Since moving back to Memphis, this has become one of my favorite bars- divey enough to be fun and comfortable; sophisticated enough to promise an excellent cocktail and that you won't smell like an ashtray when you leave. There's always a good mix of people, the bartenders are excellent, and, who doesn't love a pirate theme. They also, currently, hold the title of Best French 75 in Memphis, as Determined by Me (making a good French 75 seems to be more difficult than it should be). Anyway, check out The Cove, chat with the bartenders, and have a blast. read more

The Cove - Awesome cocktails. - Dive Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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The Cove is one place I always make sure to take out-of-town guests because it is one of the most unique bars in Memphis. The music's always great - last night I heard Pixies' "Doolittle" and Beck's "Midnite Vultures" - there's always a cool old movie showing on the flat screen, and oh yeah, the bar is a pirate ship. In fact the ship motif, purchased from former Midtown seafood staple Anderton's after it closed in 2006, is the Cove's defining feature. The huge chandeliers with red and yellow glass lamps and the paintings on the wall transport you to a totally different place. I come here for two reasons: the Sazeracs and the oysters. If you want a legit, real, New Orleans Sazerac The Cove is the place to go. I've tried them at other Memphis bars and nobody else gets it right. The oysters are shipped in daily so they're always fresh. On Wednesdays if you buy a dozen, you get an extra half-dozen free. Even if I've already eaten it's hard to resist ordering oysters just because they're so fresh and tasty. The rest of the food items are pretty good too - particularly the hummus - and my favorite sandwich is the Midtowner. The Cove has an extensive cocktail list, and they're all handmade. So if you're in a hurry, order a beer. Some may consider the cocktails to be a little overpriced -and while I agree that they're a little more expensive than most places, the quality is worth the cost. read more

I have to think this is the best little secret of memphis! Ive heard of it before so its been on my list but I had no idea what I was missing! The decor is just great! Pirates, ships and fish oh my! Tons of signature cocktails and the food was very yummy!! read more

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This would probably be a 3 1/2.... I went to the Cove to check out legendary Memphis band the SCRUFFS play a set last Friday! The band was amazing! Rocking their own classics and then finishing off the night with a huge supply of Big Star tunes! I even hopped on the Mic for Chris Bell's "I am the Cosmos," It was a blast! So great job to the Scruffs! Now about the The Cove in general. The place is really cool, kinda looks like your on a SHIP which made me think of the joke BARnacle! Get it barnacle, you at a bar! Ok I guess you had to be there! Anyway, we got some drinks ordered and all was good until it was time to order food, no one came back for our order, so no big deal went to the bar to order and made it.. 1 hour later still no food, 2 hours later still no food, finally we stopped a waiter told him our what was up and he went promptly to the kitchen to make the food! HE DID A GREAT JOB! THANKS TO HIM! So we finally got the grub which was great, but pretty late! Then at the end of the night we got our bills and naturally we were double charged, even though the first time they never actually got the order all the way to the kitchen to make the food! OH WELL At least the food was good, and the Scruffs were Great! read more

This place could quickly become one of my favorite hideaways in Memphis. The staff was super friendly and the pirate theme is pretty awesome. I didn't order food so the only food I can comment on is pita chips and hummus that I swipe from my friends and it was pretty good. The drink prices were on par with the area and their mixed drink selection was great. I look forward to coming back here and exploring their food and drink menu further. Pro tip - The wifi password is "babybooboo" read more

For what it is, The Cove delivers in every way. With a disclaimer - if you cannot stand being in an establishment that allows indoor smoking, this is not the place for you. If that's not an issue, you're liable to love this place. It has a nice dive bar feel to it with pirate decor. It serves a number of different oyster options including the traditional raw on the half shell, which I believe they serve with crackers, prepared horseradish, tabasco, and ketchup. The place has a small but delicious dinner menu, with a few salads and various mediterranean and italo/greek offerings, like a couple different pizze, panini, etc., with vegetarian, pescatarian, and a few meat options. the prices for the food are average, a little on the high side if you want to eat here often - this is a good place to stop once in awhile. the food is always fresh and in my experience i have not yet been disappointed by any of the food items i've ordered here. the menu also features a very long list of different traditional liquor drinks, along with a number of twists on traditional drinks. my dad re-discovered his love for the new orleans drink the sazerac here. they have a massic drink menu, you could come here every day for a few months and try a different drink listed on the menu. if you like oysters, if you like traditional cocktails, or if you like mediterranean vegg or seafood dishes, you will enjoy the cove. P.S. One time when I was here they were doing Trivia Night, so I know they have offered a weekly trivia night at some point. Not sure if they do other nights like karaoke, but would not be surprised, as they both would fit in this casual, dive-y midtown atmosphere. read more

