3 Can’t-Miss Eateries in Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis is a great time whenever you visit, but, as summer heats up, so does the food scene. Okay, so truth be told, the food scene is awesome all year long, but what better reason to plan family travel in the summer? One of the best ways to discover the city is by exploring its various neighborhoods, and you’ll want to be sure to check out these incredible eateries (which also take you to some of its most happening neighborhoods).

Start off the day in the Downtown neighborhood at Sunrise Memphis. When they say they’ve got the best breakfast in town, rest assured the title is well-earned. The spot is casual, and everything about it is quirky (like plenty of fun décor to keep kids interested while they wait for food). While parents may be drawn to the house-infused Bloody Mary bar — you can go simple with a Lemon Mary or a Proud Mary, or have some kick with your breakfast with a Horsey-Mary or Hot Mary (or Hotter and Hottest). There are also plenty of coffee drinks to choose from. The restaurant specializes in their homemade biscuits, but you can get anything from breakfast tacos to Korean-inspired breakfast bowls. And don’t forget to try a side of loaded grits with cheese, bacon, sour cream and scallions!

By lunchtime you’ll want to head to Crosstown Concourse, a unique space redefining city life. Once a massive Sears factory complex, Crosstown Concourse has been repurposed into a city within a city, with everything from a high school to an art gallery and everything in between. Work up an appetite wandering the grounds before heading to Global Café, an international food hall with a food and drink menu as diverse as the city itself. Choose among dishes and beverages from Syria, Africa, Mexico, Venezuela and Nepal, just to name a few. The environment is a mix between fast food and casual neighborhood dining, so you can relax and enjoy yourself while you wait for your food.

For dinner, go to the Edge District for JEM, short for Just Enjoy the Moment. This upscale eatery with a laid-back environment, or what they call “fine dining made approachable,” is set in an unassuming strip mall. Everything you’ll eat is handmade in the open kitchen (the whole place has an open floor plan, so everything feels casual and comfortable with a healthy dose of luxury). And the food is simply stellar. Everything about the restaurant, from its chefs to the ambiance, seems to be designed to not take itself too seriously, including a menu offering fancy dishes like Hamachi crudo alongside down-to-earth desserts like a slice of chocolate cake served with an ice-cold glass of milk.