Earnestine & Hazel's
Memphis, TN 38103-4410
Phone: (901) 523-9754
- Cross Street:
- Calhoun Avenue
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 5pm-2am, Fri-Sat 5pm-3am, Sun 7pm-2am
Editorial Review for Earnestine & Hazel's – by Shawn Pachucki and Lesley Balla
The Scene
This swingin' juke joint was once a brothel, where soul stars like James Brown and Otis Redding used to pass through. With the same well-worn floors and cracked brick walls, it's now a haven for hip cliques and college kids. Sit at the main bar with a bumpin' dance floor and funk-filled jukebox, or head up the rickety stairway to old cathouse rooms turned into private lounges, great for groups who like privacy and the sounds of live jazz piano.
The Draw
You can't get a cocktail here, but the beer list covers the basics. Four busy bartenders keep the beat downstairs; upstairs, brews are served by a sole man in a cowboy hat. A must-have: the legendary Soul Burger, Earnestine's only food offering. It's pretty much a basic burger topped with a special "soul sauce," but the smell permeates every nook and cranny of the bar, enticing you and everyone else to get one.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
SpecialsHappy hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 5pm-8pm. Sundays are Buzz Nights, with live bands.
Parking TipAvoid parking west of Earnestine's because downtown construction has traffic a mess.
SustenanceIf you need more than a burger, head to the adjoining restaurant, Little Kings Suppah Club, for barbecue and more.
User Reviews for Earnestine & Hazel's
08/18/2008 Posted by vudu
This was my first trip to Memphis, and I fell in love with the city. But by far the best experience I had was at Earnestine & Hazel's. I've been all over the country and I've never found anything quite like it. It was exactly the authentic Memphis experience I was hoping for. By the end of the night (we closed the place down, hanging out till 3 a.m.) the bartenders were our life-long friends, and we had stayed long enough to eat two meals: delicious, juicy Soul Burgers. Make sure to check out the second floor, where you can see the room where Ray Charles used to hang out in the '50s. The lighting and ambience upstairs are amazing, and because the building is on the historical preservation list, everything is original and the furniture is antique. The whole place has an awesome, creepy, haunted feel, and the bartenders will share stories of their experiences with playful ghosts. The place has been featured on Sci-Fi for this reason. Twelve movies have been filmed at E & H's, including 21 Grams and My Blueberry Nights. If the bartender takes a shine to you, she might show you the room where a scene from Black Snake Moan was filmed. By the way, E & H's has the best jukebox in the city and plenty of room for dancing, so put on some Elvis, Motown, blues or soul and get down. By far the best bar in the city!
06/26/2006 Posted by jakker
Definitely not as good as they are at 3 in the morning when you're several sheets to the wind - but thats the point.... One of Memphis' most eclectic spots it really looks like a run down hole - but head on in and sample some local flavour. If you haven't been carousing elsewhere beforehand then go somewhere else.
Pros: Can't beat the burger
Cons: You need to be fairly well lubricated to appreciate it (if thats a con?)
Users Like You Also Viewed
The Corner Bar
149 Union Ave
Memphis, TN 38103-2638
