Best Bars in Nashville: A Guide for Your Trip

A night out is central to almost every Nashville trip, and the city's bar scene delivers, from the honky tonks on Broadway to rooftops and low key neighborhood spots. With so many options, the fun is picking the right mix for your group and setting up the night so it starts smoothly. This guide covers the best bars in Nashville by type and how to get the group ready before you head out.

What are the honky tonks on Broadway?

The honky tonks are the heart of Nashville nightlife. Lower Broadway is lined with multi level bars featuring live music from open to close, usually with no cover, so you can wander in and out. It is loud, busy, and iconic, and at least one night on Broadway is close to a requirement for a first trip.

Because it is the most popular strip in the city, expect crowds, especially on weekends. Going a little earlier in the evening helps you get in before the biggest rush.

Where are the best rooftop bars?

Nashville has a strong rooftop scene, especially around Downtown and The Gulch. Rooftops offer skyline views, a slightly more upscale feel, and a good change of pace from the honky tonks. They are a favorite for groups who want a nice backdrop for photos and a more relaxed drink before or after Broadway.

Some rooftops fill up fast on weekend nights, so arriving early or checking whether a spot takes reservations is worth it for a group.

Where should you go for a lower key night?

If your group wants something calmer, the neighborhood bars in East Nashville and around 12 South offer a more local feel. These spots trade the Broadway energy for craft cocktails, patios, and a relaxed pace, which is a nice balance if you are in town for a few nights and do not want every evening to be a late one.

Mixing one big Broadway night with one calmer neighborhood night keeps the trip from wearing the group out.

How do you set up the group before a night out?

A good night out starts at the house. Getting ready together with drinks and music is part of the fun, and it saves money compared to buying every round out. The easiest way to set that up is to have the mixers, drinks, and snacks ready when you arrive.

Booking Nashville grocery delivery means the pregame is handled before you land, with mixers and garnishes on hand. You can also add amenities like a frozen drink maker or a Bluetooth speaker set up before arrival, so the pre night atmosphere is ready to go.

How do you get around between bars?

Nashville nightlife is walkable in pockets, but moving a group between neighborhoods usually means rideshare, and demand and surge pricing spike on weekend nights. Staying central near Broadway or an adjacent area cuts down on how far you have to travel and keeps ride costs down.

Group your night by area so you are not crossing town between drinks. A pedal tavern or party bike is also a fun way to combine transportation and entertainment through downtown earlier in the evening.

What should you know about Broadway crowds?

Lower Broadway is the busiest strip in the city, and on weekend nights it gets packed. That energy is part of the appeal, but it helps to plan for it. Going a little earlier in the evening lets you get into the honky tonks before the biggest crowds, and it makes moving between spots easier. Weeknights are noticeably calmer if your trip allows for it.

For a group, the crowds are the main reason to agree on a loose plan and a meeting point ahead of time. It is easy to get separated on Broadway, so a quick plan keeps the night together.

Where do locals drink in Nashville?

Beyond Broadway, the neighborhood bars are where you find a more local feel. East Nashville and the areas around 12 South and The Gulch have craft cocktail bars, patios, and low key spots that trade tourist energy for a relaxed pace. These are ideal for a group that wants one calmer night mixed in with the big Broadway outing.

Balancing the iconic and the local gives the trip range. One night on Broadway for the experience, one night in a neighborhood for a change of pace, keeps the group from burning out.

How do you plan a bar crawl for a group?

A bar crawl works best with a rough route and realistic pacing. Pick three or four spots in the same area so you are walking short distances rather than crossing town, and build in time to actually enjoy each one rather than rushing. Starting with a pregame at the stay saves money and gets everyone in the same place before you head out.

Assign a point person to keep the group loosely together and agree on a plan if anyone gets separated. With a group, a little structure turns a chaotic night into a smooth one.

How do you keep a night out safe and smooth?

Plan for hydration and food, which is where a stocked kitchen helps the next morning as much as the night itself. Coffee, water, and easy breakfast waiting at the house makes the morning after far easier for the whole group. Keep the group together, agree on a rough plan, and set a loose meeting point in case anyone gets separated in the Broadway crowds.

A little planning keeps a big night fun rather than chaotic.

What is the best area for a first night out?

For a first night out, Broadway is the obvious choice. It packs the honky tonks, live music, and Nashville energy into a few walkable blocks, so a group can wander in and out without much planning. It is the quintessential Nashville experience and worth doing at least once. Just plan for crowds on weekends and go a little earlier to beat the biggest rush.

If your group has more than one night, follow the Broadway outing with a calmer evening in a neighborhood like The Gulch or East Nashville. That mix gives you the iconic experience and a more relaxed one, which keeps the trip from feeling like the same night twice.

How much should you budget for a night out?

Drinks on Broadway add up, especially across a group and a full night, so a little budgeting helps. Building a pregame at the stay lowers the total, since a few rounds at the house cost far less than the same drinks out. From there, budget for a handful of drinks per person, plus rides and any cover or activity, and you have a realistic number for the night.

Keeping the pregame at the stay is the single easiest way to control the cost of a night out, which is why stocking the kitchen with drinks and mixers pays off for the group.

Set up the night, then enjoy it

The best bars in Nashville are worth building a night around, and the evening starts easier when the group is set up before you go. Once your stay is booked, get the mixers, drinks, and any amenities handled before you arrive. Browse options and reserve your date on our shop page. Set up the pregame, plan the night, and enjoy Nashville after dark.