KEY2 Pick
Best bars in Nashville
Cocktail rooms, rooftops and unmarked doors — where to start a night and where to end one.
KEY2 Pick
Dive Bar • $
Santa's Pub
A double-wide trailer with karaoke, cash only, and the most democratic crowd in Nashville.
Best for: Late Night
KEY2 Pick
Cocktail Bar • $$$
The Patterson House
The seated-only cocktail parlour that reset Nashville's drinking standards; no standing, no phones.
Best for: Date Night
Rooftop • $$$
L.A. Jackson
The Thompson's rooftop, the best skyline drink in the Gulch at golden hour.
Best for: Sunset
Beer Hall • $$
Von Elrod's Beer Hall & Kitchen
A Germantown biergarten with German drafts, house sausages and pre-ballgame crowds.
Best for: Groups
Questions, answered
What are the best bars in Nashville?+
The KEY2 editors' top picks for bars in Nashville are Attaboy, Santa's Pub, The Patterson House. Every listing in this guide is individually vetted, with hours, prices and booking links.
Where can I find good-value bars in Nashville?+
For $$-level bars in Nashville, consider Santa's Pub, Von Elrod's Beer Hall & Kitchen.
What are the best bars in Nashville for a special occasion?+
For a splurge, the KEY2 guide recommends Attaboy, The Patterson House, Bad Idea, L.A. Jackson. Reserve ahead — the booking link is on each listing.
Do I need to book bars in Nashville in advance?+
The most popular bars in Nashville fill up days or weeks ahead. Every KEY2 listing includes a direct reservation or booking link where one is available.
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