The best nightlife spots in Nashville

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A post shared by Rosemary & Beauty Queen (@rbqnashville)

A 2024 fire almost took East Nashville’s Rosemary & Beauty Queen out, but the hip two-story bungalow took the disaster as an opportunity to come back better than ever. Hanging here feels like crashing a college house party hosted by the coolest creatives on campus. Whether you’re dancing to the DJ-spun tunes inside the house, on the outside patio or from the rooftop cabanas, you can count on the elevated cocktails and bar food to see you through to 2am.

Time Out tip: RBQ hosts a later happy hour than most local bars—there’s an $8 beer and burger special and $6 cocktails until 8pm, Monday through Friday.

Death & Co. opened a cocktail den in the former Neuhoff meat packing plant in Germantown, and unlike its NYC counterpart, Close Company doesn’t take itself so seriously. Which isn’t to say the drinks aren’t spectacular (the sparkling mango lassi is a testament to that), but the vibe is decidedly more party with your drink than pondering your drink, with pulsating DJ-spun tunes and a conversation grotto that encourages a bit more intimate tête-à-têtes.

Time Out tip: The bar is known for its riff on Hot Pockets—don’t skip out on French onion or drunken banana cream pie versions.

The young and painfully hip flock to Wedgewood Houston’s Flamingo Cocktail Club to see and be seen sitting on its textured couches and bright pink benches, and to dance to everything from live funk and jazz to DJ-spun EDM under a shimmering disco ball. Even Post Malone’s made an appearance.

Time Out tip: The dress code is strictly enforced here, so be sure to bring your fashion A-game.

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The Nashville Palace is a seriously old-school hangout with a restaurant, nightclub and dance floor (including free dance lessons). Located across from the Gaylord Opryland Resort, it isn’t near central Nashville, but if you want country music and line dancing, this is the place to go. Live music is on tap daily.

Time Out tip: Remember to tip the band when the hat gets passed.

A demure cocktail bar in front with a swanky piano bar in the back, Sid Gold’s is known for its quirky approach to nightlife. Be it a night devoted to drunken Disney sing-alongs or its signature “bowl” parties (bring a bowl full of anything—even marbles—for 10% off your tab), Sid’s is a classy dive that always seems to draw an eclectic crowd that isn’t shy about getting a little weird.

Time Out tip: The pianists at Sid’s also take song requests via text.

Sauced is that raucous wine party everybody wants to be invited to. There’s no set drink menu—just tell the staff what you’re feeling at the moment and they’ll pour the perfect wine for your mood. Dark and candlelit, there’s always vinyl spinning old-school hip-hop and R&B, and a room full of eclectic players (including Nashville’s very own mayor) shimmying to the tunes.

Time Out tip: The newly built back patio welcomes four-legged friends throughout the night.

Quite possibly Nashville’s most iconic pool hall, the Melrose has been around since 1944 and still operates from its underground bunker off of 8th Avenue. Fun fact: You can still see how much water from the 2010 floods filled the space thanks to a marker on the wall. Along with its namesake billiard tables, locals flock to Melrose for shuffleboard, Ping-Pong, and the cheap beer and $5 slices of cheese pizza.

Time Out tip: The old-school claw machine that fishes out a variety of miniature rubber duckies always guarantees a winner.

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Dee’s took over this space from an old bar in suburban Madison a few years ago, but it feels like it has been here forever. And as Downtown Nashville has become a tourist destination, more locals (and their bands) have headed here. You’re likely to see some of the city’s best musicians playing in a low-key environment, bringing their famous friends on stage with them.

Time Out tip: When there isn’t a live band, you can play whatever you want on the free jukebox (chock-full of country and rock classics).

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Originally opened in 1948, the dark-paneled bar at Skull’s is a must on any sipping tour of the city. Along with a killer old-fashioned and a famous lobster bisque, Skull’s offers burlesque shows several nights a week. These performances aren’t cheesy strip club acts but artful shows accompanied by a live jazz band.

Time Out tip: Make reservations so you can have a seat with a good view.

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The Bluebird Café is a place that shows off Nashville’s real music magic. It’s an unassuming room, small—and, depending on the night, perhaps even a bit cramped—but when people talk about how they heard so-and-so play in Nashville, odds are pretty good that it was here. The Bluebird is famous for its songwriters’ nights, open mics and performances in the round.

Time Out tip: Since it is a small room, reservations are required and hard to get, and this is not the place to plan to talk to your neighbor while the music plays. You will be shushed.

If you like dive bars or karaoke, this bar is the place for you. You’ll recognize it when you see what is basically a large trailer strewn with holiday lights and Christmas paraphernalia. Beers are $4 (cash only), and there’s karaoke every night. Did we mention the $4 beers?

Time Out tip: Don’t expect craft beer and fancy cocktails at Santa’s—the bar keeps it basic with PBRs and Miller Lights.

Zanies is the comedy spot in Nashville and has been for well over 40 years. Aesthetically, it isn’t much to write home about—a cramped, divey room with hundreds of autographed photos from performing comedians plastered on the wall. But every comedian that’s a household name has made their mark at Zanies, often long before they’ve made it big. This Nashville icon is a rite of passage for comedians, and the intimate nature of the space makes sure the audience gets up close and personal with a potential rising star.

Time Out tip: There’s a two-item minimum at Zanies, so be sure to get your drink orders in before you go.

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If you think your karaoke skills can hold their own with all the Music City singing professionals, head to Lonnie’s. It’s the city’s number-one spot for singing your heart out to prerecorded tracks (and has been for decades, despite a new location). Even Jimmy Fallon’s taken the stage to belt out a number here.

Time Out tip: Be prepared for standing-room-only on the weekends.

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Downtown’s Broadway district is dotted with honky-tonk bars that are always filled with live music, beer and sweet boozy drinks. But what you’re mostly going to find are celebrity-backed bars blaring rock and pop music to accommodate the scores of tourists who stream down Lower Broad. That’s not Robert’s vibe. It’s one of the most authentic honky-tonks in town, with Western swing still on the playlists—even on weekend nights. There’s no cover charge, but remember to tip the band.

Time Out tip: Don’t leave without ordering Robert’s Recession Special: a fried bologna sandwich with chips, a Moon Pie and a can of PBR for $6.