The Red Door Saloon East

Bar · East Nashville

The Red Door Saloon East

Bar · East Nashville

1

1010 Forest Ave, Nashville, TN 37206

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The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null
The Red Door Saloon East by null

Highlights

Down-home bar with hot dogs, sandwiches & drinks  

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1010 Forest Ave, Nashville, TN 37206 Get directions

thereddoorsaloon.com
@willtylerjames

$10–20 · Menu

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1010 Forest Ave, Nashville, TN 37206 Get directions

+1 615 226 7660
thereddoorsaloon.com
@willtylerjames
𝕏
@reddoorsaloontn

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 12, 2025

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@eater

A Guide to Nashville’s Best Dive Bars | Eater Nashville

"This Chicago-style dive in Midtown opened in 2002 and has an affinity for... bones. A hole in the floor functions as a peephole into the basement that guards some skeletal remains. After ordering your beer or a Red’s Whacker, take a gander at the flying skeletons around the joint and order up some brats, burgers, wings, or po’ boys when you start feeling peckish. Red Door has another location in East Nashville." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones

https://nashville.eater.com/maps/dive-bars-best-nashville
View Postcard for The Red Door Saloon East

Linda Hicks

Google
We stopped here because our friend Jake Dean used to bartend here back in the day and it was close to our hotel. We walked in and felt right at home since we’re from Chicago. The vibe and music and food were awesome. I loved ❤️ the decor!

Linda Johnson

Google
A very unique little spot amid all the hustle of nashville. Inside definitely is different but suits the style they have. Friendly staff ...food hot and fresh...storefront clean and neat. Step inside if you're in nashville area. !!

Bryce Cupp

Google
Really good drinks and excellent food! Wife and I split a cubana Panini sandwich with hot pickle sides and pickled chips and potato salad. Very tasty! ordered vodka tonic drinks and Midori iced teas. Very very good but it's a good thing I was walking home LOL.

Natalie RG

Google
Good little brunch spot! Had the frittata, it was a bit thinner than I expected, closer to an omelette? The crispy potatoes were great

Brandy Morse

Google
We had drinks, pizza, nachos and pretzel bites. The food was really good. Cool little spot

Robert Cardoni

Google
Great spot to catch a game or just catch up while enjoying a cold beverage

J Car

Google
Jimmy was extremely nice and hospitable! He scoured the place and found Red Door Saloon Kozie’s for my friend who loves them! Thank You.

Lan Rak

Google
After many positive reviews and recommendations the expectations were high. The atmosphere is great and the staff is friendly. The local beer is a bit on the strong side but I really liked the taste. The food was ok, nothing to write home about to be honest. Overall cool vibe and great beer choices!
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Joe C.

Yelp
Fun Atmosphere Red Door Saloon is a laid back, no-frills bar that seems to draw an eclectic mix of locals and visitors alike. We got sick of fighting the huge crowds on Broadway, and our Lyft driver recommended this place. I'm glad he did because we had a fun, chill night and didn't have to wait 30 minutes for a drink! Tip: Great clientele Thanks
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Scott J.

Yelp
I love this place. Really cool People work there. Had a great hot dog and an ice cold PBR. The bartender Heidi is sweeter than any sweet tea you could find in the south. The door man Sean is exceptionally charming. Although I don't share his love of the band the Smiths, he is a great ambassador for Red Door as you enter. Knows a lot about cars.
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Jacalyn G.

Yelp
Good atmosphere and better pricing than on broadway for sure. Shots were expensive and the food made me sick so I would recommend just drinks here.

Linda G.

Yelp
Fun spot. Friendly people. Red lights and good music. Drinks were good.. open windows inside . Nice outdoor patio.
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Branham S.

Yelp
One of my all time favorite Nashville bars! Truly awesome bartenders, good vibes, fun music. This bar usually has an eclectic crowd and a great vibe!! Highly recommend!!

William S.

Yelp
The bartenders here are so rude ! I just quit going there They have an attitude !!! They have their special clicks I guess and I tip them very nice ! It just no use for that ! Are all East Nashville bars like this ?

Will W.

Yelp
Somehow having my hypoallergenic doodles out on the patio cause more concern than the carcinogens that the bartenders smoke on the patio.
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Liz W.

Yelp
Everything you could ask for in a classic/old school beer bar! Nice draft selection. Friendly bartender.
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Adam N.

