Honky Tonkin in Nashville

New Orleans has Bourbon Street, Barcelona has La Rambla and Paris has the Champs de Elysee. And Nashville has Broadway. When you visit one of these cities, you want to experience one of it's most famous .....well, experiences. Touristy or not, most of the time it's reputation has preceeded it and you want to experience it - at least one time, right?

Nashville has been known for country music since the Grand Ole Opry started at the Mother Church - the Ryman. And thousands of country music star hopeful's head to Nashville each year to be discovered. There are probably hundreds of honky tonks all over Music City but the most well known are along Broadway in downtown Nashville. Any given night you can crowd into one of the small -or large- bars along Broadway and hear some fantastic music - some country and some not. 

I've been fortunate enough to visit Nashville dozens of times but I had never gone honky tonkin on Broadway. Until my last visit. We started at Acme Feed & Seed at the lower end of Broadway  - which was packed to the gills - and enjoyed a beverage at the 2nd floor bar. (There is a popular rooftop bar here but there was absolutely no room) We worked our way down Broadway ending the night at Tootsie's rooftop bar. Along the way we heard some awesome music, talked to some fun fellow honky tonkers and did some of the best people watching I've ever done.

Would I go even if I'm not a country music fan? Yes - there are all types of music happening though the obvious majority is country. And most importantly, would I do it again? You betcha!

Where to go honky tonkin on Broadway:
Acme Feed & Seed - Four floors including a farm store, restaurant, sushi bar and rooftop bar, they bill themselves as an "experience"
Wildhorse Saloon - Technically a block off Broadway, the Wildhorse is 3 floors of bars, food and entertainment with line dancing lessons daily. And they have horses on the ceiling!
Rock Bottom Brewpub- I'm not sure this officially qualifies as a honky tonk as it's part of a national chain of brewpubs. But along with it's restaurant there is live music on it's rooftop bar.
Tin Roof - Also part of a chain, the Tin Roof is a casual eatery with live music
Honky Tonk Central - Three floors of bar food and live music
Roberts Western World - Boot shop by day and honky tonk by night - I think that says it all!
Paradise Park Trailer Resort - A diner with live music
The Stage on Broadway - One of the most famous honky tonks on Broadway it has live country music, cold beer and dancing
Rippy's Bar and Grill - Known for it's BBQ and bar food, Rippy's also has a rooftop bar with live music
Tootsie's - A teeny tiny purple bar that has expanded to 3 levels, Tootsie's is another of the most famous honky tonks in Nashville
Legends Corner - A most classic of the honky tonks, legend has it that Loretta Lynn's kids used to sit on the bar while their mother sang at the Opry behind it.
(This route starts at lower Broadway and works it way to the Bridgestone Arena.)
There are always new places popping up - there is a Margaritaville and AJ's (as in Alan Jackson)Good Times Bar. You can also visit George Jones and Johnny Cash's museums - each just a block off Broadway. So you can make an afternoon of it - a day of it - or a week of it. You choose.

How about you? Have you honky tonked on Broadway in Nashville?


Thanks to everyone for your prayers for those affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. My mom and brother live in Naples, Florida about 45 miles from Marco Island where Irma made landfall as a Category 3. We heard from them immediately after the storm and they are ok with no damage to their residence. Since then we haven't heard from them as power is still out and cell service is out. Power is expected to be back by September 22nd and school open by September 20 - currently 54 of the 60 schools have no power. It will be a long rebuild - as it will in all of those places affected by Harvey and Irma. Please don't forget and continue to send prayers and if you can, donations. Thank you!


This post is part of a link-up with: Weekend Travel Inspiration at Reflections Enroute, The Weekly Postcard at Travel Notes and Beyond, The Weekend Wanderlust Travel Blog Party and Travel Photo Thursday at Budget Travelers Sandbox!