"My review is a bit long overdue as a longtime patron of this bar (the old carpet era & present). It’s one of the few nostalgic dives left in Midtown & the owners have put in a lot of positive changes to create a safe place for everyone & add variety to the bar. Next to Black Lodge—the Lamplighter is one of the few places you can attend a variety of events successfully. In many ways it can feel more like a cafe than a bar depending on the day & time—if you have an appreciation for dives & preserving nostalgia this is your place. It’s a local “Cheers” where it’s quite obvious many patrons know each other’s names. For me personally the Lamplighter has served as a place to wrap up work/creative projects, a place to relax after work, a meeting place for karaoke, drag/burlesque, comedy, live music, & community. Newly, the bar is providing a space for local artists to sell their work on “Market Day” something I hope to check out soon! I’ve been saved by a lot of burgers, veggie dogs, BLT’s, & baskets of fries more times than I can count! For non drinkers they have an impressive selection of coffee, tea, kombucha, & ginger beer! The staff members are usually working around the clock & care about this place a lot—like any dive there is an element of self serving in terms of seating & obtaining a menu from the bar. The building is older but constantly getting TLC from the staff & as with any bar on a weekend night staff are more than happy to address any issues (i.e. tending to replenishing paper products etc when notified). I appreciate feeling safe going here alone & having a safe place to express my art creatively. Most of the events held here feature a diverse variety & are fairly charged a cover to support local & touring acts. The Lamplighter may not be everyone’s cup of tea but it’s definitely my neighborhood bar; stop by sometime & sign up for their VIP membership I can vouch for the cool perks offered monthly for just $10 for those interested! Thank you to the staff of Lamplighter for keeping this diamond in the rough alive & a place for everyone! Without you there would be a lot of lost love in the community. 💖Nico"

"Currently the best dive in Memphis. They actually have VEGAN food and it's delicious! It's a little too greasy, but I won't be going here to get a healthy salad or steamed veggies--it's perfect for late night nosh. The pool table needs some work or they need to get rid of it to allow for more seating in the performance room. EDIT: I still love the Lamp, but they STILL need to move that pool table out of the performance space!"

"I have been to the Lamp quite a few times now and I love it! I'm from Jonesboro so anytime I go to Memphis I always make sure to make a stop at the Lamplighter. Not only are their fries phenomenal, but it's also very reliably vegetarian friendly. Also their vegan cookies with hot cocoa is the best dessert you can get! The place is also such a vibe. I love the decorations and also there is always live music!!"

"The best dive bar in the Southeast! Great vibes, good food offerings, and cheap beer. There is a venue room attached that plays all kinds of DIY shows. There's usually something interesting going on there every night."

"They have many vegan options for food and plenty of beer. If you want liquor you'll have to bring your own for a small set up fee. Lots of entertainment pretty much daily. Drag on Mondays, songwriters Tuesdays, comedy Wednesdays, karaoke Thursdays, and bands local and touring play all the other nights. Everything is affordable and many shows are free or donation based. I think the most you'll pay for a show there is $15 if it's a big touring band or burlesque show maybe. Oh and there's a cute patio out back! Very lgbtq+BIPOC friendly environment! It's my favorite hangout spot."