Yelp
The state of Tennessee issues a paper temporary license for 20-30 business days upon moving here. The bouncers here will not accept the temp ID as age verification to get into this 21+ establishment. I am well above and LOOK well above 21 years old. They would not let me in and I had to deal with an EXTREMELY rude bouncer who SHOVED us out the door because I showed my VAILD temporary Tennessee ID. I understand it's their job to age verify, but this seems silly as it's a bar in Tennessee and the Tennessee state DMV issues these paper temporary ID's. Might be a good bar but my first impressions are extremely low and I have no desire to ever return back after how I was treated. Shame on this bar for this policy.
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Michelle W.

Yelp
This place sucks. The staff is extremely rude and so are the local patrons at the bar. Also, it makes no sense to card people that are obviously over 40 years old, ridiculous! The other Red Door on division Street is just as bad, the bartender there was miserable. There are lots of other fun, friendly bars in and around Nashville, I'd suggest you stay away from this one.
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Madeline A.

Yelp
This place turned my entire family of six down when we showed up. two of our family members had just moved to nashville and were very excited to go out in East. They had gone to the DMV two days prior for their new drivers licenses and the DMV assured them that it would serve its normal purpose. The DMV also told them they had to turn in their old IDs in order to get their new TN IDs. Red Door is not a business I am willing to support due to its general lack of awareness of the law and disinterest in learning the law, and thus turning away patrons who wanted to support their business. Don't waste your time here. They don't care about the customer experience in any way, shape, or form.
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Dayana V.

Yelp
Chicago meets east Nashville. From cubs decor to old style; right up my alley. I mean: GO CUBS GO. Ok. Seriously though, location is spacious on the corner lot. Parking isn't too bad, with a couple lots/parking within walking distance. I will say it's a little Smokey for me when you initially walk in. Hip and comfortable spot to hangout. I like that there are multiple rooms to choose from.
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Ryan R.

Yelp
Rude bar tenders. Tried ordering food and was immediately cussed out and demeaned for taking too much time trying to order. If you like being disrespected, come here! There's a reason why this Red Door has a worse review compared to that of the others.

Leonard H.

Yelp
People love me to put their hands on you. Bartender has the customer service skills of a king cobra. He cursed me when he finally got around to waiting on me.Never been cursed at by a bartender in my life. Negative place...

Sean F.

Yelp
took my change, made me uncomfortable , and didnt include everything that my sandwich meal was supposed to come with.
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Rickie Louise M.

Yelp
The door guy kicked me out for smoking on the patio what apparently was a questionable e-cigarette, though truly there was no smoking because it wasn't working. I was a female alone and when I tried to tell the friends that I was with that I was getting kicked out, he tried to prevent me from letting anyone know that I was alone and being forced to leave. Real safe behavior for a girl alone, homie. Girls inside had been nice. Been there many times before as I used to live in Nashville, but was def treated as a dumb tourist.
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John B.

Yelp
I was looking for a very late dinner and a drink and was thrilled to discover that the kitchen at the Red Door was still open. I order a drink and was even more exited to realize that the Red Door has not forgotten that when you order an alcoholic drink that you'd actually like a generous serving of alcohol to be included. The buzz was lovely but the fun kinda ended there. I take a bite of my chili cheese dog, the most appetizing thing on the menu, to discover that the bun is kinda chewy and stale, the hot dog is medium temperature and the chili is like molten lead. The liquor masked the pain for a while but I didn't taste anything for the next couple days until my tongue healed up. So maybe swing by a diner for eats and by the Red Door for a drink afterwards. Hopefully that way there'll be fewer injuries.

Matthew A.

Yelp
I'm not really a review guy but saw all the 1-star reviews. I've been going to Red Door for 5 years. I've always had good experiences with the staff and the person working the door. If you're from out of town and want Broadway, go to Broadway. It's not advertised as a country bar with live music. I have a valid ID and have never once had an issue getting in or has anyone I've gone with.
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Harrison H.

Yelp
Apparently they don't accept federally issued IDs. My wife and I went there last night and they refused her Global Entry card, which is legal identification that requires a federal background check to obtain. Completely rediculous of the bouncer to refuse.
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Chris F.

Yelp
Always a great experience coming here. The bartenders are great and always put a smile on my face. Pretty much two rules. Have a valid ID that's not paper and don't be a dick and you'll get along fine in this place
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Nicholas B.

