Best Cocktail Bars in Tennessee

Tennessee whiskey gets the attention, but the state's cocktail rooms run from poolside rooftops to snug classic lounges. The best cocktail bars in Tennessee are split between Nashville and Memphis. In Nashville, Coral Club pours on Gallatin Avenue with a happy hour every day until 7pm. White Limozeen, atop Graduate by Hilton Nashville, was a U.S. East regional Top 10 honoree in the 2026 Spirited Awards hotel bar category. The Patterson House, pouring since 2009, has moved to a fifth floor on Eighth Avenue South and keeps most seats for walk-ins. In Memphis, Bar DKDC on South Cooper books live bands, and Memphis Whistle in Cooper-Young sticks to prohibition style classics. These are the bars we would start with.