Hi Tone
Crosstown, Memphis
Bar in Memphis, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
Hi Tone is worth considering for a casual late-night Memphis stop, especially after dinner or a show. Treat it as a flexible bar plan rather than a food-led booking: good for loose groups and low-pressure dates, less convincing for a polished celebration or anyone who needs clear menu and price details in advance.
About Hi Tone
For a Memphis plan that starts in the evening and can run late, Hi Tone is open daily from 5 PM to 1 AM, and the dress code is casual. That makes it a practical option when the timing matters more than a formal, highly defined dining plan.
The decision is mainly about fit. Choose it when you want a casual Memphis venue with late hours. Look elsewhere if the night depends on specific details such as a cuisine, chef, menu format, price point, or reservation-driven dining experience. Hi Tone is a casual late-evening option in Memphis.
Best used as the late stop, not the main dinner plan
Its key feature is timing. Hi Tone is open 5 PM to 1 AM every day, which makes it useful for evening and late-night plans in Memphis. That schedule gives the night a place to continue when a stricter dinner plan is not the priority.
For a celebration or group plan, keep expectations casual. The dress code is casual, but it does not specify menu details, pricing, seating, service style, or special-occasion features. If the group needs a more clearly defined meal first, compare other Memphis options before making Hi Tone the anchor.
Who should pick it, and who should not
Pick Hi Tone if late-night flexibility and a casual dress code matter more than menu certainty. Diners who need specific details on budget, dietary needs, cuisine, or service format may find it less suitable.
Compared with Memphis peers, Hi Tone is best judged by its late hours and casual dress code. If you are still deciding, compare it with Alex's Tavern, Bayou, Brinsons, Global Café, or Tamboli's Pasta & Pizza based on the kind of evening you want and the specific details each venue offers.
Planning details
- Location
- 282-284 N Cleveland St, Memphis, TN 38104
- Website
- hitonecafe.com
- Phone
- +1 901 490 0335
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Hi Tone reads like a neighborhood institution: a low-slung, well-worn building whose character is accrued through years of local use rather than designed flourish. Sound is the primary lure here — you hear the place before you see it — and live performance and drinking operate as genuinely intertwined practices. The bar leans away from cocktail drama and toward straightforward service, creating a relaxed, bohemian environment where the crowd shapes the mood. Evenings move from unhurried early hours into a louder, more energetic late-night rhythm that feels rooted in Midtown Memphis rather than the tourist circuit.
Best For
This is a place for late-night socializing and neighborhood gatherings. Hi Tone anchors the local after-dark scene on North Cleveland Street, making it a natural destination for group outings and anyone looking to chase live music into the small hours. The early evening is mellow enough to arrive solo and settle in, while later sets draw a denser, more communal crowd. If you want a taste of Memphis’s independent-venue culture away from the riverfront tourist bars, Hi Tone delivers that experience in a distinctly local, unpretentious way.
Ordering Tips
Stick to simple, direct drinks — bottled beer, straight pours and the occasional mixed drink — rather than expecting an intricate cocktail program. The venue rewards uncomplicated choices that let the music remain the focus. Plan your timing: arrive earlier in the evening if you prefer an unhurried pace and easier seating, and expect the room to thicken as the night progresses. In short, order familiar, low-fuss drinks and tune into the live soundscape rather than searching for elaborate craft cocktails.
Venue details
Ambiance
Divey yet spacious atmosphere blending classic bar vibes with live music energy.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Dive Bar
- Late Night
- Open Until 2am
- Music
- Wide Range Including Rock, Blues, Country, Reggae, Metal
- Live Music
- Yes
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 282-284 N Cleveland St, Memphis, TN 38104
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Global Café, Notable alternative
- Alex's Tavern, Notable alternative
- Tamboli's Pasta & Pizza, Notable alternative
- Bayou, Notable alternative
- Brinsons, Notable alternative
Bar context
How Hi Tone compares in Memphis
Hi Tone is the easier pick when the night needs late flexibility and a casual bar feel. Global Café is the better choice when food variety matters more than staying out late, while Tamboli's Pasta & Pizza is stronger for a dinner-first plan with a clearer meal structure.
For tavern energy, Alex's Tavern is the closest comparison and likely the better fit if the group wants a more classic Memphis bar stop. Hi Tone works better when the evening is looser and the plan may stretch later.
Bayou and Brinsons are stronger cross-shops for groups that want the bar and neighborhood-dining pieces to sit closer together. Pick Hi Tone when booking ease and late-night viability are the priority; pick those peers when the meal itself needs to do more work.
Explore Memphis
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Hi Tone guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Hi Tone
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Hi Tone | Memphis | No published awards |
| Global Café | Memphis | No published awards |
| Alex's Tavern | Memphis | No published awards |
| Tamboli's Pasta & Pizza | Memphis | No published awards |
| Bayou | Memphis | No published awards |
| Brinsons | Memphis | No published awards |
How Hi Tone Memphis compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hi Tone have happy hour deals?
Happy hour information is not available. The schedule is 5 PM to 1 AM every day, so plan around the hours rather than assuming specific discount pricing.
Does Hi Tone have outdoor seating?
Outdoor seating is not specified. Its location is Memphis, and hours are 5 PM to 1 AM daily.
What's the crowd like at Hi Tone?
Details about the crowd are not specified. Hi Tone is open 5 PM to 1 AM seven days a week in Memphis, with a casual dress code.
Is the food good at Hi Tone?
Food details, including cuisine, dishes, prices, or menu format, are not available. If food is the priority, compare Hi Tone with other Memphis options such as Tamboli's Pasta & Pizza or Global Café using their current information.
Is Hi Tone good for a date?
It can fit a casual evening plan if the 5 PM to 1 AM hours and casual dress code match what you want. For a date that depends on a specific menu, price point, or dining format, check those details directly before choosing it.
Is Hi Tone good for groups?
Hi Tone may work for a casual Memphis plan because it is open daily from 5 PM to 1 AM. Group-specific details such as seating, reservations, and service format are not specified, so check directly if those are important.
