Priya B.
Yelp
I've been waiting for a special occasion to write up my favorite bar in Nashville and their two-year anniversary seemed like the perfect opportunity!
The only place to get an alcoholic beverage in the micro food hall known as the Wash, Bay 6 markets itself as an "Izakaya-ish" bar (ie the design is supposed to be small, intimate, casual but a great place for hanging out / having good times). It is all of those things and more. With a seasonally-updated menu arranged by flavor that comes with the most beautiful and very helpful hand-drawn pictures of drinks (and often funny, inventive names for drinks), Bay 6 makes it incredibly easy to choose a beverage you'll really want to enjoy. They make all of their syrups/cordials in house and everything tastes so FRESH here that it's made it hard for me to want to get a drink anywhere else. Bay 6 is known for inventive, bordering on Asian-influenced flavors and I've truly some of the most interesting drinks of my life here. My all-time favorite drink they make (the Jackie Daytona) involves ingredients I never would have thought belong in a drink (carrot cordial, fernet, Coca Cola), but is so perfectly balanced and flavorful, it just really showcases the skills of the bartenders here. One of my favorite things about this bar is the rotating specialty spirits it always has. I've tried some of the most interesting amaro's and love that they absolutely pay attention to all the unique notes of a spirit before designing a drink around that spirit. Such a great place to try and learn about something new!
If alcohol isn't your thing, this is also my favorite bar to get a non-alcoholic beverage, since it has such a wide range of tasty options including inventive mocktails, NA beer, my favorite NA amaro soda, local kombucha, or a bartender's choice mocktail. I spent almost a year not drinking and still really loved coming here because I always knew I had tasty options I could enjoy.
Lastly, it's hard not to talk about Bay 6 without mentioning how amazing the people who work here are. It's more than incredible service, the whole crew at Bay 6 makes this such a fun and welcoming atmosphere to hang out in. My favorite place to come read a book be have a drink and be alone OR my favorite place to come with a friend or my dog and chat with other patrons or the bartender: there is always just a pleasant, very chill atmosphere. You can sit inside and order food from another Wash eatery and have it brought to you at your seat or get a drink to go and eat on the patio. Bay 6 hosts lots of fun events with drink specials throughout the week, my favorite of which happens Tuesday nights when they cover the bar in drawing paper, provide a plethora of colored pencils and allow you to unleash your inner Bob Ross.
I am usually able to find parking on the street when I come here, but occasionally (during bad weather) splurge on the pretty cheap, closer paid options. My friends who live nearby also recommend parking across the street near the OTF lot.
Overall a total gem a hangout place and Nashville is so lucky to have Beau and team bringing such great flavors and execution to the drink scene here!