Great drink selection and 5 stars, simply because their Caesar salad has actual anchovies on it and that is AWESOME. Cute bar tender too. You know who I am talking about. Ha! read more

I can see how a lot of folks could like this place, but I found it to be too kitschy for my taste. The staff was all friendly, but both times I've been, I was there with some regulars. As others have mentioned, the drinks are well made but pricey and it can be impossible to find a seat in the place... especially on weekends. read more

This place has amazing cocktails and unique bartenders. We had a mai tai (the best one that we have ever had), it was sweet, tart, and with a very slight hint of smokiness. The bartender explained that it was an authentic mai tai (similar to how it is made in Thailand). We also had a canton martini that was very good, it was citrusy, gingery, and refreshing. We mentioned to our bartender that we were going on a long/strenuous hike the next day a couple hundred miles away. Our bartender disappeared for a few minutes and then came back with a magnesium strip to use just in case we get lost. He also gave us some survival advice just in case we got lost. It was a fun and interesting evening. Definitely coming back. read more

Great little hole in the wall place on Broad. The Spinach dip is the best I've had. It gets crowded on the weekend, though. Love this area. read more

Now smoke free. Instant bump up one star. This place has some good food and really fun bands. read more

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Had the most awesome oysters and shrimp yesterday. Can't wait to go back for the tamales!! Love love love this place. Jeffery and Mary are awesome staff! YOU CANT GO WRONG!! That's why walls are covered with awards.. read more

I went to this place with some old coworkers who were in town from Wisconsin. The vibe is a little different. It starts off very divey in an authentic way. The food is pretty good. The beers are cheap, and they have a decent selection of better beers. The pirate decor is a little off-putting. But that is their schtick. Then the place shifts into some hipster dwelling that reeks off "trying too hard." It is like a bunch of dudes were told they this bar is divey and then challenged eachother to go make it even more so. It is weird and difficult to describe. Will I return? Maybe. If some friends really want to go sometime. Will I suggest it? No. read more

This bar is a MUST-visit for anyone coming to Memphis. We always feel like regulars even though we only come every other year or so. The food is incredibly delicious, the staff is amazing, and the ambiance is unbeatable. The owner found out we were there celebrating my husband's 40th birthday and returned with "happy birthday" plates and a candle that turns into a flower and sings the birthday song. The Cove is unbelievably great, I cannot stress this enough. read more

This place is truly awesome. They serve great drinks, and have avast (see what I did there) spirit selection. One of the few places in town to serve Pappy Van Winkle and they do the traditional and bohemian preparation of absinthe. The drinks are only made better by those who serve them, and you can tell that the guys behind the bar truly love what they do. It's a bit of a drive for us, but my wife and I have found a home bar at The Cove! read more

The Cove is a bar that could really grow on me. I'm a fan of divey bars, especially ones that have a nicer menu than their exterior would suggest. This place isn't a TOTAL dive by any means, but is dark and eclectic and feels like it hasn't changed in years. The drink menu is pretty extensive. I've tried the Memphis Mule and the Jimlet, along with a few beers, and they were all served up quickly and with a friendly smile from our waiter. I wish I could have caught his name. I haven't tried much of the food, just the Not Wings and the Binghampton Pizza. They were both unique offerings, and pretty tasty. (Except the Binghampton had sweet pickles--yuck--on it. You gotta warn a girl about that! Sour for life!) I'll be back to try the oysters for sure. The only big turn off for me was the cigarette smoke. We've sat in both the main room and the small back room, and honestly, the air purification in the main room kept it from getting too bad. In the back room, even without anyone in there actually smoking, it got a little hazy and stinky. Oh, and the band last night was 1 1/2 hours late going on. I left as they were rushing in the door to set up, as I hadn't been planning on staying out super late, but I'm not going to fault the bar for that. (AHEM--BLUFFCITYBACKSLIDERS--AHEM) read more

If you're into obscure Midtown Memphis watering holes, I highly recommend the Cove. They pride themselves on serving classic, handmade cocktails (think whiskey sours made with real lemon juice, gimlets, sidecars and Sazeracs). The Cove has a small but impressive selection of food. They've got pizzas and sandwiches, but my favorite thing on the menu is the Not Wings. They're not fake chicken wings - Not Wings is a bowl of warm, chunky blue cheese dressing and hot sauce that's served with celery sticks and Fritos. As far as atmosphere goes, there's plenty. There are plenty of cool piratey details, a cozy back porch and a big screen TV that's constantly playing cult classic movies. The music playing on the speakers is a little bit of everything - last week, it was the Pixies and Grizzly Bear. Granted, all of that quality will cost you. The drinks are a little more expensive at the Cove than at other Memphis bars, but they're totally worth it. read more

