Play Dance Bar

There are so many reasons that my friends and I keep coming back to Play over and over. My first visit to play was in 2016 and I continue to be wowed by the Queens and the employees. First, the drag queens are absolutely top notch. Vanity is hilarious, kind, and humble. Aquamarine is always so remarkable, Corlis’ makeup is always spot on, and Deception has been a personal favorite since my very first visit 8 years ago. The bartenders are great and I always feel like I can approach them. I always feel safe here and on the very rare occasion that something needs to be addressed, the bartenders are quick to help. Play continues to be a favorite.

the drag performers were AMAZING and gave such a great performance. the problem came when the announcer told me and my friends we weren’t allowed to dance along with the queens. we were having fun, dancing with the queens to their songs, and we tipped every queen, some with cash and others on venmo, and were told if we wanted to dance we had to go to the floor and not “interrupt the show.” we were in no way being disrespectful and again were tipping each of the queens. were we expected to sit the whole time? we later had people come up to us saying we were bringing the energy and brought up the atmosphere, so it seemed like no one was bothered by us. again, the queens were absolutely amazing, but it didn’t feel great being called out like that.

I really hate to write this, but I was visiting friends for Pride and the bar itself seemed so great based on what people had told us, but the experience wasn’t that great. A lot of this is probably because it was Pride weekend, but the service was not on par with the price. Just to be ultra clear: the service we did get was great! The bartenders were working as hard as they could, and were super friendly to all the guests. The drinks were good too. The big issue was that $25/person for cover and $90+ for drinks for 3 did not match the service id expect. It was an hour+ just to be served, and the bar was incredibly short staffed. Bathroom lines? I get it. Lines in general? I get it, but at that price I expected extra staffing to handle the rush of Pride weekend. Someone threw up right by the door and it just sat there for an hour as people walked through, which I get it lol it’s bar on Pride night, but this was RIGHT by the door guy. The staff I did get to interact with were awesome, just not enough for the event. Not sure why they were so short staffed but yeah, maybe next year.

Love the Drag Show. Went with my daughter who lives in Nashville and her friend. We had such a wonderful time. Very respectful crowd and respectable atmosphere. The show was professional and very entertaining. WE SUPPORT YOU!!! STAND STRONG 💪

This club used to be so much fun. I’ve been going here for 15+ years, but since The management has changed. They have turned it into a straight bar. They’re more concerned with posting pictures of straight guys with their shirts off then the actual community that helped this business thrive. The patrons notice it and the employees also notice it. Joey really needs to be more aware of what’s going on inside this place.

Play is a lot of fun and a must visit in Nashville. I really like how the shows are separate from the dance area so they never interfere with each other. Always a friendly atmosphere with good drinks.

One of my highlights of Nashville! So much fun to go to, watch, drink dance and play! I recommend going here to see one of the shows and enjoying the dual dance floors they have. The Drag show was great with great music, dance and beautiful stage performances. The Drinks are excellent and poured strong. I will definitely have to come back for another good time.

Had my first clubbing experience here and it was SO MUCH FUN! The atmosphere was not at all exclusionary to people under 21(save for the drinks) and the music was amazing the dancefloor ambiance was awesome! 10/10 Will be coming back.

While visiting Play Louisville we found out there was a Play Nashville and made it a point to stop. This location at first seemed a little low key but we got there early. Things would up as the note went along. People were so friendly and approachable. Performers were energetic and so entertaining. Bartenders were friendly and kept the drinks flowing. Although smaller than Louisville, performers made an effort to work the stage and room. There is a dance area and n the next room while further down another bar called Tribes. Love this place.

Absolutely terrible experience. As a queer person visiting a red state from out of town, we were looking for a queer friendly place to visit. Play was anything OTHER than that. They treated us (a group of queer athletes patronizing from out of town) SO POORLY. The "security guard" was caustic, condescending, and aggressive. They were only in it to collect covers. They did not honor an agreement with a local queer sports league and threatened to call security when we simply asked them to honor the agreement published on the website. Queer spaces should NOT prioritize profit over community. We took our QUEER money elsewhere because they weren't going to get a CENT from us after how we were treated. Shame on Play for treating queer people this way. Never again.

