Is Broadway Worth Visiting?
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- 1 table
- 4 sources cited
Yes, if what you want is live country music in historic bars and you pick your hours. Lower Broadway packs honky-tonks with a long history into a few walkable blocks, and some of them charge no entry fee. What decides whether you enjoy it is timing. A travel writer at Traveling Canucks found the strip “too crowded and loud” for their liking and suggests visiting “in the evening before the night crowds and bachelorette parties take over.” If a party atmosphere is what you want, the late hours are the point; if it is the music, go earlier.
What You Get
- Bars with a history. Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge at 422 Broadway began in 1960, when Hattie Louise “Tootsie” Bess bought a bar named Mom’s. It sits behind the Ryman Auditorium, home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, and Opry performers such as Willie Nelson, Roger Miller, and Kris Kristofferson spent time there between sets (National Trust for Historic Preservation).
- Traditional country. Robert’s Western World at 416 Broadway, between 4th and 5th Avenues, presents itself as the home of traditional country music. It says it never charges an entry fee and is open 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. every day (Robert’s FAQ).
- Music early in the day. According to Notes on Nashville, a few bars open as early as 10 a.m., but most do not have live music until 2 p.m.
What to Plan Around
| Question | What to know |
|---|---|
| Can children come? | at Robert's, everyone is welcome until 6 p.m.; after that it is 21 and up (Robert's FAQ); other bars set their own rules |
| Is it too crowded? | Notes on Nashville points out rear entrances to The Stage, Tootsie's, Layla's, and Legends on the alley behind the Ryman |
| What does it cost? | entry at Robert's is free and the bar asks guests to tip the musicians and servers; drink prices vary by bar and are not posted in one place |
| When is it calmer? | Traveling Canucks suggests the early evening, before the night crowds; crowds also depend on concerts and games downtown that day |
Robert’s age rule is in Robert’s FAQ.
How to Decide
- For music history, start with Tootsie’s and Robert’s in the afternoon, then walk to the Ryman.
- For a night out, go late and expect crowds; check whether a game or concert is on downtown.
- For families, visit in the daytime and check each bar’s age rule at the door.
Which bars to start with is covered in the best honky-tonks on Broadway, and the street’s history and layout in what Broadway is.