Max's recent expansion to include a large bar and multi tv room is a game changer. I've spent many a days in their tight hallway situation of their existing bar and it was tolerable. The patio out back is nice, but not viable in the case of inclement weather. In addition to expanding their seating area, the menu improved too. The Tiger Nachos in the past were very sad, but a desperate treat. However, their new pizzas are amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed my pulled pork pizza. Overall, I've already shared my experience with many others and I can't wait to return! read more

Max's Sports Bar - Pizza - Sports Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Here for the drinks ! Enjoying a sweet spicy slushy Premade slushy with tequila Fantastic waitress host Ashley service is efficient and Friendly-- cool vibes ambiance-- enjoying the outdoor patio sunshine galore 78 degrees and sunny outside It's a really cool laid back local friendly bar - you can watch the Grizzlies game or Tigers game inside or outside read more

Max's Sports Bar - Slushy - Sports Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

As you can see, we were able to order drinks. Once other patrons came in, we were no longer visible. So, we left and came to an establishment across the street. read more

Max's Sports Bar - a glass of lemonade - Sports Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Always a solid cozy spot indoors and also patio with plenty of TVs for all the games you want to watch and good atmosphere. Beer selection has some Memphis locals and the personal pan pizzas and meatball sub are solid read more

They used to have really good pork nachos a few years back. Stopped in there the other day and not very good. Was a bag full of tortilla chips and sparse shredded pork and sauce. Very disappointing. Will not go back. read more

Fantastic bar with a great selection of spirits, beers, and screens for watching sports, plus excellent food. The BBQ Nachos are amazing! We had fantastic BBQ at Central BBQ earlier in the day, and these BBQ nachos topped everything there! Mike is a great bartender. read more

See all

This post has been in my drafts for months, and for why?? Max's is a staple for downtowners. The bartenders are awesome and the beer is always cold. Be sure to ask to sample the daiquiris before you choose. There are a couple that sound a lot better than they taste. Basic bar food with a twist, like the school lunch pizzas, makes it a great spot to catch a game or end a long day. I've never met and stranger and that's honestly one of my favorite things about Max's During crawfish season, Glaze's Crawfish is there every Saturday; weather depending. Most places in Memphis desecrate crawfish, but these guys from New Orleans get it right. $20 for 2lbs and $12 for 1lb, though it varies vary each season. read more

Max's Sports Bar - Sports Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

Nothing fancy. Limited menu. Limited Beers. Although bar stools are not comfortable. Watched the first half of the game. Cannot really review much because their really isn't much to share. read more

Service was good. It was crowded because it was a small space. But I'll go back again

Great sports bar! So many TVs and they were super accommodating making sure everybody got to each their team play. Bar food was pretty good but mostly enjoyed the atmosphere and team spirit. read more

I had the WORST experience tonight, I've come here a few times with Arcade workers who are regulars and have had the best experience with drinks and food until I came across the bartender working tonight 3/20/22, he was rude, inconsiderate, and after I closed my tab I left a $10 cash tip (on a small tab) and he called me out to say I didn't tip on card, in front of many patrons. I have a love for this place because of regulars before me, but the bartender this evening even tried to fight some of my male friends. Would not recommend. read more

The best. Bartender was amazing. NFL games were queued up so we didn't miss anything.

If you're looking for a cool little neighborhood pub, this is the local watering hole for you. The bar keep is friendly and the customers welcome you and make you feel like part of the group. Drinks were affordable and they also have a few slushie flavors too. read more

Sometimes you just need one of those bars where you can just sit and ponder... This place is a mix between grungy and adorable... I'm not really sure how to exactly describe it. The place is tiny so if there is a game on, get there early! They actually have a patio too! The bar itself is really nice. It even has hooks for your purse on the bar (my obsession). They used to only serve beer and now have a FULL bar, which is great. The bartenders are always hilarious and entertaining. Michelle will keep you laughing the entire time. I really, really love this bar because they are one of the few which is completely covered with Memphis swag. From Memphis State posters to the University of Memphis flags... its covering many decades of history! I will definitely be hanging out here on game days! read more

