name is only part of the story. No matter what kind of critter you have, this store has something for them (and you): bowls, collars, leads, treats, toys, medications, beds, crates, cages, kennels, grooming tools, and yes — even pet clothing. If you come home to Mr. Puddles empty-handed, don’t blame us if he lives up to his name.

Best Vet

1. Walnut Grove Animal Clinic

2. The Pet Hospitals

3. Utopia Animal Hospital

Since Dr. Chuck Halford founded Walnut Grove Animal Clinic 27 years ago, he and his colleagues have been taking good care of our furry (and scaly) friends. Our readers chose them because they recognize that our pets are members of our families.

Best Realtor

1. Ashley Onsby, MidSouth Residential

2. Julie Upchurch, McWaters & Associates Realtors

3. Todd “Too Tall” Adams, Keller Williams Realty

The Memphis-area real estate market has never been hotter. Whether you’re looking for a starter home or trying to upgrade your living space, you need someone you trust to represent your interests in a complicated world. Our readers chose Onsby, who works from Arlington to Downtown and all points in between.

Best Home Remodeling Service

1. Two Broke Bartenders

2. Crone Construction

3. RKA Construction

The coronavirus pandemic has upended the lives of millions of people. No one has been hit harder than food service workers. When entrepreneur Taylor Berger’s restaurants closed for lockdown in March, he put displaced bartenders to work providing home services of all kinds. In just a few short months, Two Broke Bartenders has become indispensable to Memphis.

Best Record Store

Goner Records

1. Goner Records

2. Shangri-La Records

3. Memphis Music

Goner isn’t just carrying on the proud tradition of Memphis music retailing, it’s also a record label and center of a music community. This year, they’ve expanded into another realm. Gonerfest, the annual gathering of the punk rock tribes, moved online and included bands from as far away as Auckland, New Zealand, and Berlin, Germany. Goner proves Memphis music’s worldwide reach.

Best Sex Shop

1. Lovers

2. Inz & Outz

3. Romantix

What do you want from a sex shop? Selection and discretion. The Memphis favorite Christal’s has changed its name to Lovers, but they’re still sex-positive Flyer readers’ go-to for lingerie, toys, and novelties. Treat yourself when it’s time to spice up the boudoir.

Best Tattoo Artist

1. Nathan Parten, Trilogy Tattoos

2. Peter Miller, Underground Art

3. Jordan Epperson, Bluff City Tattoo

Tattoo artists have been hit hard in the pandemic. Nathan Parten’s fine linework and creative designs have made him a favorite of the Bluff City inked set. He has recently expanded his pallet by making forays into animation, creating music videos for Louise Page and HEELS.

Best Tattoo Studio

1. Bluff City Tattoo

2. Trilogy

3. Underground Art

Bluff City Tattoo is a relative newcomer on the scene, having only been founded in 2018. But with heavily illustrated Lucero guitarist Brian Venable as a co-owner and front man, they have quickly become a favorite for Memphis Flyer readers looking to make some permanent alterations to the body beautiful.

Best Alternative Smoke Shop

★ BOM 1. Whatever

2. Cloud9 Smoke Shop & Vape Shop

3. Wizards

Best Tobacco/

Cigar Shop

1. Whatever

2. Tinder Box

3. Madison Tobacco

When you’re stuck at home in quarantine, you need to chill. Our readers chose Whatever as the place to go for chillout accessories both basic and exotic. Their profile has been boosted by the legalization of CBD flower and other products. It’s an anxious time, so take the edge off.

Best Place to Buy a Motorcycle

★ BOM 1. Bumpus Harley-Davidson

2. Indian of Memphis

3. Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson

You know the ideal socially distanced activity? Speeding down the highway on a roaring motorcycle! Just try to catch me, COVID! For years, it’s been clear: When our readers are ready to hop on a hog, they hit Bumpus Harley-Davidson.

Best New Car Dealership

1. Jim Keras Subaru

2. Roadshow BMW

3. Wolfchase Honda

The Mayor of Covington Pike wants to put you in a Scubie. Jim Keras has been a trusted name in car sales in the Bluff City for years, and our readers have rewarded the great deals, service, and financing by naming them the Best of Memphis.

