Location: Downtown Nashville
Top Things to do in Downtown Nashville
Things to do in Nashville, Tennessee (TN): The Best Concerts & Shows
With live music to be heard all across town, 24/7, 365 days a year, Music City lives up to its name. From honky-tonk bands jamming at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge to songwriters in the round at the Bluebird Cafe and country music legends rocking the Grand Ole Opry, you never know who you might see. The creative spirit from Nashville's music landscape flows into the area's myriad art galleries, up-and-coming fashion scene, historic landmarks and chef-driven restaurants.
Restaurants in Nashville
1. Nashville Repertory Theatre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 11 reviews
Since 1985, Nashville Repertory Theatre has been a critically acclaimed regional theatre, creating the highest quality professional productions and by serving as a prime cultural, educational, and economic resource within the Nashville and Middle Tennessee communities. Nashville Rep produces work that is designed, built, and rehearsed in Nashville by highly skilled actors, designers, directors, and technicians. A non-profit organization, Nashville Rep is committed to consistently delivering thought-provoking theatre each year.
2. Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 351 reviews
Features concerts by touring national bands, local classical music series and Broadway plays.
Reviewed By 810kathyr - Murfreesboro, United States
Continue to be blown away from the Broadway seasons you host. Have been coming to TPAC for decades and want to thank-you for such a wonderful performance space. Just returned from a London theater trip in time to see Hamilton this past Saturday~~did not miss a beat. TPAC stands up to the West End in my book!
3. Ryman Auditorium
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13,265 reviews
When you walk through the doors of historic Ryman Auditorium, one thing becomes clear right away: this isn’t just another nightly music venue, and it’s so much more than a daytime tourist stop. This place is hallowed ground. This is the exact spot where bluegrass was born—where Johnny Cash met June Carter, where souls were saved and a slice of history was nearly lost. It was right here that country music found an audience beyond its own back porch, and countless careers took off as deals were signed on napkins and paper scraps backstage. Open daily for tours and shows, right in the heart of Music City.
Reviewed By Champ756 - Portage, United States
While attending the show, “Opry Country Classics” I was greatly helped by two wonderful ushers, Inez and Amy T. As many know, the historic Ryman Auditorium has wooden pews for seats. The thin pad I brought didn’t help pad the seating enough due to multiple hip surgeries. After getting up to stand in the back, Inez came over and immediately asked if I needed a softer seat.... then Amy was there in a flash with a padded chair. This was SO appreciated! It allowed me to be comfortable and I felt very welcomed. Inez also checked to see if I wanted my husband in handicapped seating with me as well. Not only was the seat far more comfortable, the bonus was a great view of the stage without having to shift around for better visibility on the pews with tight seating. The show was very entertaining and it was nice to be able to fully enjoy it. For those with any seating limitations or mobility issues, I would recommend asking for handicapped seating at Ryman. Amy also shared that there are several balcony rows with padded chairs if that alone would help with comfort. Thank you again, Inez and Amy T! And....Inez, to me, you are a Ryman icon with your many years of welcoming guests there with your beautiful hospitality!
4. Robert's Western World
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 576 reviews
A traditional Nashville dive with cheap beer and live country music.
Reviewed By pahadoc - Aachen, Germany
I think this is the best place to visit on the Nashville Broadway. True honky tonk atmosphere, fantastic music , friendly staff. Definitely recommendede
5. Layla's Bluegrass Inn
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 264 reviews
Reviewed By X251YBQuahMom
We love to go to Layla's when we go downtown for great music. We were lucky to be there when Layla was onstage playing. They had great young talent come on stage to sing with them and put on a great show for country and bluegrass music. This place never disappoints and they are in the business for the music and musicians, not for the over hype of Nashville and tourists. Best place to go to listen to real music and enjoy a cold drink.
6. Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar - Nashville
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 285 reviews
The Big Bang is Nashville's only dueling piano bar featuring live, all-request music every weekend. Find us on stage at Dick's Last Resort on 2nd Avenue in downtown Nashville. It's a sing-along, dance-along, drink-along kind of party!
