Updated: October 2026
Broadway in Nashville feels like a soundtrack the moment you step onto it. This stretch of downtown is known as Lower Broadway, often called “Honky Tonk Highway,” and it runs through a compact few blocks where live music plays from morning until the early hours of the next day.
This guide is part of my Nashville Itinerary: 4 Days in Music City, where I share the full plan for the trip. Here the focus is on Broadway: where to walk, what to see, and how to enjoy the strip.
A Street That Has Seen It All
What makes Broadway interesting is not just what it is now, but what it has been. It started as a working downtown street filled with shops and businesses. Over time it shifted through different eras, including a rough period in the 1970s and 1980s when much of the area declined. The revival came in the 1990s, when music returned in a big way and the honky tonks brought the street back to life.
A major influence on Broadway’s music identity is the nearby Ryman Auditorium, just one block off the strip. It was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, and that connection helped shape the live music culture that still defines the area today.
Getting to Broadway
The Joseph is about a five minute walk from Broadway, which makes it easy to head to the strip at any hour and just as easy to go back and rest before the next round of live music.
The Best Block on Broadway
If you are visiting, the most walkable and energetic section is Lower Broadway between 1st Avenue and 5th Avenue. This is where the core honky tonks are lined up side by side. You can walk door to door and hear a different live band in each one.
If you only have time for one block, make it the 400 block, between 4th and 5th Avenue. Robert’s, Tootsie’s, and several other classic honky tonks sit within a few steps of each other, and the Ryman is a short walk up the street. It offers the most history and live music per step.
It is loud, crowded, neon-filled, and completely nonstop. That is the experience.
Robert’s Western World
Robert’s Western World is one of the most classic stops on Broadway and feels like a step back in time compared to the newer multi-level bars.
Robert’s was the first stop once the group arrived on Broadway. Some of the girls assumed the plan was shopping, not a honky tonk, because the name sounds like a Western wear store, and the giant red boot above the sign did not help. They were not completely wrong, since the building once housed a Western wear shop, and boots still line a shelf along the wall. Instead of boots to try on, they found a packed room and a band playing traditional country. If shopping is what you are after, 12 South Nashville: A Walkable Shopping Guide covers the best stops in one of the city’s most charming neighborhoods.
The building has a long history, including a past as a steel guitar company before it became a music venue. Today it is known for traditional country music, old-school live bands, and its famous “recession special” sandwich. It is one of the few places on Broadway that still feels grounded in the original honky tonk era.
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge is one of the most iconic bars in Nashville. It opened in the 1960s and became a gathering place for musicians performing at the Ryman. Over time it turned into a multi-level honky tonk with live music on every floor and the purple exterior is one of the most recognizable sights on Broadway.
On the last day, a golf cart tour of the city ended right in front of Tootsie’s. The group stayed for a couple more hours of live music, including a set from singer-songwriter Marie Wise Hawkins, whose breezy, beach-inspired country sound adds a different flavor to the strip. Performers rotate throughout the week, so the lineup will vary from one visit to the next.
Tootsie’s has a deep music history, and it still feels like a place where anything can happen, especially at night.
What Broadway Feels Like Today
Today, Broadway is a mix of classic honky tonks, modern multi-story music bars, and rooftop patios, all with constant live music and packed sidewalks from late morning until late night. There is no cover charge at most venues, so you can walk in and out freely, tip the band, and keep exploring.
The experience changes with the time of day. Midday is more relaxed, with easier walking and still plenty of live music. Evening brings full energy, packed floors, and street performers. Late at night, the strip is loud, crowded, and nonstop.
Tips for Visiting Broadway
Comfortable shoes matter, since you will do a lot of walking. Bring ID, because age rules vary by venue and time of day, and carry some cash for tipping the bands. Weekends draw big crowds, and summer visits are hot, so plan outdoor wandering for mornings and evenings.
When You Want a Quieter Side of Music City
Broadway is all about energy, but Nashville has a gentler side to its music scene too. If you would like to hear songwriters in a small, listening-focused room, read The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville: What to Know Before You Go. It pairs well with a night on Broadway and shows how different the city’s music can feel from one venue to the next.
Nashville Close
Broadway is not polished or quiet and that is the point. It is music spilling out of every doorway, history layered under neon lights, and a street that never really stops moving.
— izzy