Friends invited me to the gay bar and I was on it! Pretty sure the scene is slim in Nashville but we had fun closing it down here. The drinks were good and the music was great. It smelled clean, like bleach when we walked in which I don't mind. Lol the bathrooms were clean and it was a good time for all!

I'm mixed on this place. I love what it stands for, that it's 18+ (took my sister when visiting), and the entertainment, but it's really lacking in decor & general function inside. There's so much space that could be used better. The one side is the show room with a few tables, a bar, and a stage. I've been in there twice. The other side is more of a club, a bit of a different vibe, and outside is a totally different experience. Lots of cheeky and old signs lining the walls - feels more like an auto shop than a club. I celebrated my birthday doing the drag brunch and enjoyed the experience but the brunch itself was lackluster for the price. I also did the big drag bus and that was a fun time, but too expensive when you're also expected to tip the whole time. (I know drag is about tipping, but the up front costs seem steep.) I've done all the experiences here so probably won't have a reason to go back, but if you haven't been yet, it's worth checking out & doing brunch or the bus. Support your local queens!

Eh. Have been here numerous times. Tonight, a bartender told me that "I should tip better if I want stronger drinks" after a tipped minimally because I was using my friend's card buying a drink for her because she was occupied. I wasn't going to tip 25%+ on a card that wasn't mine. The rest of the bar tenders were nice, though, and the drag was good.

Tried to tell them that I had just had surgery and threw up because of that but they kicked me and my friends out because I threw up in a trashcan.

Play Nashville in Nashville Tennessee. Play Nashville is a night club in downtown Nashville. The location is ten minutes away from the famous Boardway of Nashville. This is a LGBTQIA+ club but the club also is for anyone that just want to have a good time and enjoy their self's. They are with welcome arms to the whole community. As you walk into Play Nashville, You go to the left. You have someone checking your ID's. You can be 18 years and older for this club. 18 through 20 gets a wristband and a big X on their hands and 21+ just get a wristband and available to drink alcohol. After you get your wristband, you walk to the cashier and the cost for Saturday June 18, 2023 was $15.00 cover fee to enter the club. I paid for two people so it was $30.00 for me which isn't bad at all. The place is cash only! They do have ATM's in the lobby. After paying, you have two options, you can go left the night club or you can go right to the drag show stage. Both rooms has full size bars in them. So you don't have to go far to get a drink. You can navigate easily through the club. It's literally just a big cycle. So you shouldn't get lost. The nightclub is actually pretty big. I wasn't expecting the night club being that big. You have your bar on the left and your Dj on the right. I liked how there was seats on the side that is high up so if you want to stay away from then crowds then you can just sit back and relax or just talk to people and enjoying a drink but the nightclub was just a club in the end. Really nothing special about it. You can see there was way too many 18 years old through 20 years old in the club which is fine to me. I just want to let everyone know that it's more of a younger crowd. The drinks was so cheap! Like literally they was about seven to eight bucks each. We are from Washington DC and the same drinks we would've got in DC. The cost for one would be $18.00 each. We was so surprised. Trust me, we definitely to an advantage of those prices. Best prices I seen in a while! Now I do want to talk about this. The drink I get is called liquid marijuana. I did see how the bartender make it. They made the drink differently than the drink is made. I don't know if it's just how Play Nashville makes the drink but it's different. I didn't get drunk after 4-5 of the liquid marijuanas drinks which is good but it was disappointing I didn't drunk like my friends did and I only drink those drinks because I don't like tasting the alcohol and love when it alcohol sneaks up on you. I haven't drink anything since awhile. Don't get me wrong though the drink was delicious! The drag show area. Now, I am from Louisville Kentucky and Play Nashville is the sister location of Play Louisville and I hate comparing the two because you want different experiences from different locations but I was hoping for the same experience for the drag show. The show was amazing!!! The girls did a hell of a job. They was beautiful and slaying away that stage but I am talking about the stage size mainly and how small the stage is compared to Play Louisville size. When I walk into the drag show room and saw the stage. I was thought to myself on how small that stage was and the room of the area. The booths even looks small. I was very surprised about it. I loved how Play Louisville drag area has space and big enough to enjoy the show but unfortunately Play Nashville I didn't get the same experience and felt squished with all the people around the stage. They do have tables and booths like I mentioned in my previous comment above but those are reserved during busy nights. I just hope maybe they can accommodate that in the future because small stages to me just don't give the girls freedom for them to experience their drag but that's just my opinion. It's like Play Louisville nightclub is small and Play Nashville is big while the drag show area is small and the Play Louisville is big. Very interesting to me. The staff was amazing. They was so nice and helpful. The guy at the cashier was so kind. He asked us if the we been to Play Nashville before and we said "no" and then told us about the place and where to go during our visit. They all had a smile on their faces and look like they enjoy their jobs. The place is clean from what I saw during our visit but you do see drinks on the floor which is normal with drunk people around. I didn't get to see the bathrooms. So I couldn't say if they was clean or not. There is no food at Play Nashville but they do advertise the business right next do. As long you got a your wristband. There is a re-entry to Play Nashville. So you can go get food next door and come back after you are finished. That is something I loved about it. Get food during a good time is a plus! We do recommend Play Nashville! It's a great club for any kind of fun. We had good time during our visit and can't wait to go back the future. Overall 4.7/5

