92 Best Bars in Tennessee, USA

This versatility of City Winery’s offerings makes it a standout in this music city showcasing everything from rock and soul to comedy. Most people eat in the main showroom before concerts, making it a full evening out.

Like many of its neighbors on the Rock Block, The Corner Bar is heavy on local flavor and flair; its unpretentious clientele, great beer selection, and karaoke make it a favorite among nearby residents. It's open into the wee hours of the morning; stop by for a late-night bite or drink.

Helping to lead Knoxville's charge to compete with Asheville's beer scene, this scrappy brewhouse opens its garage doors to create an indoor/outdoor scene that often includes live music and sometimes even pick-up basketball games. It's all washed down by a selection of small-batch brews heavy on sours and hoppy IPAs. There's a second taproom on the west side of town ( 9937 Kingston Pike). 

Let loose and sing a tune at Cross-Eyed Critters Watering Hole, located inside the Graduate. Styled like a Western saloon, this karaoke bar is campy and fun. A band of animatronic farm animals—the namesake critters—back those who take the stage.

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.

If you're looking to watch the big game in Hillsboro Village, look no further than Double Dogs. This 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.

This neighborhood gem serves up beers like Miro Miel blonde ale, as well as an eclectic menu of pizza, salads, and appetizers. The brewery and taproom's back patio is dog-friendly and great for families with young kids.

The Electric Jane is a modern and swanky take on a supper club, offering up a mystical dinner and a show. Come on Saturday, when you can experience a themed drag brunch. 

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, as well as a selection of cocktails, beer, and wine. Their large patio is located on a great corner for people-watching.

This grungy rock-and-roll dive bar is known for breakout performances by a host of famous bands like The Flaming Lips, The White Stripes, and R.E.M. Located on Elliston Place, in the strip historically known as the Rock Block, this is a small venue with a big reputation. Check out their website for upcoming events.

Showcasing cutting-edge blues, rock, heavy metal, and hip-hop bands from the United States and beyond, the Exit/In is the place to be if you want to hear an array of genres in an unpretentious atmosphere.

Visiting the taproom 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 Thursday through Saturday.

Drawing inspiration from Miami clubs of the 1950s and ’60s, this space has a large open area and minimalist seating. They host theme parties (disco, for example), live jazz, workshops for makers and creatives, and other special events, including yoga and sound baths.

Enjoy some of the best cocktails in Nashville at this cozy hideaway tucked beneath Nicoletto's Italian Kitchen. Drinks are creative and fun, like the rotating selection of old fashioneds, with levels of adventurousness listed on the menu. The Fox is committed to sustainability, taking great pains to use local and seasonal ingredients. You'll likely want a reservation, as the small space fills up quickly most evenings.

Frankie J's is a laid-back queer oasis in the middle of busting Germantown, just steps away from beloved restaurants like 5th & Taylor and Butchertown Hall. Stop in for cocktails and casual fare before a Sounds game, or enjoy one of the bar's many weekly events like Trivia Time Tuesdays. Frankie J's is 21+, so don't bring the kids, but leashed dogs are welcome.

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.

The Nashville branch of the Hard Rock Cafe is situated where Broadway meets the Cumberland River. It's packed with rock memorabilia from around Nashville, like recording equipment used by Elvis Presley, and from around the world. If you want to party like a rock star, you can take over the mic at live band karaoke in the live music venue on the upper floor on Thursday nights.

Once a penthouse garden, this space has been converted into an open-air rooftop bar and lounge atop Holston House. Enjoy sweeping views of Downtown alongside craft cocktails and upscale bar bites.

Looming over the busiest corner of Lower Broad, the balconies of this three-story club teem with revelers enjoying great live music, food, and beverages.

Curious about the Southeast's celebrated craft beer scene? Make a stop at this laid-back taproom to try one of their 36 rotating taps, order a bite from their small but solid food menu, and relax and refuel after a long day of walking and shopping. Hit up their nightly "Hoppy Hour" from 4–6 pm for different beer specials, and remember to check out the fridge for a six-pack to take home.

This historic-home-turned-wine-bar in the heart of Downtown Franklin is overflowing with charm, inside and out, with countless cozy hideaways within and a wraparound porch with picturesque views of Main Street. Add soft music and even softer lighting, and it’s the perfect spot to share intimate conversation and good wine. The center hallway is lined with wine-dispensing machines that offer 1-ounce, 5-ounce, and 8-ounce pours of 28 different wines. There’s also a full bar if you’d rather order a whole bottle of wine, small plates, or cocktails.

Broken jukeboxes, dusty lamps, countless hand-scribbled mementos thumbtacked to the walls—and, of course, some of the best live music in Franklin. This legendary restaurant, bar, and music venue puts on a show every night of the week; expect to pay a cover to watch the band. Sundays are open-stage: just bring an instrument, and they’ll rotate the players. For great food, local beer, and a genuine everybody-knows-your-name vibe, Kimbro’s is one of a kind.

Tucked away in East Nashville's Lockeland Springs neighborhood, this long-standing queer bar with a friendly community feel has all of your standard options, plus excellent brunch offerings like Bloody Marys on the weekend. Don't sleep on the food, which is better than your typical bar fare and has a Tex-Mex influence. Karaoke lovers, rejoice: The Lipstick Lounge offers up some of the best in town.

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 brunch, lunch, and dinner menus paired with its bar add a tasty twist to the music.

If you want to sing karaoke Downtown, this is the place to do it. No longer smoke-filled, it's still a 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. Whether or not you actually remember them is entirely up to you.

This 14,000-square-foot open venue in the former automobile factory now known as the Marathon Village complex hosts mid-level artists in its standing-room-only, 1,500-person-capacity space. Plan ahead, as most events are ticketed.