Best Used Car Dealership

CarMax

1. CarMax

2. City Auto

3. Smith Imports

Used car sales have boomed during the pandemic. Edmunds reported Americans bought 1.2 million autos in July alone. In our survey, readers chose the convenience and selection of CarMax, the nationwide retailer with a strong online presence.

Best Auto Repair

1. Gateway Tire & Service Center

2. Christian Brothers Automotive

3. Barton’s Car Care

When Flyer readers are in the market for new tires, a tune-up, or other auto repairs and want service that’s convenient and affordable, they hit the road with Gateway.

Best Burger

Huey’s

1. Huey’s

2. Tops Bar-B-Q

3. LBOE

Best Bar Food

1. Huey’s

2. Young Avenue Deli

3. Slider Inn

Best Late-Night Dining

1. Huey’s

2. Alex’s Tavern

3. Young Avenue Deli

Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant

1. Huey’s

2. Memphis Pizza Cafe

3. Railgarten

Best Service

1. Huey’s

2. Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House

3. Houston’s

Nailing first place in five categories, Huey’s is a bona fide Memphis institution. From burgers and bar food, for lunch or late-night, the “prescriptions” on the menu hit all the right notes. Kids love it, too, and the service always comes with a smile.

Best Barbecue

★ BOM 1. Central BBQ

2. The Bar-B-Q Shop

3. Germantown Commissary

Best Ribs

1. Central BBQ

2. Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous

3. The Bar-B-Q Shop

Best Hot Wings

1. Central BBQ

2. Ching’s Hot Wings

3. The Wing Guru

Whether it’s pulled pork, ribs, or wings our readers are after, Central BBQ is the answer. Smoked just right, jerked or sauced, they’ve got the ‘cue for you.

Best Breakfast

1. Brother Juniper’s

2. Sunrise Memphis

3. Bryant’s Breakfast

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and Brother Juniper’s does it right. From expertly crafted omelets with all the fixins to delicious breakfast burritos (or just a simple two-egg breakfast with bacon), Brother Juniper’s has the goods to get your day going.

Best Lunch

1. Elwood’s Shack

2. Huey’s

3. Pho Binh

Best Sandwiches

1. Elwood’s Shack

2. Young Avenue Deli

3. Kwik Check

It may not look like much from the outside, but this little shack on Summer packs a big punch in flavor. With a variety of stellar sandwiches on offer — Club, Cuban, or Debris Po’Boy, for example — Elwood’s is a go-to lunch (or anytime) spot for Flyer readers.

Best Brunch

TIE 1. The Beauty Shop

Owen Brennan’s

2. Bayou Bar & Grill

3. The Majestic Grille

For sweet or savory, classic brunch dishes or those with a modern twist, Memphis just won’t choose between Cooper-Young’s Beauty Shop and Owen Brennan’s out East because they’ve both got it all. Add a mimosa or two, and we’ll cheers to this tie win!

Best Bloody Mary

1. Bayou Bar & Grill

2. The Beauty Shop

3. Sunrise Memphis

Best Cajun/Creole

1. Bayou Bar & Grill

2. The Second Line

3. Owen Brennan’s

If you’ve ever been to brunch at Bayou, you’ve seen the line that forms as soon as they open. We, for one, are there for those Bloody Marys — a little spice and the right amount of booze to get an acceptable mornin’ buzz on. Add beignets, Zydeco wings, or any number of N’awlins-inspired dishes to the mix, and you’ll see why Bayou tops in these two categories.

Best Chinese

1. Mulan Asian Bistro

2. Wang’s Mandarin House

3. A-Tan

With chicken egg rolls, vegetable spring rolls, and some of the best dumplings in town on a menu that covers a lot of authentically Asian bases, it’s no wonder our readers have named Mulan No. 1 for Chinese cuisine.

Best Ethiopian

1. Abyssinia Restaurant

2. Stickem

3. Derae Restaurant

For a wide range of authentic Ethiopian dishes — Kitfo, Yesiga Wot, Bozeno Shiro, and more — served as a colorful spread (with spongy injera) and bursting with exotic spices, Memphis chooses Abyssinia.

Best Indian

1. India Palace

2. Golden India

3. Bombay House

Do you ever daydream about the lamb meatballs from India Palace? I don’t know what kind of magic is added to the sauce they’re swimming in, but I could eat a vat of it. The curry, tikka, and tandoori options are all top-notch as well. Grab an extra piece of naan to help clean your plate, and you’ll understand why it’s Memphis’ best for Indian food.

