Nightlife · Nashville · United States
Nashville nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Nashville, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Nashville nightlife centres on live music: honky-tonks on Lower Broadway, rock and indie clubs, songwriter rooms and neighbourhood bars. Downtown is packed with groups on weekends; neighbourhoods offer a more local scene. The main areas are Lower Broadway, Printers Alley, East Nashville and Midtown.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Downtown and Lower Broadway
- Local drink
- Tennessee whiskey
Where to go out
Lower Broadway
Multi-storey honky-tonks with live country and cover bands, rooftop bars and no cover charge at most.
Printers Alley
A narrow downtown alley with blues and rock bars, once the city's printing district.
East Nashville
Dive bars, cocktail bars and venues with local bands around Five Points.
Midtown
Bars on Division Street and around Vanderbilt that draw a younger local crowd.
Nightlife tips
- Carry photo ID; it is checked at every bar.
- Bring small notes to tip the bands.
- Bars can serve until 3am, but many downtown honky-tonks get very crowded after 10pm on weekends.
Evening sights
Historic site · Downtown and Lower Broadway
Ryman Auditorium
If you can, see a concert rather than only a tour; the acoustics are famous.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- After dark
- Architecture
Experience · Music Valley
Grand Ole Opry
Check whether the show is at the Opry House or, during some winter weeks, at the Ryman.
- Time needed
- 2–2.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- After dark
- History
Street · Downtown and Lower Broadway
Lower Broadway honky-tonks
Go in the afternoon or on a weekday to hear the musicians without the weekend crush, and tip the band.
- Time needed
- An afternoon or evening
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
Experience · Green Hills
Bluebird Cafe
If you miss out on reservations, other songwriter nights downtown and in East Nashville offer a similar experience.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- After dark
- Couples
- History
Viewpoint · Downtown and Lower Broadway
John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
Walk across at sunset or after dark when the skyline is lit.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- After dark
- Couples
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Experience · The Gulch
Station Inn
Arrive early for good seats; it is first come, first served.
- Time needed
- An evening
- Cost
- Low cost
- After dark
- Off the beaten path
- History
What to drink
- Tennessee whiskey — Tennessee whiskey is filtered through sugar-maple charcoal before ageing, known as the Lincoln County Process. Jack Daniel's and George Dickel are made a short drive away, and Nashville has its own distilleries.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 21°C (70°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 16:55 | -2°C (28°F) | 11 |
| April | About 19:20 | 9°C (48°F) | 11 |
| July | About 20:05 | 21°C (70°F) | 10 |
| October | About 18:11 | 10°C (50°F) | 8 |
Getting home late
- Walking — Lower Broadway, the Ryman, the Hall of Fame, the pedestrian bridge and the Gulch are all within about 15 minutes on foot.
- Ride-hailing — Uber and Lyft are the main way to reach neighbourhoods and the Opry; expect surge pricing on weekend nights downtown.
- Bus — WeGo Public Transit buses run from WeGo Central downtown along the main roads, including to the airport and Music Valley.
Late-night bites
- Goo Goo Cluster — The Goo Goo Chocolate Co. shop downtown and souvenir shops across the city.
Staying safe at night
Downtown is heavily policed but crowded and alcohol-fuelled on weekend nights, so watch your drinks and belongings. Car break-ins happen in downtown parking lots. Spring storms can bring tornado warnings; follow local alerts.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and solo travellers
Downtown and Lower Broadway
Lower Broadway between Fifth Avenue and the Cumberland River is the honky-tonk strip, with live music in multi-storey bars all day. The Ryman, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Johnny Cash Museum, Bridgestone Arena and the National Museum of African American Music are all within a few blocks, as is the pedestrian bridge to the Titans' stadium.
- Good
- Walk to music venues and museums; Live music at all hours; Many hotels
- Watch out
- Very loud and crowded on weekends; Expensive hotels and parking; Party buses and pedal taverns everywhere
- Nearby
- Ryman Auditorium, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Johnny Cash Museum, John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Nashville?
Lower Broadway, Printers Alley and East Nashville. Multi-storey honky-tonks with live country and cover bands, rooftop bars and no cover charge at most.
+Which area of Nashville is best for nightlife?
Downtown and Lower Broadway: Neon honky-tonks, the Ryman and the big music museums.