- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Buccaneer
Categories: Nightlife Bars Dive Bars Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Dive Bars, Music Venues [Edit]
1368 Monroe AveMemphis, TN 38104
(901) 278-0909
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 pm - 2 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- DJ, Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Yes
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
19 reviews for Buccaneer
Review Highlights
-
"They have all sorts of live bands that play there." In 3 reviews -
"So the Buc gets 4 stars and my undying love and admiration." In 4 reviews -
"Well-known musicians hang out there, and several bands may..." In 3 reviews
Loading...
19 reviews in English
-
Review from Robert K.
4/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
First of all, any bar with an erotic mermaid painting on the wall is going to be alright by me. And if that wall happens to be wood-panelled, well, I'm sold. Throw in a few cheap pints of PBR and a half decent bluegrass band, and I am one happy camper.
I got way too drunk, and frankly I am surprised that I made it back to my motel alive, but that's another story. -
Review from Kerry C.
3/6/2012 1 photo
The Buccaneer, Memphis, Tenn.
If there was a lifetime achievement award for dive bars, I would give it to the Buccaneer. Here's why the Bucc (as it's known locally) is the greatest little dive bar in Memphis:
- The Bucc has been open forever. That can't be true, but it's how it feels. It's old enough to have a ton of character, an aging cadre of regulars and a reputation built on wobbly tables and spilled beers. It's housed in a building that seems like it used to be a house, but doesn't seem like it could have ever been anything but what it is.
- The beer is cheap. The liquor is cheap. The cover for shows is cheap (usually $5).
- Speaking of shows, the Buccaneer gets some great ones. You can see everything from fledgling punk bands to local legends, twangy songwriters, DJs, pop acts and one-man bands. When I stopped in over the weekend, I got to hear Johnny Lowebow's one man band massacre the classics for the low, low cost of free.
- The decor is incredible. Though it doesn't seem like many things that happen at the Bucc happen with any intention, whoever designed the place definitely had some. Even though you walk up a few stairs to get into the building, the inside gives one the distinct feeling of being deep under water in the hull of a ship. It's dark, the ceilings are low and the whole thing seems to be suspended in time. In there, it's always well after dark.
- The clientele. I know pirate bars are kind of a hipster thing (or were a few years ago, at least), but the Bucc does not discriminate. They cater to neighborhood locals, musicians, service industry types, hipsters, middle aged people, the happy hour crowd. Really, anyone who likes having drinks at somewhere awesome.
- Here's a sampling of some of the items adorning the walls: a badly proportioned oil painting of a man holding a child, a mosaic portrait of a pirate, signs designating the "Poop Deck" (the bar) and the "Galley" (the kitchen), stickers from every local band you've never heard of, a model ship made entirely out of PBR cans, an oil painting of a mermaid and a pirate making out on a beach.
- There's no bad time to go. If you go when they open (around 3 p.m.), you'll get to hang out with the old timers. Things are pretty quiet there on weeknights and before 11 p.m. on weekends, but the Bucc is super fun when it's the last stop of the night.
The Buccaneer is a smoking bar which means that you have to be 21 to get in. They accept cash and credit cards and they've got a limited food menu. -
Review from Reed W.
Florence, AL
11/9/2011
My favorite bar in Memphis. I'd give it 5 stars, but it almost seems like this place was built to avoid a 5 star rating.
So the Buc gets 4 stars and my undying love and admiration. -
Review from Harmony S.
Austin, TX
8/9/2011
Any night that you end up at the Buccaneer is an adventure. It's the kind of place that would normally scare some people, but everyone seems to love it.
It's dark. It's smoky. The service is adequate. But it's a dive bar, so I guess that makes me Captain Obvious.
The Buccaneer isn't just any dive bar, though. It's where other dive bars go when they die if they've lived a dark, smoky, righteous life. The atmosphere can best be summed up as surreal, as it is frequented by characters and creatures and resembles the bar scene in Star Wars.
Getting to the Buccaneer is half the fun. It's a late-night place, so by the time you go, you should most likely be in a cab or riding with whichever one of your friends is the most responsible (sucker).
About the time the party gets going at the Buccaneer, it's also peak time for the guy hanging around on the corner and the tranny hookers you may see on the way. So if you want to buy some crack or seven minutes in heaven, you're in luck! But those are just residual perks and are not in any way connected to this epic Midtown hole-in-the-wall that also has THE best live music in Memphis right now.
