I asked Nashville visitors what they thought about drink prices on Broadway, and let me tell you — people had stories. What started as one visitor's shock over a $17 fireball and water turned into a reality check about what you'll actually pay downtown.
The $17 Fireball That Started It All
A regular visitor from Iowa who's been to Nashville dozens of times walked into Dierks Bentley's bar on Friday. She ordered a fireball and water — a pretty standard drink. The price? $17 for a tiny 8-ounce serving.
She found the same drink at Tin Cup for $7 in a bigger 12-ounce size.
“Rip off city! Never again,” she wrote.
What Other People Are Paying
The responses poured in, and the prices are all over the map.
“$40 for two vodka redbulls in Luke's!” one person shared.
Another paid “$15 for an 8oz gin and tonic at Kid Rock's bar. Ridiculous.”
One couple got hit with “$35 for two 8oz jack and cokes.”
And then there's this gem: “Can't remember what bar we were in but was charged 27 dollars for one drink between the taxes and a surcharge and I paid with cash.”
It's Not Just the Drink Price
Here's where it gets tricky. You're not just paying for the alcohol.
One bar owner shared a receipt from Whiskey Row showing the breakdown. A customer ordered two Titos drinks for $25. After a 4% venue fee and taxes, the subtotal hit $32.19. With tip, the total was $39.19.
“A lot of places charge this crazy tax,” the commenter explained. “And apparently this is the new norm for other bars.”
Some places are even hiding cover charges. “The ‘no cover' is being hidden by being charged a $1 for everytime you order,” they wrote.
And taxes just went up recently, according to several commenters.
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Price is one thing. What you're actually getting is another.
“Half the time the liquor that you get in your glasses there I don't know if it's water down or what it is but it's ridiculously overpriced and you don't get what you pay for,” one frustrated visitor wrote.
Where Locals Actually Go
Want to know a secret? Locals don't drink on Broadway.
“As a local you won't catch me on Broadway,” one person admitted. “I love printers alley.”
Another said it plainly: “There's a reason why locals avoid Broadway like the plague.”
“Cost of drinking on Broadway…the locals don't for a reason,” someone else added.
The Better Options
Printers Alley came up multiple times. “Broadway prices are out of control. Printers alley is better or mid-town areas,” one commenter suggested.
East Nashville got strong recommendations too. “Gallatin Ave are full of amazing bars,” someone shared.
Midtown offers a similar energy without the Broadway prices. “If you like the vibes of Broadway- check out Midtown, The Red Door, Kung-Fu Saloon, Nacho Daddy, Losers and a few others,” one local wrote. “I find the prices to be wayyyy better than Broadway and prefer the crowd as well because they are mostly fun, but not puking and passing out in the middle of the street.”
The One Broadway Exception
Multiple people mentioned the same place: Robert's Western World.
“Your best bet on Broadway is to go to Robert's Western World. The food and drinks are very reasonably priced, the staff is incredibly nice, and they feature performers who play real country music,” one commenter explained.
Another agreed: “Minus Robert's. They still offer a good deal.”
One bar owner even confirmed it: “At whiskey bent you would've paid $5 for that fireball and water.”
The Pre-Game Strategy
Some visitors have figured out their own system.
“Hint hint….flask'inurboot,” one person suggested with a cowboy emoji.
“Real game. Pack your shots before you hit downtown. lol Boots, bras, socks, TURN UPPPP!” another wrote.
“It's called pre-game,” someone added simply.
One person mentioned that “the only place that wouldn't let me in with my own beverage was at Jelly Rolls.”
Is It Worth It?
One visitor from Memphis put it in perspective: “We love both ‘scenes' but the cost to see equally talented live bands in Memphis is about 1/3 the cost of Nashville on Broadway. Nashvegas/Disney effect. If you build it, they will come.”
A few people defended the prices. “Nashville is a major city and tourist destination. I pay those prices everywhere I travel,” one commenter wrote.
But most agreed with this assessment: “You gotta stay off broadway if you don't want to spend a load of money.”
One person tracked their spending: “I went in June. Wed-Mon and spent $700 just on food and drinks.”
Another calculated: “Swear when I went last year I think I spent like £500 in 6 days. On food and drink.”
What Happened to Broadway?
“You can thank all the ‘top country artists' for the higher prices. They bought out Broadway and sold out country!” one frustrated local wrote.
“Unfortunately, this is what Broadway has lowered itself to,” another added.
One person had an even harsher take: “Yes the entire place is a rip off. It's a one and done.”
But maybe the most honest comment came from a local: “Yall visitors bred this so enjoy it.”
Never seen a “fake” electric fireplace in the wall of a honkytonk. Been going down since 2010. It sucks now. Robert’s, Layla’s, Legend’s, and the Stage are still old type Honkytonks left. We follow a band from Nashville. We drink in the room, go to Layla’s 6-10 for the band, after that fried bologna sandwiches at Roberts, hang a little for good OLD country music. And go back to hotel make our own drinks sit in lobby and watch the people.