- Attraction: Art Bar at Crosstown Arts
- Location: 1350 Concourse Ave, Ste 175, Memphis, TN 38104
- Industry: Bar
- Website: https://crosstownarts.org/art-bar/
Behind the glowing crimson staircase of what was once the South’s busiest Sears distribution center, a labyrinth of vintage-furnished rooms awaits your discovery.
Art Bar at Crosstown Arts isn’t just another cocktail spot—it’s a full-blown artistic experience wrapped in mid-century charm, where each sip tells a story and every room reveals a different personality.
Opened as part of the massive 2017 Crosstown Concourse revival project, this second-floor sanctuary transforms a piece of Memphis history into something completely unexpected.
The bar sits within Crosstown Arts, a nonprofit contemporary arts organization founded in 2010 to breathe new life into the magnificent 1927 Sears Crosstown Building.
What began as 1.5 million square feet of abandoned warehouse space is now a thriving vertical urban village, and Art Bar serves as its stylish social hub.
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Keep Exploring →Cocktails That Push Boundaries
Foraged Ingredients: Here’s where things get interesting. The cocktail program features locally foraged ingredients that you won’t find on typical bar menus.
Think spicebush berries indigenous to the South, yaupon leaves (a caffeinated plant that grows locally), and botanicals sourced from the forests surrounding Memphis.
These aren’t gimmicks—they’re thoughtfully incorporated elements that bring genuine Memphis terroir to your glass.
Seasonally Rotating Menu: The drink selection evolves with the seasons, ensuring there’s always something new to discover.
Signature cocktails have included creations like “90 in the Shade” with pepper and basil simple syrup, grapefruit, and Topo Chico—a refreshingly savory concoction that balances sweet and tart.
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The Mississippi Speedballs: One particularly adventurous offering features Jameson, lemongrass, chamomile tea, and foraged yaupon. It’s challenging, bitter in the best way, and absolutely delicious if you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone.
Classic Standards Available: Not ready to venture into uncharted cocktail territory? No worries. The bar expertly crafts all the classics, including impeccably balanced Old Fashioneds served with hand-cut ice cubes. You’ll find everything executed with precision and care.
Craft Beer & Wine Selection: Beyond cocktails, Art Bar curates an impressive lineup of local craft beers from Memphis breweries like Crosstown Brewing and Wiseacre. The wine list focuses on quality over quantity, featuring carefully selected bottles that complement the artistic atmosphere.
Non-Alcoholic Excellence: Rare for cocktail bars, Art Bar genuinely caters to non-drinkers with creativity and respect. Locally-made Replenish Kombucha flows on tap in three flavors: sweet ginger, lavender, and hibiscus berry.
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Keep Exploring →They also craft elaborate mocktails like the “Mockingbird” with cucumber lime cordial, grapefruit, and housemade lemongrass-eucalyptus tincture. You’ll actually have choices here, not just be handed a sad club soda with lime.
Absinthe Experiences: For the adventurous (and those with deeper pockets), Art Bar offers full absinthe setups that lean into the spirit’s theatrical preparation ritual. Drinks range from affordable $2 beers to premium specialty spirits.
Simple But Satisfying Bites
Rosemary Focaccia: When you need something to accompany your drinks, the food menu keeps things elegantly simple. The rosemary focaccia arrives warm and fragrant, served alongside marinated olives and Montalbán cheese—a Spanish mixed-milk cheese that echoes the richness of Manchego without being quite as sharp.
Chocolate Ganache Cake: For those with a sweet tooth, the chocolate ganache cake delivers pure decadence. Rich, smooth, and perfectly portioned, it’s an ideal companion for after-dinner cocktails or whenever you decide to treat yourself to dessert before dinner—because adulthood means making your own rules.
Other Bar Snacks: Additional offerings include herb-roasted olives and house-cured salt and vinegar potato chips. Everything on the limited menu serves a purpose: cleansing your palate between sips and keeping you comfortably sustained without overshadowing the drinks.
