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Top 5 Gay and Lesbian Nightspots in Memphis

By , About.com Guide

Looking for the best gay and lesbian nightspots in the city? Here are our picks. For more information on Memphis' constantly evolving gay and lesbian nightlife, check out the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center located at 892 South Cooper Street in Midtown.

1. Crossroads

1278 Jefferson Ave
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 272-8801
Monday - Wednesday: 3PM - 11PM
Thursday - Saturday: 3PM - 3AM
Sunday: 3PM - Midnight
Crossroads is a predominantly gay dance club and bar, but everyone is welcome. Recently renovated, it is considered a classy joint that is lined with pictures of Cher. You can't even use the restroom without her watching you! Crossroads is considered to be one of the most active bars/clubs in Memphis, in terms of fostering the local GLBT community.

2. The Pumping Station

1382 Poplar Ave
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 272-7600
Mon - Fri, 4pm - 3am
Sat - Sun, 3pm - 3am
The Pumping Station is a gay bar located in midtown Memphis, easy to spot by its rainbow flag flying above the entrance. Among The Pumping Station's many events are pool tournaments, dart tournaments, beer bust nights, and more. Happy Hour runs daily from 4:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

3. Dish

948 S Cooper St
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 276-0002
Monday - Friday: 5PM - 3AM, though the kitchen usually closes at 1AM
Dish is a restaurant in the Cooper - Young district, the epicenter of the Memphis GLBT community. Dish serves up some decent food and some interesting drink choices (for example, the "Flaming Queer" is an excellent alcoholic concoction mixed with fruit juices). Though the food is good, the real reason to go to Dish is the atmosphere. In the early evening, it is a fine dining restaurant patronized by a diverse crowd. Later in the evenings, it becomes a pick up joint for trendy gays and lesbians.

4. Metro

1349 Autumn Ave
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 274-8010
Monday - Saturday: 6PM - 3AM
Sunday: 4PM - 3AM
Metro is primarily a gay bar and dance club in midtown Memphis, although everyone is welcome. Compared to most other local GLBT hotspots, its atmosphere is among the more cosmopolitan with an ambience reminiscent of some of the dance clubs in NYC. However, it is generally not the place to go on most weekday evenings when there are relatively few patrons. The scene is much more crowded on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The older crowd is usually there until about 11PM, and the younger crowd gets in after that.

5. Dru's Place

1474 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 275-8082
Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 12 midnight
Friday-Saturday: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Sunday: Noon - Midnight
Dru's Place is a GLBT sports bar whose motto is "where women and sports collide." In addition big screen t.v.'s showing the game, Dru's Place also offers pool tables, darts, trivia, Texas Hold'em, and of course, cold beer and live music.

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