A few months ago, I went on the perfect Memphis girls trip. I had a chance to stay at the cutest AirBnB and see some of the best sites the city has to offer. So, after a lot of thought, I’ve put together a list of the best things to do in Memphis TN in 72 hours. Scroll down for all my recommendations!
Between our adorable AirBnB by Pettigrew Adventures, yummy restaurants like Staks Pancakes and Rendezvous BBQ, cute boutiques like Pickering Boxwood, or amazing historic sites like Graceland, I found the city incredibly charming. If you’re looking for a place for a fun girls getaway or a bachelorette party, add Memphis to your list!
Shop this Memphis Girls Trip Post:
A COMPLETE MEMPHIS GIRLS TRIP ITINERARY
Girls Trips in Memphis TN: Where to Stay
Our Charming AirBnb with Pettigrew Adventures
For our Memphis girls trip, we knew we wanted to stay somewhere cozy that felt more intimate than a hotel. So, when Morgan from Pettigrew Adventures invited us to stay in her chic AirBnB’s we jumped at the chance. With nearly 10 girls on the trip, we rented two of her properties that are located on the same street. I stayed with Camille (you’ll remember her from our Jackson Hole trip), Laura Leigh from Louella Reese blog, and Hillary from Hill Heady Blog. Our home away from home was Juanita’s House, a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom glam chic house that was recently renovated.
The other girls stayed in Lucky #7, which is so chic with it’s pink front door and porch with string lights. Each room is decorated so uniquely.
All of the homes are in Midtown Memphis. So, you’re just a short distance from Beale Street and downtown or the Cooper-Young District with lots of yummy restaurants and shopping. It’s a perfect location that’s central to seeing different parts of Memphis.
Memphis Girls Trip: the Best Things to Do
There are so many fun things to do in Memphis! Aside from all the tasty restaurants (which I’ll go into in detail below), there is so much history to take in. From Graceland to the National Civil Rights Museum to Sun Studio – Memphis has served as an influential location for both music and the racial equality movement. You can’t help but feel the importance of those events when you visit.
Elvis Presley’s Graceland
Tops on my list was visiting Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley – the King of Rock n’ Roll! It did not disappoint. There is so much memorabilia, including his costumes and his car collection. Take the guided audio tour, it gives you facts about each room that you visit which really gives you a view into his life, family and career.
What to Wear to Graceland – Top: Elvis Tee // Denim: Rag & Bone // Sneakers: Golden Goose Deluxe Brand (less expensive option here) // Bag: Chanel // Sunglasses: Givenchy
Sightseeing outfit – Top: Free People // Jacket: Iro (less expensive option here) // Denim: Rag & Bone // Sneakers: Golden Goose (more affordable option here) // Bag: Chanel
Take a Walk on Beale Street
Another must-see in Memphis is Beale Street. It’s known as Home of the Blues and has a mix of restaurants and shops. Personally, I’d go during the day when things are a bit quieter. It runs the length of 2-3 blocks. So, you can see it all over just a few hours. At night it can become a bit of a tourist trap.
Day 3 Outfit – Sweater: LoveShackFancy // Denim and Sneakers: Same as above
Shopping at Pickering Boxwood
Of course, no girls trip would be complete without some shopping. Plan to make a stop at Pickering Boxwood. They’re quite simply the cutest little boutique in Memphis with a range of clothes, accessories and home decor items. Both the headband and dress I’m wearing in the picture below are from the store.
Make Bath Bombs at Buff City Soap
Quite possibly the most underrated thing we did in Memphis was make bath bombs and face masks at Buff City Soap! I had the BEST time at this store, which is right nearby where we had brunch at Alchemy. Their products are free of harsh ingredients and natural exfoliants that are good for your skin. And, their scents are amazing. My fav product? The shower oil in the oatmeal and honey fragrance. I use it nearly every day.
Dance the Night Away at Paula Raiford’s Disco
If your Memphis girls trip is for a bachelorette party, then you MUST plan for a night out at Paula Raiford’s Disco. As you can see from the picture above, we totally made our Saturday night a themed event with lots of sparkles and sequins! A two-story nightclub in downtown Memphis, there’s no shortage of great music and disco balls at this place. My only caution – there is a lot of smoke! I had to air out my leather jacket after our trip here, but it was SO MUCH FUN!
Memphis Girls Trip: Where to Eat
If you’re considering a Memphis girls trip, I probably won’t be the first person to tell you the city has great food. Over three days, we had a chance to try a bunch of different restaurants. So, I’m breaking them down below by meal time to make it easy.
Breakfast or Brunch in Memphis TN
Juice Brothers
This place makes the most delicious acai bowls and it’s where I got hooked on almond milk! So tasty.
Staks Pancakes
Okay, Staks holds a special place in my heart. Camille and I split the cinnamon role pancakes and the Hombre omelette. It was the best of both worlds and I still think about those pancakes.
Alchemy
This brunch was out of this world! The menu boasts dishes like deviled eggs, chicken and bisquits and a crab cake benedict (which is what I ate) and they have lunch too.
Gibson’s Donuts
Donut lovers rejoice! Gibson’s is exceptional. This was our last snack before our trip came to an end, so I treated myself to two donuts and my fav was the red velvet.
Lunch in Memphis TN:
The Slider Inn
Just what it sounds like, the restaurant specializes in slider burgers and sandwiches. My mix & match combo included a buffalo chicken, blue cheese and onion and Chick-N-Fill-Ay. Don’t ask for my fav! They were all so good.
17 Berkshire
One of Memphis’ best patisserie, we had a lovely afternoon tea here, complete with assorted sandwiches, scones and macarons. This experience was so unique and I loved that it slowed down the pace of our girls weekend a bit.
Dinner in Memphis TN:
Babalu
Our first meal of the trip, Babalu is southern cuisine with a latin flair. Everything is served tapas style. So, you can share lots of plates for the table and taste quite a bit more that way. My favs were the Mexican Street Corn, Guacamole (of course) and the Short Rib tacos.
Rendezvous
Quite possibly some of the best BBQ I’ve ever had, Rendezvous was on point. This place is an institution with Memphis locals and I can see why. The cheese and sausage starter kicked things off for us and then the beef brisket took it home. I’m a HUGE fan. And, they make their own BBQ sauce you can purchase as a memento.
Barware Cocktails & Tapas
If you like a good craft cocktail, you will love this trendy bar. The menu has a nice mix of unique drinks and wine, if you prefer that. It’s actually attached to Juice Brothers (listed above) if you want a healthy option. Lastly, the atmosphere is great. So, it’s perfect for your Memphis girls trip. Go before you hop over to Paula Raiford’s Disco!
Greys Cheese
For your Memphis girls trip I highly recommend staying in one night at your AirBnB and hiring both Andreas Cooktales and Grey’s cheese. The two of them will put together the most amazing “girls night in”, complete with a some amazing wine, delicious cheese and pairings and a yummy dinner.
And, of course a trip to Memphis wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Whimsy Cookie Company. My good friend Collins owns the shop. They make THE BEST sugar cookies and cookie sandwiches that literally melt in your mouth.
I hope you found this Memphis girls trip guide helpful for planning your next trip! The city has so much to offer, so don’t feel like you have to do it all. Make a few reservations and buy a few tickets online for the things you really want to do. But, be sure to enjoy the AirBnB as well. The homes are so inviting that your long weekend will fly by.
If you have any questions, pop them in the comment box below!