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Multiple Intimate Rooms: Here’s what makes Art Bar truly special—it’s not just one space but a series of interconnected rooms, each with its own distinct color palette and vibe. Walking from one chamber to the next feels like stepping through different emotional states. One room might wrap you in jewel tones and velvet textures, while another glows with warm earth tones and exposed brick.
Mid-Century Furniture: The entire space features colorful mid-century modern pieces that feel like they were carefully collected rather than bulk-ordered. Stylish couches invite you to sink in and stay awhile. Vintage furniture creates cozy nooks perfect for intimate conversations.
Art Gallery Adjacent: The bar connects directly to gallery spaces showcasing rotating exhibitions, so you’re literally drinking surrounded by art. The bar top itself functions as a rotating gallery, highlighting different artwork each month.
Retro Elements: Old record players, antique furniture pieces, and kitschy decorative touches give the space a nostalgic quality that nods to the building’s storied past. It’s similar in spirit to classic Memphis bars but with a more polished, contemporary edge.
Perfect Acoustics For Conversation: Unlike many bars where you’re shouting over pounding music, Art Bar maintains a volume level that actually allows conversation. You can hear the person sitting next to you without straining. This isn’t background ambiance competing with your dialogue—it’s thoughtfully curated atmosphere.
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Keep Exploring →Instagram-Worthy Backdrops: Every corner offers photo opportunities. The combination of vintage aesthetics, colorful design, and artistic elements makes it an impeccable portrait backdrop if you’re inclined to document your evening.
Other Considerations
Moderate to Mid-Tier Pricing: Expect cocktail prices to fall in the reasonable range for craft cocktails—not cheap, but not exorbitant either.
With beers starting at $2 and specialty cocktails likely in the $12-15 range based on similar Memphis establishments, the pricing reflects the quality of ingredients and creativity involved.
You’re getting genuinely inventive drinks with foraged ingredients and expert execution, making the cost worthwhile for the experience.
Hidden Location Adds Adventure: Finding Art Bar is part of the fun. Follow the signs to Crosstown Arts on the second floor of Crosstown Concourse, then look for the giant red staircase that glows like a beacon. Walking through the art galleries to reach the bar adds an extra layer of discovery to your visit. Keep walking back through the rooms—there’s always more to explore than you initially think.
Musicians’ Secret Menu: Here’s an insider tip that makes Art Bar even cooler: if you’re a musician who played a show anywhere in Memphis that same day or night, ask about the special Musicians’ Menu. It offers discounted prices for performing artists as a nod to Memphis’s legendary music culture. This secret perk reflects the bar’s deep connection to the city’s creative community.
Best Times to Visit: Sunday evenings offer a particularly special experience—the space feels slightly rebellious when you’re sipping cocktails knowing you have work the next day, but without the Friday or Saturday crowds. Weeknights (Tuesday through Thursday) provide a more relaxed atmosphere where you can actually snag your preferred seating. Weekends buzz with energy but expect more people.
Date Night Perfection: The combination of intimate lighting, comfortable seating, conversation-friendly acoustics, and sophisticated drinks makes this an exceptional date destination. Multiple rooms mean you can find your own cozy corner.
Solo-Friendly Environment: The welcoming vibe extends to solo visitors. The bar seating accommodates individuals comfortably, and the space encourages both solitude and spontaneous conversation depending on your mood.
Part of Larger Complex: Art Bar sits within Crosstown Concourse, so you can easily combine your visit with dinner at one of the building’s restaurants, a concert at The Green Room, or exploration of the galleries and shops throughout the complex. It’s a destination within a destination.
Parking Considerations: Crosstown Concourse offers parking, though it can fill up during peak times for events. On-street parking is also available in the surrounding Midtown neighborhood. The accessibility of parking makes it easier to visit than some downtown Memphis locations.
Reopened Post-Pandemic: After closing during the early pandemic days of March 2020, Art Bar reopened in late August 2021 and has been going strong since, continuing to serve as a creative gathering place for Memphis locals and visitors alike.
Art Bar at Crosstown Arts
📍 1350 Concourse Ave, Ste 175, Memphis, TN 38104