Howdy folks. How's everyone doing on this fine Monday evening? Or maybe Tuesday by the time you read this. Either way, Nasty Nathanial here and it's time for another one of my "Nasty" reviews. Right now I am going to be taking all of you Yelpers to Music City USA. I'm talking about Nashville, Tennessee. So strap on your seat belts, or something else(wink, wink), and let's blast off to a gay bar called Play. Ok I was in Nashville visiting my friend, and fellow 1st Amendment Activist Silent Citizen. Now even though he's straight, he wanted to show his gay friend, which is me, the gay scene in Nashville. And thanks to the magic of Google, we ended up at Play. Actually, we were headed to another gay bar called Tribe. But walking past Play my friend, who suddenly became an expert on Nashville gay bars, thought that Play would be a better choice. Hmmmmmmm? So Play it was. Walking inside we came upon two gentlemen at a booth who informed us both that there was a $5 cover charge to get inside. WTF! I'm sorry but cover charges really annoy the s*** out of me. I mean these bars are already charging an arm and a leg for drinks. But apparently that isn't good enough and they feel the need to step it up by charging a cover charge. I say it's nonsense. But what could this gay boy do? Go someplace else is what I should've done. But for whatever reason my friend really wanted to check this place out and so he gladly paid the b.s. cover charge. Strike 1 there. Once we got inside I noticed that this was a decent sized bar. Actually, it was more like a venue. There was a drag show going on which was kind of groovy. Drag shows can be fun to watch. However, only about half the place was filled. If even half at all. I remember going to drag shows at Hula's in Waikiki and the place would be packed. Why so few people here? I think I have an idea. So my friend and I order our drinks, two margaritas on the rocks. For those of you who know my reviews well will know that this is my drink of choice. But Play's margaritas would fall short of any expectations I had. This where strike 2 comes into play. More like strikes 2 and 3. For one, our margaritas were served in small plastic cups. WTF! Why do so many bars nowadayz think they can get away with this crap. Especially when they're charging the kind of prices they are. In this case they were $10. Jeez. Not only were the margaritas served in plastic cups and overpriced, they didn't even taste that good. I might as well of been drinking lemonade. That's how weak this margarita was. This definitely didn't taste anything like Gabe's margarita back at The Pumping Station in Memphis. One thing I did kind of dig about this place was they had a groovey outdoor patio area where people could go chill with their drinks. Or in Silent Citizen's case, have him a puff. This is probably the only reason why I'm not giving this place 1 star. But it didn't really make up for the lack of everything else that had failed at this place. Speaking of the patio area, it was here that my friend attempted to chat with some of the performers that we had watched earlier. That's the thing about Silent Citizen. He'll attempt to make friends with just about anyone. But these girls we'd just seen minutes before were kind of snooty. It's almost as if they had the whole "talk to the hand" thing going on. That or maybe they don't like this place either. Either way, they're attitudes helped to further kill the vibe of this place, not that the lame cover charge hadn't already done that. All in all I'm going to say that this placed sucked. It really did. The sad thing is this place has the potential to be a really groovy gay hang out spot for Nashville. But apparently the management here doesn't seem to give a hoot about keeping long term loyal customers. Instead they only seem interested in a quick cash grab. This is probably why this place probably won't be around for very much longer. I know I won't be back. The next time I'm in Nashville I think I'll go "Play" at Peckers instead. Until next time, may the margaritas be with you. That is unless they are served in plastic cups and cost $10. Happy trails. NASTY NATHANIAL