Best Italian

1. Pete & Sam’s

2. Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen

3. Bari Ristorante e Enoteca

If you’re looking for a mean spaghetti, look no further than Pete & Sam’s. The Romero family’s traditional Italian recipes have been honed in Memphis since 1948, transforming the eatery into a darling of the Bluff City’s dining scene. The oodles of red sauce, pizza, and other favorites will have you saying “Buonissimo!”

Best Margarita

1. Molly’s La Casita

2. Las Delicias

3. Babalu

I can’t confirm for sure, but there’s a pretty decent chance that Jimmy Buffett penned “Margaritaville” immediately after gulping down a frozen concoction from Molly’s La Casita. Stick with the classics (or try one of their specialty half-frozen, half rocks), upgrade to strawberry, or treat yourself with some top-shelf excellence.

Best Taco

1. Las Delicias

2. Maciel’s

3. Babalu

Best Mexican

1. Las Delicias

2. Molly’s La Casita

3. Las Tortugas Deli Mexicana

Founder Antonio Martinez keeps the focus firmly on the quality of food at Las Delicias, and since the turn of the 21st century has been delighting diners with his authentic Mexican cuisine. Tacos, tortas, burritos, enchiladas … todas estan deliciosas.

Best Middle Eastern

★ BOM 1. Casablanca

2. Global Café

3. Petra Cafe

Come for the shawarma, falafel, and hummus, stay for the oh-so-addictive tea for which superlatives cannot do justice. Whether it’s a Super Sandwich or the falafel “Big Mac,” there’s no wrong choice when it comes to Casablanca’s Mediterranean and Middle Eastern menu.

Best Thai

★ BOM 1. Bhan Thai

2. Bangkok Alley

3. Pho Binh

Variety is the spice of life, but Bhan Thai’s red curry also likes to kick the heat up a notch (don’t count out the Panang and Masaman styles, either). The House of Thai has it all: Bangkok chicken, pad thai, crispy duck, satay, pot stickers, and a sweet Thai iced tea to wash it all down.

Best Vegetarian/Vegan

Photographs by Justin Fox Burks

City Silo

1. City Silo Table + Pantry

2. Pho Binh

3. Casablanca

At City Silo, chef Will Byrd turns ordinary produce into an artful array of vegetarian feasts. No beef burgers here; rather, try marinated portobello, or a beet-and-walnut patty. Barbecue fans get their own unique sandwich with the Foxy BBQ, featuring a generous helping of grilled spaghetti squash. A bevy of wondrous veggies awaits.

Best Vietnamese

1. Pho Binh

2. Pho Saigon

3. Lotus

Feast on soft yet crunchy bits of tofu sprinkled with just the right amount of lemongrass seasoning. Or try some of the best fried chicken wings in town. For the cold winter months, a hearty bowl of pho will do the trick. While their buffet may be on hiatus, Pho Binh is still the best game in Memphis when it comes to Vietnamese.

Best Japanese

1. Sekisui Pacific Rim

2. Red Koi Japanese Cuisine

3. Sakura Japanese Restaurant

Sekisui’s sushi menu adheres to the old Japanese adage of “use the ingredients you have,” with offerings that trend toward either the traditional (California roll) or the local (community-designed rolls, like the Tiger or Jackson 5). Not a fan of raw fish? The bento boxes have a bit of everything, while sake goes well with any Japanese dish.

Best Home Cooking/Soul Food

1. Soul Fish Cafe

2. Cupboard

3. Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe

Best Seafood

1. Soul Fish Cafe

2. Coastal Fish Company

3. Half Shell

Forget chicken soup; the best combo of soul food and seafood is down South. Soul Fish conjures images of fried catfish, fresh vegetables, and okra, but it’s got some other tricks up its sleeve, as well. Tried the Cuban sandwich? Go ahead, you won’t be disappointed.

Best Fried Chicken

★ BOM 1. Gus’s World Famous

Fried Chicken

2. Joes’ Fried Chicken

3. Uncle Lou’s Fried Chicken

Just imagine the crisp, crunchy exterior. The scent of freshly baked chicken and spices wafting up, just before the first bite unleashes a torrent of finely compressed juices, hitting you with the wham-bam taste bud assault of Memphis’ best chicken. Whenever someone comes into town, you take them to Gus’s.

