Entertainment district and major thoroughfare
Broadway is a major thoroughfare in the downtown area in Nashville, Tennessee. It includes Lower Broadway, a tourist and entertainment district renowned for honky tonks and live country music. The Broadway Historic District or Honky Tonk Highway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Davidson County, Tennessee (NRHP) on July 18, 1980.
The street is also home to retail shops, restaurants, dessert spots, tourist attractions, and a few hotels.
History.
Originally named Broad Street, the eastern end of Broadway ended at the shipping docks on the Cumberland River. It was one of the first roads to run east–west in Nashville, and the first public high school in the city was built on the road in 1875. It eventually became a commercial center lined with hardware stores, feed stores, and various other businesses and had a section known as "Auto Row" at the beginning of the 20th century due to large numbers of car dealers and tire and auto shops. A new post office – now the Frist Art Museum – was built next to Union Station on Broadway by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression.
Jimmie Rodgers started performing in bars along Broadway near the river in the 1930s. His success eventually attracted other performers, and a thriving music scene developed on Lower Broadway – the section of Broadway that runs from 1st Avenue to 5th Avenue. The popularity of Broadway declined for a time after the Grand Ole Opry left Ryman Auditorium in 1974, but the area came back to life when the Opry moved some shows back to the Ryman in the 1990s.
Today, the historical buildings are home to retail shops and restaurants in addition to honky tonks. The official Nashville Convention &amp; Visitors Corporation page defines a honky tonk as "an establishment that contains at least one rockin' stage, cold beverages, and a party that lasts all day, every day." Live music plays in most bars and restaurants along Lower Broadway from as early as 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. or even later each day, which is how the street came to be known as "Honky Tonk Highway". The venues don't have cover charges, and established music artists sometimes make appearances to perform with the up-and-comers. Many famous stars have gotten their starts in these venues, including Dierks Bentley, Gretchen Wilson, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Blake Shelton, and Kris Kristofferson.
Broadway divides downtown Nashville into North of Broadway and South of Broadway (SoBro).
Landmarks.
The entire Lower Broad district (2nd Avenue and 5th Avenue) was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Additionally, several locations farther down Broadway are registered historical landmarks.
Location.
The street starts at the convergence of 1st Avenue North and 1st Avenue South near the Cumberland River and runs southwest all the way to the campus of Vanderbilt University, where it takes a sharp southward turn and merges with 21st Avenue South.
It is bisected by the following streets/intersections:
Concurrent Interstates 40 and 65 run beneath Broadway between 13th and 14th Avenues and are accessible via adjacent ramps on George L. Davis Boulevard and 14th Avenue South. Broadway is accessible from the interstates at Exit 209A (I-40 W/I-65 N) and 209B (I-40 E/I-65 S).
From 1st Avenue to 16th Avenue, Broadway serves as the "dividing line" between the north and south designations of the avenues. From 1st Avenue to 13th Avenue, Broadway serves as U.S. Route 70. From 8th Avenue to its merger with 21st Avenue South, Broadway serves as U.S. Route 431.
Transportation.
Broadway functions as a traditional street with both vehicle and bicycle traffic. Various shuttles, buses, and taxis operate in the area. The WeGo Star commuter train also stops at Riverfront station near the end of Broadway by the river.
Entertainment and restaurants.
Hard Rock Café: Positioned at the edge of Riverfront Park, the Nashville Hard Rock has live bands playing in the Reverb Room. The area known as the Ledge provides a view of the Cumberland River and downtown.
Acme Feed &amp; Seed: Located in a 100-year-old building that formerly sold grain, this venue is now a very large (22,000 square feet), multi-level restaurant and live music spot. The rooftop bar has a view of the Cumberland River, Nissan Stadium, and the Broadway strip. Dining options include a sushi bar on the second floor and street-style local classics in the main dining area.
Nashville Underground: This 40,000-square-foot honky tonk located near the end of Broadway close to the Cumberland River has four floors with bars, food, live music, and a mechanical bull The full menu includes southern dishes, bar foods, and specialty items.
Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery: This venue focuses on craft brews in addition to live music, which plays nightly on the rooftop bar.
Bootleggers Inn: This Nashville moonshine bar serves drinks with southern-inspired moonshine flavors like peach and apple pie. Live bands play on two floors.
Ole Red: Owned by Blake Shelton as part of a collaboration with the Grand Ole Opry, this honky tonk has a rooftop with a view of Broadway to go with multiple floors of entertainment and a full menu.
Jason Aldean's Kitchen + Rooftop Bar: Country star Jason Aldean created the menu of southern-style dishes himself for his honky tonk. The rooftop bar is the largest on Broadway, and a gift shop sells themed memorabilia.
Tequila Cowboy: This large complex includes five different types of venues in one. The Rock Bar has live bands every night, and WannaB's hosts karaoke. Karma Lounge has a dance floor and plays top 40s music. The second floor has a mechanical bull, and the game room has pool tables and TVs tuned in to games.
Crazy Town: Open since 2016, this bar has two floors and a rooftop bar with a DJ playing a mix of Top 40 and throwback music. Live bands play on the first and second floors, and the décor includes reclaimed barn walls, hanging guitars, and a barber's chair for taking photos. The "Crazy Town Burger" is a top menu choice.
Whiskey Bent Saloon: This saloon hosts live country music on the main floor with multiple bars and a VIP loft. Private event space is available upstairs.