Good drinks great night club. We had blast here the dancer floor was packed and the music was really good. They also had a grate drag show we watched about 7 queens perform and they were all good. The place is really large and well lit. They do have cover a charge and you must pay in cash so bring cash with you. It's great spot for a night out will go back.

I had heard of this place a ton since college. I had never been, but always heard it was a blast. The opportunity arose once planning the surprise birthday of a friend. I was a little skeptical about going, but it wasn't my birthday so we went. We rented a booth for our group. Even better, we dressed for the theme of the night and got in free. The shows were a blast and boy did they have the moves. I seriously had a blast with our group. Music and vibe was on point. As the night progressed the place got crowded. Even better there's a dance room for intermission.

This place was amazing! Took my 18 year old daughter for the first time to her first club. Everyone so nice. We did get there super early so we could get a table up front for the drag Queen show. It started at nine I would say get there about 8 and free parking off 18th and state street. We had an absolute blast and able to support my daughter. Since we parked downtown and that cost $25 we parked in front of the Gardner school. It as few blocks down from the club. They have fun heavy drinks too even though I'm not in the party scene.

Kicked out for asking for water. Despite paying the cover charge and 70 dollars the previous night, kicked out by security for waiting in line and asking for a plastic cup of water. God forbid you dance for 30 minutes straight and ask for some ice water. Beware of going and them charging you 15+ dollars only to leave you on the sidewalk. I hope this place gets found out for the cash grab it is with the ruthless security and the apathetic bartenders. Ruined my friends and my night.

Andrew was absolutely amazing he made our whole night!! P.S need more fans outside!!!

Honestly one of the worst experiences of my life. Was taken here unaware that it was a drag show. They claim there is a separate room with a dance floor but all I saw were gay men waiting for someone to get with. Multiple men walked into the girls bathroom when the men's was directly next door. Keep in mind they would walk in the stalls together and we all know what they were doin in there. My friend got hit on repeatedly after telling this girl she was straight. The girl asked "do you think it is hard to go down on another girl" despite learning my friend was straight. Please do not go if you are straight and just looking for a club type place, this is not the one to go to. You will feel violated as did my friend and i that night. Would not recommend!

As a New Yorker, I'm accustomed to the travel norms of different parts of the country. I'm at this club and umm..yeah. all I can say is that Di'Angelo the bartender is sexy, cool, and makes a strong drink. He salvaged my night. The drag show was ok. Leah...Leo was the show stopper.

Anything BUT a gay bar. It's the WORST "gay" bar I've been to. I counted 10 "couples" and two of them where homosexual couples. Last I checked I was going to a GAY bar, not a heterosexual bar. SO disappointed and the manager was completely useless

This place is a money grab. It's really a waste of time and money. You pay for tickets then the queens come out and put on a sub-par show with little entertainment for a quick money grab. We all understand that money needs to be made but this place is kind of a joke.

No much variety of music to my taste. DQ shows are really short but they are fun. Ive been a couple of times and it's always half empty.

It's a straight bar with ok drag, have fun. I myself I would not go if I knew this. Spend your money elsewhere.

Play is a gay bar with drag queen performances and fun music to dance to. A couple of friends were in town and they wanted to come here. I ended up having so much fun here. There is a cover at the door but I didn't mind considering that it was a fun show. The queens did a great job and they certainly worked the crowd very well. Drinks were pretty good and the bartenders provided good service in spite of it being completely packed when we came. The venue is pretty large and I was shocked at what a big crowd there was. Overall the atmosphere is very welcoming and the people are friendly. I recommend it!

