19 Best Bars in Downtown, Nashville

Acme Feed & Seed

Downtown Fodor's choice
This converted old factory has a radio station, bar, and dance hall on the first floor, a sushi bar and venue on the second, a private event space on the fourth, and a DJ hall and bar on the roof. The food menu includes eclectic street food in addition to the sushi.

Pinewood Social

Downtown Fodor's choice
Everything you need for a good time at work or play is at Pinewood Social, an all-day hangout featuring a coffee bar, craft cocktails, a bowling alley, private karaoke rooms, bocce ball, and even an outdoor pool. This sceney spot is always bustling because the food is as good as the fun.

Robert's Western World

Downtown Fodor's choice
If you ask any native Nashvillian (even famous locals), they’ll tell you that Robert’s is the best honky-tonk in town, with live music and dancing nightly. The two-level bar has been a local staple for decades and is located across from the back artist entry to the Ryman where country legends sneak out to drink on the strip. Peruse the boot collection on the infamous boot wall and enjoy a fried bologna sandwich.

Recommended Fodor's Video

3rd & Lindsley

Downtown

A local favorite, 3rd & Lindsley hosts musical acts from around town and around the world. This no-frills venue has ample room for dancing, and also has a full lunch and dinner menu, in addition to a full bar. For some of the best bets for musical events in town, 3rd & Lindsley is a must.

AJs Good Time Bar

Downtown
Country star Alan Jackson’s Broadway honky-tonk occupies three levels, all dedicated to having a good time. Not every level is the same—while all feature beer and live music, check out the third floor for karaoke and the rooftop level for skyline views.

Ascend Amphitheater

Downtown
This outdoor amphitheater is nestled into a hill between Broadway and the Cumberland River, making for great skyline views. Ascend Amphitheater regularly hosts popular musical artists and other touring acts, especially during the spring and summer months.

Broadway Brewhouse

Downtown
Less of a party scene and more of a place to sit and chat over a pint, Broadway Brewhouse's draft selection is rivaled by few places in town. The owner also started Honky Tonk Central alongside the owner of Tootsie's Orchid Lounge.

Hard Rock Cafe

Downtown

The Nashville branch of the Hard Rock Cafe is situated at the river end of Broadway and is packed with rock memorabilia from around Nashville and the world.

100 Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee, 37201, USA
615-742–9900
www.hardrock.com

Honky Tonk Central

Downtown

From the owner of Tootsie's, the balconies of this three-story club teem with revelers enjoying great live music, food, and beverages.

Layla's Honky Tonk

Downtown
A stronghold in the row of classic honky-tonks on Broadway, Layla’s offers an intimate dance floor and live music, often with a bluegrass twist. The best pairing to your beer can be found at the Chicago-style hot dog cart outside the front door.

Legends Corner

Downtown
This no-frills, all-fun honky-tonk is a Broadway watering hole with plenty of live country music and room to dance. Don’t miss the star-studded mural on the outside wall featuring Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift, and Merle Haggard, among others.

Lonnie's Western Room

Downtown
If you want to sing karaoke in downtown Nashville, this is the place to do it. It’s a smoke-filled, carpeted time warp that will make you feel like you've gone back to the ’70s. With an extensive catalog of songs to sing, Jell-O shots behind the bar, and an always unpredictable and wild crowd, you’re guaranteed to make some kind of memories here.

Nudie's Honky Tonk

Downtown
Inspired by the glitz and glamour of rhinestone-loving Western clothier Nudie’s Rodeo Tailors, Nudie’s Honky Tonk is home to Nashville’s longest bar. This multilevel space features a rooftop bar and is decorated with historic stage costumes designed by Nudie Cohn and worn by artists like Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Roy Rogers, and more.

Schermerhorn Symphony Center

Downtown

The splendid home of the Nashville Symphony is a modern take on a great European concert hall. In addition to the Symphony, the Schermerhorn hosts many other concerts and boasts an on-site café.

Skull's Rainbow Room

Downtown
A reimagined version of a past Printer’s Alley staple, Skull’s Rainbow Room serves classic entrées like steaks and chops, ready to be washed down with a boozy blend from their classic cocktail list. Taking center stage alongside food and drink at this dimly lit yet swanky lounge is the entertainment, alternating between live jazz and live burlesque performances.

The Listening Room Cafe

Downtown
One of Nashville’s greatest musical traditions is the “writer’s round”: a group of songwriters performing their compositions one after the other in a round, creating an intimate environment focused on the music. The Listening Room Cafe is one of the premiere places to experience a writer’s round in Nashville, and its high-quality, straight-ahead Southern food brunch, lunch, and dinner menus paired with its bar add a tasty twist to the music.

The Stage on Broadway

Downtown
The backdrop for many a movie and music video, The Stage is classic lower Broadway in both looks and entertainment. With live music starting in the early afternoon and its convenient location across from Bridgestone Arena, it's a great stop before or after a game or concert.

Tootsie's Orchid Lounge

Downtown
Tootsie’s gets its name from its purple walls and exterior, which also features one of the more famous downtown murals of ’80s country stars. A multilevel honky-tonk playground, you can see live music on all of its four floors, including the rooftop. Take note of the neon sign in the back alley for the famous Tootsie’s Upstairs, a novelty relic of the ’60s and ’70s when country legends would go sit in the private room and drink after shows at the Ryman.

Wildhorse Saloon

Downtown

Live music, barbecue, and dancing—lessons are offered daily—are what makes the spacious Wild Horse Saloon so popular. All ages (under 18 must be accompanied by an adult) are welcome until midnight.