Show me how you drink and I will tell you who you are. ~Emile Peynaud

Whether the weekend leads to gabbing with your girls, slinking into the shadows with your SO, or gathering around a fire pit with your entire friend group, you probably want a cocktail in hand.

Nashville is covered in bars devoted to quality drink-making, and I’ve worked my way through the options to help you find the perfect vibe for every night!

Check out the guide below for a cocktail experience that fits your every whim.

For a crafty and classy night out:

Attaboy

Why You’ll Love It:

• The “please knock gently” speakeasy entrance
• Menu-free, customized ordering system
• Best-tasting classic cocktails in the city
• Circle booths and lowlights for intimate conversations

Photos: @attaboynashville

The Bar at Husk

Why You’ll Love It:

• Bustling restaurant interior behind a quaint brick house exterior
• Locally sourced ingredients
• Southern charm in the building walls and server smiles
• Extensive bourbon offerings
• Unparalleled presentation (My husband’s drink once arrived with a garnish of a smouldering cinnamon stick attached to the glass by a dehydrated lime wedge.)

Photos: @husknashville

The Patterson House

Why You’ll Love It:

• Library-themed waiting area
• Classy decor and wallpaper throughout the bar room
• Bartenders’ stylish dress code
• Daring and delightful “house rules”

The Fox Bar and Cocktail Club

Why You’ll Love It:

• Creative and top-quality cocktails
• Monthly menu flips with witty drink descriptions
• Environmentally conscious bar practices
• Velvety booths in an intimate setting
• Friendly and attentive bartenders

Photos: @thefoxnashville

Read only if you are serious (or want to be) about the art of cocktails:
A few weeks ago, my husband and I booked a private cocktail experience at The Fox, where we learned the essential tools and proper steps to crafting a crowd-pleasing cocktail. While the practical bar tips and tasty libations alone were worth the money, the whole experience reached another level due to the host: Nick, the friendliest bartender in town. Featured on Airbnb as a memorable moment for tourists, this experience feels even more valuable for Nashville locals. Getting an opportunity to meet the faces behind the cocktail shakers and to learn the history of the bar scene felt so esoteric and unique that we named this experience our favorite Nashville date ever. Book your experience here.

And for the ultra fan, The Fox recently announced its Cocktail Club, providing members with exclusive merch, private cocktail classes, seasonal spirit tastings, menu sneak peeks, birthday cocktails, and various discounts. Join the club before it fills up.

For a rowdy and risque rendezvous:

Old Glory

Why You’ll Love It:

• Loud music and dark corners
• Delicious bourbon and cold brew cocktail (Order the Panther Panther!)
• Back alley entrance
• Gatsby-like grand staircase
• High ceilings and occasional aerial performers

Photos: @oldglorynashville

Flamingo

Why You’ll Love It:

• Miami dance vibes
• Environmentally-conscious methods
• A club-wide push to put away your mobile

For a relaxing and refreshing group chill:

Bastion

Why You’ll Love It:

• Quirky art-covered walls in a relaxed environment
• Tastiest late-night vegetarian nachos in town
• Preds-themed bubble hockey game
• Easy and free parking in the across-the-street lot

Photos: @bastionnashville

Public House

Why You’ll Love It:

• Fire pit and fireplace for cozy conversations
• Big tables for large parties
• Over-stylized urban cowboy aesthetic
• Organic food cooked over an open wood fire

Rambler

Why You’ll Love It:

• Underground location feels like the perfect spot for secret meetings
• Simple menu makes selections easy
• Late-night bar snacks include parm tots and goat cheese fundido

Photos: @ramblercocktailbar

Bar Sovereign

Why You’ll Love It:

• Memorable bathroom architecture
• Comfortable couches
• Eccentric art covering each wall

Rosemary Bar

Why You’ll Love It

• East Nashville house-turned-bar
• Brand tagline: a great place to be socially awkward
• Occasional Preds games on the big screen in the backyard

For a posh and polished affair:

Noelle Hotel Bars: Trade Room Lounge / Make-ready Libations / Rare Bird

Why You’ll Love It:

• Multiple menus create an entire bar crawl in one hotel
• High ceilings and marble walls
• Classic cocktails
• Charcuterie boards
• Rooftop-ready no matter the weather

Photos: @thehungryleopard + @noelle_nashville

L.A. Jackson

Why You’ll Love It:

• Indoor and outdoor skyline views
• Frozen drink options that still feel fancy
• Weekly vinyl nights

For a girly and giddy get-together:

Henrietta Red

Why You’ll Love It:

• Fancy sweets and dessert drinks
• Marble countertops and leather-backed bar stools
• Oyster and clam bar
• Drinks for citrus fans, chocoholics, and sparkling wine lovers

Photos: @henrietta_red

No. 308

Why You’ll Love It:

• Monthly 90s nights
• Sangria pitchers
• Happy hour half-off wine bottles

--------------------------------

Cristy Wicks, a Nashville Guide writer
Cristy splits her time between freelance marketing, eating all the queso at Taqueria del Sol, and facetiming her niece, Austyn. A Texas native and 7 on the enneagram, she loves testing out new restaurants and hosting parties with her husband in their home near 12 South.