We all love going out to eat and grabbing a couple drinks with friends, but it can get old. It’s really fun to have something different to do at a bar or restaurant when conversation is no longer new and entertaining.
Whether it’s a card game, jenga, darts, pool, or a video game, being able to do something other than eating and drinking is really refreshing. A lot of Nashville bars and restaurants offer games, and we have compiled a list of great places with the best games in Nashville.
games & where to play in Nashville
Board Games & Cards
Jenga, Monopoly, Sorry, Gin Rummy…we wish we could play these games at every bar. While we can’t, there are several bars and restaurants that have added some games to spice things up a bit.
Two Bits: Monopoly, Checkers, Apples to Apples, Guess Who, Connect Four, Candyland, Jenga, Uno, Playing Cards
TN Brew Works: Various Board Games, Playing Cards, Cards Against Humanity
Village Pub: Various Board Games, Cards Against Humanity
Sky Blue Cafe: Trivial Pursuit
Hops & Crafts: Cards Against Humanity, Jumbling Towers, Connect Four, and many more!
The Flipside: Pick Up Sticks, Trivial Pursuit
Hurry Back: Tons of board games
Cornhole
Cornhole is definitely a favorite among people wanting to drink and play a game. It’s a classic tailgating game that now shows up at bars and restaurants with large outdoor areas. The best places to play cornhole in Nashville are Kung Fu Saloon, Rebar, and The Hop Yard at Bottom Brewing.
Bocce Ball
Bocce Ball is so much fun. Coco’s Italian Market, Pinewood Social and Mangia Nashville have bocce ball. Coco’s has two courts, and Pinewood Social and Mangia have single courts.
Coco’s Italian Market Bocce Ball Courts
Pinewood Social Bocce Ball Court
Darts
Darts are a popular bar game, so you’ll find them at a lot of places. Some of our favorite places to play cricket with friends are Broadway Brewhouse (Midtown), Beyond The Edge, Edgefield Bar, The Crying Wolf, ReBar, M.L.Rose Sylvan Park, and Martin’s Bar-B-Que in SoBro.
Darts at M.L.Rose Sylvan Park
Shuffleboard
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. Some of the best places to play include Acme, Kung Fu Saloon, Two Bits, ReBar, Red Door Saloon (Midtown), Hi-Fi Clyde’s, Martin’s Bar-B-Que (SoBro) and Broadway Brewhouse (Midtown).
Shuffleboard at Hi-Fi Clyde’s
Video & Arcade Games
If you’re looking for a spot with multiple video game options, head to Kung Fu Saloon, Two Bits or Headquarters Beercade. These spots have caused a ruckus by bringing back dozens of old school arcade games.
Acme Feed and Seed and Bastion has a few options, too.
Arcade games at Kung Fu Saloon
Ring-and-Hook Game
Bastion and The Country have a Nashville Guru favorite, the ring-and-hook game, traditionally called “ringing the bull.” It’s a simple concept, but an easy way to have fun while mingling.
Giant Jenga
GIant Jenga has become a popular bar game, especially on the patios at Kung Fu Saloon, Tennessee Brew Works, and M.L.Rose. Expect some loud toppling and “ahhhs!” when this game is going down.
Hoop Fever
M.L.Rose has Hoop Fever at two of their locations, Melrose and Sylvan Park. If basketball is your game of choice, you will want to check out one of their locations.
Foosball
Acme, Kung Fu Saloon, and Hi-Fi Clyde’s have a lot of great game options including foosball. This is a classic game, and the best part is — a lot of people can join in the fun (regardless of their blood alcohol level).
Skee Ball
Skee Ball is an old classic. Back in the day it seemed like these were everywhere (ShowBiz Pizza Place / Chuck E. Cheese’s anyone?). There are still some spots in Nashville that keep this favorite around, though. ReBar, Kung Fu Saloon, and Edgefield are a few places you can get your skee ballin’ on.
Ping Pong
When the weather is nice and you’re just craving some ping pong, Pinewood Social and Kung Fu Saloon have you covered. Hi-Fi Clyde’s and Melrose Billiards Parlor are ping pong meccas, with nets so you don’t have to chase the ping pong balls. Martin’s Bar-B-Que in SoBro also has a ping pong table in the beer garden.
Bubble Hockey
You don’t see these very often, so it was nice to see Hurry Back and Headquarters Beercade bring back the bubble hockey. It’s Predators vs. Blackhawks on a daily basis at both these spots. Get good, then challenge your Chicago friends.
Bowling
Of course, there are stand-alone bowling alleys, but few bars actually have bowling as an add-on feature. The exception is Pinewood Social. Pinewood Social has 6 lanes within the establishment, making it one of the few places to incorporate a bowling alley so gracefully. It’s $40 per lane per hour with a maximum of 6 people per lane, making it about $7 per hour for each player (if you have six players).
Pool
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 a lot of places to shoot pool in Nashville, but we love playing at Buffalo Billiards, H-Cue’s Upstairs Poolroom, and the recently renovated Melrose Billiard Parlor.
Photo Credit: Melrose Billiard Parlor
Did we leave out your favorite game or gaming bar? Let us know in the comments and we’ll go scope it out!
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!