Max's Sports Bar - Sports Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

This is a great neighborhood bar for those living in the area. The beer selection is pretty stellar (hello, Fat Tire on tap) for such a small place, but that's all that Calhoun's serves. There are plenty of big screens so it's a great place to stop in and chill with a few buddies. If there's a huge game on, say Tiger basketball, the SuperBowl or World Cup, I might pick a larger venue for my outing, since the place can get cramped pretty quickly. This place is awesome, though, for a low-key evening on a slow sports night. read more

Max's Sports Bar - Sports Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

They allow a female bartender to work while drinking to very intoxicated levels. She walks around holding her light up vape dispenser in her hand while making and serving drinks taking hits off of it behind the bar. It's absolutely ridiculous. We watched her mis-charge multiple people for their tabs. This used to be a fun local bar but it's turning into a place for this woman to hold her own parties. Will not go back if she is working, just a word to the wise. Good luck Max. read more

If you are a downtown-er- as myself- this is a cool dare I say "dive" bar to hang in. I hesitate to say dive as it really doesn't look like a dive- it's actually quite cute. Not that any man likes hearing that his local sports bar is cute- but you get my drift. It's about a block away from me, and in a city without an abundance of cabs- you can't beat that location. The bartenders are always friendly- but not too friendly in a "shut up I wanna drink my beer in peace" sorta way. They usually have games on, and I haven't picked up on the "frat boy vibe" everyone's laying down in the other reviews. I am definitely not a frat-guy fan and wouldn't enter this establishment if it was something I picked up on. My only complaint is the juke box- I wish it had a better selection of tunes, or perhaps I wish the folks who frequented this place had better music selection skills, cuz 95% of the time I ain't smelling what their cooking up in the way of tunage. read more

See all

Awesome atmosphere! The owner is the kindest guy around. And you have to try the BBQ Nachos! So so tasty!

Max's is my "hang out" spot in Downtown, my "hood". Why? First, it really is a classic neighborhood sports bar. Not really sure if the word "classic" fits Max's but the place delivers on its name. Every sports bar needs an abundance of TV's and Max's is no slouch in that regard. I've never counted, but there are plenty. The room is like a shotgun style house, exposed brick walls with a terrific patio out back that is enclosed during the winter. There's even a couple of TV's in outdoor cabinets out there. One of the things that I've always liked about Max's is during college football season, Max goes to the trouble to post a lineup of the games to be shown next to each TV. He obviously puts thought into which games are shown on which TV. The bartenders are excellent and attentive and are very welcome to guests and regulars alike. Good food - I'm addicted to the chili/cheese dogs. Great bourbon and beer selections, very well priced especially for downtown Memphis. Friendly and welcoming regulars. I'll see you there! read more

Best sports bar downtown. Very friendly staff and fun to talk to. Small place, but has a big and nice patio outside and courtyard sorta thing going on. Definitely a bit of a dive but it feels extremely homey when you go. Beer and drinks are normal prices, the food is simple but very good. Recommend the queso and the bbq nachos and the chicken parm sandwich. You go here for a good time and watch a good game. read more

Stumbled here because Beale Street got old after a night and I wasn't disappointed with Max's. They got plenty of big screens, but only a limited amount of seats inside so get there early. $2.50 PBR's are always on special plus plenty of microbrews on tap. I enjoyed the Cuban. Very filling along with other bar food favorites. read more

Max's Sports Bar - 12 inch Cuban with chips. - Sports Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Whenever you need to take a trip back to the 90s, head here. From the music to the intentional dive bar decor, to the cute-ish bartender who looks like he was the hot ticket back in the grunge day, this place is as rad as 1997. read more

Max's Sports Bar - From the back of the room. - Sports Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Imagine two plump oversized juicy hot dogs on a Kaiser roll bun toasted and topped with chili, cheese, mustard and for a little extra flavor lay on a strip of bacon. That's the double dog at Max's. Set that next to a cold draft beer and you're in heaven. Bet you can't eat the whole thing. I thought I'd be doing good to get half way but it was so good I was down to the last two bites before I quit Soooooo good, i want to go back tomorrow read more

