Tootsie's Orchid Lounge: is it worth it?
Our score, honest verdict, what it costs, how to avoid the crowds, and what to do instead if it is not for you.
Our verdict: do it smarter
Tootsie's is a classic first-timer stop, and your own note sends first-timers here for the neon-sign dive vibe. Go in the afternoon or early evening, and keep a tight grip on your drink. Visit Music City says Tootsie's has a second entrance if the front is packed.
Cover and drink prices were not on the official page; many Lower Broadway honky-tonks have no regular cover (Visit Music City), so this is provisional.
One of the busiest spots on Broadway at night.
One of the best-known honky-tonks in Nashville, with a long history on the same block as the Ryman.
Easy to find; the bar opens at 9:30 AM.
Who should go, and who should skip it
- You want a classic Broadway honky-tonk
- You can go in the afternoon or early evening
- You dislike crowds and loud music
From our visit: Send a first-timer straight to Tootsie's Orchid Lounge for the classic neon-sign dive vibe, and always keep a tight grip on your drink so it is never left unattended.
To compare, read our review of Lower Broadway honky-tonks, Robert's Western World and Ryman Auditorium.
Better alternatives and what pairs well
NIGHTLIFEPhoto: Cpl. Vincent Needham, public domainLower Broadway honky-tonks
The strip of live-music honky-tonks on Broadway, where bands play from late morning to the early hours.
NIGHTLIFEPhoto: Mx. Granger, CC0Robert's Western World
An independently owned honky-tonk on Lower Broadway with live music from open to close and a famous fried bologna sandwich.
MUSICPhoto: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0Ryman Auditorium
The historic downtown theater known as the Mother Church of Country Music, open for daytime tours and evening shows.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Tootsie's?
422 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203.
What are the hours?
Its site lists the bar open seven days a week, 9:30 AM to 3 AM, and the kitchen 10 AM to 1 AM.
What is its history?
Tootsie's own site says Hattie Louise Tootsie Bess bought it in 1960 when it was called Mom's, and that it was a green room for musicians playing the Ryman. These are the venue's own claims.
