85 Best Bars in Nashville, Tennessee

This three-story eatery caters to those looking for a night of dinner, live music, and dancing. Bands start around 6:30 each night; if you're more of an early riser, you can opt for some tunes with your brunch instead. The style of music rotates, so be sure to check out the event calendar on their website.

Locally owned and operated, SandBar Nashville has a coastal vibe in the middle of the city. It’s best to visit on sunny days when you can sip on something refreshing—like their boozy juice pouches—and watch a sand volleyball game from the patio.

A kitschy dive bar—that's cash-only—with a holiday twist, Santa's is located in a double-wide trailer decorated with vintage and retro Christmas decorations, including a faux flickering fireplace. This karaoke spot is loved by all sorts, including Ed Sheeran, who hung out there after a summer 2023 record-breaking show at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium. Open until the wee hours with cheap beer (no liquor is served), the pub is also located within walking distance of GEODIS Park.

A reimagined version of a past Printers 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.

For lovers of adventurous varieties of beer, Southern Grist is a must-visit. Check out inventive brews like the Money Moves milk stout and the BroCoNut coconut IPA (note that all offerings are seasonal and vary depending on availability). For a great in-house meal, stop by the inventive and surprising Lauter. 

Local brewer Southern Grist serves pints and flights of their brews in their industrial-style taproom in The Nations. Their often fruity, sometimes sour, but always creative brews pair well with the in-house bites.

This small venue, which seats 100 people, hosts indie acts, emerging talent, and holiday events. It's one of two venues under the Basement umbrella (their other venue is The Basement East in East Nashville, close to Little Five Points). Entry is generally affordable, ranging from free to $20.

Jack White's Nashville bar and venue slings drinks from Thursday through Sunday, but there's almost always something happening during the week that's worth checking out. Independent film screenings that don't happen anywhere else in the city, touring bands from all over, funky little art markets, trivia, dance parties, and comedy nights are consistently found on the event calendar.

This classic dive is a stronghold in The Nations, providing all of the fixings necessary for fun: cheap beer, cornhole on the back patio, TVs, and friendly staff. But the real reason The Centennial has withstood the test of time is their simple yet surprisingly good food.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Walk into this wood-paneled wonderland and enjoy a little taste of London right in the heart of The Gulch. Anglophiles will be happy to find crispy fish-and-chips, a typical Sunday roast with all the fixings, and shepherd's pie, along with imported British ales that are rare to find on tap. Trivia nights happen every Monday, and it's a popular place for watching both local and overseas soccer games.

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 a convenient location across from Bridgestone Arena, it's a great stop before or after a game or concert.

Much of Hillsboro Village is hip and manicured, but not The Villager Tavern, which remains one of the neighborhood's longest-running establishments. A true dive, The Villager, which is wildly popular among locals, serves up a limited menu of cheap beer and occasionally has potato chips for when you need something to munch on. The real draws are the front-room jukebox and the back-room dartboards, the latter of which draw serious competitors on any night of the week.

If you're looking for laughs while you're in Music City, look no further than Third Coast Comedy Club. Nestled inside the Marathon Village complex, this local favorite plays host to sketch, improv, and stand-up shows most nights of the week. And if you're interested in brushing up on your own comedy chops, Third Coast also offers classes and workshops (check availability before visiting).

Tootsie’s gets its name from legendary former owner Hattie Louise "Tootsie" Bess and the bold color of the honky-tonk's 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.

Adjacent to the Urban Cowboy bed-and-breakfast, Urban Cowboy Public House is one of East Nashville's trendiest cocktail bars. Serving up high-end libations and a thoughtfully designed food menu in a cozy backyard setting, Urban Cowboy caters to hip younger crowds. Most seating is outdoors, so plan accordingly.

East Nashville neighborhood Riverside Village is one of the few remaining stretches in town that has managed to retain a true community feel. Part of the reason is Village Pub, a friendly neighborhood bar serving up craft beer and specialty mule cocktails alongside a menu heavy on soft pretzels and pretzel sandwiches. 

Live music, barbecue, and dancing—lessons are offered daily—are what makes the spacious Wildhorse Saloon so popular. All ages (under 18 must be accompanied by an adult) are welcome until midnight. The Wildhorse is undergoing renovations to emerge as a newly rebranded club in partnership with country music star Luke Combs, but they plan to keep the boots scootin' and the beers flowing until the club emerges with a new name.