This is Part 2 of my #JenneAcrosstheUSA vegan road trip series: Vegan Memphis. My boyfriend and I are taking three weeks to drive from NYC to LA, heading through the South. Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram and Facebook for daily updates and healthy travel tips.
After Nashville we drove to the blues capital. Nashville is hip and lively, but Memphis is the place to visit for American history, especially the civil rights era. It played a crucial role in the fight for equality for Black Americans and is the city where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed. We had only one full day, but we packed it with meaningful stops.
Memphis isn’t as vegan-friendly as Nashville, but we made it work. We stopped at Whole Foods the day we arrived and stocked a cooler with salad greens, canned beans, sauerkraut, nuts, and seeds so we could make quick, healthy meals on the road. For breakfast we had toast with tahini, microwaveable rice & quinoa porridge, and fresh fruit.
Imagine Cafe
We visited Imagine Cafe, one of Memphis’s two vegan restaurants. We ordered the BBQ seitan sandwich with sweet potato fries, baked beans and cornbread, and a “Southern Plate” of rice, black beans, and collards topped with a garlic aioli.
The cornbread and baked beans were highlights, but much of the meal felt underwhelming. The Southern Plate tasted unusual to me—growing up in the South I’m familiar with many regional variations, but the aioli-style sauce didn’t match my expectations of traditional Southern or soul food preparations. Still, rice and beans are comforting, and it wasn’t bad—just a bit bland and pricier than I expected.
I would return to try other items on the menu. If you have recommendations, I’d love to hear them.
Imagine Cafe. Daily 11–9pm
The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel
On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on the second-floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel. The motel has been preserved as the National Civil Rights Museum, and it’s a must-see in Memphis. The museum uses photographs, film, artifacts, and immersive exhibits to tell the story of the civil rights movement. We planned 90 minutes but spent closer to three hours because there is so much to absorb. I left with a deeper understanding of that era and a greater appreciation for those who risked everything for justice and equality.
National Civil Rights Museum. Open Wednesday–Monday.
Sun Studio
Opened in 1950, Sun Studio is famous as the place that launched careers and helped shape rock & roll. Elvis Presley recorded here, as did blues greats like B.B. King and Howlin’ Wolf, and country legend Johnny Cash. The studio is still in use and retains much of its original character, so a visit offers an authentic glimpse into music history. The Elvis story is central on the tour, but even non-fans will appreciate the studio’s legacy.
Sun Studio. Open daily 10–6pm.
Beale Street
Beale Street is unlike any street I’ve wandered. While it shares some energy with New Orleans’ Bourbon Street and Nashville’s Broadway, Beale feels distinct. On our visit there was a security line to enter the pedestrian area, which made the atmosphere feel safer and more family-friendly than other party districts. Live music pours from the bars, neon signs glow, and you can stroll with a drink in hand while soaking in the music and people-watching.
Withers Collection Museum & Gallery
Across from the New Daisy Theatre on Beale Street is the Withers Collection Museum & Gallery, showcasing hundreds of photographs by photojournalist Ernest Withers. His work captured key moments of the civil rights era, famous musicians, and local sports. Each image includes captions that tell personal and historical stories; take your time reading them. We visited in the evening and left with a much richer sense of Memphis’s place in history.
Withers Collection Museum & Gallery. Open Tuesday–Sunday.
Knoxville’s Sanctuary Cafe
On our way from Virginia to Nashville we stopped in Knoxville for lunch at Sanctuary Cafe, a vegan gem in a suburban shopping center. The owner welcomed us with genuine Southern hospitality. On her recommendation we tried the jerk seitan Philly with mango-pineapple dressing, plus loaded nachos, beet reuben sliders, and a blueberry cupcake. Everything was flavorful, filling, and affordable—the chef clearly knows his craft.
Sanctuary Cafe partners with The Gentle Barn’s Tennessee farm sanctuary, which is worth visiting if you have time.
Sanctuary Cafe. Open Tuesday–Saturday.