The Espresso Martini Trail: Where to Order One in Nashville (2026)

Find the best espresso martini in Nashville: 8 verified bars, from draft pours in the Gulch to late-night downtown, grouped by neighborhood.

Nashville has gotten very good at the espresso martini. You can order one on draft, frozen, or on nitro. Some bars build theirs on rum, others on bourbon, and a few will make you a zero-proof version. We put together a trail of eight bars where you can count on a good one, grouped by neighborhood so you can stay close to where you're sleeping.

Every bar below is open as of early October 2026. For each stop we checked the bar's own website or menu and at least one recent independent write-up. Menus rotate, so check before you go.

How to use this trail: Don't try to do it all in one night. Pick one neighborhood per evening, have one or two drinks, eat something, and get a ride home.

The Gulch: three stops within walking distance

The Gulch is the easiest place to start. It's compact and walkable, and close to downtown and Midtown. See homes in The Gulch →

Golden Sound

610 Magazine St · The Gulch

The building was a recording studio before it became a cocktail lounge, and it now shares a door with the omakase counter Sushi | Bar. The house signature is the Golden Draft Espresso Martini, poured on tap, in two versions: The Classic and The Golden Carajillo Granita. Nashville Lifestyles described the granita as a tequila-based, icy take on the drink.

Listed hours (venue site): Wednesday–Sunday, 5–11 PM.

L.A. Jackson

401 11th Ave S (rooftop of Thompson Nashville) · The Gulch

This indoor-outdoor rooftop bar looks out over the Nashville skyline. The espresso martini on the menu is There's No X In Espresso: vodka, espresso, Licor 43 and cacao. Come at golden hour if you want the view. Entry is 21+.

Listed hours (venue site): Monday–Thursday 5 PM–midnight; Friday–Saturday 2 PM–1 AM; Sunday 2 PM–midnight.

Pullman Standard

209 10th Ave S, Suite 260 (Cummins Station; entrance on Demonbreun St) · edge of the Gulch

Pullman Standard is an art deco cocktail lounge inside historic Cummins Station. Its Nitro Espresso Martini is made with Wheatley vodka, cold brew, Mr. Black coffee liqueur, vanilla and demerara. Nitrogen gives it a smooth, creamy texture. The bar takes reservations for groups of 2–12 through OpenTable, and bar seats are first come, first served.

Listed hours (venue site): Monday–Thursday 4:30–11 PM; Friday–Saturday 2 PM–midnight; Sunday 2–9 PM.

Midtown: a frozen detour

Midtown is a short ride west of the Gulch, with Vanderbilt and West End around it. See homes in Midtown and Music Row →

Jasper's

1918 West End Ave · Midtown

Jasper's is a relaxed neighborhood bar and restaurant with darts and game-day TVs. Its Espresso Martini comes from the frozen-cocktail list: espresso vodka, Grind dark roast rum, Trader Vic's chocolate and cold brew. It's a good pick if you want food and something casual. Jasper's closes earlier than most stops on this list, so make it your first.

Listed hours (venue site): Sunday–Thursday 11 AM–9 PM; Friday–Saturday 11 AM–10:30 PM.

Downtown: two stops near the Ryman and Bridgestone

For a drink before or after a show, stay downtown. Parlour Bar is a short walk from both the Ryman Auditorium and Bridgestone Arena, and it's open late. Bar TENN is a few blocks west, inside Holston House, and closes at 11 PM, so it works best before the show. See what's playing on our Nashville events calendar.

Parlour Bar at Dream Nashville

210 4th Ave N · Downtown

Parlour Bar is a low-lit, jewel-toned martini lounge a few blocks off Broadway. Instead of the usual vodka build, its Espresso Martiki uses a rum blend, espresso liqueur, cold brew and cold foam. If you'd rather skip the alcohol, the zero-proof Naspresso Martini uses Luxardo NA amaro, a rum alternative, cold brew and maple syrup.

Listed hours (venue site): Sunday–Thursday 5 PM–midnight; Friday–Saturday 5 PM–1 AM.

Bar TENN at Holston House

118 7th Ave N (off the lobby of Holston House) · Downtown

Bar TENN is a speakeasy-style bar tucked just off the Holston House hotel lobby, with Tennessee whiskey, small plates and live music on select nights. Its espresso martini riff is The Night Shift: espresso-infused Jose Cuervo tequila, coffee liqueur and amaro. Nashville Lifestyles included it in its espresso martini roundup and described the tequila as slowly infused through coffee beans. If you're hungry, the bar menu has flatbreads, truffle fries and a smashburger.

Listed hours (venue site): daily 3–11 PM.

Germantown and Marathon Village: draft pours and a whole espresso martini menu

Germantown is just north of downtown, with historic streets and one of the city's best restaurant rows. Marathon Village is a short ride west. See homes in Germantown →

Barrel Proof

1010 4th Ave N · Germantown

This whiskey bar stocks more than 300 bottles, and it also pours an espresso martini on tap: vodka, Mr. Black coffee liqueur and cold brew. The menu also lists a non-alcoholic espresso martini, which helps when your group doesn't all want the same night. There's a heated front patio.

Listed hours (venue site): opens 4 PM Monday–Thursday and 11 AM Friday–Sunday; kitchen until 1 AM daily.

Grandpa Bar

1501 Herman St, Suite 123 (Marathon Village; enter on Herman St between N 14th and N 16th, east of the APEX garage)

Grandpa Bar is a coffee shop by day and a cocktail bar by night, and espresso martinis are the specialty. Nashville Lifestyles called it arguably the city's most famous espresso martini spot. The menu includes Chai Me A River (bourbon, house espresso, demerara, chai and spices), The Fault of Kate Moss, Mocha Chino and a monthly rotating feature. If you can't decide, order the espresso martini flight.

Listed hours (venue site): closed Monday–Tuesday; Wednesday–Thursday 3–10 PM; Friday–Saturday 10 AM–midnight; Sunday 10 AM–10 PM.

Drink smart, ride home

  • Espresso doesn't cancel out alcohol. According to the CDC, caffeine doesn't reduce alcohol's effects and can make you feel less impaired than you are. Pace yourself and drink water between rounds.

  • Plan the ride before the first drink. Use a rideshare or taxi between neighborhoods, and never drive after drinking. Agree on a pickup spot before you head out, since downtown streets get busy after shows.

  • Try a zero-proof version. Parlour Bar and Barrel Proof both list non-alcoholic espresso martinis.

  • Bring ID. You must be 21 or older to drink, and some venues on this list are 21+ to enter.

  • Eat something. Several stops serve food, including Jasper's, Barrel Proof, Pullman Standard and Bar TENN.

Stay walking distance from the trail

The easiest way to do the trail is to sleep close to it. Our homes are spread across the neighborhoods above, so you can walk to the first round and take a short ride home from the last.

Find a home near the trail → · Explore our neighborhoods · See what's on this week

Drinks, hours and menus come from each venue's own website as of October 3, 2026, and can change without notice. Confirm with the bar before you go.