Summer dining is coming into full swing, as restaurants across Tennessee start to reopen. Outdoor space is even more of a must-have for eating out these days, so we’ve rounded up the best patio restaurants in Memphis. These are the places where you can chow down on some of the finest food in town in a beautiful patio setting.
Support local businesses and have a tasty experience while you’re at it – win-win.
Best Patio Restaurants In Memphis
How do these rankings work?
1. Loflin Yard
Loflin is downtown’s hip hangout that’s almost entirely outdoors with a sprawling lawn, and plenty of chairs, snacks and drinks. There’s also all sorts of games to play while you’re hanging out, from axe throwing to giant chess. Grab a bottle from the wine rack, order food from the patio window, and settle inside or out.
With eats such as brisket tacos and a Tex-Mex brunch, it’s no surprise it has a reputation for being one of the best patio restaurants in Memphis.
2. The Second Line
Try Cajun-inspired fare like poboys and seafood, plus craft cocktails on the Second Line’s huge patio for outdoor dining – which, FYI, has just been made even bigger with a new patio section out front. Be sure to dig into their range of “Poboys”, some of which are named after prominent Memphians, like Chris Vernon and Justin Fox Burks. Summer nights are made for an evening here.
3. Railgarten
Where do we even begin by explaining how great this place is? Railgarten is so much more than just a patio: this popular hangout offers games, a live music stage, outdoor movies, ping pong, and sand volleyball courts in addition to their diner and ice cream parlor. All in all, you won’t want be in any rush to leave this place!
4. Slider Inn
If you want to go where the locals go, the Slider Inn’s patio is midtown’s gathering spot for sliders, boozy Jameson slushies, and fresh Maine lobster rolls. The patio is pet-friendly too, so you can bring your pooch. There’s a second Downtown location too, that also has a top notch sunny yard for you to enjoy dinner and drinks al fresco.
5. Felicia Suzanne’s
Take your white tablecloth dining experience outdoors at Felicia’s upscale patio to sample her Southern fare. As of mid-June, the beautiful patio isn’t open for dine-in just yet, but they should open soon for summer. Strung with twinkling fairylights and a cute wooden outside bar, it’s ideal for romantic date nights.
6. Central BBQ Downtown
Enjoy Memphis’ signature BBQ in this spacious covered patio with big picnic tables in the South Main Arts District. As well as its well spread-out seating options, it’s pretty famous near and far for being home to some world-class BBQ plates, in part due to the sheer variety of pork they offer their guests.
Choose from mouth-watering pork shoulder and ribs or chow down on what they call “bark,” the heavily smoked crust that any true BBQ lover is going to die for.
7. BABALU
Whether it’s their tacos or their Babarita cocktail, Babalu offers patio seating and an indoor/outdoor bar. The patio here is bright, funky and colourful, with plenty of space to spread out. Share a bowl of their signature guacamole made table-side, sample fresh Latin-inspired cuisine, or sip on a handcrafted cocktail from the bar.
