Skull's Rainbow Room in the 1948 Southern Turf basement in Printers Alley Nashville is the only downtown jazz lounge, with nightly bands and late burlesque sets.
Tip: Jazz nightly from 17:00, burlesque Thursday to Sunday at 23:00 with a $25 cover from 21:00. Reserve via OpenTable for dinner first.
Address: 222 Printers Alley, Nashville, TN 37201
Santa's Pub on Bransford Avenue in Nashville is the year-round Christmas trailer karaoke dive run by Santa himself, $2 beers and karaoke from 19:00 every night.
Tip: Cash only, 21+ with ID, karaoke from 19:00 nightly and 21:00 on Sundays. Open Wed to Sun 16:00 to 03:00.
Dino's on Gallatin Avenue in East Nashville is the neighborhood's oldest dive, cheap beer until 03:00 nightly and a smash burger locals rank against any in town.
Tip: Kitchen runs late, burger and fries about $10. Cash and card both work; cheapest pours every weeknight until 19:00.
Springwater Supper Club on 27th Avenue by Centennial Park in Nashville is Tennessee's oldest bar, on this site since 1896, with cheap beer, free live music and pool.
Tip: Cash only, beer only, 21+. Open Wed to Sun from noon; live music starts most nights at 21:00 with no cover.
Mickey's Tavern on Gallatin Pike in East Nashville is the non-smoking dive with pool, darts, foosball, a strong jukebox and a back deck open until 03:00.
Tip: Mon-Fri 14:00 to 03:00, Sat-Sun noon. Cash and card; the back patio is the secret seat on summer weekends.
Brown's Diner on Blair Boulevard in Nashville is the trolley car pouring cheap beer with cheeseburgers since 1927, the city's oldest diner and dive in one room.
Tip: Cash and card both work. Cheeseburger and a tall PBR runs under $15; jukebox is the soundtrack, no cover any night.
Pearl Diver on Gallatin Avenue in East Nashville is the tiki bar with sea-foam booths, palm wallpaper and a cabana patio, tropical drinks until 02:00 weekends.
Tip: Walk-in only, no reservations. Fri-Sat open until 02:00; the patio cabana booths are the first to fill on summer weekends.