13 Best Bars in Tennessee, USA

This converted old feed store has a radio station, bar, and stage on the first floor, a sushi bar and cocktail emporium on the second, a private event space on the third, and a DJ hall and bar on the roof. The food menu includes eclectic street food in addition to the sushi, and the roster of music performers is more varied than most Downtown honky-tonks.

While Black Abbey beers can be found on tap throughout Nashville, a visit to their monastery-themed brewery in Berry Hill is an experience all its own. Enjoy a brewery tour, then sample their flavorful beers in the Fellowship Hall located in the middle of the working brewhouse. The brewery also hosts food trucks most nights along with trivia nights and vinyl pop-up parties, where the staff spin their favorite records.

This inviting downstairs addition to The 404 Kitchen offers up 14 pages of hard-to-find whiskies from around the world on its menu, many of which are proudly displayed as part of the decor. 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. Every dish from the restaurant upstairs is also available to order directly from the bar.

Located inside Tempered Café and Chocolate (and only open Thursday through Saturday), 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.

At the top of the luxe Thompson Nashville is the city's premier 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 and travelers 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 along with brunch on the weekends.

If you’re a classic country music fan whose tastes lean more towards Waylon, Merle, and Willie than Luke and Luke (Bryan and Combs), get yourself to the Nashville Palace as quickly as you can. This bar and venue is a country music legend and one of the few places in town that showcases classic country exclusively. They have live music from open to close, and you can order a fried bologna sandwich whenever your heart desires. In the back is a huge dance floor where they have special events and concerts (usually ticketed) on weekends, but it isn’t uncommon to see a little line dancing or two-stepping on the smaller dance floor in the front room either.

Housed in an old steam-cleaning facility with most of the building’s original 1920s fixtures—all except the sign—drinks and company take center stage at Old Glory. There isn’t an expansive food menu, but there are craft drinks that highlight fresh and seasonally available ingredients. You’ll find this spot by looking for the large golden triangle accenting the entrance door.

One of Nashville’s long-standing speakeasy-style bars offers a Prohibition-era feel, which makes it one of the city's most popular nightspots. The amazing drinks, crafted by knowledgeable mixologists, enhance its popularity.

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, bocce ball, and even two small outdoor dipping pools. This sceney spot is always bustling because the food is as good as the fun.

If you ask any native Nashvillian (even famous locals), they’ll tell you that Robert’s is the gold standard of honky-tonks in town, with live music and dancing nightly. The two-level bar has been a local staple for decades and features some of the absolute best live bands on Broadway from before lunchtime until after midnight. Peruse the boot collection on the infamous boot wall and enjoy a fried bologna sandwich.

A host of craft breweries have opened in Nashville over the last few years, and Smith and Lentz ranks among the best of them. Conveniently located to Five Points, they offer a number of house and rotating brews, as well as an array of house-made pizzas, salads, and small plates, with flavors and ingredients far more elevated than your typical brewery fare.

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.