The heart and soul of the city’s nightlife scene, downtown Nashville is brimming full of watering holes offering top-notch music, drinks and a contagious buzz.
(Photo: Bootleggers Inn)
Famed for its rich country music heritage, it’s little surprise that Nashville’s after-dark activities revolve around this enduring legacy. Bars and music venues hum to the beat of time-honoured tunes, while crowds assemble in large numbers to soak up the sounds and the inimitable atmosphere. If you’re looking for a bar in the city’s vibrant downtown district, here are five of our favourites.
Bootleggers Inn
Situated on Lower Broadway, Bootleggers Inn bills itself as Nashville’s only dedicated moonshine bar. Spread across two floors, with built-in stages on both levels and live music nearly nonstop, the speakeasy-style bar draws large numbers each night. The drink menu features everything from classic apple pie moonshine to inventive infusions, while regular dance lessons and line dancing keep the energy high upstairs. With a capacity of around 150, it’s big enough to feel perpetually lively but small enough to retain an intimate feel.
207 Broadway
Whiskey River Saloon
(Photo: Whiskey River Saloon)
Just a few metres down the road on Broadway, Whiskey River Saloon is a sprawling multilevel venue where Southern vibes are set against a striking neon backdrop . Live bands and DJs generate an electric atmosphere, while the drink list mixes classics and contemporary cocktails. Upstairs, there’s a perpetually busy dance floor and even a mechanical bull for those with energy to spare. The décor catches the eye too: part roadhouse, part barcade, with vintage signs, guitars and oversized photos lining the walls.
111 Broadway
Nudie’s Honky Tonk
Equal parts country music shrine and party house. Nudie’s Honky Tonk is about as quirky as it gets. Set on Broadway, the bar spans three stories, all packed with music-themed exhibits and artefacts including a custom Cadillac El Dorado proudly displayed above the main stage and a collection of rhinestone suits by legendary tailor-to-the-stars Nudie Cohn. If that isn’t enough, the views are plentiful from the rooftop deck and the bar itself lays claim to being the longest anywhere in the city.
409 Broadway
Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar
(Photo: Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar)
Tucked into the narrow, historic side street of Printer’s Alley, Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar has been a Nashville staple for over a quarter of a century. Blues, soul, R&B and Americana spill out nightly, with everyone from local acts to music legends like B.B. King having graced the venue stage down the years. The menu isn’t too shabby either, with a firm nod to Cajun and Creole seen in the gumbo, hush puppies and spicy Southern staples lapped up by revellers, all paired with cold beer and signature cocktails.
220 Printers Alley
Tootsies Orchid Lounge
An icon of Nashville’s honky-tonk heritage, Tootsies Orchid Lounge has been serving up live country music and cold beer since the early 1960s. Easily spotted by its signature lilac façade on Lower Broadway, this legendary bar has hosted countless stars over the decades, earning its place in Music City lore. Inside, three stages across multiple levels ensure the music never stops, while walls plastered with celebrity photos nod to its storied past. Packed every night, Tootsies remains the beating heart of Nashville’s neon-lit nightlife.
422 Broadway