6 Best Bars in The Gulch, Nashville

Gertie's Bar

The Gulch Fodor's choice
This inviting downstairs addition to the 404 Kitchen offers up 30 pages of hard-to-find whiskies from around the world on its menu. You'll find some bottles here, all hand-selected by chef Matt Bolus, that you'd be hard-pressed to find in even the most exclusive whiskey bars in New York.

L.A. Jackson

The Gulch Fodor's choice
At the top of the luxe Thompson Hotel is the city's premiere rooftop bar, where the drinks are strong and the views are just as Instagrammable as the hip, modern decor. Filled to the brim with friendly young professionals on the weekends, this is always a lively spot, especially when there's a local DJ spinning records. The Frozé is always a crowd-pleaser, and they offer a variety of small bites and cocktails.

The Station Inn

The Gulch Fodor's choice

One of the last bastions of old Nashville that locals still frequent despite the influx of tourists, The Station Inn is without a doubt the best place to hear bluegrass, roots music, and Americana in the city. Inside the worn stone building you’ll find cheap beer, folding tables, mismatched chairs, and a sea of red-and-white-checkered plastic tablecloths that prove this venue is charmingly frozen in time.

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Marathon Music Works

Marathon Village

This 14,000-square-foot open venue in the former automobile factory now known as the Marathon Village complex hosts mid-level artists in its standing-room-only, 1,500-person-capacity space.

Rudy's Jazz Room

The Gulch
Looking for an intimate listening room experience, but not a country music fan? Head to Rudy's for incredible local and traveling jazz musicians, Prohibition-style cocktails, a full dinner menu filled with New Orleans cuisine, and cozy mood lighting. Catch an all-ages jazz jam every Sunday night.

UP, a rooftop lounge

The Gulch
Another one of Nashville's trendy rooftop hotel bars (you can even check out their view of the city beforehand on their EarthCam), UP specializes in shareable small plates—like jerk pork flatbreads—and fresh, fruit-forward cocktails. With both indoor and outdoor seating, you can rest easy that you can catch these lovely views year-round. Make sure to cash in on the Fairview's free three-hour parking for bar patrons.