Best Pizza

1. Memphis Pizza Cafe

2. Aldo’s Pizza Pies

3. Little Italy

You read the words up there and now you can smell the Memphis Pizza Cafe. The aroma is warm and inviting like pizza ought to be. It welcomes you in and brings you back. The pizzas are classics you know and love. Memphis has known them and loved them (and the calzones and sandwiches) for 25 years.

Best Smoothies/Juices

Raw Girls

1. Raw Girls

2. City Silo Table + Pantry

3. Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Though they have multiple locations — with one in Midtown, another in East Memphis, and one soon to be opened Downtown — the Raw Girls’ iconic, silver, winged food truck is a staple in the Eclectic Eye parking lot and also of Midtown culture. It’s where to go for cold-pressed juice with romaine, kale, spinach, cucumber, celery, lemon, ginger, and sea salt. And, dude. Have you ever had one? There’s a reason our readers think they’re the best.

Best Donut Shop

★ BOM 1. Gibson’s Donuts

Tie 2. Howard’s Donuts

Midtown Donuts

3. The Donut Box

Gibson’s Donuts is the rock arena and the maple bacon is the rock star. Both are a bit more homespun than that, but the comparison isn’t far off. People — food bloggers, Food Network stars, and foodies in general — hit Gibson’s when they come to town, and they come to get that maple bacon. Alton Brown said Gibson’s is his favorite. Don’t trust him? Trust Flyer readers.

Best Bakery

★ BOM 1. Muddy’s Bake Shop

2. Frost Bake Shop

3. La Baguette French Bread and

Pastry Shop

Best Dessert Shop

1. Muddy’s Bake Shop

2. Cheesecake Corner

3. La Michoacana

If you need to impress at a party or a family gathering, nervous newbies and new girlfriends know you go to Muddy’s Bake Shop. When the white box top is popped, eyes glaze and minds forget everything else. It comes down to one question: Which one will I pick? Me? Prozac. Every. Dang. Time.

Best Food Truck

TIE 1. New Wing Order

Cousins Maine Lobster

2. El Mero Taco

3. Say Cheese

Cousins Maine Lobster is a franchise with locations in 13 states. New Wing Order (NWO) is Memphis-clusive … for now, anyway. But what they have in common makes them our winners; their food is so good you’ll want to punch someone in the face. Get the Maine lobster roll at Cousins. Get the Hot Wing Nachos at NWO.

Best Patio

1. Slider Inn

2. Coastal Fish Company

3. Bhan Thai

Slider Inn is a patio powerhouse. Misters in the heat. Covered in the cold. There’s almost no bad time for the Slider patio. I’ve even seen folks out there in a light rain. The magic’s in the quick service that sometimes comes with a sly one-liner. The magic’s in the patio’s unpretentious air. The magic’s in the mix of Memphians who mingle there.

Best Dog-Friendly Restaurant/Bar

1. Loflin Yard

2. Railgarten

3. Slider Inn

When it opened, Loflin Yard was an innovation in the old-fangled. The food is simple. Fire pits and conversation are the main attractions. Dogs are honored guests. Unlike some places, dogs at the Yard have room to move and places to flop. Dogs just seem at home at Loflin. Our readers think so, too.

Best Place for People-Watching

1. Peabody Hotel Lobby

2. Crosstown Concourse

3. Beale Street Entertainment District

Great Memphis stories start with, “I was at the Peabody bar when …” I’ve heard my share of them, and they do not disappoint. The place is a magnet for characters. And why not? It has high ceilings, rich wood, a sophisticated beverage menu, oh, and a mega-fountain filled with live ducks. From wrestlers to regional sales managers, you’ll find them all at the Peabody bar.

Best Local

Brewery

1. Wiseacre Brewing Co.

Tie 2. Ghost River Brewing Co.

Memphis Made Brewing Co.

3. Crosstown Brewing Company

Wiseacre Brewing is a perfect blend of whimsy and dogged determination. Consider that its flagship beer is called Tiny Bomb and is one of the most carefully crafted in Memphis. Consider its tech-forward brewery Downtown features a bust of Beavis and Butthead creator Mike Judge. Wiseacre takes having fun seriously.