Great little spot downtown near South Main. Good drink options with a variety of domestic and craft beers, and standard cocktails. It's a little tight of a squeeze inside once it gets busy, but has a great atmosphere that can definitely draw people in. Would definitely come back, perhaps watch a game on the large TVs. read more

If you like small, smoky bars with poor ventilation and bad food, this place is for you. I've been here a few times to meet friends who like Max's, and I'm remain totally unimpressed. Sure, the beer is cheep and they do have plenty of TVs but it takes a lot more than that to win me over. Max's does not have a kitchen, all of the "food" is prepared using a toaster oven. The wings were highly recommend by someone whose opinion I trust, but they were not good at all. On my last visit, the cigarette smoke was so bad that my eyes started to burn immediately. Someone opened the door to help circulate the cloud out of the bar, but it didn't help much. Max's does have quite a few regulars, and some of them are friends of mine. I just don't get it... read more

I've been a couple of times to watch some sort of sporting event here. The place is pretty small and there are always more people than seats it seems like. Everyone is sort of crammed together. The beer always seems luke warm to me also. I don't mind a nice stout luke warm but if I'm guzzling PBR please sub zero that! Once again, this place has an internet juke box. There is nothing worse in a bar than an internet juke box. Why do places insist on having one? This one is full of "southern rock" standards (think less Black Oak Arkansas, more Allman Brothers). Don't try the food. It's so bad airplane food refuses to eat it. All that being said, it's still got the game on and I'm a sucker for a good sporting event. read more

Small little place with fratty guys picking crappy music on the e-jukebox, but you can't beat $6 pitchers of PBR. 'Nuff said. read more

Max's Sports Bar - Looking up to the second floor - Sports Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Great local sports bar! Has ALL the games on Sunday(NFL Sunday Ticket), so if you're a Skins fan like me who's driving around the 901 trying to find the game, come to this bar. It's a branded as a local dive bar, but it's definitely not grungy. May get crowded, but it's definitely much better than going to B dubs or something. Drinks: Premium drafts are 5 bucks, domestic bottles are 3.25, and premium bottles are 4 something. Pretty cheap. PBR on draft for 2.50 if you're on a budget. Service: Barstaff is friendly and attentive; I actually sat next to the owner Max by chance and we struck up a conversation. He was an extremely nice guy who's pretty knowledgeable about sports. I didn't know he was the owner until I thought, "Hey, I'm talking to Max @ Max's Sports Bar, is this dude the owner?" and proceeded to ask him. Food: Didn't get any, but it appears they have a very limited menu. Overall I would say Max's is great for catching the game without being packed in like a sardine! read more

Your perfect neighborhood sports bar. Ample big screens, cheap beer, and friendly staff. Max and his folks (namely Lauren and Michelle) know just about everyone by name and usually have your beer ready before you order it. It is a beer only establishment, but patrons can brown bag it for a set up fee. Nice beer selection, including several on tap, that includes your standard sports bar variety. Food is limited, but tastey. My favorites are the chicken tenders as well as the chicken wings. It is on the small side, and seating is definitely limited, but if you need more space, you should probably stay home or go to buffalo wild wings. read more

I think a 3.5 is on point for Max's. Service is fantastic. Now that it's non smoking, a huge plus. Also the folks that go here seem to make for a good atmosphere. TV's are fantastic considering small size of the bar. For me, cons are clearly the food, no iced tea, and iffy value. Limited menu, a sandwich was like $12 or $13. Taste was decent. Beer selection is good enough. Ended up w/ a $18 bill for a sandwich and a pint, not thrilled but certainly a good atmosphere. Will return. read more

Max's Sports Bar is a local bar in South Main. I had seen it for several years, but I had yet to try it. Well, the other day, I went downtown to meet friends at another restaurant. Well, I got there early (or maybe they were late or some combination), so I decided to hop in for a beer. They have local beers like Ghost River, as well as beers like Guinness and Newcastle. I didn't try their food, since I already had dinner plans. However, on their menu they have an item entitled "School pizza." I have to try it to see if it really does taste like I remember it in the lunchroom. On my next visit, I will make it happen. Since they have a full bar, I need to try a liquor drink instead of just beer. :) read more

