Gay Bars of Nashville

Are you looking for the best gay bars of Nashville? The vibrant and inclusive gay community can be found in the bustling downtown, historic Church Street, and the trendy neighborhoods of East Nashville and Midtown. From the lively and welcoming Church Street bars to the laid-back charm of East Nashville, you'll find a community that embraces everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from.

If you're looking for a fun and vibrant night out in Nashville, look no further than Church Street – the city's very own “gayborhood”! Here, you'll find two of the most popular and welcoming bars in town.

And don't miss the annual Pride festival, which brings over 100,000 visitors to Nashville for a celebration of love, diversity, and acceptance. The parade starts at 2nd and Union and heads down Broadway, so come and join the party and experience the magic of Nashville's gay community!

This post highlights all the gay bars and gay-friendly areas and hotels in Nashville. Check out also: Best Nashville Bars for Live Music.

What is your favorite gay bar or gay-friendly bar? Leave me a comment below!

Canvas

Canvas was once located on Church Street, down the road from Broadway. Broadway is the primary drinking street in Nashville.

When Canvas was on Church Street, it was more of a dive bar. They had karaoke and friendly bartenders who treated you like their own brothers. They showed that they cared whenever you walked in the door.

The new location is 3 times larger, has an outside patio, and is part of Nashville's more gentrified east side.

Today, Canvas provides a chill atmosphere with a dance floor linked by couches. They also have special events like an 80s night.

Overall, it's rated an excellent place to talk and meet new people, as the music isn't overly loud. They also have a great selection of fantastic food and drinks.

Website
Hours: 4pm – 12am Mon-Wed
Address: 105 Fatherland St, Nashville, TN 37206

Pecker's Bar & Grill

Peckers is a little bit out of the way, and yes, their logo is a giant rooster. Feel free to laugh. It has a very different feel from everywhere else in town.
They have line dancing, karaoke, and drag performances two nights a week.

It's hard to pin down what kind of bar this is; it doesn't have a clean and polished feel nor a country feel. Instead, it feels like a small-town gay bar. It has a vibe that you'll need to feel for yourself.

Overall it's a fun bar with many good reviews of the food.

Website
Hours: Monday – Saturday 4pm – 11pm
Address: 237 Hermitage Avenue, Nashville, TN 37210

Trax

Trax has some good pours and is known as the last stop of the night. It's open later than the other bars, and at 2am, it's where everyone ends up. Sometimes you'll find bartenders from the other bars there late at night. There is a smoking area out back on a lovely little patio.

This bar has more of a grunge/local dive feel; think of it as the “gay dive bar of Nashville.” They've got a pool table, karaoke, darts, bingo, and soul nights.

Website
Hours: 7 days a week, 12pm – 3:30am
Address: 1501 Ensley Blvd, Nashville, TN 37210

Tribe

Tribe is a modern-feeling, well-lit bar with drag performances and show tunes that are fun to attend. They all show episodes of Drag Race. If you like Drag Race, this is where you'll want to go.

They have a nice outdoor area with a second-level deck which is nice when you need to be removed from all the action.

It's a place where all the locals go. So if you are looking for a more local feel, this is the bar for you.

The Play bar next door is for dancing, and Tribe is more of a chill, laid-back feel.

Website
Hours: Monday & Tuesday: Closed, Wednesday – Thursday: 3pm – 1am, Friday – Saturday 10:30am – 2am
Address: 1515 Church St, Nashville, TN 37203

Play Dance Bar

Next door to Tribe is their sister location, Play. This is the drag performance location of the city. At Play, you'll see drag almost every night of the week, and the dance floor is open on the weekends. The music on the dance floor is excellent, and it's the most crowded of the gay bars in Nashville.

On the downside, there are many straight people here and many bachelorette parties that come through. However, if you're looking for a large dance floor within the gay bar choices in Nashville, it's the best or only one. Other places have an area where you jive a little bit, nothing like Play.

They have an incredible Sunday brunch with a drag performance. The food is second to none.

Website
Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 8pm – 2am, Monday – Tuesday: Closed, Wednesday 8pm – 2am
Address: 1519 Church St, Nashville, TN 37203

The Lipstick Lounge

The Lipstick Lounge is known as a lesbian bar but is an everybody bar. You'll notice that it's very mixed when you arrive. They were named the best LGBTQ Bar and best karaoke bar for two years in a row by the Nashville Scene.

It's tiny inside, but they have local performances on a small stage where you will find some fantastic local LGBTQ+ artists. They have a patio outside an have a fantastic brunch menu.

They have fun owners and staff, so Lipstick Lounge is the place to go if you want a low-key, smaller-crowd feel. Located in east Nashville, other features include karaoke, trivia, dance, and great eating.

Website
Hours: Monday – Friday: 6pm – 3am, Sat & Sun: 10am – 3am
Address: 1400 Woodland St #1939, Nashville, TN 37206

Suzy Wong's Drag’n Brunch

Suzy Wong's Drag'n Brunch is, as the name suggests. It's a fun experience in Nashville, and the drag queens interact with the crowd. They are very accommodating to small groups, and you'll find the bartenders, servers, DJs, and the Queens phenomenal.

They are not necessarily known for their food and often get negative reviews. Suzy's is known for the fantastic show that they put on, and they are popular with bachelorette parties.

Website
Hours: Friday to Sunday: 10:30 – 3pm, Monday – Wed: Closed
Address: 1519 B Church St, Nashville, TN 37203

Fido's Coffee Shop

Fido's is a fabulous organic coffee bar in Hillsboro Village on 21st Avenue. It's close to Vanderbilt University. While not a bar, it's very gay-friendly. They serve great seasonal coffee and award-winning food. It's a large coffee shop often populated with local college students. They've won the award for the best burger in town multiple times. A great place to sit and chat, eat or study. Highly recommend.

Website
Hours: 7 days a week, 7am – 4pm.
Address: 1812 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212

Top Gay-Friendly Hotels Nashville

Dive Motel and Swim Club

Dive Motel is a favorite of the gay community that includes excellent swim parties during the summer. It's deep in the heart of Nashville, close to all major attractions, and consists of a hot tub and a sauna. Learn More.

Hutton Hotel

Hutton Hotel is located in Midtown, close to downtown and Church Street in Nashville. It is an LGBT-friendly Nashville hotel. They have a spa treatment room upon request, a coffee bar, a valet, a fitness center, and laundry service. Learn more here.

Hayes Street Hotel

The Hayes Street Hotel is gay-friendly and located downtown. They have an on-site bar and live music events. The airport is only 15mins away. The Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame is less than 2 miles away. Learn More.

Loews Vanderbilt Hotel

Loews Vanderbilt is a gay-friendly Nashville hotel just 15 minutes from The Grand Ole Opry and 10 minutes drive from Nashville's city center and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Mason's restaurant provides fresh local ingredients for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch. Learn more here.

Millennium Maxwell House

Millennium Maxwell House is gay-friendly and has accommodations near the Country Music Hall of Fame, Musicians Hall of Fame, and many other major Nashville attractions. They have music-themed rooms, a seasonal pool, a sun deck, and an onsite restaurant. Learn more here.

Hilton Nashville Downtown

The Hilton Nashville is literally in the heart of downtown. Step out the doors and walk almost everywhere. It's gay-friendly and features on-site car rental services and on-site dining options. Learn more here.

Gay Bars of Nashville – Where Can I Find Them?