Quick answer
Robert's Western World is the #1 honky tonk on Broadway — cheapest beer ($2.50 PBRs), best food (fried bologna sandwich), and real traditional country music all day. For iconic history, Tootsie's. For eclectic music, Layla's. Most Broadway bars play rock, not country — stick to our top 5 for the real deal.
- Best overall
- Robert's Western World
- Best budget
- Robert's Western World ($2.50 PBRs)
- Best for food
- Rippy's (ribs & brisket) / Chief's (James Beard BBQ)
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- Robert's Western World: The undisputed king — cheapest beer, best country music, legendary fried bologna sandwich.
- Tootsie's Orchid Lounge: 60+ years of history, back door to the Ryman, and the most iconic honky tonk on Earth.
- Layla's Honky Tonk: The locals' pick for eclectic live music — country, rockabilly, bluegrass, and Americana.
Nashville's honky tonks range from $2.50 to $15 per drink, and Robert's Western World is consistently voted the best by locals for its authentic traditional country music. Be aware that many Broadway bars primarily play rock music, so choose wisely for a true honky tonk experience.
Here's a dirty secret about Nashville's famous Honky Tonk Highway: most of the bars on Broadway don't actually play country music. A local tour guide who visited every single bar confirmed it — "THEY'RE ALL THE EXACT SAME. Overpriced beer. Live bands play rock music, not even country."
We dug through 200+ Reddit posts on r/nashville, r/VisitingNashville, and r/country, cross-referenced with local guides from Nashville Guru and Notes on Nashville, and enriched every pick with Google Places data. The result: 12 honky tonks that actually deliver — whether you want authentic traditional country, the best food on the strip, or a genuine Nashville experience beyond the tourist trap.
Honky Tonk Bar Map — Nashville
How we built this list
We analyzed 200+ Reddit posts and 1,000+ comments across r/nashville, r/VisitingNashville, and r/country — spanning 2021 to 2026. Bars were cross-referenced with local expert guides (Nashville Guru, Notes on Nashville, Every Body Loves Nashville). We weighted responses from Nashville locals and frequent visitors over tourist one-offs, and enriched all picks with Google Places API data for verified ratings, hours, and addresses.
1Robert's Western World
Traditional Country
Quick comparison
- Best for
- The cheapest beer on Broadway ($2.50 PBRs), legendary fried bologna sandwiches, and real traditional country music from open to close
- Price / value
- $2.50–$8 per drink · 4.7★
- What to order
- The Recession Special: a fried bologna sandwich and a PBR for $6. Thick-sliced bologna, griddled crispy, on white bread with mustard and onion. The $2.50 PBR tallboy is the cheapest beer on the strip.
🕐 Hours
2Tootsies Orchid Lounge
Nashville Legend
Quick comparison
- Best for
- The most famous honky tonk on Earth — iconic purple exterior, three floors of live music, and history dripping from every wall
- Price / value
- $5–$12 per drink · 4.4★
- What to order
- Stick to beer or bourbon — the specialty cocktails aren't the point here. Order a Bud Light or a shot of Jack Daniel's and soak in the atmosphere. The real energy is on the ground floor.
🕐 Hours
3Layla's Honky Tonk
Rockabilly & Country
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Eclectic live music spanning country, rockabilly, bluegrass, and Americana in a cozy, license-plate-covered space
- Price / value
- $4–$8 per drink · 4.6★
- What to order
- Cheap domestic beers and well bourbon. Layla's isn't about craft cocktails — it's about the music. Grab a Budweiser, find a spot near the stage, and tip the band.
🕐 Hours
4Legends Corner
Traditional Country
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Late-night energy with exceptional live music, stiff drinks, and a crowd that keeps it going until 3 AM
- Price / value
- $5–$10 per drink · 4.6★
- What to order
- Bourbon on the rocks or a cold longneck. The bartenders pour honestly. The later you stay, the better the music gets.
🕐 Hours
5Second Fiddle
Traditional Country
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Pure traditional country music in a friendly, unpretentious setting that feels like a real neighborhood bar
- Price / value
- $4–$8 per drink · 4.4★
- What to order
- Ice-cold domestic beer and bourbon — the classics. Second Fiddle keeps it simple and does it well.
🕐 Hours
6Honky Tonk Central
Party Honky Tonk
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Three-story party with a different live band on each floor, prime corner location, and rooftop Broadway views
- Price / value
- $6–$12 per drink · 4.4★
- What to order
- Church Street Chicken and barbecue are crowd favorites. Grab a bucket of 6 beers and share with your crew.
