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an outdoor patio with green turf and wooden fixtures
The patio at Pearl Diver.
Pearl Diver

14 Fabulous Patios for Outdoor Dining and Drinking in Nashville

Alfresco dining options with tropical cocktails, queso, yard games, and even pools

by Kellie Walton, Stephanie Carter, and Delia Jo Ramsey
View as Map
The patio at Pearl Diver.
| Pearl Diver
by Kellie Walton, Stephanie Carter, and Delia Jo Ramsey

Nashville has beaten the winter blues once again, and patio season approaches. While Music City’s impressive collection of rooftop restaurants and bars may draw crowds no matter the season, there are plenty of street-level patios around town for solid outdoor dining, drinking, and people-watching when the weather’s right. Grab a stein from a Germantown beer garden or Champagne garden, sip cocktails at a tropical East Nashville lounge, or beat the heat with a dip in a backyard oasis downtown.

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Blue Moon Waterfront Grille

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Nashville is short on waterfront dining options, so the Blue Moon Waterfront Grille, overlooking the Rock Harbor Marina, is one of the few places to take in a serene view of the water with dinner. The satisfying menu — mahi sandwiches, seafood po’ boys, and rum-filled boat drinks — pairs perfectly with the scenery.

525 Basswood Dr, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 356-6666
(615) 356-6666

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Minerva Avenue

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North Nashville’s Buchanan Arts District is home to Minerva Avenue, a cocktail and hookah lounge whose name calls back to founder Robert Higgins, Jr.’s childhood. The nostalgic spot highlights art, culture, movies, and music from the 1970s through the 21st century, and it has an outdoor oasis fit for groups small and large. Settle into an outdoor cabana with innovative options like the Brown Sugar cocktail, a blend of vanilla Crown Royal and vanilla honey syrup with triple sec, a Coke float, and a brown sugar rim. You can also get the party going with bottle service.

1002 Buchanan St, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 973-0962
(615) 973-0962

San Antonio Taco Co.

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A contender for Nashville’s best queso: San Antonio Taco Co.’s chili con queso, a delicacy that has drawn diners to this rickety 21st Avenue building since 1984. Affectionately known as Satco, the fast-casual Tex-Mex spot stands in the heart of the Vanderbilt University campus, with a large wooden patio serving as a popular meeting point for students, families, and groups of friends heading to a ball game or a night on the town. Grab a mix of tacos and a bucket of cold beer for the table.

416 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 327-4322
(615) 327-4322

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Sonny's Patio Pub and Refuge

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Sonny’s is the perfect spot to do a little day drinking in Germantown, with cocktails available by the glass, frozen, or as a flight, and a full food menu of hearty favorites ranging from a Philly cheesesteak to flatbreads. The outdoor patio offers plenty of seating, yard games, and cabanas reservable for larger groups. Bring your pals and your pup — yes, this place is dog-friendly too.

1322 6th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 953-7846
(615) 953-7846

Butchertown Hall

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While this is a Germantown hotspot for tacos and margaritas no matter the weather, Butchertown Hall’s pair of patios are the place to be on a nice day. Sip a margarita — traditional, flavored, or spicy — while snacking on some of the best queso in town, mixed with pico de gallo and chorizo. Happy hour runs Monday through Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 4 to 6 p.m., then the string lights covering the patio enhance the ambience when the sun goes down.

1416 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 454-3634
(615) 454-3634

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Geist Bar + Restaurant

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This popular Germantown restaurant turns heads with its well-dressed spaces. Geist’s interior includes brick walls, soaring ceilings, plush leather banquets in blues and tans, and crystal chandeliers. Meanwhile, the charming all-weather patio, aka the Champagne Garden, features brick fencing, wrought iron, and a brick fireplace. You can order the full menu outside, including mains like barbecue monkfish and house-made cavatelli with duck ragu.

311 Jefferson St, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 920-5440
(615) 920-5440

Also featured in:

Von Elrod's Beer Hall & Kitchen

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If you’re pre-gaming a Nashville Sounds baseball game at First Horizon Park, Von Eldrod’s lively patio has you covered. The expansive outdoor area features rows of picnic tables to accommodate even large groups, and the German-influenced restaurant serves house-made smoked meats like sausage and bratwurst, Bavarian pretzels, and plenty of beers and cocktails to fill your massive stein.

1004 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219
(615) 866-1620
(615) 866-1620

Also featured in:

Assembly Food Hall

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Assembly Food Hall, Broadway’s 100,000-square-foot dining destination, not only claims the largest rooftop in town but also features plenty of other open-air seating across several floors. The variety of stalls is staggering, including local highlights like Thai Esane, Istanbul Shawarma, Saffron Kitchen, and Prince’s Hot Chicken — creator of the iconic Nashville hot chicken. Grab trays from your favorites and a cocktail from any bar on-site, then head to a patio table to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Broadway antics or a quieter angle above the rear courtyard.