There are regulars at The Buc, but the scene is always a little different. Well-known musicians hang out there, and several bands may play in one night. There is a seemingly impromptu flow of performances from almost every flavor of music, including polished Rockabilly, Americana, or Country acts as well as screaming, writhing, way-too-loud Garage Rock.
The crowd changes just as much as the style of music. You may stumble upon college night. You may see local celebrities. And you will most definitely see cross-dressers, hipsters, and hunchbacks.
This place is pure gold with mildly friendly service and sweaty PBR. And when you work up an appetite from sensory overload, they have food too.
The first time I went, I asked for a menu, and several other customers chuckled at my ridiculous request. The bartender said, "Let me see what we've got," and he came back and told me my options. I seem to recall they were the best chicken strips and french fries I've ever had. -
Review from Melissa A.
Chicago, IL
9/2/2011
One of my favourite Memphis dives. There really has never been a dull visit. Dear gosh, to be a fly on the wall, right? We won't get much into my experiences.
Several beers on tap, fair prices, nice bartenders, a good mix of people on any given night. Shows vary, sometimes a lot of Goner-type bands play here. Always a good time. -
Review from Nikki K.
6/8/2007
Yeah, I've been to the Buc. I saw some great bands play there and I drank a lot and sat on the patio and had the regular neighborhood bums offer me flowers and such from the edge of the patio.
But don't let this stop you from seeing Jeffrey James and the Haul, or some other member of Snowglobe, or one of our other friends, play this joint. It seems that there is always an amazing local (or otherwise) playing this spot so I would definitely take a look at what's going on at the Buc when you get a chance!
It always ends up being a crazy ass party at this joint! The later you get there (but don't miss the show), the better! -
Review from David M.
Memphis, TN
5/30/2007
One of my favorite dive bars of all time.
Re-opened after a 'hiatus'.
Yes, its small, yes its smokey-its 'The Bucc' for chrissakes!
Oldtimers will remember the Bucc, before the outside patio (thank god), when they just had beer in coolers. Now a full service bar.
Great place to hear the most any local band worth their salt, or price in PBRs and a lot of visiting bands.
They now have a Sunday Brunch (11-2:30PM) that I'm told is good and Wings on Wednesday (6-10PM).Listed in: Midtown (General), Favorite Dive Bars
-
Review from Adrian W.
Chicago, IL
3/19/2009
If you ride a fixed gear, want to get a buck fifty pbr, get your lungs filled with second hand smoke just six steps in, or perhaps get hit on by females that may or may not be of age, this is your bar.
Small as shit, the bar itself fits 8 people so get there early and hang on tight. Tables line the wall that get moved around when there's a band.
I really only had a pair of drinks here and just enjoyed the fact that everyone knew each other, or so it seemed. Perhaps it was a going away party that was happening or the young regulars were just that: young regulars.
Very enjoyable and very recommendable. -
Review from Chad C.
4/7/2008
It was my first time in Memphis and a college-aged pal led me to the Buccaneer. I'm from New Orleans, which has an amazing wealth of dive bars. In that light, the Buccaneer held up well compared to the terrifying slummy bars of the Crescent City.
The music was surprisingly good. $5 at the door and absolutely NO checking of IDs. Even at the bar.
Why go to Beale St when the Buccaneer is this awesome? -
Review from Kristan H.
Memphis, TN
7/18/2010
First of all, you have to know that this is totally a dive bar. It is a hole-in-the-wall pass it if you didn't know to look for it kind of place. It probably has the same decor as it did years ago and kind of reminds you of that cool friend's downstairs basement from when you were a teenager. It's dark, kind of loud at times, and only so outwardly friendly, but it is so Memphis.
For musicians, it is a great place to play, especially when you are first starting out. The small crowd is welcoming, or at least tolerant, for new bands and an awesome intimate venue for more established artists who don't always want to play up on a formal stage.
For those just wanting to hang out an grab a drink, it is a great place to unwind at the end of a long week. Drinks are reasonably priced, usually pretty stout, and you don't feel that you are being hassled. It's a great place just to kind of hide away in at the end of the day.
This place kind of takes some getting used to and it may take a little bit for the employees to seem to warm up to you, but it is a Memphis place that you should at least see one band in during your lifetime. -
Review from Robin J.
Jamaica Plain, MA
3/25/2008 1 photo
The Buccaneer is the most wonderful dive bar in the fair city of Memphis. You know it's gonna be glorious as soon as you drive up; the sign has a Playmobil-looking pirate wielding a wooden sword on it, and there's a decorative fishnet by the red puffy vinyl front door in case the sign and name of the bar didn't already clue you in to the loose pirate theme the Bucc has going on here.
