Taking over the former Walden space in East Nashville, Tiger Bar is what happens when P.T. Barnum gets his hands on a modern-day saloon. The retro circus-themed bar comes courtesy of the Pearl Diver crew — you can enjoy your freezer martini or cotton candy-topped negroni in one of the booths fashioned to look like a sideshow railcar before diving into high-touch snacks like the Panisse & Caviar, a chickpea fritter topped with crème fraîche and caviar.

Named in honor of David “Skull” Schulman, the local behind Skull’s Rainbow Room and the pioneer of Nashville’s authentic dive bar scene, Schlman’s is a tried-and-true dive bar with dart boards, a jukebox, and an old-school cigarette machine that dispenses cartons. The drink menu is tightly curated and includes a martini, a negroni, a bushwhacker, and a seasonal margarita. The bar — which also offers fried bologna sandwiches and fried pickles for munching on — is open seven days a week until 2 a.m.

Owner Martin Terporten opened this classy old-world European cocktail bar back in October with a strong list of seasonal drinks, spritzes, and low-to-no ABV sips. The Netherlands native chose East Nashville for his bar, and it’s been a welcome addition to the neighborhood ever since thanks to cocktails like the La Primavera with tequila, St. Germain, Creme de Mure, lemon, and vanilla extract, paired with bites like crunchy fried gravy balls, fries topped with Dutch mayo and curry sauce, and free bowls of popcorn.

Barrel Proof Nashville is the second location of the New Orleans Garden District bar from partners Liam Deegan, Jason Sorbet, and Robert LeBlanc. Located in Germantown next to First Horizon Park, the emphasis at this casual hang is on brown spirits — the bar inside boasts over 300 bottles, with 80 percent of them falling squarely in the whiskey category. Don’t expect servers here — or the ability to make reservations. Place your order for food at the open kitchen window and wait for a buzzer to alert you when your cheeseburger is ready to be picked up.

Drift Nashville’s in-house bar is a mid-century-modern-in-Palm-Springs dream, with a terrazzo-flecked bar, sunny floor-to-ceiling windows, and potted cacti. The cocktail menu here is as effervescent and light as the vibe, with produce-heavy drinks (think: strawberry, kiwi, Fuji apple, coconut, and citrus) spiked with vodka, gin, and mezcal. Spanish tapas like pan con tomate (sourdough topped with confit tomato), jamon iberico, and various conservas serve as a light accompaniment to the subtle sips.

Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery recently completed a full-scale renovation to expand the mercantile shop, add an onsite restaurant, and update the interiors. Part of those updates include a full-service bar offering flights of Nelson’s products and cocktails crafted with the distillery’s bourbons and whiskeys, as well as their new house-made vodka and gin. Try the Cold Fashioned, a frozen twist on the classic Old Fashioned.

Sean Brock recently swapped out his mid-century supper club in Downtown for Bar Continental, a hi-fidelity record bar and lounge inspired by the Japanese “kissas” that gained popularity in the 1950s. The reimagined space features two distinct bars — The Wolf Bar and The Onken Bar — in addition to the main dining room, where vintage McIntosh and Tannoy speakers allow guests to listen to one of the bar’s 5,000 records while dining on one of the weekday specials (burgers, wings, Japanese pizza, and sushi make regular appearances) and sipping on beer.

Nashville has its very own nightclub dedicated to house music with Night We Met. Located in the former 12th & Porter building in the Gulch, the club is split into two venues: the Vera Lounge and the Club Room, both outfitted with Void Acoustic Sound Systems and art installations. In both rooms, you’ll find a sustainable cocktail program led by mixologists Owen Gibler (Roze Pony, Employees Only) and Harrison Drost featuring their twists on espresso martinis, Palomas, and Old Fashioneds using kegged cocktails and traditional service.

Virgin Nashville’s speakeasy-style space, The Late Great, is an eclectic, yet comfy, space adorned with folk art paintings, country music memorabilia, love seats, and couches. The bar focuses on savory drinks — like the White Lightenin’ made with vodka, cucumber, lemon, Greek yogurt, and dill — developed by Hope Rice, who formerly collaborated with the bar at Audrey. In lieu of shots, the menu also features “pocket cocktails,” miniature-size versions of classic drinks that are ideal for sampling without committing to the full-size version.

To find Jar, a speakeasy-style cocktail club in Hillsboro Village, look for the yellow brick road outside of Bungalow10. From there, you’ll follow it into a 3,600-square-foot space outfitted with funky, jewel-tone couches, wraparound LED screens on the wall, bamboo plants, and DJs spinning hip hop and 90s/2000s hits. Signature cocktails like the Light Night Alibi (tequila, Chambord, agave, and lime in a jar glass) fuel the night along with flights of shots. When the munchies inevitably strike, you’ll find wings, salmon bites, and Buffalo chicken tenders ready and waiting to be devoured.