10 Places Nashville Locals Go — And You Should Too!
Where Music City’s Best-Kept Secrets Live (and Pour a Damn Good Drink)
If you’re tired of Broadway’s honky-tonk conveyor belt and neon madness, you’re not alone. While tourists are lining up for the same overpriced boots and lukewarm bachelorette bar crawls, locals are slipping into dimly lit lounges, hidden burger joints, and unassuming gems that keep Nashville’s soul alive. Here’s a guide to places Nashville locals actually go — and where you should definitely follow.
1. Nashville Barrel Co
📍 Whiskey heaven for those in the know.
Tucked away in the industrial heart of the city, Nashville Barrel Co is where whiskey lovers go to get serious. We’re talking private barrels, complex single barrels, and flavor profiles that’ll make you question why you ever settled for Jack. The vibe is unpretentious, the pours are generous, and the staff knows their stuff. If you’re lucky, you might get a behind-the-scenes peek at the barrel room.
2. Baam Burger
🍔 The burger joint you wish you found first.
This ain’t your average burger spot. Baam Burger slaps together flavor combinations that feel like your taste buds just won the lottery. Think wagyu beef, truffle aioli, and brioche buns that actually hold up. The vibe is cool, casual, and full of folks who clearly know the difference between “grilled” and “charred.” Locals swear by it, and once you’ve had one bite, so will you.
3. Roberta’s Pizza
🍕 Straight outta Brooklyn, dropped right in East Nashville.
Yes, it started in NYC. No, that doesn’t make it less Nashville. Roberta’s in the Urban Cowboy compound is where artisan pizza meets speakeasy cool. Grab a pie, cozy up with a cocktail by the fire pit, and soak in the unapologetic East Nashville energy. Locals pop in for date nights and group hangs that don’t involve screaming over a cover band.
4. Alley Taps
🎶 Live music without the tourist trap chaos.
Located in the heart of Printers Alley, Alley Taps feels like the kind of bar you discover once and never forget. Live music, killer drinks, and a crowd that’s more singer-songwriter than scream-singing “Friends in Low Places.” It’s intimate, vibey, and still under the radar — just how locals like it.
5. Fleet Street Pub
🍺 A proper British pub in the middle of Music City.
If you need a break from Tennessee whiskey and want a pint of Boddington’s or a Scotch egg done right, Fleet Street Pub is your spot. It’s underground (literally), cozy as hell, and packed with regulars who know the bartender by name. Bonus: no blaring country music — just good conversation and better beer.
6. Standard Proof Whiskey Co.
🥃 Elevated cocktails and experimental whiskey infusions.
Standard Proof is the place locals take their out-of-town friends to impress them. Their whiskey infusions (coffee, cinnamon, pecan) are dangerously smooth, and the cocktail menu is a work of art. The vibe is urban speakeasy meets cozy cocktail lab — and the bartenders? Masters of their craft.
7. The Ariston Cigar Lounge
💨 For when your night calls for a cigar and class.
Whether you’re a cigar connoisseur or just trying to channel your inner Gatsby, The Ariston is the city’s sleekest cigar lounge. With leather seating, curated spirits, and a no-BS atmosphere, it’s where locals go to unwind, close a deal, or celebrate something worth lighting up for.
8. The Cellar Bar
🎱 Your neighborhood dive — downtown edition.
Pool tables. Real darts. Bar food that hits the spot. 20 beers on draft. The Cellar Bar is a rare find downtown: not trying to be trendy, just trying to be awesome. With TVs, a jukebox, and a vibe that says “stay a while,” it’s the kind of place locals use to escape… well, the people who came here looking for Nashville.
9. Urban Cowboy Public House
🔥 Eclectic, intimate, and full of East Nashville magic.
If Roberta’s is the pizza, this is the patio. Urban Cowboy’s Public House is part lodge, part bar, part bohemian dreamscape. Fire pits, killer cocktails, and a rotating menu of thoughtful bites make it a go-to for locals escaping the chaos of downtown. It’s where beards, boots, and brilliant conversations collide.
10. The Chill Spot
🍧 Cool, quirky, and criminally underrated.
This one’s for when you just want to chill — literally. The Chill Spot serves up gourmet snow cones and ice cream with a twist, and locals love it for a reason. Family-run and full of heart, it’s the kind of feel-good place that makes you nostalgic for your childhood and excited for dessert. A perfect daytime detour.
Wrap-Up: Go Where the Locals Go
Want to experience the real Nashville? Then skip the bachelorette limos and overpriced rooftop bars. These are the places where music, whiskey, and good company actually come together — no wristbands required.
Follow the locals. We promise you won’t regret it.