5055 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 800-5395
(615) 800-5395

Also featured in:

The Southern Steak & Oyster

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It’s rare to find a street-level outdoor dining option in the heart of downtown Nashville, which is why the patio at the Southern Steak & Oyster stays packed on nice days. The restaurant’s menu melds traditional Southern dishes like fried chicken and steak and biscuits with coastal options like oysters and seafood gumbo. Add in cocktails, local brews, and wines and you can see why the Southern shines for boozy business meetings or pre-Broadway cocktails.

150 3rd Ave S #110, Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 724-1762
(615) 724-1762

Also featured in:

Pinewood Social

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Rolling Mill Hill’s Pinewood Social is a one-stop shop for food and entertainment both indoors and out, complete with a six-lane bowling alley, bocce ball court, large backyard patio, enticing dishes like short rib mac and cheese, and even two dipping pools to cool you down during the hottest Tennessee days. If you can’t find a seat pool-side, the frozen cocktails and a scoop of Jeni’s ice cream should do the trick.

33 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 751-8111
(615) 751-8111

Also featured in:

The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden

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The Pharmacy draws crowds to East Nashville for burgers, wursts, and interesting beer options hailing from Germany as well as Tennessee. The large, landscaped, dog-friendly outdoor space provides a lively backdrop for plenty of picnic table seating and strings of twinkling lights, making it ideal for daytime or evening dining. You can also find a Pharmacy Burger location with outdoor seating at Assembly Food Hall downtown.

731 Mcferrin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 712-9517
(615) 712-9517

Also featured in:

The Treehouse

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This buzzy East Nashville cafe serves smart plates like a koji-aged filet and crispy seared grouper with massaman curry and kokuho rice. The eclectic, colorful patio has plenty of seating and its own full bar for cocktails like the Chipilo Venetian mixing tequila and mezcal. Come for happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, only available out back.

1011 Clearview Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 454-4201
(615) 454-4201

Also featured in:

Rosemary & Beauty Queen

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If you didn’t know it was there, you might walk right by Rosemary and Beauty Queen, mistaking it for just another cute East Nashville house. This neighborhood cocktail bar’s expansive backyard patio is the perfect place to hang out on a warm summer day or night — until pretty late, actually. Snack on a charcuterie board, sweet whipped feta, or poached shrimp cocktail while toasting friends with a classic Old Fashioned or minty whiskey smash. You can also reserve private rooftop cabanas.

1102 Forrest Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 730-7700
(615) 730-7700

Also featured in:

Pearl Diver

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For a taste of the tropics in landlocked Tennessee, head to East Nashville’s Pearl Diver, where bright daiquiris and mojitos and fitting snacks like oysters and shrimp conjure distant shores. The tiki-inspired spot wouldn’t be complete without its colorful patio housing benches, tables, and cabanas that you can reserve.

1008 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 988-2265
(615) 988-2265

Also featured in:

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Blue Moon Waterfront Grille

525 Basswood Dr, Nashville, TN 37209

Nashville is short on waterfront dining options, so the Blue Moon Waterfront Grille, overlooking the Rock Harbor Marina, is one of the few places to take in a serene view of the water with dinner. The satisfying menu — mahi sandwiches, seafood po’ boys, and rum-filled boat drinks — pairs perfectly with the scenery.

525 Basswood Dr, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 356-6666
(615) 356-6666

Minerva Avenue

1002 Buchanan St, Nashville, TN 37208

North Nashville’s Buchanan Arts District is home to Minerva Avenue, a cocktail and hookah lounge whose name calls back to founder Robert Higgins, Jr.’s childhood. The nostalgic spot highlights art, culture, movies, and music from the 1970s through the 21st century, and it has an outdoor oasis fit for groups small and large. Settle into an outdoor cabana with innovative options like the Brown Sugar cocktail, a blend of vanilla Crown Royal and vanilla honey syrup with triple sec, a Coke float, and a brown sugar rim. You can also get the party going with bottle service.

1002 Buchanan St, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 973-0962
(615) 973-0962

San Antonio Taco Co.

416 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203

A contender for Nashville’s best queso: San Antonio Taco Co.’s chili con queso, a delicacy that has drawn diners to this rickety 21st Avenue building since 1984. Affectionately known as Satco, the fast-casual Tex-Mex spot stands in the heart of the Vanderbilt University campus, with a large wooden patio serving as a popular meeting point for students, families, and groups of friends heading to a ball game or a night on the town. Grab a mix of tacos and a bucket of cold beer for the table.

416 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 327-4322
(615) 327-4322

Sonny's Patio Pub and Refuge

1322 6th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208

Sonny’s is the perfect spot to do a little day drinking in Germantown, with cocktails available by the glass, frozen, or as a flight, and a full food menu of hearty favorites ranging from a Philly cheesesteak to flatbreads. The outdoor patio offers plenty of seating, yard games, and cabanas reservable for larger groups. Bring your pals and your pup — yes, this place is dog-friendly too.