The Valentine: This honky tonk has a 1920s/1930's Prohibition-era vibe spread across four floors, including a rooftop bar and private event spaces. Live bands play on the first two floors, and a DJ entertains dancers on the third floor. The full-service restaurant serves local dishes and bar classics.
Tin Roof: Located in the former Hatch Show Print building, this red-white-and-blue-themed honky tonk describes its menu as "Better Than Bar Food".
Broadway Brewhouse and Mojo Grill: This restaurant located in the former Harley-Holt Furniture Co. building has a robust beer selection and a menu filled with Cajun and southwestern-style dishes in addition to bar favorites.
Honky Tonk Central: This three-story venue has live country music seven days a week, and the site hosts special events and parties. The menu includes bar favorites.
Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville: The live music at Margaritaville ranges from country classics to Jimmy Buffett-style tunes and interactive shows that get the crowd in on the act. The menu has American classics along with island-inspired dishes.
Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row: Owned by Dierks Bentley, this branch of Whiskey Row is the first one outside of his home state of Arizona. The gastropub has a brunch menu in addition to lunch and dinner options.
Merchants Restaurant: This restaurant has a more sophisticated atmosphere than most establishments on Broadway. Management classifies the menu as New American and New Southern dishes.
Nudie's Honky Tonk: Named for Nudie Cohn – the former tailor known for making rhinestone-studded "Nudie suits" for stars like Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, and Elton John – this bar spreads across three floors in a historic 100-year-old building. The interior includes two stages, multiple bars, and rare memorabilia, such as sparkling costumes and a customized "Nudie mobile". The menu is made up of southern favorites.
Bailey's Sports Grille: This sports bar is more about watching games and shooting pool than live music, but it still has a small stage in the corner for live bands. The menu includes typical bar and grill fare.
The Stage on Broadway: With a long history as a spot for celebrity performances and sightings, this honky tonk focuses primarily on country music with some occasional rock 'n roll. Three bands play on two floors and on the rooftop patio, and an original oil painting of The Highwaymen greets guests from its position over the front door.
Paradise Park Trailer Resort: Despite its name, the "P-Park" is actually a greasy spoon-bar combo and not a resort. With a "trailer" theme that includes tire chandeliers, lawn furniture, and a Mullet Wall of Fame, this bar is a casual spot for songwriters and musicians to play.
Jack's Bar-B-Que: Jack's is distinctive for the flying pigs on its neon sign as well as its Texas-style barbecue and variety of sauce options.
Robert's Western World: Located in a historic building used for various purposes over the years, this honky tonk started out as a western clothing and boot store in the early 1990s before eventually evolving into a live music venue with a bar and grill. Robert's still has boots and apparel for sale alongside bar-style menu items. The bar is known for their preservation of traditional country music, and is known for acts such as BR549 and Brazilbilly.
Layla's Bluegrass Inn: This bar offers bluegrass, rockabilly, Americana, and numerous other types of music in addition to country. Past performers include Hank Williams III, Chris Scruggs, and Ralph Stanley. The simple menu consists of snack foods.
The Second Fiddle: This honky tonk focuses on traditional country music seven days a week in a setting filled with photo-lined walls and music memorabilia like antique radios and vintage instruments.
AJ's Good Time Bar: Owned by Alan Jackson, this honky tonk has three floors featuring Alan Jackson memorabilia and country music. Located in the oldest building on Broadway, the bar is the former home of various businesses, including Bullet Records – a label started in 1946 to record Grand Ole Opry members. Billboard Magazine voted AJ's best honky tonk in Nashville. An additional bar on the roof offers views of the city.
Nashville Crossroads: Open since 2004, this honky tonk hosts southern rock bands as well as classic country artists.
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge: With four stages and three bars spread across three floors, this orchid-colored honky tonk – a paint job mess up is how the bar got its name – is possibly the most well known on Broadway. The bar has been the subject of various articles, TV programs, and even songs over the years. Past performers include Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Tom T. Hall, Kris Kristofferson, and many others. Tootsie's "Wall of Fame" includes hundreds of photos and other memorabilia.
Mellow Mushroom: This pizzeria pays tribute to Nashville's music history with themed art created by local and regional artists displayed on five different floors.
Legends Corner: With walls covered with album covers, this bar has a nostalgic atmosphere to go with the live country music.
Rippy's Smokin' Bar and Grill: With the largest of three stages on the roof, Rippy's offers a view of Lower Broadway. The interior includes a main dining area and an area with sports games on big screen TVs. The menu mainly focuses on barbecue-related items.
Luke's 32 Bridge: Owned by Luke Bryan, Luke's 32 Bridge invites guests inside a 30,000 sq ft multi-level entertainment facility, featuring 6 levels, 8 bars, 4 stages with the best live music and two restaurants. On top of all this, Luke Bryan's 'Crash My Party Rooftop Patio' is one of downtown's largest rooftop bars.
Casa Rosa: Owned by Miranda Lambert, Casa Rosa is a four-floor restaurant and venue that features three floors of live entertainment and a rooftop bar. Casa Rosa is decked out with memorabilia from Miranda's illustrious career, including costumes from her videos and the birdcage featured in the video for "Bluebird." It opened in May 2021 and is the first establishment in the district owned by a female artist.
Friends in Low Places Bar and Honky-Tonk: Owned by Garth Brooks, the Friends in Low Places Bar and Honky-Tonk is a three-level honky tonk with 40,000 square feet of space. The honky-tonk is names after Brooks' 1990 hit single, "Friends in Low Places".
Hotels.
Construction is set to be completed on the new Marriott Moxy Hotel on the second block of Lower Broadway by the end