Wanna play? Then come to Play! Play is a great place where they offer awesome drag shows, strong drinks, and a great crowd to mingle with! I had a great time with my friend visiting here. We watched a drag queen and drag king show that lasted about an hour. Quality truly exists here, and to get in is really cheap - only $5 on the night we came. If you are under 21, admission is $10. I am sure the pricing varies when there is a special guest, but $5 for the pure entertainment we encountered was more than worth the money spent. A couple of suggestions if attending a drag show - bring dollar bills. It is just like going to the strip club sans losing the clothes. Tips are appreciated and are encouraged. The second part of my suggestion is come with an open-mind. Nashville is slowly progressively opening up more and more. Play is perfect to encourage that openness. If you want a fun date night and want to mix things up a bit - Play is the perfect chance to do that. The performers are fun and engaging with their audience. This was my first time to see a drag king. What's a drag king? A woman dressed as a man. I loved it. His act was a lot of fun. We did not dance while visiting. However, you could tell there was plenty of space for it if that was what you wanted to do. When I move down to Nashville, I am sure I will partake in the dance floor at some point. I will see you soon and can't wait come out and 'play'! Yes, I do enjoy puns. :)

Okay, two stars is hella generous and I feel bad giving two stars, but I'm being honest and true to my experience. I arrived around 845pm, the show starts at 9. There was a $15 cover, which is a little steep, but hey that just means their show is going to be AWESOME right?!? The space is nice and open, not a lot of seating, more standing room then seats, and the few tables there were in front were reserve only seating. I found a seat and waited patiently. The show started and the opening was a video of the main cast singing the classic drag opener. Definitely getting in the mood, ready to go. Rules: 1. Screaming/Cheering is a MUST! 2. Tipping, YES PLEASE! (Disclaimer: can only give tips by hand and place in Queens hand ONLY) 3. Forgot the rest. HAVE FUN! The first queen comes out and sings a country song and walks back and forth on the stage. Okay, that was a little disappointing. Second queen walks out, sings a country song, walks back and forth on stage. Okay, they are just warming up...I think. Third, fourth, fifth, sixth queen in a row comes out in state, sings a country song, walks back and forth on stage and exits. I have to say the Minnesota Queens I've seen would make the Nashville Queens I've seen tonight look pathetic(sorry not sorry-for a $15 cover). None of them did anything other then walk back and forth and sing songs. Mostly country. No death drops, no splits, no back bends and no dropping it low. Nothing. Two rounds of disappointment....it is now 1015pm. A queen comes out and says "Thank you, that was our show, either mingle, check out the other dance floors and stick around for the 11pm show or have a good night thanks for coming out!" IM SORRY...WHAT?!? $15 for that?!? I'm glad I didn't buy a drink. I was about to at one point, but overheard a lady in another group complain about how 1 shot of fireball was $8 and it was the smallest shot she has ever had. I had the Nashville Drag experience, and I will just stick to Minnesota Drag! Minnesota Queens clearly know what they are doing and how to properly entertain!!

Pretty decent place minus the pricey cover charge and it's 2021 and it's cash only for the cover charge?!?! Get with the times!!!! Friendly staff, good drinks and service

I had a great time here and I loved the Drag Show. Everyone was so nice but I didn't like the fact a security guard tapped me on my shoulder because he though I was underage drinking. Besides that I had fun time. I thought it was cool how there was no smoking inside but they had a part for everyone to go smoke outside.

Was recommended this place as the best gay bar. Not a safe lgbt space. My gf and I were asked by multiple men to dance ( which is fine, we love to dance) but we're then touched inappropriately. Many guests were under 21 and drinking. Music was bland and DJs did not even look at me when I tried to recommend a song.

Only time to go is on Friday ,Saturday and maybe Sunday . Other than that dont waste your money . It's a fun a place to dance when it's busy and the drag show is actually great . But good lord the staff is not friendly and they rude . FYI they charge on there slow days so be ready to pay . Cash only!!

