Springwater

Fun fact: this is the oldest bar in the state of Tennessee. This place is such a nice spot to come and relax. It's right by the park and they have one of the best hot chicken places in the city next door. The service is amazing. You can tell that they really enjoy working here and take pride in being part of the bars history. I definitely recommend popping in if you haven't already. If not for that drinks do it for the history and experience!

Good Music Cool Patrons My wife and I visited in mid-September and had a great time. The bartender (apologies for not remembering your name) is a cool cat who knows his Nashville (and national) music scene well. He's a great guy to chat with over a few or 10 beers. The bar itself has the classic dive bar look and feel. We enjoyed a free round of pool and threw some darts. This is a cash only/beer only establishment so don't come in here looking for fancy cocktails or shots of liquor! The entertainment is eclectic but spot on with the talent. In the early part of the evening we heard some heartfelt country and finished the night with some folk-rock. All-in-all we listened to 4 bands. The neighborhood felt pretty safe as we were leaving for the night, very convenient having a McDonald's next door! Be sure to swing by this famous bar when you're in town. Thanks

One of my favorites in local pubs! Super friendly staff - Paula and Lola always cheerful and ready to chat. We are usually earlier in the day folks - so my 5* is more about daytime fun -- pool table, a couple dart boards, pinball and video golf - lots to keep you entertained. ** Prices good for nashville ** beer and seltzer selections ** cash only w/atm in bar ** no smoking **lots of free parking ... ** amazing bbq/hot chicken next door at Reds 615 (open Thurs-Sun) that they will deliver to bar. Springwater is really a great local (and oldest surviving bar) in Nashville that is worth a visit!

A hidden treasure in Nashville. Not on the beaten path of Broadway but well worth the trip. This bar holds the title of the oldest bar in TN. It was a trip back in time featuring a jukebox, free pool, pay phone display and the front door with a secret window rumored to have been used during prohibition. I felt like I was in a small town bar with the bartender & the owner striking up a conversation with us! Come here hungry because there's an attached restaurant serving great chicken meals that are delivered to your table in the bar! Old fashioned service here. Plus the BEST PRICES in Nashville -$4 bottle beers. Cash only so come prepared. One of my favorite & most memorable stops on our trip.

Best dive bar I've ever been in. They don't have anything other than beer, but the vibe and the staff and owner and jukebox and free pool (who does that nowadays?) and the band stickers/bumper stickers everywhere? Maaaaaan. What a great place.

Seemed like it would be a good place bring an out of town friend. It might be that I am simply getting too old for the "dive bar" scene. The place looked and smelled dirty. The friend was not interested in sticking around to try any of the amenities so we left.

Great fried chicken from Reds. Buy at the window and they will bring to you in the bar. Cash only. Great low prices. Live music. No need to go to Broadway

We came and left in 20 minutes with nothing more than a few "why are you here" looks.. honestly the vibes were great (we love little hole in the wall bars) but we were seated and ignored for the rest of the visit, not menus given or an offer for a beer which was our only goal. We wish we could've enjoyed and spent our tourist cash but they don't want it apparently.

So oldest bar in Nashville. It's an experience. Don't look for fancy drinks here. Grab a beer.

A must visit! Bartender was fantastic. She told us all abouthe history of this place. Cash only so be prepared but worth the stop.

great little dive bar. one of the divest in town i think. good pool table. shame it may be gone at some point in the next five years as everything around it is building up and the land will be too valuable soon for the owner to hang on to it

I had a great time at this bar. The bartender was very nice and helpful. They're cash only but there's an ATM. Definitely one of my favorite dive bars.

Authentic, local beer bar (oldest in TN) that's full of character. CASH ONLY. Note the stage in the back - the Black Keys sure did, among others who performed, shot recording video, etc there. Live music regularly. It's no frills for certain, so don't bring any. I know the locals would prefer that.