Best Coffee Roaster

★ BOM 1. Ugly Mug

2. French Truck Coffee

3. Vice & Virtue

Best Local

Coffeehouse

1. Ugly Mug

2. Otherlands Coffee Bar

3. City & State

Ugly Mug has been roasting coffee in Memphis for three generations. What we get are some unique coffee blends, a name that’s crazy fun to say, and a bangin’-ass cup of go-juice. Roll into Ugly Mug’s comfortable East Memphis location for coffee, of course, but stay for some breakfast or lunch. You’ll be glad you did.

Best Restaurant for Dessert

1. Cheesecake Corner

2. The Beauty Shop

3. Paulette’s Restaurant

You don’t need to eat dinner when you order a hefty slice of cheesecake at Cheesecake Corner. They’re tantalizingly good, and our readers voted them the best.

Best Server

1. Calvin Bell, Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous

2. Taylor Pfohl, Bayou Bar & Grill

3. Dakota Mays, The Gray Canary

In-the-know diners hope to snag a table in the back left rear of the north dining room at Rendezvous. They know the friendly, helpful (and all other good adjectives) Calvin Bell will take care of them. He’s a consistent BOM winner.

Best Chef

1. Kelly English, Restaurant Iris, The Second Line

2. Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, The Gray Canary, Catherine & Mary’s

3. Michael Patrick, Rizzo’s

Who doesn’t know chef Kelly English by now? In addition to his innovative Restaurant Iris and other eateries, English, a consistent BOM winner, is a cheerleader for other local restaurants.

Best New

Restaurant

1. Tamboli’s Pasta & Pizza

2. Coastal Fish Company

3. Moondance Grill

Owner Miles Tamboli created something great when he opened Tamboli’s Pasta & Pizza. The food is delicious. And he even makes his own pasta. Look for him in front of the pizza oven.

Best Date-Night Restaurant

1. Catherine & Mary’s

2. Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House

3. Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar

Couples grab a seat at the bar at Catherine & Mary’s. The ambience is just as cool there as sitting at a table. In addition to eating the innovative dishes barside, customers can check out the who’s who coming into the restaurant.

Best Fine Dining/New American

1. Restaurant Iris

2. Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House

3. Southern Social

If you mention you’re going to Restaurant Iris, whomever you’re talking to is going say they’re jealous. That’s a given. Chef Kelly English’s elegant Midtown restaurant is well-known for its creative cuisine.

Best Wine List

1. Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar

2. Knifebird Wine Bar

3. Bari Ristorante e Enoteca

Flight is the place to savor a glass of vino while enjoying several types of entrées in the same sitting.

Best Steak

★ BOM 1. Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House

2. Ruth’s Chris Steak House

3. The Butcher Shop Steakhouse

Best Restaurant

1. Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House

2. Huey’s

3. Tsunami

“Folk’s Folly” is synonymous with “steak.” Just walking into the restaurant, diners can smell steak cooking. And there’s a cozy bar, where they can grab a cocktail and, if they choose, eat dinner, while listening to live piano music.

The votes have been tallied, and Memphis has spoken. Ready to see the results of the Memphis Flyer‘s annual Best of Memphis readers’ poll? From restaurants to radio, salons to smoke shops, family fun and festivals, and everything in between, you chose your favorites. Winners with “BOM” next to their name absolutely dominated their category. Any ties have also been noted.

The Flyer staff had a little fun with this, as well, and chose some of our own faves in this COVID-doomed year. You can find those, including Best Place to Pretend Everything is Normal, Best Wildlife Whisperer, and Best Reason to Break Quarantine (hint: there isn’t one), in the Staff Picks section.

This issue was written by Samuel X. Cicci, Shara Clark, Jesse Davis, Michael Donahue, Michael Finger, Alex Greene, Matthew J. Harris, Chris McCoy, Julie Ray, Toby Sells, Jon W. Sparks, and Bruce VanWyngarden. It was designed by Carrie Beasley with images by Justin Fox Burks.

Thanks to our readers, those who submitted nominations and voted and those who didn’t. Y’all are the true Best of Memphis. And we thank our advertisers, who make it possible to keep the Flyer free, always.

Categorical links to each section are at the bottom of the your browser window.

Best Barber Shop

1. 1776 Men’s Grooming Parlor

2. Baron’s Man Cave

3. High Point Barber Shop

1776 Men’s Grooming Parlor offers haircuts, straight razor cuts, beard trims, and kids cuts. Whether you’re looking to get a fade or a pompadour, 1776 will have you “groomed for freedom,” as its tagline promises.

