The Patterson House

Patterson House is the OG when it comes to Nashville cocktail bars, and it remains an elite place to have a fancy drink. You’ll find all the ceremonies of traditional speakeasies: it’s first come, first served, which can be challenging on busy nights, and they’ll quite literally pull back the velvet curtain for you to enter the low-lit space. Prices may seem a bit steep, but Patterson House knows how to win you over—every cocktail (that usually has three types of booze) is served with a little carafe for a top off after your first few sips. The food menu features mostly small bites, and they occasionally host pop-ups: Kisser started here as a special menu.