Families flock to East Memphis for its amenities, commuter-friendly convenience and suburban-esque open spaces. Golf courses and country clubs are in good supply, and the Shelby Farms Greenline hiking and cycling trail cuts through the area. High-end shopping abounds, from grocery stores to fashion boutiques. Whole Foods and Sprouts Farmers Market have outposts here, and Laurelwood Shopping Center draws crowds to browse a selection of local specialty shops like Novel. Bookstore and Babcock Gifts alongside upmarket chains including Talbot’s and J McLaughlin. Foodies head here to savor an array of trendy bistros, white-tablecloth stalwarts and buzzy, chef-driven spots.
The size of Memphis is an advantage because you get to know more people. It’s a tight-knit community and things are more accessible here than they are in bigger cities.
Member
East Memphis
The neighborhoods:
If you’ve ever wondered what religious iconography might look like in a natural setting, the Crystal Shrine Grotto near White Station is your answer. Constructed during the 1930s, the cave features a mix of celestial stone forms and religious imagery that is intended to inspire reflection, and was the work of artist Dionicio Rodríguez. Surrounding the cave is a rocky grotto that is equally psychedelic, featuring bright blue water. For additional viewing, the famous soul singer and songwriter Isaac Hayes’ grave is located directly across from the grotto.
Learn more
A great place to have a picnic and some outdoor fun, Pauline Marquette Park has 8.5 acres that includes a playground, a ball field, picnic tables, a rental pavilion with a grill, benches, and a 0.5-mile paved walking trail.
Learn more
Situated between White Station and Colonial Acres, this park has something for everyone, including a playground, ball field, soccer field, dog park, 18-hole disc golf course, and a one-mile paved walking trail. Additionally, the Lucille McWherter Senior Citizens Center is also on-site.
Learn more
A seven-minute-drive east of Colonial Acres, the Lichterman Nature Center consists of 65 acres and features interactive animal exhibits, easy walking trails, meadows, lakes, and forests, as well as a wildlife center with an underwater viewing area and a two-story-high boardwalk.
Learn more
The stunning 96-acre property boasts 30 specialty gardens. Special programs and exhibits, including this year’s Wonderland-inspired “Alice’s Adventures at the Garden” offers up Insta-perfect family fun for adults and children.
Dig into it
In addition to a dog park and athletic fields where adult-rec teams and little leagues often play, the urban green space features a skate park with areas made for all skill levels. Two large bowls, ramps, rails and stairs offer chances to practice from sunrise to sunset. Photo © Karen Pulfer Focht
Visit website
Adjacent to Simmons Bank Memorial Stadium, the facility features indoor hardcourts for basketball and volleyball, as well as adaptable areas for wrestling, gymnastics and cheerleading. The complex also includes outdoor turf fields. Photo by Markus Spiske | Pexels
Find out more
The protected green space along the Wolf River currently includes a paved 14-mile pathway for walking and cycling. The current construction project will eventually extend the pathway to 36 miles from Mud Island to Shelby County’s suburbs. Current access points include the Shady Grove trailhead on Humphreys Boulevard. Photo by Ryan Hall
Learn more
The nearly five-acre park packs a lot of activity into a small space: here you’ll find a playground, a half-mile paved walking trail and softball field, plus six lighted basketball courts and an on-site community center. Photo by Pixabay | Pexels
Find out more
If you’ve ever wondered what religious iconography might look like in a natural setting, the Crystal Shrine Grotto near White Station is your answer. Constructed during the 1930s, the cave features a mix of celestial stone forms and religious imagery that is intended to inspire reflection, and was the work of artist Dionicio Rodríguez. Surrounding the cave is a rocky grotto that is equally psychedelic, featuring bright blue water. For additional viewing, the famous soul singer and songwriter Isaac Hayes’ grave is located directly across from the grotto.
Learn more
A great place to have a picnic and some outdoor fun, Pauline Marquette Park has 8.5 acres that includes a playground, a ball field, picnic tables, a rental pavilion with a grill, benches, and a 0.5-mile paved walking trail.
Learn more
Situated between White Station and Colonial Acres, this park has something for everyone, including a playground, ball field, soccer field, dog park, 18-hole disc golf course, and a one-mile paved walking trail. Additionally, the Lucille McWherter Senior Citizens Center is also on-site.
Learn more
A seven-minute-drive east of Colonial Acres, the Lichterman Nature Center consists of 65 acres and features interactive animal exhibits, easy walking trails, meadows, lakes, and forests, as well as a wildlife center with an underwater viewing area and a two-story-high boardwalk.
Learn more
The stunning 96-acre property boasts 30 specialty gardens. Special programs and exhibits, including this year’s Wonderland-inspired “Alice’s Adventures at the Garden” offers up Insta-perfect family fun for adults and children.
