Printer's Alley - The Complete Guide

All the places that make Printer's Alley a spot you have to see in Music City.

Date Updated: June 4, 2023

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ACTIVITIES

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Printer's Alley lights up at night

Printer's Alley at night

Away from Broadway, the oldest nightlife district in Nashville is Printer’s Alley. Printer’s dates back to the 1940s and has a long history of law bending and live music that any Nashville bar-goer will find irresistible. Not just a place to party, Printer’s Alley also features a number of great restaurants that embrace the Alley’s history and culture in their own way. Some places in the Alley are hidden, some are in basements, some have burlesque shows, each offers a unique experience. If you’re coming to Nashville from out of town and want to avoid the craziness of Broadway, Printer’s Alley is just a few blocks away and makes for a great change of pace.

Table of Contents:

Stays

Bobby Hotel

Bobby is a boutique hotel located in Printer’s Alley in Downtown Nashville, around a six minute walk from the Ryman Auditorium and Tootsies Orchid Lounge. In addition to featuring 144 warm and fashionable rooms for its guests, Bobby is known for its phenomenal rooftop, that features Instagrammable seasonal displays great for larger parties.

Dream

A modern throwback with style-forward experiences, Dream Nashville is a stunning downtown hotel set in two historic landmarked buildings. Dream Nashville boasts 168 art deco-inspired rooms with high ceilings and sleek finishes. Six dining and nightlife options and 8,000 square feet of flexible event space.

Noelle

Noelle is a 224 room boutique, art-deco style hotel that offers guests an authentic art-driven experience curated by leaders of Nashville’s creative community. The hotel first opened in 1929 as the Noel Hotel and spent some time serving as an office building before converting back into a hotel renamed Noelle in 2017.

Hotel Indigo

Hotel Indigo is a modern hotel in printer’s Alley that opened in 2010 in a converted bank building. The 3-Star hotel has 130 rooms, features a printer-themed lobby and is just a short walk from the Ryman Auditorium and the heart of Downtown Nashville.

Eat & Drink

Skull's Rainbow Room

Originally opened in 1948, Skull’s Rainbow Room is one of the most celebrated and acclaimed dining experiences in Music City. Savor the delicious menu and enjoy live jazz bands featured nightly at Nashville's only downtown jazz lounge and a nationally acclaimed late-night burlesque show on the weekends.

Black Rabbit

Black Rabbit is a cocktail bar and restaurant crafted as an ode to the historic speakeasies that once inhabited Printer’s Alley. Black Rabbit’s building dates back to the 1890s and once served as the law office of Frank Ragano, legal counsel to Jimmy Hoffa.

Gray and Dudley

Paying homage to the building’s past life as the Gray & Dudley Hardware Company, the re-imagined restaurant and lounge space embraces and celebrates it’s buildings history. Family owned and operated, Gray and Dudley features a menu of southern specialties and has a fantastic weekend brunch.

Daddy's Dogs

Locally-owned favorite Daddy’s Dogs began serving Nashville on a street cart in 2015 and since has expanded into two other locations with their flagship opening in the Nations in 2017. Daddy’s Printer’s Alley location opened in 2021 and we think their gourmet hot dogs are a great fit for the Alley.

Fleet Street Pub

There’s no better place in Nashville to watch an international soccer match then Fleet Street Pub, an English style pub that offers traditional English fare and fun in a downstairs, basement style setting. All food served at Fleet Street from sauces to sausages and batters to fries is made in house and they feature 14 beers on draught.

Bars and More!

Bourbon Street Blues Bar

Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar is a music club located in Printer’s Alley that features live music seven nights a week in a Madi Gras-themed setting. The club usually features two blues acts a night that range from local acts to bands on tour. Reservations aren’t required at Bourbon Street but you can make one and save your party a seat.

Lonnie's Western Room

Lonnie’s Western Room is a dive bar and one of Nashville’s best spot for karaoke, open in the Alley on Church Street since 1989. Featuring a massive collection of songs to choose from if you want to have some fun, Lonnie’s always makes for a great time.

The Whiskey Shot

“It’s like the axe throwing places, but better”. The Whiskey Shot is a bar and shooting experience that uses ultra-realistic guns that fire harmless invisible lasers. Engage in the fight of your life, thwart the zombie apocalypse or stalk big game all while enjoying a craft cocktail at The Whiskey Shot.

Dirty Little Secret

Dirty Little Secret, a part of Dream Hotels, is a Las Vegas style night club that features DJ performances and dancing and is currently open on Friday and Saturday nights. Make sure to keep an eye on Dirty Little Secret’s event calendar as they often welcome celebrity guest entertainers.

Alley Taps

Alley Taps is a bar that features live music seven nights a week and prides themselves on being a place to discover the future of country music. Serving traditional bar food and a number of draft beer and wine options, the music here starts every night at 6:00 PM.

Know of a spot in Printer's Alley we missed? Email [email protected] and give us a tip! ❤️

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