Plan Your Best Day in East Memphis

Fuel up with breakfast and coffee

Get the full Southern treatment — biscuits, gravy and scrambled eggs — with the popular downtown eatery Sunrise Memphis' expansion to East Memphis, or head to Staks for some buttermilk pancakes. They’ll even let you man the griddle to cook your own. Looking for a healthy but fulfilling option? City Silo Table + Pantry prides themselves on their clean ingredients filled menu. Getting a late start? Go for brunch at Magnolia & May, who offers a southern twist on cuisine with options like low country shrimp & grits and fried chicken & french toast. Located nearby is The Liquor Store for breakfast burritos, sweet-potato pancakes, mimosas and specialty coffee. On the northern end of East Memphis, stands two iconic breakfast options. For some of the city's best biscuits, head to Bryant's Breakfast with old diner charm. Elwood's Shack, set charmingly in a Lowe's parking lot, offers classic breakfast options with a bbq twist, like a bbq breakfast burrito. Satisfy your early sweet tooth with a classic taste of Memphis: Head to Gibson’s to experience the glazed donut that Alton Brown calls the best he ever had.

Choose your own adventure at Shelby Farms Park

Explore one of the country's largest urban parks at Shelby Farms Park. Rent bikes to explore the park’s 4,500 acres of green space before heading onto the 10.65-mile paved Shelby Farms Greenline, which continues to expand. Hot day? Cool off with kayak, paddle board and canoe rentals or let the kids hit the splash pad. If everyone in your group is 10 or older, zip-line and explore treetop crossings and obstacles with Go Ape. Younger kids will love the Woodland Discovery Playground, named one of the 16 coolest playgrounds in the world by Mental Floss Magazine. 

Take it easy with short walking trails, fishing or a view of the park’s bison herd. If you traveled with your pup(s), be sure to visit the Shelby Farms Park Outback Off-Leash Dog Park that stretches 100 acres and was voted in 2025 as the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Best Dog Park in the Country. Within the park, Shelby Farms Stables provides bookable horseback riding experiences.

When it’s time for refreshment, reserve a table (encouraged but not required) at Coastal Fish Company for craft cocktails and elegant entrees with a view of the park's main lake. Belltower Coffee is a perfect stop for morning walkers to grab a specialty coffee or sandwich. 

Stroll through a garden

Get some culture in your day at Dixon Gallery & Gardens, where you can take in an art exhibition indoors with rotating exhibits, then explore 17 acres of woodlands and cutting gardens outside. The Dixon Gallery & Gardens, which is free to visit year-round, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026 with an exhibit in honor of its founders. Horticultural enthusiasts and families alike will love Memphis Botanic Garden, featuring 30 specialty gardens and My Big Backyard, a playground and family-oriented garden with more than a dozen unique areas for splashing, digging and actively enjoying the outdoors. Families can also walk easy trails alongside meadows, lakes and forests at the Lichterman Nature Center, though kids might not want to leave the backyard wildlife center, which features live animals, a two-story-high forest boardwalk, an underwater viewing area and more.

Find your East Memphis lunch spot

If you’re at the Dixon, stay for lunch at Park + Cherry, which features tantalizing seasonal options like watermelon salad with garlic-ginger shrimp. For fancy-yet-funky fare in a unique setting, check out Libro at Laurelwood, a cozy restaurant inside Laurelwood’s Novel Bookstore. The menu features hearty fare like house-made pasta and chicken Chardonnay. 

Craving something casual? The Half Shell is a longtime staple for Gulf-inspired seafood plates. If barbecue is calling your name, Corky’s BBQ delivers the Memphis classics, like pulled pork sandwiches, ribs and all the sides you’d expect from a hometown favorite.

For something MICHELIN-recognized, Hog & Hominy, which was honored as a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand restaurant, offers a playful Southern-Italian mashup with wood-fired pizzas, small plates and some of the most creative dishes in East Memphis. Or settle in at Bog & Barley, a striking gastropub known for its warm, Irish-inspired comfort food and eye-catching design, including rich wood details, an intricate, cathedral-like ceiling and cozy pub-style seating.

Browse boutiques and antiques

For a truly unique shopping experience, head to Chickasaw Oaks, an indoor marketplace with Colonial-designed storefronts with indoor cobblestone walkways. Try shops like Boshi Botanical, Memphi's first zero-waste store with handcrafted soaps and natural body products; Penn Home & Design Co.; and Kokoro, offering Japanese-inspired housewares, stationery, origami and gifts. Don't forget to grab a bite or coffee at French bakery La Baguette. Laurelwood Shopping Center is a well-curated collection of original boutiques for high-end fashion, like Joseph's and Sachi, and home décor. It’s also home to indie bookstore Novel, where you might pick up a local bestseller as your next vacation read. 

If you head just east down Poplar Avenue, you can enjoy the thrill of shopping for treasures from days gone by at La Maison Antiques, featuring more than 40 vendor stalls packed with beautiful finds for the home. Just a few blocks away, you'll find the recently revamped Williamsburg Village Shopping Center. Shop stationary, decor and other gifts at Mrs. Post; browse children's clothing and toys at London & York; and gear up with Grivet Outdoors for all your outdoor apparel needs. Plus, East Memphis is just about 20 minutes away from IKEA Memphis.

Find a thrill

Looking for a day full of fun for the whole family? Challenge your wits at Memphis Escape Rooms, where you can tackle locally designed puzzles like The Magician’s Code or Jester’s Revenge. For a truly unforgettable experience, head to Amuse: The Adventure Museum, where 30+ interactive rooms make you feel like you’re competing on the set of a high-energy game show full of challenges, social games and laughs for kids and adults alike. For the ultimate adventure, head to High Point Climbing, with both indoor and outdoor courses including a 54 foot wall and Kid Zone.

Discover how Memphis does fine dining

Reserve a table in advance to experience Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, a MICHELIN-recognized Italian restaurant known for its refined pasta dishes, fresh ingredients and elegant atmosphere. Acre offers a seasonal, locally inspired menu with creative cocktails and a warm, inviting setting. Erling Jensen is a fine-dining destination featuring sophisticated French-influenced cuisine.

Also noteworthy are Restaurant Iris, where classic creole dining meets Memphis flavor in a chic dining room and a relaxed intimate bar space; Folk’s Folly, a Memphis institution celebrated for its classic steakhouse experience and historic charm; and River Oaks, which offers world-class food in a French-American bistro. 

Choose the evening's entertainment

Take in a show at Theater Memphis or at the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center on the University of Memphis campus. Time it right and you can jam out to tunes from national acts like The Doobie Brothers at the Live at the Garden summer concert series at Memphis Botanic Garden. Check the garden’s full calendar — and the events lineup at the Dixon — for year-round affairs, such as happy hours and wine tastings on-site.

End on a sweet note

Satisfy your sweet tooth with a classic taste of Memphis. The city has experienced a recent bakery boom and you'll find no shortage of sweet spots out east. Head to Sweet Musing Bakery & Cafe, a self-serve authentic Taiwanese bakery shop with endless pastries. Located in Laurelwood Shopping Center, you'll find Frost Bake Shop with gooey butter cookies, cupcakes and cake slices.