Dig into it
In addition to a dog park and athletic fields where adult-rec teams and little leagues often play, the urban green space features a skate park with areas made for all skill levels. Two large bowls, ramps, rails and stairs offer chances to practice from sunrise to sunset. Photo © Karen Pulfer Focht
Visit website
Adjacent to Simmons Bank Memorial Stadium, the facility features indoor hardcourts for basketball and volleyball, as well as adaptable areas for wrestling, gymnastics and cheerleading. The complex also includes outdoor turf fields. Photo by Markus Spiske | Pexels
Find out more
The protected green space along the Wolf River currently includes a paved 14-mile pathway for walking and cycling. The current construction project will eventually extend the pathway to 36 miles from Mud Island to Shelby County’s suburbs. Current access points include the Shady Grove trailhead on Humphreys Boulevard. Photo by Ryan Hall
Learn more
The nearly five-acre park packs a lot of activity into a small space: here you’ll find a playground, a half-mile paved walking trail and softball field, plus six lighted basketball courts and an on-site community center. Photo by Pixabay | Pexels
Find out more
From its neon sign in the shape of a donut to its retro red-and-white exterior, this donut shop is both a relic and an homage to the classic donut and coffee shop of the 1950s. And the menu is equally kitschy, featuring a delicious array of classic donut flavors, from glazed, to sprinkled, to plain.
Soul Fish Cafe prides itself on being a fast but fresh establishment, ideal for a quick lunch or dinner with the family, serving the “best fried catfish and fresh vegetables,” as well as locally-made craft beers. Highlights include cat bites, hushpuppies (a customer favorite), and blackened catfish. And for something sweet, there’s caramel pecan pie.
Learn more
Fusing classic Thai, Chinese and Japanese cuisine, Mosa Asian Bistro aims to recreate Asian comfort food dishes using the freshest local ingredients, while offering organic, vegan, and gluten-free options. Standout items on the menu include Asian sliders topped with aioli, garnished with cilantro and served on a toasted challah bun from Ricki's Cookie Corner Bakery, Korean BBQ beef, and rainbow panang curry.
For 10 consecutive years, from 1997 to 2006, Chef Erling Jensen has been voted “Best Chef in Memphis”, as well as “Best Restaurant in Memphis,” since first appearing in Memphis Magazine’s Readers’ Poll. One look at his Southern meets French-inspired menu, and it’s easy to see why Jensen has garnered such praise. Dishes like the fried buttermilk quail and crispy duck leg confit reflect a cuisine that’s both comforting and refined.
The unassuming seafood house first opened in 1973 and offers a consistent menu of favorites, including Louisiana redfish, etouffee salmon cakes and other New Orleans-inspired dishes. Photo by Chuttersnap | Unsplash
Find out more
Advertising Italian cooking with Southern roots, Hog & Hominy serves up pizza, pasta and Sunday brunch. Vice & Virtue coffee and inspired craft cocktails round out the menu. Photo by Nik Owens | Unsplash
Visit website
The diner opens early and is a local favorite at breakfast time with a menu featuring more than a dozen specialty omelets along with cereals and egg sandwiches. Photo courtesy of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Visit website
Dubbed a “country brasserie”, Magnolia & May serves up a seasonal and fresh menu of salads and light entrees, as well as heartier dishes like Low Country shrimp and grits. Photo courtesy of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Learn more
Attentive service and fine cuts of meat are the signatures at Folk’s Folly. Weekly specials and an extensive wine list have made this a go-to spot for special occasions and date nights since the 1970s. Photo by Emerson Vieria | Unsplash
Find out more
From its neon sign in the shape of a donut to its retro red-and-white exterior, this donut shop is both a relic and an homage to the classic donut and coffee shop of the 1950s. And the menu is equally kitschy, featuring a delicious array of classic donut flavors, from glazed, to sprinkled, to plain.
Soul Fish Cafe prides itself on being a fast but fresh establishment, ideal for a quick lunch or dinner with the family, serving the “best fried catfish and fresh vegetables,” as well as locally-made craft beers. Highlights include cat bites, hushpuppies (a customer favorite), and blackened catfish. And for something sweet, there’s caramel pecan pie.
Learn more
Fusing classic Thai, Chinese and Japanese cuisine, Mosa Asian Bistro aims to recreate Asian comfort food dishes using the freshest local ingredients, while offering organic, vegan, and gluten-free options. Standout items on the menu include Asian sliders topped with aioli, garnished with cilantro and served on a toasted challah bun from Ricki's Cookie Corner Bakery, Korean BBQ beef, and rainbow panang curry.
For 10 consecutive years, from 1997 to 2006, Chef Erling Jensen has been voted “Best Chef in Memphis”, as well as “Best Restaurant in Memphis,” since first appearing in Memphis Magazine’s Readers’ Poll. One look at his Southern meets French-inspired menu, and it’s easy to see why Jensen has garnered such praise. Dishes like the fried buttermilk quail and crispy duck leg confit reflect a cuisine that’s both comforting and refined.