We wanted a dive. We got a dive. Beer was cheap. Cash only. $5 cover for the bands that were there. We came as one band finished their set. Next band sucked, but we played darts and laughed at ourselves instead. Iconic music venue in Nashville. Although we didn't hit it on the best night for music, if you are lucky, you might be there when it does. Attracts some pretty awesome musicians. See? http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/premiere-the-black-keys-invade-iconic-dive-bar-on-little-black-submarine-20120904 Cool spot. I'd totally come back here again. Gritty, smoky, and dodgy. Dig it.

Beer Food Music Built on top of a spring, what else do you want? 1896 built at the same time as the Parthenon! Password no longer required ;)

Cold beer - check Live music - check Divey atmosphere - check Shots - no check... 4 stars

One of my favorite dives in Nashville. Don't expect anything fancy, but it's a great place to grab a Shiner and people watch or interact with some local flavor. If you get hungry, head through the back door and find Buford, he'll hook you up with a solid burger and tots on a paper plate. It'll hit the spot. Springwater isn't for everyone, but if you want a slightly gritty, authentic Nashville experience, you will love it. You won't find many bachelorette parties or groups of tourists here. As the oldest bar in Tennessee, this place is iconic. Taylor Swift did a Coke commercial on their stage and the Black Keys filmed a music video here. I would say this is one of the top 10 dive bars in America.

A little history lesson: Springwater is the oldest dive bar in the state of Tennessee. It is a dive bar. If you are not looking for a dive bar experience then move on. If you are, you won't be disappointed. It doesn't get much divier than this. Springwater is located down the street from the Parthenon and can be easy to miss if you aren't looking for it. Parking can get a bit busy in this area but we always find a spot somewhere. There is a parking lot at the bar and then street parking in the area. The bar has two outside patios out front and in the back. We didn't check these out ourselves but they were decently busy on a Saturday night. There is no mistaking that this is a dive bar right when you walk in. There is a pool table in the middle of the first room and then a dart room off to the right. The bar is to the left with some bar stools. Then there is an additional small room where the stage is for live music. The stage was small and kind of tacky in such a great way. There were metallic streamers and lights for decorations. There was a $5 cover for the music but we planned on leaving before the music started so we went to the bar to order a drink. WARNING: Cash only! They have an ATM if you need it, but just come prepared. The bartender was nice and they have a decent selection of beer on tap. I was surprised I was able to get an IPA on tap. Sometimes dive bars just have the usual light beers. Prices are cheap and the beer is cold. A score in my book! They have food available if you are hungry. We didn't spend too much time here because we had somewhere to be, but I'm glad we checked it out. How cool to say you've been to the oldest bar in Tennessee?!

What a treat. Gritty, pool, darts, loud music, $2 PBR. Stop in, mingle, have a cold one.

This place is as divey as it gets. Driving by, most people wouldn't even realize it's there, or that it's open. After reading that it was the oldest bar in the entire state of TN, and realizing it was walking distance from where I live, I had to check it out. It was relatively empty around 7:30 on a Friday night - one booth of people, and a few people at the bar. The bartender was friendly, and quickly served us up some draft beers. The place is dark and grungy, in a comfortable kind of way, with torn booths and a stage for performances. There's also darts, music playing, and some outdoor seating. It was a fun spot to grab a beer before dinner.

Buford is gone. Smoking inside is gone. Cold cheap beer and good AC.

It's a dive bar. Correction, it is a dive, CASH only bar (with an ATM onsite). Beer was reasonable, clientele was... well, "divey". Pool tables, a few drunks, attentive bar tender and the possibility of live music. Not bad! I am a fan! A few of the less than sober occupants did tell me this was the oldest bar in Nashville?

It is a cute older bar so don't expect fancy modern architecture. Other than that I love the friendly service and the friendly customers. Beer prices are great $4 for craft beers and $2 for Pabs during happy hour from 2 to 5pm. It is cash only. So if you are at the park and need a nice cold beer stop by.