Best Barre Studio

1. Pure Barre

2. Club Pilates

3. Neighborhood Barre

Pure Barre sets the bar pretty high when it comes to barre studios. With highly trained instructors, a focus on community, and a nonjudgemental environment, Pure Barre is Memphis’ best place to go for a barre workout, no matter your fitness level.

Crossfit Hit and Run

Best Crossfit Studio

1. CrossFit Hit and Run

2. Crossfit Bartlett

3. Iron Tribe

At CrossFit Hit and Run, it’s not all about health and fitness. It’s about having fun and becoming your best self, too. The warm, welcoming staff help make that a reality. Everyone from experienced athletes to everyday people can get better, faster, and stronger at CrossFit Hit and Run.

Best Day Spa

1. Gould’s

2. The Skin Clinics

3. Pavo Salon Spa

Gould’s is a Memphis staple when it comes to a day at the spa. It’s the city’s top place to get away from the hustle and bustle of life while stepping into a world of relaxation. From deep tissue and hot stone massages to foot rejuvenation, Gould’s has what you need and will not disappoint.

Best Place to Get a Facial

1. The Skin Clinics

2. Pavo Salon Spa

3. Gould’s

Best Tanning Salon

1. Custom Spray Tanning by Bari at The Skin Clinics

2. Jamazin Mobile Airbrush Tanning

3. Esthetiques Skin Spa

We all want beautiful, polished skin, but sometimes life gets in the way. The Skin Clinics can help. It’s the No. 1 place to go in Memphis for both tanning and facials.

Best Hair Salon

1. Pavo Salon

2. Gould’s

3. Rachel’s Salon & Day Spa

Need a new ‘do? Pavo Salon has got you covered. The stylists are friendly and eager to give clients the look they want. This high-end salon can likely master any cut, color, or style your heart desires.

Best Hair Stylist

1. Erica Richardson, Verseau Hair Studio

2. Sarah Coward, Pavo Salon

3. Chelsea Prince, Empire Hair Studio

When it comes to hair styling, Erica Richardson at Verseau Hair Studio is the best in the city. She knows how to give clients a look that fits and pays extra attention to getting it right for each client. She’s your girl.

Best Nail Salon

1. Nail Bar & Co.

2. Gloss Nail Bar

3. Envy Nail Bar

Nail Bar & Co. is not your typical nail salon. Yes, they’ve got you covered with manis and pedis, but the high-end salon is also known for its personalized nail art. The creative, professional staff wants your nails to be as unique as you.

Best Health/Fitness Club

1. YMCA

2. Salvation Army Kroc Center

3. ATC Fitness

With multiple locations in the city, the YMCA comes in as the top health and fitness club in Memphis. The gyms house a variety of top-notch workout equipment, offer group classes taught by knowledgeable instructors, and provide a safe space to get fit.

Best Place to Get Waxed

1. European Wax Center

2. Wax Therapy Studios

3. Gould’s

European Wax Center offers all-encompassing waxing services to help reveal beautiful skin from head to toe. The staff are always ready to pamper you and help radiantly transform your skin.

Best Yoga Studio

Any Body Yoga

1. Any Body Yoga

2. Better Bodies Yoga

3. Delta Groove Yoga

Anyone is welcome at Any Body Yoga. That’s one of the reasons why it tops the list as the best yoga studio in the city. It’s the go-to studio for nourishment of the mind, body, and soul.

Best Beer Selection in a Bar

1. Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

2. Young Avenue Deli

3. Lucchesi’s Beer Garden

For a beer selection that’s out of this world, Memphians choose the UFO-themed beer garden Flying Saucer Draught Emporium. They offer more than 200(!) global beers. Hunger for a hefeweizen? Gotta grab a gose? Flying Saucer’s got you covered.

Best College Hangout

1. RP Tracks

2. Railgarten

3. Newby’s

It’s no wonder that RP Tracks, the little bar by the railroad tracks, takes home the award for Best College Hangout. What University of Memphis student or professor hasn’t fueled a study session with the famous barbecue nachos or celebrated the end of the semester by hoisting a pint (or several)? Congrats, RP Tracks, on making the grade.