This place is super divey but a lot of fun! I always enjoy coming here. Their main problem that kept most people away was the fact that they allowed smoking indoors but I was delighted to go there recently and find out that they put an end to that. They can also get seriously crowded later in the night. It's a very interesting place because the crowd is so very eclectic in age and lifestyle (always fun to see a bunch of hipsters sitting next to a more formally dressed group). They often have live bands playing which is always fun especially on a Friday night. They also always have some weird old movie playing on the TV at the bar with subtitles so you can actually sit at the bar and watch the movie if you're there by yourself and aren't sure what to do. Their food is delicious. They are pretty famous for their oysters, pizzas, and spinach dip. The folks working behind the bar are incredibly friendly. I think they only have 2 beers on tap (an IPA and something else), which is a little disappointing, but they have tons of domestics and other interesting drinks on their menu that shall not disappoint. I also came here on Halloween last year. It was super crowded and exactly what you would expect. So many interesting people were there. Very diverse crowd as always. So basically, this place is tons of fun if you're into divey bars. Next time you're feeling brave on a Friday night and want to give something new a try, pop in and check The Cove out! read more

This is a nice dive bar to go with friends and chill. The drinks are strong here! Wednesday's are karaoke nights and I love it! Bring a group of friends, drink the night away, and sing to your hearts' content. They have tvs and food you can order as well. read more

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Awesome time. Amazing bartender who really knows his way around a cocktail menu. Super friendly staff that seems to get along well, great food (we tried a lot of it)! Just in town for the weekend but we have told everyone to stop by for a low key experience. Wish I had pictures to share. read more

Cool little spot. Got in town late and found this spot thru Yelp... it really is a pirate ship in the inside. They had a good selection of drinks and the bartender recommended a very good Tennessee whiskey. I got there about midnight on a Friday so the kitchen was close and the place was rather empty which was perfectly fine with me. I'll definitely be going back. read more

I really struggled between 3 and 4 stars, but landed on 4 because, despite the weird issues, it's a place that I really enjoy. The atmosphere is A+. Weird piratey ship theme is quirky and delightful, it's dark, often quiet, except for when it's very loud (this is not a complaint!), and just a strange place, in the best way. The drinks are great, always come out with a low tab while feeling plenty liquored-up. The big negative is just that the service is extremely hit or miss. Some nights it's great, some nights (like tonight) you won't see wait staff for over an hour. But, in a way, it's kind of part of the charm. It's just not a place to go if you are trying to grab a quick drink- it's a place you go to sit and be chill as hell and not worry about the next place you need to be. read more

Total dive bar, but it seems like ALL of the area's business goes to Wiseacre (5-star by my rating), so it was empty when we stopped in around 6-7pm on Saturday. Oysters were on special ($12 for 12), and they were fine. The main bartender worked his ass off, but everyone else seemed to just be "meh" about everything. Sadly, I don't think pirates are cool anymore (just like everyone who isn't still living in 2010). read more

Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Great customer service, great drinks made to my delight, price isn't too bad considering the ambiance and quality! Nautical theme, only thing missing is the dock and bay in the back! read more

Stopped in with my girlfriend to try out their signature cocktails and ended up staying for food, drink and great conversation with Justin and Ben (...Not Bennie). The pizza and oysters were fantastic, the ambience great, (who doesn't love drinking off a pirate ship?) and the hospitality top notch. Highly recommend. read more

The Cove - Dive Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

My favorite bar in Memphis. Parks (the bartender) is passionate about his craft and it shows in every detail. Amazing cocktails, excellent service and the coolest vibe. Go have a drink! Thank me later. read more

Great atmosphere, food, drinks, music. I don't get out much, but happened on this place one Friday night around 7:00 with some co-workers. We sat at the sailing ship shaped bar. We ordered drinks, oysters on the half-shell, Not! wings and the Rockefeller spinach artichoke dip for starters. EXCELLENT! Some of the best oysters I have ever eaten, and everything else was extremely good. Dinner was pizzas and pita, and a blonde brownie for dessert. Everyone was Very satisfied with the experience. There was a notable absence of any sort of burger or fried food of any type on the menu, which is refreshingly different for a Memphis establishment of any type. Lots of vegetarian fare as well. The atmosphere of the place is dim and funky, but notably clean. You feel like you are in a way cool pirate themed Disney ride. Good music, service and attentive staff. As I said, I don't get out much, but when I do it will be The Cove. Pro/Con (your choice): 21 and up only, and smoking allowed. read more

