The Nashville bar scene is certainly entertaining, but sometimes it’s nice to have something else to do while you’re imbibing. Many bars have games to keep the vibe alive during your night out on the town. Whether it’s cards, pool, ping pong, or pinball, here’s a list of the top games and where to play in Nashville.
games & where to play in Nashville
Bowling + Duckpin Bowl
Photo Credit: Brooklyn Bowl
Brooklyn Bowl offers traditional bowling lanes and a concert venue mixed with incredible food and drinks. This is a great spot in Nashville to bowl with friends. Pinewood Social has six bowling lanes, vintage ball returns and scoring tables, and food and drinks just a few steps away. Pins Mechanical Co. and Nashville Underground have duckpin bowling, which uses ten smaller pins and lighter and smaller bowling balls.
Where to Bowl in Nashville:
- Brooklyn Bowl (traditional bowling lanes)
- Pinewood Social (six traditional bowling lanes)
- Pins Mechanical Co. (duckpin bowling, no special shoes required)
- Nashville Underground (duckpin bowling, no special shoes required)
- Tee Line (traditional bowling lanes)
Board Games & Cards
Pints and games pair nicely together. Many Nashville hotspots have added board games and playing cards to their list of reasons to visit. Here are some to keep in mind.
Where to Play Board Games in Nashville:
- Two Bits: More than 70 options including options like Monopoly, Checkers, Apples to Apples, Guess Who, Connect Four, Candyland, Jenga, Uno, playing cards, and many more
- Tennessee Brew Works: Sorry!, Cards Against Humanity, playing cards, and more
- Game Point Cafe: Catan, Ticket to Ride, Backgammon, Clue, Monopoly, and so many more. See full list of games
- Diskin Cider: Catan, Sorry!, Battleship, Scrabble, Cards Against Humanity, Sequence, and dozens more
- Village Pub: Cards Against Humanity, various board games
- Sky Blue Cafe: Trivial Pursuit
- Hops & Crafts: Cards Against Humanity, Jumbling Towers, Connect Four, and many more
- Bar Moxy: Never Have I Ever, That’s What She Said, Chess, Scrabble, Cards Against Humanity, Uno
Ping Pong
Nashville has top-notice ping pong spots, including a few outdoor options when the weather cooperates. A few of these places include nets so you don’t have to chase balls throughout the establishment, too.
Where to Play Ping Pong in Nashville:
- Game Terminal (outdoors)
- Hi-Fi Clyde’s (indoors with nets)
- Pins Mechanical Co. (indoors)
- Martin’s Bar-B-Que (SoBro) (indoors)
- Smith & Lentz (indoors)
- 6th & Peabody (outdoors)
- Pinewood Social (outdoors)
- Kung Fu Saloon (outdoors)
Shuffleboard
Table shuffleboard (or more commonly just called shuffleboard) is easily one of the most entertaining bar games. Plus it’s usually difficult to claim the board, making it a treat when it’s your turn.
Where to Play Shuffleboard in Nashville:
- Acme
- Kung Fu Saloon
- Two Bits
- ReBar
- Red Door Saloon (Midtown)
- Hi-Fi Clyde’s
- Martin’s Bar-B-Que (SoBro)
- Broadway Brewhouse (Midtown)
- Hampton Social
- Bar Moxy
- Jasper’s
Pool / Billiards
Can you pass the chalk? Even if you’re not a pro, pool is a fun game when you’re out-and-about. There are some of the best places to shoot pool in Nashville.
Where to Play Pool in Nashville:
Darts
Darts are probably one of the oldest bar games in town, so you’ll find them at a lot of places. Get a game of cricket in while drinking your favorite brews at any of these destinations.
Where to Play Darts in Nashville:
- M.L.Rose (Sylvan Park)
- Broadway Brewhouse (Midtown)
- Beyond The Edge
- The Crying Wolf
- Rebar
- Martin’s Bar-B-Que (SoBro)
- Bar Moxy
- Sonny’s Patio Pub & Refuge
Video & Arcade Games
Pop in your quarters—it’s time for a game of Pac-Man and Street Fighter II. Numerous bars in Nashville have brought back the old school video and arcade games of the 80s and 90s.
Where to Play Video & Arcade Games in Nashville:
- Game Terminal
- Up-Down
- 16-Bit Bar + Arcade
- Kung Fu Saloon
- Two Bits
- Headquarters Beercade
- Acme Feed and Seed (limited options)
- Bastion (limited options)
- Nashville Underground
Pinball
Where there are arcade games, there are usually pinball machines, too. If you want to claim pinball wizard status, the places below will help you get there.
Where to Play Pinball in Nashville:
Foosball
Foosball is a classic game, and the best part is—a lot of people can join in the fun (regardless of their blood alcohol level).
Where to Play Foosball in Nashville:
- Acme
- Melrose Billiard Parlor
- Pins Mechanical Co
- Kung Fu Saloon
- Hi-Fi Clyde’s
- 6th & Peabody (outdoors)
Skee Ball
Skee Ball is an old classic. Back in the day it seemed like these were everywhere (ShowBiz Pizza Place / Chuck E. Cheese anyone?). There are still some spots in Nashville that keep this favorite around, though.