I'm not a big sports bar fan. Not my thing. However, Calhoun's is different. It's small, dare I write somewhat... cute, in that it's tucked away on a side street with a slightly retro/old-school feel and it's very tidy. A nice little low-key getaway for men and women alike when they want a brew (beer only, but many on tap) and to chat, play a serious or light-hearted game of darts, or catch a game on one of several new-looking plasma t.v.s. I believe it was Mary who was bartending, and she's friendly. If I lived closer, I'd definitely pop in more frequently. I felt right at home on my barstool, drinking my Heineken. read more

See all

A nice place for a drink before a day long-ass train ride back to Chicago. The bartender and regulars are welcoming. The high ceilings give an airy, comfortable feeling. Good beers on tap. I would definitely return. read more

It's the neighborhood Cheers! Great sports bar with fun and friendly bartenders and a good neighborhood crowd.

So this bar is a very cool little place, that is as long as you can interest the bartender long enough to put his phone down. And good luck with that. I've been here for 45 minutes and literally the entire time he has had his phone in his hand playing possibly Blackjack? Whatever the game is he can't put it down or pour a beer without having it in his hand and constantly looking down at it. I'm sitting at the bar and have watched him carry 3 beers I. One hand just so he can carry his phone in the other. I get that we are in the cellular age and are completely removed from each other but damn, you are a bartender and your job is to kind of engage the customer, not the other way around. Get off your phone your tips depend on it. read more

Big Ten Network is available here. Good service, beer and food. Nice old sports bar feel. read more

Max's Sports Bar - Sports Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Love this place. Great Food, great prices, great place to watch the game on Sunday. Wish I lived in Memphis! I'd be a regular every Sunday! The one minor con is the place is a bit small, so get there a little early to catch the right TV and spot you want. read more

Great neighborhood bar, met my now husband here. Has a huge patio and courtyard, great beer and bourbon selection and you can't go wrong with the nachos. read more

So we searched Memphis for a chili dog spot for 4 days before stumbling on this little gem. We had finally given up, decided to have a drink and ponder what to eat. Luckily, we met an amazing bartender who told us about this little local love that was only two blocks away. Max's is a dive bar, no doubt... but a charming one, nonetheless. There was a whole menu of dogs, and made with Nathan's beef hotdogs right in plain view. The chili cheese dog was excellent and the drinks were strong. The bartender and chef were very attentive, even though there was a moderate crowd. There are few tables and most of the inside seating is at the bar, however there is an outdoor patio with more seating available. This place will stay on my list every time we come to Memphis! read more

Max's (formerly Calhoun's) Sports Bar cooks up some of best wings in Downtown Memphis, which is remarkable given the meager resources it has. Because of its limited space, the bar doesn't have enough room to install a grill, so most of it's food is prepared by either a small, counter-top oven or a microwave oven. Therefore, in order to incorporate chicken wings into the menu, Max's uses frozen, pre-cooked wings. Now usually I would frown on this because I believe that a local restaurant that uses frozen, pre-cooked foods either lacks originality or is just lazy, however this is not the case with Max's. Even though it uses frozen, seasoned wings, the bar can add sauces to the wings if the customer desires. The choices of sauces are sweet or spicy barbecue and habanero (WARNING: the habanero wings are extremely hot; I tried to eat eight of them, but wimped with only a half a wing left). Regardless of the sauce chosen, it is applied halfway into the cooking process, allowing it to blend in with the seasoning which in turn produces a very nice product. Compared to other places in Downtown Memphis (including Hooters) that have better cooking equipment, Max's wings are among the best in the area. As for Max's other menu items, such as the cafeteria pizza, are so-so, but other than the wings, the best part about the bar is the social atmosphere. It is pretty much a neighborhood bar where nearly all the patrons know each other and socialize while watching games on the many flat-screen TVs that adorn most of the bar's walls. The only alcohol served at Max's is beer, however many patrons go BYOB with wine and liquor without having to pay a corking fee. Among the beer choices, my favorite is Pabst Blue Ribbon because at $2 a glass, it is a bargain. Overall, Max's Sports Bar is a great place to hang out and meet people and watch sporting events. The food, other than wings, is "OK," but Max's is more about having a good time than anything else, which this bar is perfectly suited for. read more