I am sitting at the bar relishing the perfect old fashioned I just enjoyed. Come on in and enjoy a nice laid back atmosphere and top notch drinks. The bourbon selection is unmatched in Memphis. read more

Unusual but cool, different but not weird. The Cove is a dive bar for sure but it's really a cocktail lounge with a good kitchen and bartenders who know their craft. Just wish the patrons weren't so into their phones and each other. Not one person spoke to me. read more

The Cove - Jazz for a Sunday evening happy hour is a nice treat -- the Frog Squad, a local group. Memphis cool at The Cove. - Dive Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Great bar with friendly staff and amazing food! Definitely worth coming in to grab a cocktail or dinner! So glad they have stayed open during covid! read more

This place is a must if you're in the area. The staff is incredible, the atmosphere is friendly. The bar is surrounded by tables and booths and there's an adorable patio in the back. The bar grows it's own herbs and does it's own infusions, making for some tasty cocktails. Loved it! read more

I have to say that my experience of The Cove has been overall very pleasant. While the cocktails are a little overpriced, they are notably delicious. I really enjoy Manhattans but I so rarely order them because bartenders never get it quite right. Here it's a different story all together. I'm also a sucker for pirate themes. What can I say. It's a bit hipster-centric, and I can't say that I like sitting in the occasional smoke, but for a location with a good feel and occasional live tunes it's hard to beat! Will be there tonight. Be prepared to drive and park over around Binghamton. This isn't a problem for me, but I know it might deter some sniffier and snootier patrons. I like that the few times I've been it's not been a toolfest like many other midtown area bars are becoming. read more

Always a great place for catching fab live music and strong drinks. I haven't ordered food from here but the drinks are reasonable, especially for the Whisky and beer and the music is great. There is a nice patio that is underused but perfect for a large group wanting private space. read more

The Cove - Nice bar. Decor from Anderton. - Dive Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

What can you say about a dark, cool place with amazing bartenders and good bar food? One that welcomes the dogs inside (in the main room, not just their cute patio), plays old movies without sound and always has great music and a friendly crowd? We love The Cover - it was one of the first places we discovered in Memphis that is comfy, friendly and serves a margarita so good, you drink it like pop but strong enough so even if you only have one, you'd best have a designated driver. Broad Ave. is sprucing up, but The Cove stays what it always was - a great place for happy hour or a night out. My dogs give it five barks to match my five stars. read more

Had not been to the Cove in years. Very pleasant to discover their menu still had some of the "classics" from before Broad was revitalized. Wow, the place has really been cleaned up and somehow kept all the charm, even the iconic bar that has major Memphis history. Visited 01/09/2018 had Oyster Combo Plate All fresh and delicious! Bruschetta Sampler Very Yummy, Some Flavors a little stout but still delicious, Wife had her stand by of the Frito Pie (Enough for 2). Atmosphere was awesome, freindly people (and Dogs) awesome service, food and atmosphere. Really they couldnt do anything better! Great Place! read more

I do come here often, pretty much weekly, every Tuesday night for trivia. So I think I get this place pretty well. Thing the first, the bartenders are awesome. Great crew working here, they will take great care of you, talk to you, and you'll have a great time. Thing two, this place has a great cocktail menu, and they make the drinks well. Not only is the cocktail menu good, but it is also large. They have a lot of drinks, and they make them all well. Of course you can also always get beers or cider here. They also have wine, so it's got all the bases covered. I've also eaten a lot of food here, and while the food may be a buck or two more than you want to spend on it, it is delicious. Their "big cheese" grilled cheese panini is perfect. Perfect cheese choices, warm and melty, it is my favorite menu item. I've also tried the pizzas, my favorite is "T's Shrimp." Also good, if you want to snack on something warm, are the "loaded baked potatoes" covered with blue cheese and bacon. Good to share for a couple. As for the atmosphere, I once called this place a nice dive, but that isn't right. It's a local place that is taking care of their costumers, because their customers take care of them. This place doesn't take itself too seriously, even though it is an oyster bar that serves great food and amazing drinks. This place can compete with nicer "lounges," if that is what you want to call them, but it doesn't. This place is a bar! And a fun place to hang. I show up in my t-shirt and know I can still get a good beer, a good mixed drink, some good food, and have the type of night I want to have. The big screen TV will probably be playing a movie, some funny cult classic that maybe you've heard of, or something you've definitely heard of and enjoy. You'll see all the regulars and make "bar friends." It's like going to your friend's house that is actually a bar. Other bars want to be as cool as The Cove. read more

