Our friends at GAC list 50 honky tonks in 50 states.
Nowhere in the country is the competition for the top Honky Tonk more intense than in Music City. Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville is home to a half-dozen noteworthy spots, but the crown jewel is Tootsie’s “World Famous” Orchid Lounge. Open since the 1960s, the dive bar shares an alley with The Ryman Auditorium and was a favorite drinking spot for too many Grand Ole Opry performers to even try to name (but we’ll start with Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Roger Miller and Kris Kristofferson). Live music starts as early as 10 a.m. and continues late into the night.