The unassuming seafood house first opened in 1973 and offers a consistent menu of favorites, including Louisiana redfish, etouffee salmon cakes and other New Orleans-inspired dishes. Photo by Chuttersnap | Unsplash
Find out more
Advertising Italian cooking with Southern roots, Hog & Hominy serves up pizza, pasta and Sunday brunch. Vice & Virtue coffee and inspired craft cocktails round out the menu. Photo by Nik Owens | Unsplash
Visit website
The diner opens early and is a local favorite at breakfast time with a menu featuring more than a dozen specialty omelets along with cereals and egg sandwiches. Photo courtesy of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Visit website
Dubbed a “country brasserie”, Magnolia & May serves up a seasonal and fresh menu of salads and light entrees, as well as heartier dishes like Low Country shrimp and grits. Photo courtesy of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Learn more
Attentive service and fine cuts of meat are the signatures at Folk’s Folly. Weekly specials and an extensive wine list have made this a go-to spot for special occasions and date nights since the 1970s. Photo by Emerson Vieria | Unsplash
Find out more
Popular among kids, the rooms offer 10 unique escape games across two locations and can host groups of up to 70 people at one time. You can explore a pyramid, hunt for pirate gold, escape from a haunted house, or roller skate into the 90s. This attraction is ideal for a group of three families looking for indoor weekend fun.
Learn more
With over 10,000 square feet of merchandise and over 40 individual booth owners, La Maison is the premiere antiques market in East Memphis for interior designers and shoppers alike. You’ll find an eclectic mix of modern and vintage items, from jewelry, to clothing, to furniture, and everything in between.
Learn more
A nine-minute-drive west of White Station, Theatre Memphis is a nonprofit community theater that has been putting on quality productions in East Memphis since it first opened in 1921. With two performance spaces and up to 12 scheduled productions each season, the venues can seat up to a combined 500 patrons at any given time. Past productions include Much Ado About Nothing, Guys and Dolls, and a Sondheim Tribute.
Learn more
Since its inception in 1963, ArtsMemphis has grown to become the lead arts funder in the Mid-South, investing over $90-million, helping to support and strengthen the arts within the Memphis community. Under the stewardship of Elizabeth Rouse, the organization experienced a banner year in 2021, granting a record $3.1 million to 67 local arts groups and dozens of local artists.
Learn more
Incorporated in 1987, the nonprofit museum fosters child development through exhibitions and programs that encourage play and hands-on learning. Exhibits include Engine House 18, a kid-sized firehouse, and H2Oh! Splash Park. Photo © Karen Pulfer Focht
Visit website
A planetarium and giant-screen theater are two of the main draws at this museum, but other attractions include the Lichterman Nature Center and displays of prehistoric creatures that roamed the Mid-South millions of years ago. Photo © 2021 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, all rights reserved.
Visit website
An ancient Egyptian gallery and African art displays make the Art Museum at the University of Memphis well worth a visit. Limited-run special exhibitions are also on view. Photo © Karen Pulfer Focht
Find out more
Popular among kids, the rooms offer 10 unique escape games across two locations and can host groups of up to 70 people at one time. You can explore a pyramid, hunt for pirate gold, escape from a haunted house, or roller skate into the 90s. This attraction is ideal for a group of three families looking for indoor weekend fun.
Learn more
With over 10,000 square feet of merchandise and over 40 individual booth owners, La Maison is the premiere antiques market in East Memphis for interior designers and shoppers alike. You’ll find an eclectic mix of modern and vintage items, from jewelry, to clothing, to furniture, and everything in between.
Learn more
A nine-minute-drive west of White Station, Theatre Memphis is a nonprofit community theater that has been putting on quality productions in East Memphis since it first opened in 1921. With two performance spaces and up to 12 scheduled productions each season, the venues can seat up to a combined 500 patrons at any given time. Past productions include Much Ado About Nothing, Guys and Dolls, and a Sondheim Tribute.
Learn more
Since its inception in 1963, ArtsMemphis has grown to become the lead arts funder in the Mid-South, investing over $90-million, helping to support and strengthen the arts within the Memphis community. Under the stewardship of Elizabeth Rouse, the organization experienced a banner year in 2021, granting a record $3.1 million to 67 local arts groups and dozens of local artists.
Learn more
Incorporated in 1987, the nonprofit museum fosters child development through exhibitions and programs that encourage play and hands-on learning. Exhibits include Engine House 18, a kid-sized firehouse, and H2Oh! Splash Park. Photo © Karen Pulfer Focht
Visit website
A planetarium and giant-screen theater are two of the main draws at this museum, but other attractions include the Lichterman Nature Center and displays of prehistoric creatures that roamed the Mid-South millions of years ago. Photo © 2021 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, all rights reserved.
Visit website
An ancient Egyptian gallery and African art displays make the Art Museum at the University of Memphis well worth a visit. Limited-run special exhibitions are also on view. Photo © Karen Pulfer Focht
Find out moreWe’re growing and expanding all the time, but we still have a small-town feel.
Alex Switzer
Sous Chef Manager
Sherwood Forest
There are lots of different options for extracurricular activities. Both of my kids played tennis just a few minutes from my house.
Mondira Kundu
Member
East Memphis
For gardeners, Memphis is a great place. You can grow basically anything—even into the fall and the early winter.
Amanda Green
Instructor
Midtown