1322 6th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 953-7846
(615) 953-7846

Butchertown Hall

1416 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208

While this is a Germantown hotspot for tacos and margaritas no matter the weather, Butchertown Hall’s pair of patios are the place to be on a nice day. Sip a margarita — traditional, flavored, or spicy — while snacking on some of the best queso in town, mixed with pico de gallo and chorizo. Happy hour runs Monday through Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 4 to 6 p.m., then the string lights covering the patio enhance the ambience when the sun goes down.

1416 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 454-3634
(615) 454-3634

Geist Bar + Restaurant

311 Jefferson St, Nashville, TN 37208

This popular Germantown restaurant turns heads with its well-dressed spaces. Geist’s interior includes brick walls, soaring ceilings, plush leather banquets in blues and tans, and crystal chandeliers. Meanwhile, the charming all-weather patio, aka the Champagne Garden, features brick fencing, wrought iron, and a brick fireplace. You can order the full menu outside, including mains like barbecue monkfish and house-made cavatelli with duck ragu.

311 Jefferson St, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 920-5440
(615) 920-5440

Von Elrod's Beer Hall & Kitchen

1004 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219

If you’re pre-gaming a Nashville Sounds baseball game at First Horizon Park, Von Eldrod’s lively patio has you covered. The expansive outdoor area features rows of picnic tables to accommodate even large groups, and the German-influenced restaurant serves house-made smoked meats like sausage and bratwurst, Bavarian pretzels, and plenty of beers and cocktails to fill your massive stein.

1004 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219
(615) 866-1620
(615) 866-1620

Assembly Food Hall

5055 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Assembly Food Hall, Broadway’s 100,000-square-foot dining destination, not only claims the largest rooftop in town but also features plenty of other open-air seating across several floors. The variety of stalls is staggering, including local highlights like Thai Esane, Istanbul Shawarma, Saffron Kitchen, and Prince’s Hot Chicken — creator of the iconic Nashville hot chicken. Grab trays from your favorites and a cocktail from any bar on-site, then head to a patio table to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Broadway antics or a quieter angle above the rear courtyard.

5055 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 800-5395
(615) 800-5395

The Southern Steak & Oyster

150 3rd Ave S #110, Nashville, TN 37201

It’s rare to find a street-level outdoor dining option in the heart of downtown Nashville, which is why the patio at the Southern Steak & Oyster stays packed on nice days. The restaurant’s menu melds traditional Southern dishes like fried chicken and steak and biscuits with coastal options like oysters and seafood gumbo. Add in cocktails, local brews, and wines and you can see why the Southern shines for boozy business meetings or pre-Broadway cocktails.

150 3rd Ave S #110, Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 724-1762
(615) 724-1762

Pinewood Social

33 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210

Rolling Mill Hill’s Pinewood Social is a one-stop shop for food and entertainment both indoors and out, complete with a six-lane bowling alley, bocce ball court, large backyard patio, enticing dishes like short rib mac and cheese, and even two dipping pools to cool you down during the hottest Tennessee days. If you can’t find a seat pool-side, the frozen cocktails and a scoop of Jeni’s ice cream should do the trick.

33 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 751-8111
(615) 751-8111

The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden

731 Mcferrin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206

The Pharmacy draws crowds to East Nashville for burgers, wursts, and interesting beer options hailing from Germany as well as Tennessee. The large, landscaped, dog-friendly outdoor space provides a lively backdrop for plenty of picnic table seating and strings of twinkling lights, making it ideal for daytime or evening dining. You can also find a Pharmacy Burger location with outdoor seating at Assembly Food Hall downtown.

731 Mcferrin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 712-9517
(615) 712-9517

The Treehouse

1011 Clearview Ave, Nashville, TN 37206

This buzzy East Nashville cafe serves smart plates like a koji-aged filet and crispy seared grouper with massaman curry and kokuho rice. The eclectic, colorful patio has plenty of seating and its own full bar for cocktails like the Chipilo Venetian mixing tequila and mezcal. Come for happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, only available out back.

1011 Clearview Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 454-4201
(615) 454-4201

Rosemary & Beauty Queen

1102 Forrest Ave, Nashville, TN 37206

If you didn’t know it was there, you might walk right by Rosemary and Beauty Queen, mistaking it for just another cute East Nashville house. This neighborhood cocktail bar’s expansive backyard patio is the perfect place to hang out on a warm summer day or night — until pretty late, actually. Snack on a charcuterie board, sweet whipped feta, or poached shrimp cocktail while toasting friends with a classic Old Fashioned or minty whiskey smash. You can also reserve private rooftop cabanas.

1102 Forrest Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 730-7700
(615) 730-7700

Pearl Diver

1008 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206

For a taste of the tropics in landlocked Tennessee, head to East Nashville’s Pearl Diver, where bright daiquiris and mojitos and fitting snacks like oysters and shrimp conjure distant shores. The tiki-inspired spot wouldn’t be complete without its colorful patio housing benches, tables, and cabanas that you can reserve.

1008 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 988-2265
(615) 988-2265

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