Kid Rock owns a popular bar on Broadway and charges between $7-$10 dollars for a beer.
Yikes.
Broadway is expensive, that's for sure.
Diving into the numbers:
- The honky-tonks average for a beer is between $6 – $7 for domestic beer like Budweiser or Miller Lite and $7-$10 for premium beer.
- Liquor shots are between $10-$15
- Cocktails are $10-$20, and Wine is $7-$10 each.
The cheap bars like Roberts Western World will charge about $5-$7 for french fries and grilled cheese sandwiches. Hamburgers cost about $10 – $12.
Miranda Lambert's Casa Rosa is one of my favorite places to eat. The food costs between $15 and $40. I have found that to be comparable to other locations like Blake Shelton's Ole Red or Luke Bryan's Bridge 22.
Honky-tonks don't offer happy hours because they don't need to. Happy hour is used to bring people in during slow times by discounting drinks. There are so many people on Broadway that they don't need to.
These costs are in line with other major tourist spots around the country. For example, the most popular drinks in Las Vegas are domestic beer: $7-10, imported beer: $8 – $10, mixed drinks: $12-$15.
Extra Costs?
There are other costs to take into consideration. For example:
- Parking. If you are driving into town, you should check out this site. One of the closest spots to park is 5th and Broad, located on upper Broadway. To park for 3-5 hours is $20-$30.
- Tips. There is no cover charge for honky-tonks on lower Broadway. You will be encouraged to tip the musicians and servers. A good rule of thumb is to double the tax. If you bought two drinks for $7 the total would be $15.50 (with a 9.75% tax). A tip of $3 would be appropriate totaling $18.50.
- Uber or Taxis. Taking an Uber from one neighborhood to another, for example, Vanderbilt to downtown, would be $5 – $10.
Related: Are Nashville Bars Cash Only?
What are the Options?
Even though lower Broadway bars do not have happy hours, some places do. The following bars have regular happy hours, to name a few. Here is a good happy hour guide in Nashville.
- Game Terminal, Mon – Fri, 4 pm – 7 pm. $6 draft beer and $6 Margaritas.
- M.L. Rose, Mon – Fri, 3 pm – 6 pm. $1 off.
- Lou Nashville, Mon – Thurs.
- 5 Points Diner, 4 pm – 6 pm, Mon – Fri, $5 draft beer.
- Brooklyn Bowl, Mon – Fri, 5 pm – 7 pm, 2-for-1 beer.
- Germantown Pub, Mon – Fri, 4 pm – 6 pm, 2-for-1 drafts & 2-for-1 house wine.
- 1 Kitchen Nashville, Mon – Fri, 4 pm – 6 pm, 4 pm – 6 pm select beers.
- Nicky's Coal Fired, Mon – Fri, $5 house wines, and $6 Martinis.
Do You Have To Pay To Get Into Bars In Nashville?
In most cases in Nashville, you don't have to pay to get into a bar in Nashville. Specifically, on Broadway, there are no cover charges. Also, in most cases, the musicians who play live music in the bars of Broadway survive solely on tips. So be prepared for the tip jar to be handed around the bar.
Looking for a High-End Experience?
Most dive bars and honky-tonks will reflect the prices list above. But perhaps you have fancier tastes?
In that case, you will be paying higher prices. The Tennessean recently published an article saying that high drink prices have “become commonplace in the city's exploding food scene.” Husk, Black Rabbit, and Sunda are among the venues with $16 cocktails on their menus.”
Nashville is diverse. You'll find American dive bars on lower Broadway, Midtown, and East Nashville, where you can get drunk the cheapest. On the other hand, for a truly luxurious experience, you have higher-end options too. For a guide on what to wear, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is alcohol expensive in Nashville?
In Nashville, the cost of alcohol ranges to suit different budgets, not necessarily expensive overall. Beer is between $7-$10. Cocktails are about $20.
How much are drinks at the bars in Nashville?
At Nashville bars, expect mixed drinks to be priced between $8-$15 and beers from $4-$8.
How much is a beer at a bar in Nashville?
A beer at a Nashville bar typically costs between $4-$8.
Do the bars in Nashville have cover charges?
Most bars do not have cover charges. The few that do vary from $5 – $20.