Where to Play Skee Ball in Nashville:
Basketball
Whether it’s indoor Hoop Fever or a full-size basketball hoop, there are a few places to play in Music City.
Where to Play Basketball in Nashville:
- Game Terminal (outdoors)
- M.L.Rose (Melrose)
- M.L.Rose (Sylvan Park)
- 6th & Peabody (outdoors)
- Nashville Underground
Bubble Hockey
Once the Predators came, Nashville became a hockey town. You don’t see these very often, so it’s nice to see Bubble Hockey show up in a few bars.
Where to Play Bubble Hockey in Nashville:
Cornhole
Cornhole (or bags) is a classic tailgating game that is now commonly found at bars and restaurants with outdoor areas. There are no shortage of places to play in Nashville.
Where to Play Cornhole in Nashville:
- Von Elrod’s
- Game Terminal
- The Hop Yard at Bottom Brewing
- 6th & Peabody
- Kung Fu Saloon
- Smith & Lentz
- Diskin Cider
- Sonny’s Patio Pub & Refuge
- Tee Line
Bocce
Bocce (or bocce ball) is a historic game with ties to the Roman Empire, which was later popularized in Italy. The game is often played on grass, turf, or sand. If you can toss a ball (with good aim), give this one a try at any of these spots.
Where to Play Bocce in Nashville:
Giant Jenga
One of the most popular patio games is Giant Jenga. Within about 10 minutes of starting the game, expect a loud boom followed by a bunch of “ahhhhs!”
Where to Play Giant Jenga in Nashville:
- Von Elrod’s
- Game Terminal
- 6th & Peabody
- Up-Down
- Kung Fu Saloon
- Tennessee Brew Works
- M.L.Rose
- Bar Moxy
- Sonny’s Patio Pub & Refuge
Golf
You could spend your whole day on the course, but sometimes it’s easier just to pop down to the local bar for a round of golf with friends.
Where to Play Golf in Nashville:
- M.L.Rose (Sylvan Park) (outdoors in the “The Golf Garden”)
- Topgolf (indoors/outdoors)
- The Bandbox (seasonal / outdoors)
- The Ainsworth (Topgolf simulator / indoors)
Giant Connect Four
The 1974 game is a bit different on a larger scale. See if you can concentrate over a round of drinks while playing Giant Connect Four at these locations.
Where to Play Giant Connect Four in Nashville:
- Game Terminal (outdoors)
- Hi-Fi Clyde’s (indoors)
- Diskin Cider (indoors)
- Bar Moxy (indoors)
- Up-Down (outdoors)
- 6th & Peabody (outdoors)
- Sonny’s Patio Pub & Refuge (outdoors)
Giant Beer Pong
Everything’s bigger in…Tennessee? It sure seems that way when it comes to games, anyway! If you’re not great at regular Beer Pong, maybe you’ll have better luck with Giant Beer Pong.
Where to Play Giant Beer Pong in Nashville:
- Pins Mechanical Co. (outdoors)
Shuffleboard (Floor Shuffleboard)
This is one of those games you usually just see old folks playing at a beach hotel. But when you’re in Nashville with a cocktail in-hand, it’s hard to pass up. When the weather permits, have a go at floor shuffleboard at Game Terminal.
Where to Play Floor Shuffleboard in Nashville:
- Game Terminal (outdoors)
Curling
Have you ever wanted to try curling? Well now you can at Tee Line which is the first curling facility with dedicated ice in Tennessee. No experience is required, but curling lessons are available.
Where to Curl in Nashville:
Sand Volleyball
Sand volleyball is hard to come by in a land-locked city like Nashville, but SandBar makes it easy to get a game in. This destination offers two sand volleyball courts, a full bar serving everything from coconut cocktails to draft beer, plus plenty of lounge space after you work up a sweat.
Know somewhere else that has games? Let us know in the comments!
Also See:
Rusty Nail has volleyball & McNamara’s Pub has darts
Hops and Crafts has Cards Against Humanity
Were smoking bars not included on this list?
The Villager Tavern has darts and foosball, and Melrose Billiards has pool, ping-pong, and shuffleboard.
Both M L Rose locations offer games. Melrose location has the basketball ball and charlotte pike has corn hole, skeeball, and darts
MIKEYS. It’s the best bar ever, and has foosball, darts, pool, and a juke box that has free plays until 7.
Whoops, Mickey’s!
Smith and Lentz has ping pong!
Buffalo’s Billiards on 2nd has pool (probably the most tables of any bar), arcade games, skeeball, foosball, full length shuffle board, and darts. Whiskey Rhythm has Ring-and-Hook.
The Rusty Nail in Hermitage has an amazing Spinning Beer Pong.
Fairly new but Game Point Cafe in East Nashville is nothing BUT games. I think they have over 300 different board games for you to play while having a beer.
Pinball?
Headquarters Beercade has you covered! We’ll add this soon!