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Rolling Stone
Sip Your Way Through Music City: 8 Must-Visit Nashville Bars, According to Locals
By Gabrielle Nicole Pharms,
23 hours ago
Country music, whiskey, Hot Chicken, and all the fringed western wear you can dream of await you in Nashville. However, cowboy clichés aside, Music City has experienced a flavorful renaissance over the last decade, evolving as one of the country’s premier cocktail hotspots. The city’s rich musical heritage plays into its allure, drawing millions of international visitors annually. Ultimately, though, Nashville ’s magnetic blend of warm Southern hospitality and creativity in culinary cocktails keeps guests like me smitten — and hydrated.
Do you have a trip to Nashville in the future? Sure, you do. After you check out our specially curated list of must-visit bars — with some recommendations from local mixologists and beverage pros alike — you’ll find yourself booking a flight and hotel pronto. Read on to get the scoop on the best bars and cocktails you must try when you hit Music City.
Where it’s at: 2905B Gallatin Pike, Nashville, TN 37216 What to order: Fox Old Fashioned
Why visit: This dimly lit haunt offers hundreds of bottle options and bespoke cocktails — from boozy classics to novelty in-house creations. The bar has a retro feel with an original wood floor, and booths repurposed from its prior establishment: a pharmacy in the 1930s. The Fox Bar values sustainability and seasonality, changing the drink menu almost monthly. Their acclaimed Fox Old Fashioned was on its tenth edition during my visit this summer, using Nashville Barrel Co. Straight Bourbon Single Barrel. The Fox Old Fashioned, the bar’s house Old Fashioned, uses limited-number single barrel picks until empty before they switch to a new bourbon base. The Fox Old Fashioned also uses Amaro Montenegro, giving this timeless drink more of a mellow, zesty orange peel note.
Where it’s at: 604 Gallatin Avenue, #217, Nashville, TN 37206 What to order: Rosé Paloma Why visit: “Coral Club is in an unassuming space in East Nashville but is really like an oasis from the city. It’s a chill beach vibe in a relaxed setting and has a killer outdoor patio perfect for summer sippers. The Rosé Paloma is so refreshing and made with dry rosé wine, which is a nice alternative to the typical soda topper.” — Matthew Poli, Beverage Director/Owner, iggy’s
Where it’s at: 1711 Division Street, Nashville, TN 37203 What to order: Rhymes With Orange Why visit: “It’s a rye Manhattan with amaro and a touch of Islay Scotch. It’s a Toby Maloney drink, and that’s a bar he built forever ago!” — Owen Gibler, Lead Mixologist, Night We Met
Where it’s at: 2225 Bransford Avenue, Nashville, TN 37204 What to order: Ice-cold bucket of Miller Lite Why visit: “Santa’s is a cash-only Christmas wonderland all year. If Robert Earl Keen’s ‘Merry Christmas From the Family’ was a bar, this is it! House bands, karaoke, and the quite common artist sighting…this is the place to end your Nashville night! So, one of the most fun things about Santa’s is they only serve beer. I’m known as ‘Tequila Kelly’ because it’s my drink of choice, and when I go to Santa’s Pub, my friends know TK is getting a night off.” — Kelly O’Shea, VP of Brands, Nashville Barrel Company
Where it’s at: 2909 Gallatin Pike, Nashville, TN 37216 What to order: The Lobster Boy Martini
Why visit: “As much as Nashville’s drinking scene is extensive and town-wide, what I find super interesting is that East Nashville specifically has carved itself out as a hub for world-class bars. The Coral Club and Tiger Bar are both here. The Lobster Boy Martini is like ordering a dirty vesper on the beach with a side of lobster.” — Kevin Sanders, Managing Partner, The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club
Where it’s at: 605 Mansion Street, Nashville, TN 37203 What to order: Spaghett
Why visit: “Both cocktails perfectly represent the restaurant and its cozy space – simple, forward, and delicious. The Spaghett is sort of a ‘dude spritz’ utilizing an American icon in Miller High Life beer and classic Italian Aperol.” — Michael Hanna, Executive/Chef-Owner, St. Vito Focacceria
Why visit: The Late Great has nailed every facet of what makes for an impressive drinking experience with delightful cocktails amid a laidback, whimsical atmosphere. Fortunately for us, this private members club and speakeasy accepts reservations.