Best Dance Club

1. Paula & Raiford’s Disco

2. Lafayette’s Music Room

3. Rumba Room

Best After Hours Night Spot

1. Paula & Raiford’s Disco

2. Alex’s Tavern

3. Earnestine & Hazel’s

Best Nightclub

1. Paula & Raiford’s Disco

2. Lafayette’s Music Room

3. B.B. King’s Blues Club

Paula & Raiford’s wins a hat-trick this year with Best Dance Club, Best After Hours Night Spot, and Best Nightclub. Basically, if you’re looking for a place to dance late at night, well, you’re looking for Raiford’s. With a light-up dancefloor, grooving tunes, and strobes and smoke machines, a night at Raiford’s is a night to remember.

Best Date Bar

Lafayette’s Music Room

1. Lafayette’s Music Room

2. Alchemy

3. Loflin Yard

The Overton Square-area Lafayette’s Music Room is a short walk from an ice cream shop, a movie theater, a ballet studio, and more than one playhouse. The prime location, extensive drinks list, mouthwatering menu, and an impressive lineup of local and national music acts make Lafayette’s Memphians’ choice for Best Date Bar.

Best Happy Hour

1. Alchemy

2. Huey’s

3. Brookhaven Pub & Grill

Best Craft Cocktails

1. Alchemy

2. Hog & Hominy

3. Art Bar at Crosstown Arts — tie — The Cove

After a long day at work, it’s refreshing to be reminded of a little magic in the world. That’s where the alchemists at Alchemy come in. The drinks list at this Cooper-Young cocktail lounge is extensive, and the menu includes shareable plates, making Alchemy a shoo-in for Best Happy Hour.

Best Gay Bar

1. Dru’s Bar

2. Mollie Fontaine Lounge

3. The Pumping Station

Dru’s is a longtime favorite of the Memphis LGBTQ community (and their allies). With karaoke, pool and darts, friendly staff, live bands, and special events during Pride Month, Dru’s checks all the boxes for a welcoming neighborhood bar.

Best Hole in the Wall

1. Earnestine & Hazel’s

2. Alex’s Tavern

3. The Cove

Best Jukebox

1. Earnestine & Hazel’s

2. Alex’s Tavern

3. Young Avenue Deli

Earnestine & Hazel’s is in touch with Memphis’ soulful history, so it’s fitting that the beloved bar nets the award for Best Jukebox and Best Hole in the Wall this year. Why is E&H a perennial favorite, though? Is it the famous Soul Burger? The jazz nights? The aforementioned rockin’ jukebox? Yes, all of the above.

Best Karaoke

1. The Blue Monkey

2. TJ Mulligan’s

3. P&H Cafe

Whether you’ve got a voice like a bell or you wail like a cat in heat (guilty as charged), karaoke is a good time. The Blue Monkey’s weekly karaoke nights are no exception — seriously, we’re not monkeying around.

Best Place to See Stand-up

1. Chuckles Comedy House

2. P&H Cafe

3. The Orpheum

Chuckles is Memphis’ go-to comedy club. With both national and local acts performing regularly, a full bar, and your basic pub grub on the menu, it’s the place to be when you’re hungry for some humor.

Best Place to Shoot Pool

1. Young Avenue Deli

2. Highpocket’s

3. The Blue Monkey

Whether you’re an ace or a “B” player, with pool tables nestled near the jukebox in the back of the bar, the Deli is a sweet spot to shoot some pool. Rack ’em up!

Best Sports Bar

1. Brookhaven Pub & Grill

2. Celtic Crossing

3. Bayou

This East Memphis pub checks every box on the list of neighborhood bar qualifications, from good food to a wide array of drink options. Televisions hang on the walls for sports fans, and darts and live music nights keep the options for entertainment varied. Owner Rick Spell sums it up best when he says, “We serve fun here.”

Best Strip Club

1. Gold Club

2. Purple Diamond Gentlemen’s Club

3. The Pony

The gold standard for strip clubs is the Gold Club. They offer V.I.P. specials and custom packages for a great time. Ooh la la!

Best Bartender

1. Allan Creasy, Celtic Crossing

2. David Parks, Restaurant Iris

3. Amber Carey, Brookhaven Pub & Grill

A good bartender makes you feel at home. A great bartender makes you feel at home, even if you just struck out at the weekly trivia tournament. Allan Creasy, a familiar and friendly face behind the bar at Celtic Crossing, is a great bartender.