Yelp
Ther is a reason that this bar has the lowest rating in the area, it's not an accident, simply a logical result of the lack of care the staff has for the guests. If you do by some unfortunate happenstance end up here just prepare yourself for rude and unprofessional staff that quite simply can careless about you or your experience. It's really the best way to sum up the worst experience. Do yourself and your company a favor and go somewhere else, you won't even know how much of a great decision you made for not going here...
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Sebastián Y.

Yelp
Worst bar I've ever been to in my life, and I've been to real bad ones. Horrible service and food. Don't waste your time or money.
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Daniel E.

Yelp
Imagine coming to Nashville. The country's esteemed pseudo authentic country bar scene of the south. And then you come to red door. So many acclaimed Nashville bars but you end up here. At red door. It hurts because it tries so hard. So hard to be authentic Nashville. But it's not, it's another shitty bar you can find anywhere else in the country pretending to be authentic, country music. Stay away, stay away. The bouncers are great, an inbred family of 6. Don't mention that though, they're quite sensitive to the familial relationship, and it's hard for them to think. If you come to Nashville, stay away. A great city with great food, great music, and great culture should not be dwarfed by a bar that tries its best to trap tourists. Red door establishes itself at the epitome of another terrible bar in a city that's booming. Good luck.
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Alex B.

Yelp
I have never in my life have had someone take my drink out of my hand and pour it out in front of me but the person here working the door did it to me shortly after last call and accused me of stealing. Lol outrageous. These people clearly were ready to go home. Great service In complete sarcasm. Do not go here.
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Nona M.

Yelp
"The owner's policy is no paper IDs, guys. I know. I know. It's unfortunate." Seriously? Sooo. Go on an alcohol fast from bars while the shitty USPS delivery is still a thing. I guess they don't know paper ID's are LEGAL state issued documents. They're so silly. Aww. And we're going to be condescendingly rude. Good deal. Haven't we been through enough? Thanks neighborhood bar. Truly great experience.
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Kristen M.

Yelp
Place was alright. There was a decent sized patio and quick service. Our bartender was very nice and friendly. Unfortunately there was a lot of smoking both indoors and outdoors, so we couldn't stay long due to the smell and irritation. Would have enjoyed more without this
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Allison F.

Yelp
2-4-1 beers on Tuesday night until 10 PM. Definitely hipster vibes but in a cool area and cool local spot. Only reason it's not getting 5 stars is because it is a Chicago bar, Go STL Cards, just kidding. It is a little Smokey so you hair and clothes will smell after!
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Peter M.

Yelp
During COVID, you'd think they'd treat people nicer. The waitress made it obvious that it was an inconvenience we didn't know what beer they had. ( we were sitting outside). She was very rude, so we left. Glad you're doing so well you can afford push your customers away.
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Sue C.

Yelp
Chicago peeps, this is your home away from home as they cater to your familiar eating pleasures as well as your sports teams. BUT it doesn't mean you can't go if you're not from Chi town. We love Sundays as all drinks are 2-for-1 and Nicky and Nick are holding down the bar(s). Yes, there are three bar areas, the front of the house, the side of the house and the back of the house, which is almost like a porch, with shuffleboard table and lots of windows. Jukebox for music and great stories by the people drinking right along with you. My husband is addicted to their hot dogs and steamed sandwiches, which are served on paper plates with chips and some cole slaw or potato salad. The buns are always steamed on all their tubular choices, and the food is fresh and well-prepared. On the weekends be sure and have your ID as they're checking at the door or as soon as you order a drink...no ID...no entry or drinks. NO CHOICE in the matter, so don't say I didn't warn you. This is the sister bar to the Red Door Saloon in Mid-town Nashville. Get away from Broadway and all of the usual suspects in downtown. Very friendly spot but can be a bit smokey, so again, be aware.
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Ryan J.

Yelp
In Nashville for a weekend, this place was recommended by a local if we wanted a cool place to drink outside of downtown. This place did not disappoint. It was only a temporary stop, but we stayed the whole night. Lots of reasons for this - cheap, strong drinks. Good selection. And great people! Ended up with a few legit new friends from the night as we closed down the bar. Much busier on weekends compared to weekdays. They have a great patio and some room indoors to sit as well. A wide variety of people go here, very non-judgemental crowd. Worth checking out if you're in the area. Our favorite place in this neighbourhood by far..
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Lindsay N.