Once you're inside, have a seat at the bar (thematically and appropriately named the "Poop Deck") and order a drink. I don't know what this place is like before about 11 or 12, but after that it's totally bangin', assuming there's a show going on. Sit on the patio with your friends or, if the weather disagrees, sit in the weird U-shaped mafioso table in the back.
I miss the Bucc like crazy, even though I always got into heaps of trouble after a night here. That's the magic of the Bucc, though. Something nutty always happens here, whether it's a bar brawl or an impromptu dance party or one of the neighborhood crackheads begging you for eight dollars so she can get the same bus to Jonesboro she's been trying to get since about 1995, then taking off and running once she sees the po-pos rolling down the street. -
Review from Jolynna M.
Memphis, TN
8/9/2010
It's hot. It's dark and it's smoky. But I think it's the best dive bar in town.
I went last night and met up with a bunch of old high school friends to hear Jimmy Davis play with Fitz's Ultimate Cookin Hookers. The place was crowded with fans of Jimmy's and the neighborhood locals who frequent this bar.
And with only one or two anemic little window unit air conditioners, it was freakin HOT. But somehow, in a weird way, it's kind of what you expect in a place like this, and also part of the overall experience.
Plus, it makes a cold drink taste all the better, I say. -
Review from Hannah K.
Santa Cruz, CA
3/30/2010
We arrived on a Monday night at 9:30. The reception was not welcoming what so ever, however the bartender would not have carded me.
The bathroom was decent.
I have a feeling if we stayed later it would have gotten a little more exciting. There was a band setting up and starting to play around 11-12. But that is a bit late for our fun to just be starting so we went on for different pastures.
I can see on a weekend this place being a pretty fun place to go, but not on a week day. It was ok. -
Review from john H.
Cordova, TN
8/19/2008
I dig the bar itself, the tender was cute and could pour them with the best, atmosphere was peachy for my standards, I just couldn't stand the band that kicked up, or the one after etc. Not necessarily awful music in and of itself, just the sheer fact that the bar is tiny. Or more specifically I would call it narrow. And every band that played doesn't understand the concept of a volume knob. It was simply too loud and in your face even for poorly played rock music. The patio soon become my safe haven, which made the rest of my night.
-
Review from Mike G.
Charleston, SC
8/9/2010
The Buc is a lot of fun. They have a jukebox packed full of great music. They have all sorts of live bands that play there. You'll run into a bunch of Memphis musicians inside as well. Beer is cold, whiskey flows. Don't expect I'll try the food.
-
Review from crystal r.
Saint Louis, MO
Yes, this doesn't look like the best place to stop in and grab a beer from the outside...but don't be afraid ye land lubbers!!!
This little dive bar is a definite must if you're in Memphis and want to just kick back and hang out w/ some locals and possibly hear a great band play.
There is a lot more room inside that it looks like there would be and I know others have said it gets pretty smokey, but I've been in MUCH worse let me tell ya!
There is a great patio to hang out and on nice days they leave the door open so that really helps.
The interior has a lot of dark wood and it's really cozy, like the inside of a boat. There are booths and stools along the wall and a bar on the other side.
The bartenders are very friendly and the bar staff really do a great job of keeping the tables cleared off during the night.
We had a great night here on Mother's Day 2010 and plan to add this to our lists of stops while in Memphis.
Be sure to check out the photos! -
Review from Chris H.
Memphis, TN
5/5/2010
We arrived at this place around 10pm and there was no one there. By midnight, there was a pretty good crowd so if you're going to go, go late. There was no cover and a pretty good girl rock band that was playing. The vibe of the place is pretty cool. Like everywhere in Memphis, you see people from every walk of life here, from hipsters to businessmen to creepy old guys (me in a couple years). The beer was cheap and, like I said, once people started to arrive and the music got going, the atmosphere was great. Worth a stop!
-
Review from Patrick M.
Memphis, TN
2/4/2009
If you don't love the Buccaneer, you're there for the wrong reasons. Great place for beers and rock.
-
Review from J B.
Washtenaw, MI
Updated - 2/22/2010
Permit me to apologize as this was filed for bucaneer in error and relates to my experience at Pei Wei.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
2/21/2010
Nice looking place, but did someone Asian taste the food? The lettuce wraps were good but the hot… Read more »
-