We were driving down the street after a night of hitting a few of Nashville's drinking spots and stumbled upon Springwater. It was the sweet sounds of what I thought was a bag of alley cats being pushed through a wood chipper but it was actually a 'speed metal band' that compelled me to stop by and check it out. After paying the $5 cover and getting my diet pepsi from a vending machine, that stole my change, I was told that this place used to be a speakeasy back in the prohibition days. I'm sure it was much nicer back then too because today it looks like a broken down truck stop hooker, complete with low rent tattoos, cigarette burns and knockoff body fragrances. For this place to work the band has to be good. The first one was lousy noisy fast and untalented. The second band was good, out of Ohio, Lo Pan- i think, giant lead singer-500lbs size. These guys sounded good. Talented too. They have practiced together and it shows. A really motley crowd inside. Old hippie types, really young girls, old hags, metal heads, a quasi yuppie or two and even an old professor looking dude rocking a blazer and an ascot. (?!) A few of the girls were cute too. These aren't your Dooney and Bourke chicks. You'll see them at brunch tomorrow. Tonight its the metal girls' night. Its unfortunate that there were only one or two girls i'd consider 'cute'. The others were old thread bare nicotine laced shells of female carbon based life forms. For a good field trip off the beaten path, poke your nose in here for a while and check out the scene. Well worth it..

Definitely a dive bar. I liked it. It's kind of in an interesting spot because of its proximity to the Vanderbilt campus, so there is all this new looking, flashy, brightness all around, and then tucked back behind all that you'll find Springwater. Live music of all kinds. Front bar, back bar, pool tables and darts. Darts are free to play, but pool is going to cost you (something like $1, or less). When I was there on a Sunday night, the place was pretty empty, but there was some music in the back room. Seemed like a decent place. I didn't try the food. I'm sure I'll be back at some point.

Bartender was too busy to be bothered on his computer. Seemed super annoyed. I get it -- we aren't locals at the dive bar, but it's your job. Gave him $20 for $13 tab and never brought us change. Super rude and acted like he had better things to do. Place is a dive bar, which I love, but the smell of natural gas is overwhelming. Save your time and your money and go to Villager Tavern or Santa's.

Established in 1896, this is a bar worthy of patronizing. Historical in its right, we grabbed a few beers, ate some of Buford's grub, and snapped some pics.

I'll put this out there first - I love dive bars. However, evidently I am a sissy and like my dive bars without urine soaked bathrooms and flies, and other than the bathroom that evidently they attempt to make as unpalatable as possible and the fly infestation when I last went, the place is awesome - as a dive. Things to realize - beer is cheap and there's a $20 minimum on credit cards and the beer prices are in the $1.50-$3 range. Everywhere is smoking the worst smelling cigarettes possible (I saw many a USA Gold pack) and if you go there there is little chance you will be able to tell your SO that you were anywhere else unless you shower, burn your clothes, or roll around in manure. I've heard some bands here, as I recall I despised the acoustics, but honestly if I'm going to Springwater for a band chances are I didn't come to hear them. Yeah, it's a trip, go and enjoy

Oldest bar in Nashville. Loved it! A group of us in town for LSU had a blast!! Stopping in next time in Nashville.

If there was a bar that screamed old nashville this would be it, because it is it. No frills, just the people that surround you, cheap beer and good local beer on tap, music, billiards and more. Everything is cheap like a throwback and if you are local you cry because it just tastes like the Nashville you knew from the beginning. The taste never changes. There is no sex appeal. She is a legend and you will remember her for the imprint she makes

This is a "no frills" kind o' place...cash only, smoke inside, dog-friendly, open during snow...yep, you read that right: OPEN DURING SNOW. We drove up a day early before Erin's course viewing so we could explore a little bit. We had this planned for at least a month...then Winter Storm Jonas shows up and dumps cold misery all over Nashville. We called around to places within a few miles, hoping we could catch an Uber ride somewhere once we found a spot to take the pups. We were losing hope when Erin called her cousin Jennifer for advice, who then asked her good friend (also an Uber driver) to tell us what only a local would know. Springwater was 1 of 2 sppts he named, but we never even called the other place. I think we stayed for 3-4hrs, just biding our time until nighttime spots would open. Don't think I'll ever forget this day of darts, billiards, drinking and freezing our asses off!

