7 Best Bars in Germantown, Nashville

A highlight of Marathon Village is Corsair Distillery, a microdistillery and brewpub offering eclectic, locally made spirits and beer. Visitors can tour the facility—which is housed in a century-old automobile factory—and try full- and sample-size offerings of Corsair spirits in the distillery's taproom.

Located inside Tempered Café and Chocolate (and only open Thursday through Saturday), The Green Hour is one of Germantown's best-kept secrets. It's the only bar in town that specializes in serving a wide variety of absinthe in traditional absinthe drips, making each drink ordered its own experiential treat. And if absinthe isn't your thing, the bar also serves a variety of classic cocktails and a small selection of beer.

Believe it or not, Germantown used to be one of Nashville's industrial hubs. You can see what remains of the neighborhood's old factories and warehouses on its eastern outskirts, where Bearded Iris Brewing lies. Housed in one of these old warehouses, Bearded Iris brews a variety of old-world-style beers that appeal to beer snobs and newbies alike and serves brews in a swanky-comfy setting that combines the best of old and new Germantown.

While there are a couple of spirits distilleries on the Marathon Village property, Grinder's Switch Winery ought to please the wine lover in your group. Try various wines from Grinder's Switch's middle-Tennessee vineyard in a casual but sophisticated setting. While you're there, pick up a curated local gift or craft in the winery's attached shop.

Drawing on the popularity of neighborhood pizza-and-beer joint Slim and Husky's, Minerva Avenue is the first true bar to open in the burgeoning Buchanan Arts District. The bar has an easygoing-meets-speakeasy vibe, with a phone out front to alert the host to grant you entrance to the cozy patio. Grab a fresh, locally sourced sandwich and wash it down with a boozy slushie or a signature cocktail, all of which are named after lines from famous movies.

Neighbors has long been a popular bar in the west Nashville neighborhood Sylvan Park, and in 2018 Germantown got its own outpost of the friendly watering hole. Located in close proximity to Germantown restaurants and to First Tennessee Park, Neighbors is a great spot to pre-game before a Sounds game, toast to a good meal, or post up to watch the Nashville Predators.

It wouldn't be a trip to Tennessee without some Tennessee whiskey. Nelson's Green Brier Distillery is home to Belle Meade Bourbon, a local favorite that has grown to national prominence. While on-site, you can tour the distillery, taste spirits, and shop the distillery's gift shop, which carries bottles, glassware, and other booze-centric gifts.