Yelp
Super cool place if you wanna get out of the Broadway scene in Nashville. They have 2 for 1 drafts which is....amazing. I dont know the parameters around it but when i went it was all afternoon/evening. I also got the Reuben - super tasty. Their potato salad was also SO GOOD. you can smoke in this bar so if that bothers you, dont come here. Knocking off a star for seating, not a ton of it. But the crowd is a mix of people and the bartenders and super welcoming and friendly. Also outdoor seating and a good location to bar hop.

Mathew S.

Yelp
Kim went above and beyond on a very busy Saturday night. He went out if his way to clean off tables when it wasn't his job to do so. Love it.
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Jose L R.

Yelp
If you're a smoker, like drinking local whiskeys and bourbons and beer, this is your place. You would have a nice time.
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Chris A.

Yelp
Ok I hate always giving out 5 stars like its candy. But I have to defend this place. Its a place near and dear to my heart. When I go out drinking, beer price is a huge factor in my decision making. Almost as much as atmosphere and people that frequent. RDE has it all. I know this isn't the original Red Door. I know this one isn't as spacious as the one on Division. Yeah but still. I like this one better. Lots better. The people. I am more likely to run into someone I know here than the other one. (which is probably a zero % chance). The bartenders are awesome at their jobs. One afternoon back in March, 2014, I was at the bar by myself. Obviously upset. The bartender poured me a shot of Jack and said it was on the house! I pounded it back. Just that act of kindness. I love the people here, 3 Crow, and Beyond. I know I should be reviewing the place and not the people that come in, but to me, they are what make this place what it is.

Kathryn A.

Yelp
Best dive bar in East Nashville! Can't beat their 2 for 1 beer happy hour every Friday-Sunday! Even better is the spacious outdoor patio. Heads up - indoor smoking is allowed
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Kristin Marie S.

Yelp
Arrrghhh Matey! My favorite of the two Red Doors, by far! I like the decorations and LOVE the outdoor patio. This bar was our saving grace during the flood. After three days locked in the house we finally took a walk when the weather broke and there in the middle of 5 points was Red Door ablazin'! They were pouring 2 for 1's since yeah, everyone needed it. We hung on the patio, had some beers and watched drunk girls in heels (not sure about that decision) keep slipping and falling on the deck. My favorite was a really drunk girl who ate it on the deck, while talking on the phone, didn't even miss a beat. She kept talking while picking herself up off the deck. This isn't a normal occurrence. The place is usually popping and the pirate decor is fun on the eyes. My only complaint is I ordered a bratwurst with kraut and got a hotdog with kraut.
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Sheena T.

Yelp
I honestly think I'm the only person in Nashville who doesn't love Red Door. Maybe it's the smoke, maybe it's how crowded it gets or maybe it's just not my scene, but anytime I hear my friends are at Red Door I groan. I will say that the East location is better than the midtown relative because it seems to be larger for some reason and is laid out better. I never love the drinks here, they are in huge tumblers and often so strong I can't enjoy them. Once I'm inside the red tint to the lights gets to be too much very quickly. In the words of Seinfeld: "and the red light is burning my brain!" But I digress, they have a decent happy hour until 7 and everyone is Nashville loves it, so maybe its me!
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Rockne H.

Yelp
After a delicious dinner at the Hog Pop Up Yelp Spring Break event, we decided to visit this bar as we heard some amazing things about it. Apparently there are two locations, this just happened to be next door. Approaching the bar, you'll immediately figure out that this bar is super popular. There were cars everywhere! People filled the outside deck and the inside area. Get there quick! What I realized is that they called it the Red Door for a reason. When you walk in, you're literally taken to the red light special (not the one from TLC). The joint is filled with a smorgasbord of decoration: Italian flags, NFL sports team memorabilia, alcohol brand advertisements and neon signs, just to name a few. The entire light source is red, so it makes it seem like an underground joint. The outside deck was pretty big. There were lots of table space for all parties. The staff was quick and nice. The woman who helped me throughout the evening was super personable. Although I don't know her name, she work jean shorts and has short black hair. She was super cool! The reason why we came to this bar was because of the pineapple infused vodka. They literally have this oversized jar filled with vodka and chunks of pineapple. You don't need a mixer, just straight up. The great thing is that the vodka was super sweet and not overpowering, making it super possible to drink it straight on the rocks. The drink was also accompanied with a couple of chunks of pineapple which you could enjoy after the drink. This was another great gem we stumbled upon. Not only was the company good, the entire vibe was chill, relaxed and warm. I felt like I was a local, enjoying the evening with other fellow Nashvillians. I'll be sure to visit this place on my next trip!
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Dave H.