🕐 Hours
7Whiskey Bent Saloon
Swing Dancing
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Swing dancing to live country music in a small, high-energy bar with a giant stuffed bear mascot
- Price / value
- $5–$10 per drink · 4.6★
- What to order
- Whiskey — it's in the name. Pick your bourbon and let it flow. The beer selection is solid for a small bar.
🕐 Hours
8Nudie's Honky Tonk
Country Memorabilia
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Nashville's longest bar at 111 feet, decorated with thousands of silver dollars, plus Nudie Cohn's legendary rhinestone suits
- Price / value
- $6–$12 per drink · 4.3★
- What to order
- A bucket of six domestics for $30 — one of the better deals on Broadway. The hot chicken sandwich is worth ordering.
🕐 Hours
9AJ's Good Time Bar
Alan Jackson's
Quick comparison
- Best for
- The only celebrity bar that mandates traditional country music — Alan Jackson required pre-2000s country on the first two floors
- Price / value
- $5–$10 per drink · 4.4★
- What to order
- Pizza and snacks — AJ's keeps it simple and affordable. Grab a slice, a cold beer, and enjoy real country music in a celebrity bar.
🕐 Hours
10Rippy's Honky Tonk
BBQ & Family
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Best food on the strip — ribs and brisket are the stars — plus a massive rooftop with Bridgestone Arena views
- Price / value
- $6–$12 per drink · 4.2★
- What to order
- The ribs and brisket are why you're here. The Honky Tonk Tea is their signature cocktail. Great rooftop for views.
🕐 Hours
11Redneck Riviera Bar & BBQ
Veterans Bar
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Best customer service on the strip — intimate setting where staff actually care, plus BOGO for veterans and first responders
- Price / value
- $5–$10 per drink · 4.5★
- What to order
- BBQ and cold beer — the food is solid. If you're a veteran or first responder, take advantage of the BOGO deal.
🕐 Hours
12Chief's on Broadway
Eric Church's
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Six-story venue with James Beard award-winning Rodney Scott BBQ, Ryman-style concert hall, and Ashley McBryde's sober-friendly bar
- Price / value
- $7–$15 per drink · 4.5★
- What to order
- Rodney Scott's whole-hog BBQ — James Beard award-winning barbecue. Get advance tickets to a Neon Steeple songwriter show.
🕐 Hours
Nashville Honky Tonk FAQ
What is the best honky tonk bar on Broadway in Nashville?
Robert's Western World is consistently voted the best honky tonk on Broadway by locals and Reddit users. It's one of the few bars that plays actual traditional country music all day, has the cheapest beer on the strip ($2.50 PBRs), and serves a legendary fried bologna sandwich. It's the real deal — no gimmicks, no celebrity branding, just genuine honky tonk.
Which Nashville honky tonks play real country music?
Most Broadway bars actually play classic rock, not country — a common surprise for visitors. The honky tonks that consistently play real country music include: Tootsie's Orchid Lounge (first floor only), Layla's Honky Tonk, Robert's Western World, Legends Corner, and Second Fiddle. AJ's Good Time Bar also requires traditional country on its first two floors, per Alan Jackson's stipulation.
Is there a cover charge at Nashville honky tonk bars?
Most honky tonk bars on Broadway do not charge a cover. Live music is free — the bands make their money from tips. It's customary to tip the band, especially if you're requesting songs. Some celebrity-branded bars and rooftop venues may charge a cover on busy weekend nights.
What are the best honky tonks off Broadway in Nashville?
For a more authentic experience, locals recommend: The Nashville Palace (near the Grand Ole Opry, where Randy Travis got his start), Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge (in Madison — dive bar meets honky tonk), Bobby's Idle Hour Tavern (on Music Row — a songwriter's hangout), and the American Legion in East Nashville.
What time do honky tonks open and close in Nashville?
Most Broadway honky tonks open between 10:00–11:00 AM and stay open until 3:00 AM. Live music typically starts by 11:00 AM and runs continuously until closing. Mornings and early afternoons are laid-back; Thursday through Saturday nights are peak party time.
Are Nashville honky tonks family-friendly?
During daytime hours, many honky tonks are family-friendly. Rippy's is one of the most kid-friendly spots with a full food menu. Most bars go 21+ after 6:00–10:00 PM. Robert's Western World is all-ages until late.
How much do drinks cost at Nashville honky tonks?
Robert's Western World has $2.50 PBR tallboys — the cheapest on the strip. Most domestic beers at other bars run $7–$10. Mixed drinks are $8–$14. Bucket deals (6 beers) typically cost $30–$35. Pro tip: stick to beer and bourbon and avoid frozen drink machines.
🎫 Book Nashville Experiences
Tours and activities hand-picked for this guide — book with free cancellation