Dance lessons are free on Wednesday nights 7:30-8:30. Very good instructors and lots of fun! Then after the class there is lots of dancing. Great way to spend a Wednesday night.

This place is literally trash. Absolutely sad. Literally no room to even breath. Over priced and super disgusting. The "girls" or whatever at the front literally took my friends legal ID and refused to give it back. So I'm sure they will enjoy the letter from my attorney. My drink tasted like water (literally no alcohol). And to top it off the drag is next to mediocre. Kisses boo

It's insulting not only to those who have been out of work for the past year, but also to healthcare workers at how little this bar seems to care about covid. Tables are still piled on top of each other. Drag queens aren't taking precautions. PrEP doesn't protect you from covid!

Wonderfully inviting atmosphere welcoming all! Drag shows are phenomenal! Try and look out for Trevor, the most incredible bartender who makes my night better every time I see him! Truly a gem at Play!

Absolutely loved the show. We reserved a booth for our bachelorette party and we had an absolutely amazing time! Dancing and watching the girls perform made for a great night. Our waitress was on top of all our drink orders and never left us thirsty. She was the sweetest. The bartenders were so nice and did great with the drinks. When it was almost time to leave, we found a hot dog stand outside serving Mac and cheese which brought my girls so much joy! I definitely recommend Play. The one in Louisville, KY is also great!

With talented drag and a great DJ, this was an exceptional NYE party and just as great when I returned during the year.

Went for my sisters bachelorette party and had a blast! Definitely recommend for a fun night with AMAZING drinks! Pink lemonade was so yummy for those who like their drinks sweet!

Very fun only a $5 cover on Sunday night, I had a wonderful time and very good service and the bartender in the dance room was very accommodating and nice.

Okay... if you are going to Nash for a bachelorette party... you need to stop by here. So fun! So full of energy. We went on a Thursday which happens to be Ladies Night. We reserved a booth ahead of time ($75) which was worth it for the 6 of us. No cover charge when you reserve a booth. Loved the Kings and Queens. Bartenders were super nice and easy to talk with. Bring your $1 bills! Or make change at the bar. They also have a DJ and dance floor in the other room. Fun spot! Enjoy!

$15 cover. The staff is friendly. The music played is pop, hip hop, edm. The drag queens are good performers! The crowd is a nice mix of younger and older. I had an amazing time!

What a fun place!!! The drag performance was amazing (even though I didn't know all the songs). Get there early to find a seat, the cover is $10, there are 2 shows so you could even stay for both. Bring your singles for the ladies, they really deserve it. There is a separate dance floor if you'd rather spend your time dancing, there are 2 bars for easy access to drinks. As an out of town visitor, I loved the diversity and vibe, it was so open and friendly. If I'm ever back in town, I'll definitely be returning.

Great entertainment. Cash cover, one sorta working ATM. They could benefit with card readers. AC must be out. And an incredibly rude bartender. Shouldn't have to wait 15 minutes for a single drink when I was second in line. Learn where your well and line is, and stop leaving the bar to talk to your friends. Never got a drink because he kept helping everyone else that didn't have to wait in line. My first bartender was super nice, and great. No wonder why his line was long. Definitely not a nice "welcome to our club" at all. Super nice patrons in the club.

We were visiting friends who recently moved to Nashville and were in the market for a bar that had a good DJ and we stumbled across this gem of a bar. There is a cover but that pays for itself and the drinks, entertainment, and bartenders/staff made for an incredible experience.

I lost my glasses just before they closed. I knew exactly where they were. We were all kicked out because of last call, and when I asked the bouncer, he would not let me in to retrieve them. I make my way in and they were all just eating pizza!! Security was called on me, and I was kicked out again. My home is an hour away and I'm unable to see without my glasses. If I could have just gone to the back where they were I wouldn't have had to risk my life to get home. It was utterly terrifying driving in the dark. I'm happy I made it. If you lose important things here, don't expect them back. When I called in the morning, I was told I was out of luck. It's a fun place over all, but after coming for so long I thought they would treat their patrons a little better. I'm very disappointed.

