Empire Journal | Dining
Rooftop Bars Nashville: Broadway, Midtown and the Ones Locals Use
The rooftop bars in Nashville worth your night — the Broadway honky-tonk decks, the hotel rooftops locals actually book, and how to avoid the bachelorette crush.
Rooftop Bars Nashville
Nashville has two rooftop scenes that barely overlap. One is Lower Broadway: multi-storey honky-tonks with rooftop decks, live bands on every floor, and a bachelorette party at every table. The other is the hotel rooftops in the Gulch, Midtown and along Rutledge Hill, where the drinks are made properly and you can hear the person across from you.
Both are legitimate. Just know which one you are walking into.
The hotel rooftops locals book
L.A. Jackson — Thompson Nashville, the Gulch. The rooftop that set the standard here: open-air, full skyline, and a bar programme that belongs in a serious cocktail room. Still the best all-round rooftop bar in Nashville. Hotel site.
White Limozeen — Graduate Nashville, Midtown. Pink, maximalist, Dolly-themed, and far better than a themed rooftop has any right to be. Rooftop pool and one of the most photographed spaces in the city. Hotel site.
Rare Bird — Noelle, downtown. A rooftop in a restored 1930s bank building, looking across at the downtown towers. The most stylish downtown option and a short walk from Broadway without being in it. Hotel site.
Bobby Hotel rooftop — downtown. The one with the vintage bus parked on the roof. A great view of the skyline and a scene that stays fun rather than chaotic.
UP Rooftop Lounge — Fairlane Hotel, downtown. Mid-century room on top of a converted bank, and the calmest downtown rooftop for a real conversation.
The Broadway decks
The honky-tonk rooftops on Lower Broadway — including the multi-level bars around 4th and Broadway and the Assembly Food Hall's upper deck — deliver exactly what they advertise: live music, a crowd, and a view down the neon strip. Go once, go early, and go with a group.
Rule: if you want a table, arrive before 6 PM. After 8 on a Friday, Lower Broadway rooftops are standing-room.
Timing
- Best months: April to early June, and late September through October. July and August are humid enough that a Nashville rooftop at 5 PM is a commitment.
- Best nights: Sunday through Wednesday. Nashville's weekend crowd is the largest per capita of any US city its size.
- Sunset: arrive 45 minutes before. The skyline lighting up while the sky is still blue is the shot.
- Winter: most hotel rooftops run heaters and igloos; the Broadway decks stay open regardless.
Where to stay
The Gulch puts L.A. Jackson downstairs and Broadway a ten-minute walk away — the best of both. Downtown puts you on top of Rare Bird, Bobby and UP. Compare Nashville hotel rates through our Expedia partner link, and for a rooftop pool day without booking a room, ResortPass lists Nashville hotel day passes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best rooftop bar in Nashville?
L.A. Jackson at the Thompson in the Gulch, for the combination of skyline view, cocktails and atmosphere. White Limozeen if you want the pool and the photographs.
Which Nashville rooftop bar has a pool?
White Limozeen at the Graduate Nashville has the best-known rooftop pool. Several other hotel rooftops have pool decks with guest or day-pass access.
Are Nashville rooftop bars free to enter?
The hotel rooftops generally have no cover; the Broadway bars are free to enter and busiest late. Some rooftops run table minimums on weekend nights.
When should I go to a Nashville rooftop bar?
Forty-five minutes before sunset, midweek if possible, in spring or fall. Weekends downtown are extremely busy year-round.
Are Nashville rooftop bars open in winter?
Yes — most hotel rooftops add heaters and enclosures, and the Broadway decks operate year-round.