Under search dive bars, Nashville, TN this was the highest rated, thus I was compelled to go here... Prior to even walking in I was greeted by some of the locals, people were standing outside drinking beer... Inside, the bartender was extremely friendly. $1.50 for Yuengling on tap! Must have been a happy hour special but that is still dirt cheap. Yes, it is a dive. One major drawback, they smoke / its smoky...but there is an outdoor patio where you can hang out to mitigate that or just drink really fast and move on...

The diviest dive that ever dove? I think so. Only didnt give it 5 stars, b/c you're still allowed to smoke inside -- weak. But grab soem ribs from next doors, saddle up at the bar with a wad of cash and get you some drinking done!

Oh, Springwater. The building itself is your standard dirty dive hole with a pool table in the front room and a stage in the back. The only feature of the decor that really counts as, well, decor is the amazing print of Deborah Harry in the stage room. I spend hours trying to think of some way trying to make that mine. Springwater, if you're reading this, I'll do anything. The weekly karaoke brings out a cast of regulars who are the real highlight of the place. Even people who don't like to get on stage can't resist the impromptu, spirited dancing in front of the stage. It's a beer-only cash-only joint so come prepared.

After a day bouncing about Nashville and stopping by the Parthenon, we wanted - no, NEEDED - a drink. This place was the closest walk, and it turned out to be a blast! Very kind bartenders, large beer menu. It's beer only, but I loved that. It states it is the oldest bar in TN, and I believe it. I know these places like to keep their "cash only" status, but in 2016, it may be time to kiss that vestige goodbye. I'd still go back, though!

A delightful dive bar. Complete with mildly aggressive bouncer, poorly felted pool table and awkward punk band playing in the back. I'd return at some point.

The final stop on our dive bar hop was Springwater. Why the hell it has taken me so long to come here I will never know. It's so dirty and divey that it made my heart skip a beat when I walked in - in a good way. That was love I was feeling. The first room has pool tables, characters ranging from maybe homeless to that dude might be lost, a random dog chilling in a booth, and 70s bucket bar seats lined up in front of the fairly short bar. We grabbed a seat and got us some cheap cold Miller Lites and started immediately talking to the bartender and the people around us. In the back room a band was playing and it is dark and loud back there. I greatly preferred listening to the band from the other room but your interest in the band may vary. There are some tvs above the bar to watch that sporting event you want to keep up with also. Bathrooms are small but definitely not the nastiest I've ever seen. Small patio too but you can smoke inside so not sure why the patio is there - perhaps for some fresh air or to watch the characters driving around centennial park at night. People watching is the best. The night we were there an entire wedding party came in including the bride in her white dress. A guy wearing a shirt saying "in dog beers I've only had one". A dude bruh trying to drunkenly hit on my friend but repeating himself mercilessly. It's got everything you would want. So you gotta go!

Methinks NOT NOT NOT!!! Tony and I stepped into the place looking for HOG HEAVEN...and we were in the wrong place...definitely the wrong place. It is definitely a dive...and I know Dives..I am from West Virginia and we have a ton of dive bars...so this reminded of all the dives I have be in back home.. I would not go here again! Too Dirty!! The people a little scary!! Too dark !!! and I don't drink anymore..so this would not be for me!! Sorry.....

Hog Heaven next door was not impressive at all and neither was this place. Its a super divey bar. Its also cash only....it's 2018....I don't want to spend $4.00 at the ATM to get a drink.

