71 Best Nightlife in Nashville, Tennessee

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.

Corsair Distillery

Marathon Village Fodor's choice

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.

Dino's

East Nashville Fodor's choice

Billed as Nashville's oldest dive bar, Dino's has maintained its charm by changing little over the years. The bar stocks a handful of cheap beer selections and can make simple cocktails, while the kitchen serves up hot chicken, Frito pie, and sneakily delicious burgers. On the weekends, Dino's serves one of the best brunches in town, with offerings like hot chicken French toast.

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Exit/In

Elliston Place Fodor's choice

Exit/In showcases the most cutting-edge blues, rock, heavy metal, and hip-hop bands from the United States and beyond. If you want to hear everything except country music, come groove in an unpretentious atmosphere.

Fat Bottom Brewing

The Nations Fodor's choice

Visiting the Hop Yard at Fat Bottom Brewing turns enjoying the brewer’s locally crafted beers into an experience. The large, warehouse-like space features ample seating, multiple outdoor areas with yard games, and brewery tours on weekends.

Gertie's Bar

The Gulch Fodor's choice

This inviting downstairs addition to the 404 Kitchen offers up 30 pages of hard-to-find whiskies from around the world on its menu. You'll find some bottles here, all hand-selected by chef Matt Bolus, that you'd be hard-pressed to find in even the most exclusive whiskey bars in New York.

L.A. Jackson

The Gulch Fodor's choice

At the top of the luxe Thompson Hotel is the city's premiere rooftop bar, where the drinks are strong and the views are just as Instagrammable as the hip, modern decor. Filled to the brim with friendly young professionals on the weekends, this is always a lively spot, especially when there's a local DJ spinning records. The Frozé is always a crowd-pleaser, and they offer a variety of small bites and cocktails.

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.

Smith and Lentz Brewing

East Nashville Fodor's choice

A host of craft breweries have opened in Nashville over the last few years, and Smith and Lentz Brewing ranks among the best of them. Located convenient to Five Points, Smith and Lentz offers a number of house and rotating brews in various glass sizes, also making each available to take home in a crowler or growler. They don't serve much food but do allow guests to bring in takeout. Ping-Pong tables and a solid selection of board games round out the experience.

The Green Hour

Germantown Fodor's choice

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.

The Patterson House

Midtown Fodor's choice

The Patterson House is one of Nashville’s long-standing speakeasy-style bars, offering a Prohibition-era feel with its obscured entrance, cordoned-off dining area, and house rules, such as one must be seated in order to be served a drink, and men cannot introduce themselves to women without invitation. However, this cultivated vibe makes it one of the most popular nightspots in the city—that, and the amazing drinks, which are crafted by mixologists at a bar in the middle of the chandelier-laden dining room.

The Station Inn

The Gulch Fodor's choice

One of the last bastions of old Nashville that locals still frequent despite the influx of tourists, The Station Inn is without a doubt the best place to hear bluegrass, roots music, and Americana in the city. Inside the worn stone building you’ll find cheap beer, folding tables, mismatched chairs, and a sea of red-and-white-checkered plastic tablecloths that prove this venue is charmingly frozen in time.

3 Crow Bar

East Nashville

A pillar of East Nashville's Five Points, 3 Crow Bar is a relaxed dive with a great beer selection, lively atmosphere, and a solid menu of bar food favorites. The bar does allow smoking inside, but on nice days they keep their large windows open. Don't leave without ordering a Bushwacker, which is basically just a delicious chocolate milk shake loaded down with booze.

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.

Bearded Iris Brewing

Germantown

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.

Betty's Grill

Sylvan Park

This no-frills beer-only watering hole is the real deal: cheap beer served in plastic cups, pool tables, cash-only, and a straightforward food menu. Don’t let appearances fool you, however: this is also one of the best places to see both touring and local live music up close.

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.

Craft Brewed

Melrose

Both a bottle shop and tasting room, Craft Brewed features more than 30 craft beer taps, a menu of sandwiches and shareables, plus a dog-friendly patio. Pick up a six-pack of craft beer, fill your growler, or shop their selection of spirits and wine—you can even drink a pint while you browse.

Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge

Madison

This dark, wood-paneled bar is a much cooler version of your parents’ basement from the ’70s. There’s live country music most nights, including a bluegrass jam every Monday. And when there isn’t a live band, the jukebox keeps the honky-tonk mood alive. It’s worth the trek north of east Nashville for a round of darts, a game of pool, and a few classic cocktails.

Diskin Cider

Wedgewood-Houston

The 8,000-square-foot facility includes a tasting room and patio. The menu includes cider cocktails and food, such as wings, crab cakes, grilled cheese, and more. Live music, art crawl after-parties, and other special events are held here.

Double Dogs

Hillsboro Village

If you're looking to watch the big game in Hillsboro Village, look no further than Double Dogs. The brewpub has TV screens on TV screens, so they're sure to be broadcasting whichever sporting event you're after, which you can enjoy with a long list of craft beers. It's also a full restaurant, making it a nice spot for a casual meal.

Embers Ski Lodge

A kitschy hangout with a 1960s après-ski vibe, Embers Ski Lodge serves gastropub fare—burgers, hand-cut Belgian fries—with a hint of the Pacific Northwest and East Asia, and a selection of cocktails, beer, and wine. Their large patio is located on a great corner for people-watching.

Flamingo Cocktail Club

Wedgewood-Houston

Drawing inspiration from Miami clubs of the 1950s and ‘60s, this new space has a large open area and minimalist seating. They host theme parties, live music, workshops for makers and creatives, and other special events.

Grand Ole Opry

Opryland/Music Valley

The Grand Ole Opry has packed in the crowds on Friday and Saturday night since 1925. Show times are Tuesday at 7 pm, Friday at 8 pm, and Saturday at 6 pm and 9:30 pm. Buy tickets ($25–$57) well in advance, particularly during CMA Music Festival week in June.

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Grinder's Switch Winery

Marathon Village

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.

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.

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.

Nashville

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