Reviewed By robyno207
We ate at Dick’s Last Resort (same location) before the show. Good food and rude wait staff were great. A lot of fun for our whole family of seven, including five kids from 13-20. The musicians in Dueling Pianos were extremely talented. The music was phenomenal and we loved singing along. If you are looking for a change of venue and music, this is it. We would go back again and again.
7. Wildhorse Saloon
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,047 reviews
The World-Famous Wildhorse(R) Saloon is a 66,000 sq ft, live music and dance destination with 3 floors of action packed fun which is a unique crossover venue that is known for offering world class live entertainment, a menu featuring southern smokehouse cuisine with signature fried pickles, line dancing, live entertainment and true southern hospitality.
Reviewed By Philobedoe
We walked by this place while we were looking to have lunch and decided to stop in. We were on our way to our table when we remembered it had been the site of a Nashville Network program called The Wildhorse Saloon Dance Show. That alone would have made it worth checking out so imagine how happy we were when everything turned out to be so great! The food and the service and the music-it was all fantastic! And the place itself is huge, just absolutely ginormous! I can see why they picked it to televise a dance show. As for the food, we started with the smoked wings appetizer and they were superb. Just the right amount of smoke and very juicy. I had the pick-three BBQ sampler with sausage, pork and brisket. The smoked sausage was good with a nice crisp skin. The pulled pork was very tasty too. It was the brisket, though, that was the star. Cut-with-a-fork tender with a nice smoky ring, moist and flavorful, mmmm-mmm. I had coleslaw and baked beans as sides. Both were excellent but the coleslaw was a stand-out. I wish I could make slaw that good at home. The wife had brisket and pork and she felt the same way about the brisket, a sure-fire winner and definitely the best we'd had in Nashville! She also ordered double fries for a side instead of slaw and beans and they must have run out of regular fries like she ordered so they just added every type of fry they had, curly, waffle, regular until they had a full (huge) double order. I was more than happy to help finish (most of) them off for her. The service was outstanding. We were quickly seated with a great view of the stage and our server was there super fast to get our drink orders. Our server was Dana and she was terrific. Took our orders flawlessly and kept the beer coming which was no easy thing considering how many people were coming in. She was professional and personable and answered our questions (which she'd probably heard a thousand times) with a smile. Kudos! The music during lunch was provided by a duo called Whiskey Cash & Roses and they were wonderful. He played guitar while she sang and they were both very talented. Their choice of music was spot-on perfect too, especially when the guitarist sang 'Take Me Home Country Roads' one of my all-time favorites. All in all, I'd say this is our favorite restaurant that we've visited so far in Nashville and when we return we will definitely stop in again as should everyone. Highly recommended.
8. Nashville War Memorial Auditorium
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 41 reviews
Reviewed By carhew4 - Calgary, Canada
This 'little' Auditorium is VERY acoustically and architecturally pleasing. The Venue is a very short distance from parking and has the feeling of welcoming wide open spaces even during a larger event. Everything is clean and well kept, not a bad seat in the house. I had read some very minor complaints, one was the folding chairs for floor seating? Not even worth complaining about............. worth it for the grand nature of the Venue. Beautiful Historical building.
9. B.B. King's Blues Club
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 217 reviews
Reviewed By stevenhT1980VU - Anamosa, United States
Great food. Friendly staff. Outstanding musicians. Not overly packed either the college aged crowd. Clean facility. Safe location to get to. Simply impressive. Good place to eat if you are looking for good food and outstanding musicians.
10. Redneck Riviera
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 104 reviews
John Rich's Redneck Riviera is a three-story live music venue located in the heart of Lower Broadway built to celebrate a state of mind and the perfect place for those that are passionate about making the most of every moment. Work hard, play hard.
Reviewed By conchmac - Key West, United States
Its a honky ton, nothing more, nothing less. We visiting Dec. 2020 had a few adult beverages, the music was great, loved the ambiance. Don't expect this place to be a full scale restaurant, it's not, but if you want good drinks, good music in a lively atmosphere you came to the right place. We loved it here !
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