Art Bar at Crosstown

Best New Bar

1. Art Bar at Crosstown Arts

2. B-Side

3. Lucky Cat Ramen

On a recent visit to Art Bar, just to enter the bar, I walked past works of art on display and threaded my way through a crowd watching a jazz quartet. Music followed me in as I found a seat on a quirky green couch and ordered a Sugar Magnolia State of the Guava Mind. With jazz, art, funky furniture, and decadent drinks, no wonder Memphians recognized Art Bar as the Bluff City’s Best New Bar.

Railgarten

Best Bar

1. Railgarten

2. Brookhaven Pub & Grill

3. Alchemy

This year alone, Railgarten has played host to countless benefit concerts, bar-wide Nerf gun fights, and crawfish boils. Oh, and there are lawn games, hammocks, ice cream options, and beer galore. Sup it, Railgarten.

Best Local Athlete

BOM 1. Penny Hardaway

2. Mike Conley

3. Jaren Jackson

The University of Memphis basketball coach has taken Memphis by storm, even winning the Best of Memphis contest’s “Best Athlete” … as a coach. Take a bow, Penny.

Best Podcast

1. Roundtable of Hooligans

2. Motivated AF With Katie Forbis

3. The Outsiders

Roundtable of Hooligans’ Facebook page says it is a weekly podcast “where guys share beers and discuss the most pressing issues of modern times.” Or “basically just yell at each other about soccer.” Sounds good to us. Especially the beer part, you hooligans.

Best Newspaper Columnist

1. Geoff Calkins, Daily Memphian

2. Michael Donahue, Memphis Flyer

3. Bruce VanWyngarden, Memphis Flyer

Geoff Calkins left his longtime columnist home at The Commercial Appeal more than a year ago to write for the online Daily Memphian. He didn’t miss a beat with our Best of Memphis voters, taking home first place once again.

Best Radio Personality

1. Drake Hall

2. Stan Bell

3. Liz Luda

Best Local Radio Show

1. Drake in the Morning

2. Latty and Liz in the Morning

3. Ron Olson and Karen Perrin

Perennial winner Drake Hall took home two categories, as he has for years, showing that his unique blend of cranky humor, good music, stimulating guests, and talented co-hosts (Sydney Nabors and Wes Yahola) is a winning combination.

Best Sports Radio Show

Gary Parrish

1. The Gary Parrish Show

2. The Geoff Calkins Show

3. The Chris Vernon Show

National CBS basketball writer and commentator Gary Parrish’s local afternoon sports show is No. 1. Parrish’s willingness to step outside the lines of a typical sports-talk show format by using humor, discussions of film and music, and the occasional double entendres have kept him on top. (That’s what she said.)

Best Radio Station

1. WEVL-FM 89.9

2. Q107.5 WHBQ-FM

3. 98.1 The Max

The volunteer-run station on South Main is a perennial winner in this category. It offers an eclectic mix of music from many genres, served up by local hosts with a passion for their favorite tunes and artists.

Best Sports Team

1. Memphis Tigers Basketball

2. Memphis Grizzlies

3. Memphis Tigers Football

Tiger basketball returns to the top of the Best Sports Team ballot after an absence of a few seasons. No doubt, new Coach Penny Hardaway has BOM voters as excited as he does all those returning season-ticket holders.

Best TV News Anchor

1. Joe Birch

2. Kontji Anthony

3. Mearl Purvis

Joe! Joe! Joe! The longtime WMC Channel 5 anchor seemingly can’t be beaten. He’s playing at a level we mere humans can’t comprehend: four-dimensional chess TV anchoring. Congrats on another year!

Best TV Sportscaster

BOM 1. Jarvis Greer

2. Doc Holliday

3. Pete Pranica

Jarvis Greer, also of WMC Channel 5, is another perennial winner. Viewers (and BOM voters) love his sassy style and adorable grin — and the way he gives those Friday night highlights.

Best TV Weatherperson

Chelsea Chandler

BOM 1. Chelsea Chandler

2. Ron Childers

3. Brittney Bryant

Hey, we have a first-time winner in this category. Chelsea Chandler of Local 24 was voted the new No. 1 meteorologist in Memphis. We forecast big things for this newcomer to the top of the contest podium.