Layla’s Honky Tonk is the most consistently overlooked bar on Lower Broadway. It sits between Tootsie’s and Robert’s, two venues with massive brand recognition, which means most visitors walk past it on the way to somewhere else. That is a mistake.
Layla’s is the only woman-owned and independently-operated honky-tonk remaining on the strip. It positions itself as Broadway’s premier bluegrass bar, and it delivers on that without apology. The size is intimate compared to the multi-floor megavenues on either side, which makes the music feel more immediate. You are not watching a band perform at the far end of a large room; you are in the room with them.
Why Layla’s Gets Overlooked
The name does not carry the weight of Tootsie’s 1960 origin story or Robert’s reputation as the last defender of traditional country. It does not have a celebrity’s name above the door. It does not have six floors or a rooftop with river views. On a street where every bar is competing for attention through scale, spectacle, or history, Layla’s competes on the quality of the music and the authenticity of the environment. That is a harder pitch when you are standing outside at night looking at neon signs.
The Acme Feed and Seed Case
Acme Feed and Seed at 101 Broadway is a close second in the underrated category. It is located at the eastern end of the strip near the river, which means tourists who enter Broadway from the Fifth Avenue direction, which is most of them, tend to cluster at the mid-strip venues and never reach Acme. The building dates to 1890, originally a grocery store and then a farm supply store. Its rooftop has one of the best river views on Broadway. The second floor includes Owen Bradley country music artifacts, which are legitimately interesting. The sushi bar on the second floor is an unusual choice for a honky-tonk, but it works.
Acme was cited by multiple Broadway guides as a local favorite that gets less tourist traffic than venues of comparable quality because of its position at the far end of the strip.
The Stage on Broadway
The Stage at 412 Broadway is another venue that tends to get less attention than its neighbors despite offering solid traditional honky-tonk fare. It focuses on classic and contemporary country, has a consistent house band rotation, and lacks the aggressive branding of its larger neighbors. For visitors who want more of what Robert’s does but find Robert’s packed, The Stage is the next door.
Sources
- FranklinIs, Visiting Nashville Broadway Guide: https://franklinis.com/visiting-nashville-tn-your-guide-to-broadway-history-honky-tonks-hidden-gems/
- Feel in Fancy, 18 Best Bars on Broadway in Nashville: https://feelinfancy.com/bars-on-broadway-in-nashville/
- Notes on Nashville, Complete Broadway Honky Tonk Guide: https://notesonnashville.com/live-music/honky-tonks-broadway-nashville-guide/