I would give 0 stars if I could! The absolute worst venue ever. Is a over 21 venue only but booked a band that was underage. Band and crew were not made aware of the age requirement. They didn't not let camera guy. Band had to leave after set and couldn't support other bands!! Worst venue ever!

I owe the Springwater an apology. If you look through my 140 or so Yelp reviews, you'll notice that I frequently refer to bars as "dives", or "shabby". For that, I am truly sorry. The Springwater has earned the right to own the title of Dive without peer. If you're in Nashville, put on your worst clothing and pay the Springwater a visit. You probably won't regret it.

How could I have not written about ANY of my visits to this place! I fully agree... this is the BEST Dive Bar in Nashville. That said, Nashville's not my favorite city. The whole town's a little too clean and flashy AND worst of all, way too 'Country'-fied for my 'Big Easy' Gimmie- the-P-funk desires. When we first went (2008), the Springwater only opened at 4 pm. SO, in my vast knowledge of 'Dive Bar', I truly felt they where cheating. As y'all know I take this genre very seriously! I am very happy to report #1, because I just noticed they now have a website and #2, my Annual, Nashville, Birthday Bar-Hopping Bash is next month... they now open at Noon! This place is cool and dirty. I have never failed to have . . . a great time, good conversation or low bar-tab when visiting. (*I do believe they are cash only, pay as you go) GO!

This is the only "dive bar" where one can drink a Pabst for $2, while sitting outside on a new smoke-free porch and view the Parthenon. Assuming the latter the greatest architectural achievement of the ancient world, there is a certain 'frisson' as the French would say that the lowest of low places, to quote Garth Brooks, in the city where 'low places' bring millions to folks who compete for trashy women, drunks in pick up trucks, etc, and all are commandeered by a funny looking old man who endowed a University, Vanderbilt, which is finally winning football games, by hiring a black coach. At a buck a toss on the JUKE BOX, one can get the greatest range of music selections one desires, from Brooks, to Bob Dylan, to Miranda Lambert, to Rolling Stones, and even the latest from Loretta Lynn, if you really want to go that far back . Younger writers have mentioned bands, and I've heard there's JAZZ on Sunday, sometime,and junky bathrooms, and friendly wait staff, but the biggest attraction of the place is its HUGE parking lot, covered with gravel, which reminds me of the days when I first started my research on DIVE BARS, in the state where they were INVENTED. LOUISIANA.

I ducked in here last year and was too early for the show but hung out in a very funky room with a very cool group of performers until we had to head out for another commitment. Everyone was so cool AND welcoming, it was on my return trip list fo sho. So, this year, we found ourselves roaming the neighborhood, looking for a white bbq sauce fix, and we decided, why not put the two together!?! We stuck a head in and asked it they were cool with carry out carry ins, and they totally were. We ran next door, grabbed the addictively enslaving turkey sammie from Hog Heaven, and came right back to sit at the bar and enjoy a few adult bevs with said sammie. It was a match made in Nashville heaven. The barkeep was attentive and welcoming, which should maybe be this city's new motto. I didn't notice any smoke until my post-bbq, cigarette-sucking dining companion lit up, happy as a clam, and announced he was home. He was blowing smoke at me, though, for affect, so that was key re: my noticing smoke. Smoking never quite "took" for me personally, but I thoroughly appreciate a little touch of smoker's haven while imbibing. Next year, third time has to be a charm, and I need to catch a band PERFORMING here. Thanks for the great time! P.S. I used the bathroom and was not scarred for life. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of creature comforts, but I was also secretly raised a townie, so I've used the bathroom next to a tractor pulling a hayride wagon. But, compared to that, this was a dream. Its all about perspective, kids.