Look, if you are looking for fun drag shows, strong drinks, or a festive dance floor, with a gay friendly vibe, then Play is where you go. I come here on various occasions mainly to see my friend, Britney Banks, perform in drag. She's fierce, as are all the queens. Sometimes they have guest drag queens too, including the ones from Ru Paul's Drag Race. Sure wish I could party on weeknights still and I'd be going to see them. There's a cover at the door, this last time it was $10, but that goes to pay for your drag entertainment so don't feel bad about paying it. Plus, it includes going to the cluuuuub and getting your dance on!! I usually get there early so I have no problems getting drinks. The boys working the bar are...god...eye candy. Super hot and super strong drinks! I appreciate those things in a bar. Be sure to order from the same bartender each time though, I can't remember what the reason is, but they want you to do that, so do it. There's a patio out back for the smokers and bathrooms that are marked men's and women's but you can go in whichever one you want. The vibe is friendly and inclusive every time I have been there and I appreciate that! Even my boyfriend loves coming to this place with me. The regular drag queens are awesome entertainers, as are the guests that they have on the weekends. Of course, I am partial to Britney Banks when she gets to perform because she's my girl. But you will enjoy it no matter what. Be sure to tip the queens!! Also, if you want to reserve a table, do it in advance - I think it is like $40? And there are booths also which are a bit more. The club side of this place is also fun....this is the closest you are going to get to a Vegas nightclub in Nashville. Or really ANY nightclub in Nashville. If you want to dance, this is where you go. Seriously, this place is always a good time and I love coming here on a random weekend to party. Never change, Play! Never change!!

I really wish that I could give this bar a better review. This place is disgusting! The men's room was closed off. Two of the women's stalls I walked into were flooded. I'm grossed out for life!

Full disclosure: I'm not the authority in the bar scene here in Nashville. I typically only see these places once every three years when someone is visiting; so, I can only speak from a visitor's point of view while I live here in Nashville. Play is awesome as far as bars go. Decor-wise, when you walk into the bar, your first impression is the recently renovated show bar with a large stage, sleek panels, cafe area and two risered sections. Note: The riser area on the far end is VIP only and costs $50 to enter. You'll get the same view from almost anywhere so you can either knock yourself out and let people see that you have the money to sit there or sit with the rest of us commoners. The bar is broken into technically four areas. The show bar, the dance bar, the entry/lounge and the smoking area. The dance bar is as nice as anything I've ever been to in NYC, Chicago or California. The mix is great. They also have a lot of events in this space, too, like fashion shows and smaller concerts. The drag show is obviously the big draw. "Deeranged," the hostess and emcee is world-class. First, she's classy. Second, she's hilarious. Third, she goes beyond the normal boy-in-a-dress lipsynch and really challenges herself as a theatrical artist. This night, she did "What's Going On" dresses as The Mad Hatter (and not the Party City costume version either) and "Bohemian Rhapsody" as Edward Scissorhands. The entire audience sat in awe the entire 7 to 10 minutes. The other "playmates" are also excellent. I'm not big on the plastic surgery drag queens. I like a full illusion and someone who out of drag shocks you as a boy. Expect a ton of bachelorette parties at the 11 pm show. Ladies, we love you, but GEEZ you can really be disrespectful to the performers. For a more respectful experience, enjoy the 1 am show. If you have problems with loud music, the show mix is actually perfect. Crowd-wise, I really don't know. It changes, it seems. Stereotypically, it's a "twinky" crowd. Oh, and ask for Kyle as your bartender and double tip him. He's amazing!

Good lawd. I had such a FUN time here. From the talented drag performances that had me entranced to the stiff cocktails and friendly crowd... this is a spot to get your party-on. We were a bit tipsy but brought a large group to hang out in the VIP box so we certainly spoiled. Thanks Suzy Wong! Everyone and anyone would have a good time here.

