New Nashville's got abundant loud singin', hot chicken-toutin' and celebrity-named honky-tonks, but for those seeking shorter lines, a little less honky-tonk and a little more upscale cocktail bar with an absolute vibe and world-class bartenders, Nashville's got plenty of those, too. In the last couple of months alone, several new cocktail bars opened. Here are a few exquisite new cocktail bars in town to check out for a fun night in Music City (no pedal taverns required)!
1. The Late Great (located in the basement of the Virgin Hotels Nashville):
The Late Great is the trendy Midtown Virgin Hotel Nashville's exclusive speakeasy establishment, hidden away in the vibe-y hotel's basement. Created in collaboration with the iconic Cash Family and designed by Hannah Crowell, Johnny Cash’s granddaughter, the Late Great's bartender-in-residence, Hope Rice, recently launched a new cocktail menu spiked with savory flavor profiles to engage all the senses. Add yourself to the guest list via Seven Rooms on The Late Great's website, or else seating is only available on a first come, first served basis. Dress to impress! (@thelategreatnash)
2. Four Walls (tucked inside the Joseph Hotel):
A spaghetti-western-inspired cocktail den hidden within the immaculate SoBro hotel The Joseph, Four Walls is an intimate cocktail bar created "for the knowing." The so-much-more-than-a-bar's name is a tribute to the song "Four Walls" by the late American country music singer-songwriter and a founder of the Nashville sound, Jim Reeves. Find fringe on the ceiling, hide on the walls, and meticulously crafted drinks served on the exquisite blood red, Rooso Levanto Italian marble bar. Adding a touch of Italy, “La Famiglia Negroni” features nine variations of the timeless cocktail, while the “Old Favorites” honors forgotten classics with a house twist. (@fourwallsnash)
3. Heirloom Rooftop at Holston House:
Downtown's cozy boutique hotel Holston House’s rooftop bar Heirloom is a mid-air lounge with a stunning city view just steps away from Lower Broadway, featuring garden-inspired cocktails and mocktails alongside well-planned southern tapas. Georgia-born chef Shannon Williams pours her Southern influence, heart and soul into everything she does at the historic hotel, and her menu here at Heirloom is no different. (@heirloomrooftop)
4. Rivière Rooftop at Four Seasons Hotel Nashville:
The al fresco French Riviera-inspired restaurant and bar located on Four Seasons Hotel Nashville’s seventh-floor pool deck opened in May, with a fresh and fun all-day menu and spectacular city views of the Cumberland River and downtown Nashville. Chow down on oysters with cucumber granita, "Nashville hot" fries, and popsicles dipped in pop rocks while living that luxurious life sipping Veuve or refreshing zero-proof drinks. (@fsnashville)
5. Reunion Bar (formerly home to the Vandyke): Snag a seat at the new neighborhood bar or on its second-floor rooftop in East Nashville's Five Points neighborhood, and settle in for a proper evening of people-watching. If feeling the need to linger longer, eight exquisitely decorated Airbnb-style rooms await on-site. This East Nashville hang comes from the owners of Wedgewood-Houston’s Never Never, and has an extended happy hour worth mentioning. (@reunion.bar)
“Four Walls holds the tension between elegance and edge...offering a layered experience that intrigues and inspires with an exciting environment, cultural connection, and refined cocktails.” ~Beverage Consultant Kenneth Vanhooser.
