Lindsay & Charlie
Things To Do
Shelby Farms Park
We enjoy taking walks around the lake at Shelby Farms, especially during the sunrise or sunset. Make sure to stop by Belltower Coffee across the park - the same owner of the restaurant where we are hosting our reception has another storefront in Shelby Farms that has a beautiful view and delicious coffee!
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Memphis has a lot of music history, encompassing rock and roll, blues, soul, and more. Stax is by far our favorite and most special of all of the music museums in town that you can experience. Here you will learn about the incredible impact that Stax and Memphis soul musicians had on the entirety of Soul, R&B, and Rock and Roll music as we know it. We would love it if you stop by to visit this very special part of Memphis history, where (Lindsay's favorite) Otis Redding and many other legends of soul got their start.
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
Our favorite art museum in the city! A beautiful place to walk around, and it is surrounded by the gorgeous Overton Park, where you can walk or enjoy a picnic.
National Civil Rights Museum
Simply a must-do if you haven't been yet. It is an emotional experience but we highly recommend this incredible museum that highlights the American Civil Rights Movement. This is a really special place and the exhibits are fascinating, haunting, and educational.
novel.
Novel is our comfort spot! Lindsay loves to buy her novels here and peruse the shelves, and Charlie loves to grab a cappuccino at the cafe inside and check out a graphic novel or philosophy book. We buy many gifts here at Christmas time and just absolutely love this gem of a bookshop. We are so happy it is so close to our house and probably go at least once a month.
Rootstock Wine Merchants
Sorry, but we had to include Rootstock! We know many of you who are reading this have been here before, but if you haven't, we would LOVE to see you at our family's wine store in the Edge District of Memphis while you are in town.
JEM Restaurant
We absolutely love JEM and their team. They are Rootstock's neighbors and have become great friends and collaborators. We love their seasonal menu and Charlie has assisted in creating their wine list and training their staff on the beverage program. We love the burger with a glass of Cava or Beaujolais!
The Bar-B-Q Shop
If you are looking to try real Memphis BBQ while you're in town, we highly recommend the BBQ Shop. It is one of our favorite places to gather with friends and family, and the Smith side of the family tends to gather here pretty much any time they visit Memphis, so we have lots of fun memories here! Our go-to order: Pulled Pork Sandwich (with slaw) on Texas Toast with a side of fries and a side of baked beans...plus a Miller Lite of course!
WISEACRE Brewing Company HQ
Wiseacre is our favorite local brewery. If you're wanting to hang out in a nice space with great beer, we recommend their downtown location on BB King! It is a really cool space with delicious pizza and snacks. We like to come here with friends on a Friday night to share a couple beers and a pizza! Our favorite beer is Tiny Bomb Pilsner. This is one of the first places we went on a real date!
Kinfolk
Pretty much the best breakfast in Memphis! It will be packed on Saturdays and Sundays so go early, but Kinfolk has an incredible breakfast menu and every single item is delicious. They're known for their biscuit sandwiches but there's not a bad thing on the menu. We also recommend just hanging out in Harbor Town, which is a cute place to walk around with a nice view of the river!
Memphis Botanic Garden
Definitely one of the most gorgeous places to enjoy in Memphis. Fun Fact: this is where Lindsay's brother Jake got married to his lovely wife, Clare. We love to take walks here and enjoy the beautiful flowers.
Hog & Hominy
One of our favorite places to treat ourselves for date night or to gather over food and wine with friends. They have a great wine list, excellent cocktails, delicious pizza and snacks, and the best dessert ever - peanut butter pie. This is definitely a Memphis institution and a favorite amongst locals. We love to sit at the bar when it's just the two of us or to get one of the larger party tables when we go with a group. It is conveniently located nearby our home in East Memphis, and not far from the East Memphis hotels we listed.
Sunrise Memphis (East Memphis)
Our other favorite breakfast spot! There is a location downtown near Rootstock on Jefferson Ave., but we highlighted the East Memphis location here for variety. They have the best bloody mary in town and we love the breakfast tacos, the biscuit sandwiches, and the omelets.
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
We love hanging out at Flying Saucer in Cordova. Charlie adores the fish and chips and their selection of imported beers, so it is worth the drive! Great service with a pub feel and just a chill place to hang out in a non-trendy part of town.
City Silo Table + Pantry (East Memphis location)
Our favorite spot to grab a quick and healthy breakfast or lunch. Charlie loves their coffee and the Sunshine Burrito, and Lindsay loves their juices and the acai bowl. This is a great and inviting place with more diverse dietary options - they have gluten free, vegan, and other inclusive options. There is also a location in Germantown. Pro tip: order the Vegan Kale Caesar Salad but make it into a wrap - sooo good!
Memphis Made Brewing
We love the vibe at the new Memphis Made Taproom in the Ravine. It is steps away from Rootstock and it is a great place to hangout outdoors, and is dog and family friendly. They are known for their Fireside Amber Ale!
South Point Grocery
Lindsay had to include this, as she works for the corporate office for the group that runs this and several other Memphis area grocery stores. South Point is special because of their delicious deli sandwiches! We recommend grabbing a sandwich and sitting on the porch to eat lunch if you are out and about downtown. They also feature a wide variety of local products that are fun to peruse.
Hard Times Deli
Right around the corner from Rootstock and run by our friends and neighbors. We highly recommend you checking out their viral and hugely popular sandwiches! Note: You will have to wait in line for a bit but it isn't a long wait and it is TOTALLY worth it.
Bar Limina
Bar Limina JUST OPENED so go show them some love! It's a great spot for delicious cocktails and nice ambiance. It's directly across the street from Rootstock and run by our good buddy Josh. We are all about supporting the Edge District neighborhood!