From the fanciful entryway bedecked with wallpaper covered in Nashville icons to the intimate feel of the speakeasy, you feel transported to your artistic friend’s swanky nook. The décor, comprised of folk art, amusing murals, photographic portraits, and artist candid shots (including Johnny Cash), was selected by esteemed Nashville designer Hannah Crowell, the granddaughter of the late Johnny Cash and daughter of Rosanne Cash and singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell.
The all-women bar team is led by the brilliant lead mixologist Hope Rice. “We partner with many local and world-renowned whiskey brands. Our goal at The Late Great is to stay educated and stand behind brands representing us as a bar. We strive to stock our shelves with women-owned spirits,” says Rice. For instance, my pick, I’d Rather Go Blind, uses a local and women-owned bourbon, Happenstance Whiskey, combined with Jamaican rum, Blanc vermouth, amaro, and lavender bitters into an herbaceous drink accompanied by a lavender joint for aromatics (I opted out of the joint).
Where it’s at: 5133 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205 What to order: Pistola
Why visit: “The Pistola is a crazy fun combo of carrot, habanero, and a mezcal and rum split that will have you questioning your palate! Roze is your bartender’s favorite bar. The ambiance is subtle but crafts a feeling of balance between professionalism and playfulness. You feel right at home with a martini and slacks or shorts and a Tiki drink.” — Harrison Drost, Bar Manager, Night We Met
Getting to Nashville
Late summer can be sizzling hot, and winters can be extreme with storms. We recommend planning a visit to Music City in the spring (March to May) and fall (September to November). These months are typically marked by great weather, with mild temperatures and sunny days conducive to walking through downtown Nashville. Book your flight to and from Nashville via Expedia , starting as low as $43.
Thompson Nashville, the posh 224-room hotel in the heart of Music City’s Gulch neighborhood, captures the essence of Nashville’s cool factor – country music and whiskey – throughout its motif. Thompson Nashville recently partnered with CMA Entertainer of the Year and Grammy Award nominee Eric Church. When you book a suite or penthouse stay at Thompson Nashville, you’ll experience the sprawling room’s luxe amenities, including a newly added in-room Victrola record player and an Eric Church-curated selection of vinyl records featuring a mix of his classics, regional staples, and Nashville legends (Willie Nelson’s Red Headed Stranger was among my collection). You’ll also enjoy two complimentary cocktails featuring Church’s Whiskey JYPSI at the hotel’s renowned rooftop bar, L.A. Jackson, or charming Southern-inspired cuisine restaurant Marsh House.
The Thompson Nashville also regularly hosts its Whiskey & Vinyl listening and tasting experience in one of its expansive penthouse suites, which offer bird’s eye views of Nashville’s skyline. Led by whiskey expert AJ Soldo, guests are guided through a delicious tasting filled with the rich history of whiskey in the Southeast, with each dram paired with a vinyl record. Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey” perfectly complemented Nelson’s Greenbrier, giving me a “Tennessee hug,” which locals coin as the warm initial sip culminating with a spicy, minty, cinnamon finish.
Virgin Hotels Nashville is conveniently located in the historic Music Row neighborhood. The luxe hotel offers 262 Chambers (lodging rooms), including Grand Chamber Suites, and multiple F&B offerings, including Commons Club, the Virgin Hotels’ flagship restaurant, bar and lounge, The Pool Club, a rooftop restaurant and bar, and the quaint and quirky Funny Library Coffee Shop. The overall aesthetic of the hotel is plush contemporary meets gritty rock-and-roll – intentionally, inherently “Nashville” in every detail. Even the entrance caught my immediate attention with its stunning Music City Ensemble installation, designed by artist and sculptor John Peralta, featuring a 12-piece ensemble of country music instruments suspended from the lobby’s ceiling.
This posh hotel is located in the heart of Nashville, near some of the city’s newest live music venues and boutique properties. The award-winning hotel has 297 rooms, but you’ll definitely want to book one of the 32 beautifully designed suites. Each suite has a selection of vinyl albums to play on Audio-Technica turntables with Bose speakers. The Joseph has several amazing bars, including rooftop hotspot Denim and intimate cocktail lounge Four Walls. If you’re an art lover, you’ll especially appreciate The Joseph’s more than 1,100 unique works of art, including its eighth-floor gallery.
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