- Attraction: Memphis Whistle
- Location: 2299 Young Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
- Industry: Cocktail Bar
- Website: https://www.memphiswhistle.com/
A converted 1920s home painted in bold shades of purple, teal, and royal blue stands out along Young Avenue, beckoning cocktail enthusiasts into what feels more like a friend’s eclectic house party than a typical bar.
Memphis Whistle emerged from pandemic-era beginnings as a cocktail delivery service, evolving into a full-fledged restaurant and bar that’s become a Cooper-Young staple.
Mixologist Jef Hicks brought his expertise from cities like New Orleans and Austin back to his Memphis roots, partnering with chef Kyle Gairhan to create a space where prohibition-era craft meets contemporary Southern hospitality.
What makes this spot special goes beyond the drinks themselves. Four uniquely decorated rooms feature velvet furnishings, zebra print accents, antique mirrors, skulls, and even mortuary memorabilia that somehow creates a welcoming rather than eerie atmosphere.
The menu emphasizes locally-sourced ingredients from regional spice vendors to family-owned bakeries, ensuring that every bite and sip supports the Memphis community.
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Cocktails That Break The Mold
Interactive Drink Crafting: Skip the standard menu and engage directly with your bartender.
Describe your flavor preferences—maybe you lean toward citrus and gin, or perhaps bourbon and spice appeal more—and watch as they build something specifically for your taste.
This conversational approach transforms ordering into an experience, with each drink tailored to what you’re craving that evening.
Flaming Absinthe Rituals: Request the absinthe service for a theatrical show that’s uncommon in Memphis bars.
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The whole production unfolds among shelves lined with house-infused liqueurs and creates an atmosphere that transports you to another time.
Old-World Shrubs: These vinegar-based fruit drinks trace their history to centuries past when preservation methods relied on vinegar rather than refrigeration.
Memphis Whistle updates the tradition by infusing their shrubs with carefully selected herbs and spices.
You can enjoy them mixed with spirits for complex cocktails or paired with sparkling water for a sophisticated non-alcoholic option that’s far more interesting than standard sodas.
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Keep Exploring →Classic Cocktails Reimagined: Order a Bourbon Old Fashioned or Paper Plane and you’ll taste the difference that attention to detail makes.
The Paper Plane—a modern creation blending bourbon, Aperol, and lemon juice—demonstrates how Memphis Whistle takes newer recipes and executes them flawlessly.
Their Bloody Mary stands out for its complexity, built with house-infused vegetables including garlic, radishes, green beans, snap peas, okra, horseradish root, and multiple pepper varieties.
Food Worth The Trip
Barbecue Nachos Done Right: In a city obsessed with barbecue, it takes something special to stand out. These nachos layer slow-cooked pulled pork over blue corn tortilla chips, then smother everything in rich beer cheese and tangy barbecue sauce.
The combination of textures and flavors hits all the right notes—smoky, creamy, crunchy, and satisfying in a way that could convert anyone to the church of Memphis barbecue nachos.
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The Summer Avenue brings heat with chipotle pimento cheese, fried onions, fried jalapeños, and chipotle aioli.
Even the vegetarian option breaks from tradition by using candied mushrooms instead of the usual black bean base, giving you something with real depth and complexity.
Plant-Based Creativity: Vegan Reubens and blue oyster chili demonstrate that plant-based dishes receive the same innovative treatment as everything else on the menu. These aren’t apologetic meat substitutes—they’re dishes designed to shine on their own merits.
Gluten-Free Fried Treats: The dedicated gluten-free fryer changes the game for anyone avoiding gluten. Suddenly you can enjoy crispy items typically off-limits: savory beignets, breaded lion’s mane mushrooms, and golden tots all emerge from a fryer that never touches wheat.
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Keep Exploring →The lion’s mane mushrooms deserve particular attention for their substantial texture and savory coating that satisfies like a good appetizer should.
Eye-Catching Desserts: Ice cream sandwiches made with vivid purple Ube and green Pandan sugar cookies look almost too photogenic to eat.
The fluorescent colors might remind you of cartoons, but the flavors deliver genuine satisfaction. The house peanut butter chocolate pie offers a richer contrast, especially when you pair it with a cherry or orange-topped Beretta cocktail for a decadent finish to your meal.
Atmosphere & Décor
Impossible To Miss: The exterior’s bold color scheme makes Memphis Whistle a landmark along Young Avenue. Inside, you’ll discover four distinct spaces, each with its own character. One room features a salon-style setup with plush chaises perfect for settling in with friends.
The small five-seat bar provides an intimate vantage point for watching cocktails come together. Garden seating outside offers fresh air when the weather cooperates.
Eclectic Design Philosophy: The décor walks an interesting line between macabre curiosity and genuine coziness. Framed mortician’s licenses, skulls, and a mysterious monkey chair share space with velvet textures and antique mirrors.
Somehow it all works together, creating an environment that feels like stepping into someone’s meticulously curated collection rather than a designer’s generic vision of a speakeasy.
Lighting & Mood: Soft, warm lighting bathes everything in an inviting glow that makes the purple exterior’s promise come alive inside.
The intimate scale means you’re never too far from other guests, which enhances the convivial atmosphere rather than feeling cramped. It’s the kind of place where striking up conversations with strangers at the bar feels natural.
Limited Seating Reality: This is a small venue operating on a first-come, first-served basis. The cozy quarters contribute to the charm but also mean that peak times can require patience. Arriving early or visiting during off-hours increases your chances of snagging a good spot without waiting.
Other Considerations
Smart Pricing Strategy: Happy hour runs from 4-6 PM Monday through Saturday, bringing specialty cocktails, well drinks, and wine down to six dollars, with craft beers at five dollars and domestic beers at three dollars.
Bar snacks during this window range from eight to ten dollars. Regular pricing outside happy hour sits in a comfortable mid-tier range that reflects the quality and creativity you’re receiving. Service industry folks get all-day happy hour pricing on Mondays—a nice nod to hospitality workers.
Supporting Local: The commitment to sourcing from Memphis-area suppliers means your dollars stay in the community. From the beef to the bread to the spices, Memphis Whistle prioritizes local businesses, which you can taste in the freshness and quality of everything served.
Operating Hours: Opening at 4 PM daily means this works best for evening plans. Monday through Thursday, last call comes at 11 PM with the kitchen closing at 9 PM.
Friday and Saturday extend to midnight. Sunday wraps up by 10 PM. Happy hour during weekday evenings tends to be more relaxed, while weekend nights bring lively crowds and energetic vibes.
Ideal Occasions: The intimate setting excels for date nights where you want conversation and craft over noise and crowds.
Small groups of friends find plenty of space to catch up, and solo bar-goers will appreciate the friendly atmosphere and engaging bartenders.
The diverse menu accommodations make this a rare spot where everyone in a mixed-diet group can genuinely enjoy their meal.
Cooper-Young Setting: Located at the eastern edge of Cooper-Young near the Liberty Bowl, Memphis Whistle sits in one of the city’s most creative neighborhoods.
Local shops, independent restaurants, and artistic energy define this area. Street parking follows typical Cooper-Young patterns—usually workable but occasionally requiring a short walk from where you find a spot.
Changing Menu Elements: Seasonal specials keep things fresh throughout the year. Mini king cakes appear during Carnival season, and weekly features ensure regular visitors always find something new to try. Their social media accounts provide updates on limited-time offerings worth planning around.
Memphis Whistle
📍 2299 Young Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