Springwater is the dirtiest of the dirty, the crappiest of the dive bars in town and damn if they aren't proud of it. It's in a tiny broken down building adjacent to Hog Heaven BBQ on the edge of Centennial Park. Every inch of this place screams dilapidated, I couldn't even tell you what the color of the walls and floor are unless you count grimy as a color. The place is divided into three rooms, the first of which has a dart board and a pool table crammed in it with one small table and the bar taking up the rest of the space. The second room houses the tiny stage and 'dance floor' and has a second, smaller bar area, several booths and a long bench. The final room has the rest of the tables and looks like it used to be a patio that they've shoddily closed in, I'm not quite sure what the deal is but sitting in here is basically sitting outside. Actually the entire place serves as thin shelter. If its cold outside, you'll be wearing your jacket the whole time you're here, if it's hot you'll more than likely be sweltering. The P.A here is notoriously crappy, and will provide you with enough crackly snappy noise to distract you from whatever band you're trying to watch. Feel lucky if you can go an entire set without it breaking in and out. Going to see a band here is more of a big inside joke than a legitimate musical experience. Another thing Springwater is notorious for are its patrons casual drug use. You'll probably see and smell things here you wouldn't at many other local venues. If you're a fan of cheap beer, this is the place to drink it. The bands that play here tend to be as dirty as the place itself and so are its regulars, but overall people are friendly and its easy to have a good time here as long as you don't show up with any pretensions. Their bathrooms are disgusting and bring about the fear of disease in me, using them makes you want to douse yourself in Purel so I'd recommend holding it if you can.

Best bar in Nashville. Some would call it a dive. It's smokey. You don't want to use the bathrooms if you don't have to. The staff is awesome. This is where the real bands of Nashville play. You might get knifed in the parking lot. They have an outdoor patio.

Went to Springwater to see a friend's band play and before going, I read all the reviews about how it's definitely a dive. Well to that, it did not disappoint. I've been in a few dive bars in my short time on earth, and this is definitely the most divey of them all. It's literally right across the street from Centennial Park, tucked behind a McDonald's. It's a pretty tiny place with two separate rooms, one with the stage where bands play, and the other has pool tables and a few tables with chairs. Considering the look of this place from the outside (and kinda on the inside), it was fairly clean and didn't smell (which I think a few other people have mentioned). The bathroom left a lot to be desired, so you might have to meander on over to the McDonald's if you're picky about that kind of stuff. I wasn't drinking but I did overhear the bartender tell another patron that they do accept credit cards, but there's a $2 service charge of some sort. So, I would say they're definitely cash preferred so you might as well just take out a $20 and let it be. Overall, a nice little place if you want somewhere casual to hang out and get drunk for a really low price.

Just as normal have a great band. One bartender no place to sit or stand and you can't even see the band. Wish places would prepare for good hroups. They would make way more money and people who never came would come back. But waiting 45 min for a drink them found out cash only suck.

Pros: This is perhaps the best bar in Nashville if you're looking for the following: (1) random bands that may or may not have potential to become bigger random bands, (2) fun folks who have been drinking since they grew out of breast milk, but not so many that you feel claustrophobic, (3) a good game of 'spot-the-xxx-difference', (4) cheap, but great late-night tacos, and (6) ponies! Cons: There is a small cover charge when there's a band playing, but otherwise this bar has all your dive bar prerequisites, and a little bit extra to make this place the best dive bar in Nashville.

Yay! I'm a fan. I love dive bars, I feel at home sitting on their dirty bar stools ordering their cheap ass beer. Happy hour here truly is happy hour for my wallet. $5 pitchers of light beer, yes siree! So, this place isn't just a dive bar, it's more. They once housed taco party, it was a sad day when they left, they even had vegan tacos!!! Now, it's a "pizzeria," I haven't tried the pizza yet but I will. I use quotes because it's a side room where they cook pizza. In addition to the pizza it has live music, a dart area and pool tables. They also have a "patio." I use that loosely, very, very loosely. The juke box is a treat too, for example, they have Reggie Watts on it. Bizarre right? Finally, they share a wall with Hog Heaven!!! Cheap beer and pig, what more could you need?