Explore the Broad Avenue Arts District

The Broad Avenue Arts District is a neighborhood in Midtown Memphis where you can enjoy locally owned restaurants, boutiques and galleries, as well as special events including art festivals and art nights. Public art, including the neighborhood's signature water tower and several murals, signal the vibe of the area. Just don't leave before dark: bars with live music, arcade games and more create a vibrant nightlife in the neighborhood, too.

The Broad Avenue Arts District is a walkable and creative district in Midtown where you can explore and enjoy 70+ unique locally owned businesses, restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and more.
As an arts district, Broad Ave. is home to dozens of masterful public murals showcasing the vibrancy of this neighborhood and Memphis.
With an emphasis on movement with bike lanes and walkway connectors, exploring is easy. Broad Avenue is 15 minutes from Downtown Memphis and less than 20 minutes from the Memphis International Airport.
Broad Avenue hosts a series of events year-round from First Friday neighborhood activations to the annual Broad Ave Art Walk.
owner of house of style poses in store for photo
Kim Thomas
bubble tea held up in front of pink sugar ghost building
Alex Shansky
Clifton gallery owner poses in store for photo with dog
Andrea Zucker
woman drinks coffee at brunch
Alexis Teichmiller

SHOP THE STREET

All down Broad Avenue, explore a collection of 35+ shop retail shops and professional services that call this restored street home.

Browse the colorful collection of art glass and more at T. Clifton Art, or peruse goods from local artists and plenty of refinished furniture at Merchants on Broad. For unique clothes and accessories made from traditional African materials with modern designs, visit Mbabazi House of Style.

Falling into Place boutique offers handmade jewelry, gifts, and some local goods and accessories in modern designs. And if you are looking for unique Memphis souvenirs from local artisans, Five in One Social Club on Summer Avenue just a block away is your absolute best bet (they also offer “kindergarten for grown folks” crafting classes multiple times per week).

Keep the creativity flowing and build custom pieces of jewelry at Bead Culture or attend a class on the craft. Shop through handcrafted metal jewelry at Grace by Kathleen Weatherford.

Learn about floral design or grab a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Everbloom Floral Studio & Shop. Visit a working studio and art gallery at Whitney Winkler Studio & Shop where you can find artwork, stationary, jewelry, bags, hair accessories, and more. Their Memphis collection makes for a perfect souvenir.

Memphis Guitar Spa attracts musicians from around the region for its one-of-a-kind Ferner line, as well as repairs, restorations and custom finishes. Peek through the window at the handmade chairs and custom furniture at Holmes Woodwork and consider setting an appointment to have your own piece made. Unplug at 901 Games which offers one of the best collections of board gaming and more. Cyclists will love the premier line-up of bikes, apparel and accessories at Victory Bicycle.

Eat and Drink the Street

Before Broad Avenue was the revitalized neighborhood it is today, there was Broadway Pizza. This neighborhood institution has served up some of the city’s best pizza since 1977. Dine in or get it to go. 

The Cove is not only a nautical-themed bar and restaurant, it’s an institution. Have a specialty cocktail, experience traditional absinthe, or fresh oysters in this 21-and-over spot. Live music is on tap most evenings, or you can head out back to relax on the patio. The Liquor Store is a modern, upscale diner serving Latin-inspired dishes, including all-day breakfast and a craft cocktail menu in a snazzy space in a refurbished liquor store.

Memphians love patios so much, it’s basically a religion. One of the premier patios in the Bluff City is found at Wiseacre Brewing, where friends gather to enjoy a pint from one of the hottest breweries in the South. This original taproom also has an indoor space for visitors to enjoy their year-round brews Tiny Bomb or fun seasonal brews like The Beach Within Reach, Unicornucopia or Lord Skylark. If you think the names are fun, check out the label art that decorates the taproom walls

Ride along the bike trail and brewery hop next to the nearby Hampline Brewing Company where they specialize in juicy IPAs, sours, and more.

In need of a caffeine hit instead? Visit City & State for an espresso, drip coffee or specialty drink. City & State has great shopping, too, so after your cup of joe check out the shop’s array of gifts and art, much of which is produced by local artisans. (Sensing a theme here?) 

You deserve a treat after exploring the street all day. Slurp on a hand crafted bubble tea or devour homemade ice cream at the cutest spot: Sugar Ghost. The pink exterior will lure you in to try their Nanner Puddin’ ice cream which uses a Southern classic–banana pudding. Broad Ave. is also home to one of Memphis’ best bake shops. Muddy’s Bake Shop offers fresh-baked goodies, seasonal specials, and surprise bakes. Their cupcakes are so deliciously addicting, there’s a reason their top seller is named Prozack cupcakes.

Make a Weekend Out of It!

The heart of the Broad Avenue Arts District beats in a tight, five-block stretch, but just a little farther east is Collage Dance Collective, a professional ballet company. Its dancers perform throughout the year at different venues, but you can drop in for a variety of classes from ballet, jazz, tap, and more. Have an ax to grind?

Broad is a haven for cyclists, thanks to the aforementioned bike shop and the Hampline bike lane, which provides a protected path to pedal the street or connect to Overton Park just to the west. If you bike the street, consider linking up with the Shelby Farms Greenline nearby. The western terminus of the seven-mile paved urban path that connects Midtown to Shelby Farms Park is less than a mile from Broad Avenue along Tillman Street.

Broad Avenue hosts a monthly night of open houses and later hours known as First Friday's which happens on, you guessed it, the first Friday of each month. Each First Friday offers a fun different theme. The annual Art Walk happens every fall where the streets shut down and fill with 50+ local artists and makers, live music, kids crafts, and more fun activities. 

If You Go:

Broad Avenue is situated between Sam Cooper Boulevard and Summer Avenue, just beyond East Parkway and Overton Park. There’s plenty of free street parking on Broad and the adjacent side streets. Business hours vary but note that many of the retailers are closed on Mondays. Be sure to visit two more entertainment districts nearby with Cooper-Young and Overton Square Performing Arts District. Need a place to stay? The Memphian, a Tribute Porfolio Hotel, is just over a five minute drive away.

Do Memphis Like a Local! Read the
I Love Memphis Blog