Goods & Services
Food & Drink
Nightlife
Arts & Entertainment
Media
And The Rest
The category that got the most votes within the Nightlife section was “Best Place To See Live Music.” Forty-three venues received votes, and the total vote for the category was 1,070. The category that received the second-most votes was “Best Beer Selection,” where 939 votes were divided among a mere 25 places. Flying Saucer dominated this category, accounting for more than half of the total and, hence, its being named one of the Best of Best of Memphis winners.
Best Beer Selection
BOM 1. Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
With more than 200 varieties of beer on tap, the Flying Saucer has this category on lockdown. If you can dream it up, they’ve most likely got it. And with the recent addition of a branch in Cordova, it just got easier for beer lovers across the area to enjoy the Saucer’s massive selection.
Best Place To See Live Music
1. Hi-Tone Café
2. Beale Street
3. B.B. King’s — tie –Mud Island Amphitheater
Whether it’s local faves Lucero and Harlan T. Bobo or touring acts on a national scale, live rock in Memphis has a dependable home and has for years now: the Hi-Tone. Early evenings, it’s a good spot to have a drink and shoot some pool. Late nights, there’s a good chance your ears’ll be ringing. It’s a good thing.
Best Local Band/Singer
READERS’ CHOICE
The Dempseys
Harlan T. Bobo
Kevin Paige
Twin Soul
Lucero
Lots of votes in this category but no clear winner.
Best Karaoke
2. Windjammer Restaurant & Lounge
3. Neil’s
Who needs American Idol when we’ve got Yosemite Sam’s? The regular karaoke crowd at this Midtown dive approaches the art form with a seriousness that cannot be rivaled. They don’t need Paula Abdul or Simon Cowell to cut them down. No sir. They’re good. (Well, at least they think so.) So forget that one-commercial-jingle-wonder Taylor Hicks and head to Overton Square to hear some real talent.
Best Bar
3. Blue Monkey — tie — Celtic Crossing
Where else can you order the best French fries in Midtown, choose from a great selection of beer, catch a show by some hip indie band, and shoot pool without having to fight for a table? Young Avenue Deli has all the essentials of the perfect bar.
Best New Bar, opened in 2006
1. Coyote Ugly
In the 2000 film of the same name, “coyote ugly” is a term used to describe someone who is so freakin’ ugly, you’d chew your own arm off if they were lying on it in bed. But the girls at the new Memphis bar are anything but. Wearing tight-fitting clothing, they dance on the bar night after night while men ogle from their seats. With that kind of gimmick, it’s no wonder Coyote Ugly was named Best New Bar.
Best Hole in the Wall
1. P&H Café
2. Alex’s
For someone who didn’t know better, the P&H Café would just look like another dive. But with pitchers of the coldest beer in town, a regular crowd of artists and thespians, live bands, and art shows, the P&H isn’t just another hole-in-the-wall. It’s the best in town.
Best After Hours Club
Justin Fox Burks
1. Raiford’s
2. Alex’s
3. Wild Bill’s
A night at Raiford’s is hands-down the most surreal experience one can have at a Memphis club. With your 40-ounce beer in one hand and your best bud’s hand in the other, practice your sexy moves on the mirrored dance floor, which features a stripper pole. Tired? No problem. Pop a squat in one of the fancy office chairs and roll around to the music.
Best Happy Hour
1. Chili’s
3. Blue Monkey
At most bars, happy hour is actually several hours long. But at Chili’s, it’s all freakin’ day. From the time they open until 10 p.m., Chili’s offers amazing drink specials. They should probably just call it Happy Day.
Best Place to Dance
Justin Fox Burks
Best After Hours Dance Club
1. Raiford’s
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Raiford’s is awesome!
Best Jukebox
1. Alex’s
The folks at Alex’s are clever. They have two jukeboxes set up to alternate songs, a tactic that prevents jukebox hogs from playing every track off of one album (you know who you are!).
Best Place to Play Pool
Justin Fox Burks
Best Place to Dance
3. Highland Cue
At the Fox & Hound bars, you don’t play pool: You shoot billiards. And you do it like a fine English chap. So saddle up and invite your blokes out for a bloody good game and some tasty ale.
Best Sports Bar
2. Buffalo Wild Wings
Okay, if you’re not into the British thing, there’s still a good ole American time to be had Fox & Hound. With numerous TVs, you can catch the football game (and we do mean American football), the Grizzlies, or whatever suits your fancy. Er, we mean whatever floats your boat.
