Lower Broadway is the centre of Nashville's nightlife — a strip of honky-tonks that run live country music from midday until the early hours, cover-free. Robert's Western World and Tootsie's Orchid Lounge are the most storied, though the whole block delivers much the same experience: cold beer, loud guitars, and a mix of locals and tourists. The scene is unpretentious and genuine; these are working musicians playing for tips.
For something quieter, East Nashville has a strong independent bar culture, and the Gulch is where the cocktail bars are concentrated. The coffee scene is solid — Frothy Monkey, with multiple locations, is the local standby.