I started frequenting this bar practically every Friday beginning in July of 2011. I think this speaks volumes to its quality. It is a lovely bar and is extremely laid back which is the biggest draw for me on a Friday night after work. The food here is good. Considering the size of the kitchen, they do an excellent job. The drinks here are excellent. I have tried many of their cocktails, and I cannot think of a time when I have been disappointed. I would warn that if you are coming here expecting food of an exceptional caliber you may be disappointed. It is important to consider that The Cove is a bar foremost and a restaurant second. Food: 5/5 The atmosphere is excellent. It is exactly the kind of place I enjoy going to. It's small and clean but has a dingy look to it that makes it seem much more visceral. The Cove is pirate themed if you couldn't tell from the name. The bar itself is literally a boat, and many nautical ornaments adorn the walls. The Cove hosts many local bands in their small space, and although it is not the best acoustic bar in Memphis. It certainly manages to provide a very intimate musical encounter which you cannot get from other venues. I would not go on a date to the Cove. In spite of it being one of the most expensive and excellent bars in Memphis, the atmosphere makes it appear dirty and "cheap." To give you an idea of the cost, nearly every cocktail costs $10, making an evening at the Cove become very expensive, very quickly especially if paying for someone else. The last time I brought someone here on a date, I spent over $200 between the two of us plus tax and tip, and then I never heard from her again. However my friend was told by her that she thought I was cheap for bringing her to such a shitty, cheap bar -- pardon the language. Personally anyone who thinks the Cove is a shitty bar is not someone for me anyway. By far, it is the nicest bar in Memphis, including Mollie Fontaine. If you don't believe me drop by on a Friday night around 9 when the bar is kicking and see for yourself. One additional note, they play old movies all the time on their one television. It really is awesome. A few times it has been awkward when they have put an old movie on the TV that was very close to being softcore porn, but I think that is part of the charm of The Cove. You never really know who or what to expect. Atmosphere: 5/5 The Cove is expensive. I cannot stress this. It is not a cheap bar by any means. I think it is as expensive or more expensive than many downtown bars. Expect to pay a lot. However, the cover price when a band is playing is only $5 which is much better than many other places. Price: 1/5 The Cove has great service. During the busy time around 8 or 9 in the evening they often have 2 bartenders working the bar. They also have a waitress taking table orders and patio orders. The kitchen is operated by one person usually, but it is amazing how quickly and skillfully your order is prepared. Considering the volume of patrons, they do amazingly. In addition they are quite friendly and will participate in friendly banter when time permits. Even at their busiest which in my experience was during the Broad Avenue Art Walk, they still managed to serve customers faster than most downtown bars with an equally large amount of people. It truly is one of the best bars in Memphis. Service: 5/5 There really is no words to describe how much I enjoy this bar. I often joke that I spend more money at the Cove then I do on food, but to be honest even if that was true I'd have no regrets. It really is a stellar bar and part of a great neighborhood that will likely someday be the next Cooper Young. I would strongly recommend anyone with a taste for cocktails and the eclectic to transport themselves to the Cove and have a drink, I'll see you there. read more

The owner is clearly delusional. The servers were confused on who was our waiter the entire time. The owner took our rolled silverware and menus before we even ordered and then claimed she thought we were done. And then after tipping 20% the owner had the audacity to ask us to carry chairs to the patio. I'm sorry but no I am not an employee of yours and the place was packed so carrying chairs over your guests head did not seem like the smart thing to do. So because she disliked our answer then followed us out and threw a drink on us.....will not be back. Shame too the food and drinks were good. Oh and I forgot to mention she called the cops even though she threw the drink...the cops asked if we wanted to press charges that's how backwards the whole situation was. Stupid just fucking stupid. read more

FUN PLACE!!! It's a ship bar full of rum and good times. Live bands play every weekend and the price is $5!!! Pizza is good and my favorite is the "Rockin Artichoke" Artichoke,bacon & Feta) YUM!! Purple potatoes with blue cheese and bacon is very good!!! Best bar food!! LOVE this place!! read more

We received exceptionally terrible service. We had a large, but polite party. It started with the owner taking my order, then forgetting my food with the rest of our table. I asked about it once- it was coming. I asked about it twice, when he asked if we needed anything- it was coming. I asked the other owner (his mother)- what did I have? I told her and then she had a 3rd server get involved and asked what I had to eat. All three servers then proceeded to put 8 grown adults on one check for US to figure out how to split up. Food was fair but not good enough to return. read more