The catch-all label for Memphis between downtown and East Memphis, covering Overton Park, the medical district and the Cooper-Young feeder streets.
Frank and Hazel Vernon's Madison Avenue Memphis BBQ room invented BBQ spaghetti and has run dry-rub and wet ribs from a wood-pit smoker since 1987.
Signature: BBQ spaghetti, Dancing Pigs ribs
Order: Half slab of dry ribs with a side of BBQ spaghetti.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays. The Dancing Pigs sauce ships nationally if you want to keep the meal going.
Memphis Pizza Cafe's Madison Avenue midtown room has run thin-crust by the slice and house specialty pies since 1991, a casual midtown standby with a side.
Signature: Pizza by the slice, The Hippie
Order: The Hippie pizza with feta and pesto.
Tip: Open daily for lunch and dinner; the patio is the seat in spring. Multiple locations across Memphis run the same menu.
Central BBQ's Midtown Memphis room on Central Avenue is the chain's original, opened in 2002 with dry-rub ribs, pulled pork sandwiches and BBQ nachos.
Signature: Pulled pork, BBQ nachos
Order: Pulled pork sandwich with BBQ nachos to share.
Tip: The patio is the seat; the dining room fills fast at lunch. Online ordering skips the line.
Lamplighter Lounge on Madison Avenue in midtown Memphis is the city's defining smoke-stained dive bar, with cheap beer, a pool table and a relentlessly local.
Signature drink: Beer and a shot
Food: None
Tip: Cash preferred. No food. The 03:00 close pulls everyone in midtown when other bars shut.
Central BBQ in midtown Memphis runs the city's standard BBQ nachos: tortilla chips with pulled pork, sauce, sour cream and jalapeños. Open daily 11:00-21:00.
Try: BBQ nachos
Tip: Order at the counter and grab a patio table. Available at all four city locations.
The Bar-B-Q Shop on Madison Avenue in Memphis invented BBQ spaghetti: pulled pork and BBQ sauce tossed over noodles. Open tue-sat 11:00-21:00.
Try: BBQ spaghetti
Tip: Order a small spaghetti as a side; the full plate is enormous. The Dancing Pigs sauce ships.
The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in Memphis runs each May at Liberty Park, the centrepiece of Memphis in May with global BBQ teams.
Tip: Friday is the easier day to walk through the team tents. Saturday is the finals and most crowded.
Central BBQ in midtown Memphis runs the city's most reliable pulled pork sandwich under $13, plus BBQ nachos and a half slab combo that splits between two.
Try: Pulled pork sandwich
Order: Pulled pork sandwich with BBQ nachos to share.
Tip: Order online to skip the lunch line at the Midtown branch on Central Avenue or use the app.
Lamplighter Lounge on Madison Avenue in midtown Memphis runs cheap beer and a pool table to 03:00 daily, the city's longest-burning smoke-stained dive bar.
Try: None
Order: Beer and a shot at the bar, jukebox playing.
Tip: Cash preferred. No food; bring a sandwich from Young Avenue Deli first.
Hi Tone Cafe on Cleveland Street in midtown Memphis is the premier live music venue since 1999, with a 400-capacity room and a 21-plus downstairs lounge.
Tip: Open seven days from 17:00. The downstairs lounge runs comedy and DJ nights.
Growlers on Poplar Avenue in midtown Memphis runs live music seven nights a week from local rock, blues and soul acts, a midtown alternative to Beale.
Tip: Open daily from 17:00. Tickets at the door; check the calendar for touring acts.
The Pumping Station on Poplar Avenue in midtown Memphis is the city's longest-running LGBTQ+ bar, with a leather and bear focus, weekend drag nights.
Tip: Open daily. The back patio is the seat in summer; drag nights run Friday and Saturday.
Dru's Place on Madison Avenue in midtown Memphis is a long-running LGBTQ+ neighbourhood bar, with karaoke nights, drag brunches and an inclusive midtown.
Tip: Karaoke runs Thursday and Sunday. The kitchen runs a small bar menu.
Metro Memphis on Madison Avenue in midtown Memphis is a long-running gay nightclub with drag shows, dance floor and a leather bar in the back.
Tip: Drag shows Friday and Saturday at 23:00. Cover charge on drag nights.
Railgarten on Central Avenue in midtown Memphis is an outdoor entertainment complex with three bars, live music stages, ping pong tables and a beer garden.
Tip: Live music most weekends. The Central Avenue patio fills at 18:00; covered seats with a roof.
Lamplighter Lounge on Madison Avenue in midtown Memphis is the city's defining smoke-stained dive bar, with cheap beer, a pool table and a relentlessly local.
Tip: Cash preferred. No food; the 03:00 close draws midtown when other bars shut.