After getting a tip from the bartender at Tribe, next door, to check out Play - I have to say, I was very impressed! The main part of the club has a stage, tables and a basic bar (no draft beer, just bottles) with the emcee/projection area neatly tucked away above the bar on the floor above. It was ladies night - and a Drag King competition was about to commence. I have never seen so many young lesbians - all under drinking age - and so much hand-holding! It was like stepping into another planet. I don't see a lot of lesbian hand holding at the places I go to in the bay area - but then, aside from Dolores Park on Dyke March, I would be hard pressed to find a weekly event with this many goddamned lesbians walking around of any age! YEE HA! OTOH, I did feel very grandmotherly at my advanced age (early 40s) - til I was adopted by a drunk extroverted gay man and his "roommate" and dragged off to the dance floor after the Drag King competition was over. Be forewarned - they use dry ice or something to make the dance room "smoky" - and that stuff just irritated my lungs, so I didn't stick around in there long. The Drag King competition was fantastic - it was way better than any similar show I have attended in San Francisco. In SF, stuff gets overly sexualized in the name of "sex poz" -- and here, it was women doing the same kind of lip sync show you would see quality drag queens do - but as very tiny versions of men (vs men doing very large versions of women). It was really fun - a delight - and some of the performances were really fantastic. The costumes/characters and music they selected were all pretty varied and reflected distinct tastes. I missed the Friday/Saturday night drag queen shows - I heard the audience tends to be a bit older, and I would have loved to connect with women my own age - perhaps next time!

Play is definitely the most fun dance bar and gay bar in town (this in the opinion of a straight female, but whatever). Like others mentioned, Wednesday is a great night to go if you're a student or an alum like me who held onto her ID for such free entry opportunities. Sundays are also free if you work in the service industry and bring a pay stub. Play is always packed and there's usually a drag show or some other fun event going on in the front room. The back is an amazing dance floor. It features two bars of its own so you don't have to miss any of the party to grab a refill. On the subject of the bars, by the way, there's a $20 minimum on cards so bring cash or prepared to do enough drinking to meet it. The dance floor is always hot and often filled with people doing choreographed dances (Why? Who cares!). I must admit I never fully got the appeal of smoke machines and disco ball lights on the dance floor until one night at play where I had that extra whiskey sour and danced with an over-twirler - goodness. Oh, Play. We have shared so many crazy nights. I look forward to dancing in you again.

Totally agree with Bridgette's assessment of this place. Before I moved here I visited for my birthday 2 years ago, and I had an amazing time. I don't go to bars very often, but when I do I'd have to say gay bars are way more fun, and this place takes it to another level with the drag shows. The karaoke before the show when I went was amazing. The better you were the more people would line up to give you money. It's a great way to buy a round for your table if you've got a set of pipes. Super nice people here. A guy even bought me a drink and wasn't offended at all when I told him I was straight. Can't wait to go back.

We stopped in to try Play Nashville as we are from Louisville where the other Play is. This one did not meet our expectations. The dancers are slacking in, um, actual dancing. The hosts were trying waaaaaay too hard to be "cool & funny" to the point it was cringeworthy. The entire place is SMALL. $9.50 for a sex on the beach is CRAZY when I can buy a whole bottle of liquor for $10.

It all started when I was in the 1st grade and I realize that I had sexual tendencies for woman. I knew I was to fulfill these urges, however I had to wait for the time to come. Away from my conservative family I went and dove into the wild world of Nashville. Colors, lights, and music surrounded my senses as my soul was called to play. Wednesday, then Friday, and Saturday on a good week, I was a fearless patron of the finest gay establishment. I had joined a community, and found this gay baby a new gay family. However, all it took was the cold wind of one blizzard night in June that change everything. This was a blizzard unlike any other to hit Nashville, this snow was filled with cocaine. It was snowing left and right, on the dance floor, on the bar, and even on the dancers. I was a maniac, unstoppable, or so I thought. I was 4 lines deep on the outside bar table area when the bouncer caught me and put an end to my rein of terror. I lost more than my play membership that night, I also lost my wallet and keys. I had to walk home. Over all, the food was fine. Drinks were pricy but it's to be expected.

I'm a bit disappointed that there was a $10 cover and nothing going on. To top it off, the beer was hot as balls. I doubt I'll be back again.