Yelp
I greatly enjoyed this bar. They have a great tap and very good drink specials. It very much feels like a local bar for all who come in. They seem to be able to handle both locals and out of towners easily. There is smoking inside so be prepared for that. All considered, this is a great place to stop in on your way in or out of downtown.
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Casey P.

Yelp
I've been to this bar a couple of times. A black russian drink runs about $6 which is the average price in 5 points. It wasn't busy for a Saturday night so it was quick to get my drink from the bar. What to expect: Smokey inside and no serve outside. May I suggest installing some fans outside to make it a little more bareable to sit outside in these humid Nashville nights?
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Hank D.

Yelp
A good spot if you want to sit outside and have a drink, but because of the smoking situation going inside is not an option for us. The place has been there for for some time so it's always an option on the 5 points.
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Michael M.

Yelp
Well driving through East Nashville going to Shelby Park we came upon this place that seems really nice red door red chairs and tables and umbrellas outside hard to mess great draft beer pizza and an afternoon spot to enjoy yourself Are used to be the first black funeral home in East Nashville Lotta history here a lot of ghosts and goblins one of their themes is skeletons so you tell me
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Jamie D.

Yelp
During my first night out in Nashville on the East side, we stopped by the Red Door Saloon. If you have ever been to Zeitgeist in San Francisco, you get the feel of this place. Minus the splifs. The scene was a pleasant mix of trendsters, musicians with blonds nearby, bikers, plenty of tats, and eclectic style of those in black. There are tons of outside seating where smoking is encouraged. The bartender, whom also dedicated his body to art, made jack and cokes in 16 oz glasses that looked like ice tea! Not a bad price at $6 a drink. Bet, this is my forever spot in Nashville. So much, I've decided to try and live within walking distance. The area is known as Five Points. C me there! Oh boy. Another good story to tell. Oh well, had to be there.
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Kyla A.

Yelp
I love Red Door East, even if I do occasionally have to pull my heels out from between the slats of the patio floor. The crowd is diverse from the Saturday afternoon biker set to the shiny 20-something set that mixes in on the weekend nights. The interior decor is flashy and themed in the different rooms (Marilyn in front, PBR in back), and I don't know what could be better than a bar with a legendary dungeon below. I recommend going on Sundays where it's 2 for 1 all day because 3 Crow boasts the same offer and bar-hopping is what makes 5 points so fun. When you're there you have to try the pineapple vodka infusion. It's the best bang for your buck, but be prepared to chew quickly if you're going to eat the pineapple. Unfortunately though, this tasty concoction is not included in 2 for 1s.

Jenn S.

Yelp
Wouldn't let me in with my temporary driver's license. Said the owner doesn't allow them. I'm over 40. I get people fake IDs but I'm a grown adult and it's 4p not 4a. Unreasonable rule. Just an idea for the owner...invite us back for a beer on the house once we get our "real" ID. Change your policy for the positive rather than the negative. Be inviting to your new neighbors. Right now I will never return.
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Kelly M.

Yelp
As far as Nashville bars go, this is definitely not my favorite. I have heard friends talk about how much they like it, so I thought I would give it a try. It was very loud and extremely crowded to the point that you could barely move around. Apparently, there were a bunch of men just hanging out in the bathroom, which of course made my husband uncomfortable. Prices were higher than other bars in the area. The good thing is that there are a lot of other bars within walking distance so it is easy to change places if that is not your scene.
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Emily M.

Yelp
I've never left a review on yelp before - but I was just at red door saloon this weekend and I had an absolutely terrible experience. This was the first time I was in the five points neighborhood and I had so much fun in all of the other bars, but as soon as I walked into the red door I could tell the vibe was totally different. The bouncer was so aggressive toward my boyfriend and I and our friendsr. All the other bars in the five points neighborhood are so chill and fun but unfortunately the red door saloon was full of employees that were super aggressive towards their patrons. I will never go back and give them my business after the way I was treated and I hope that anyone who reads this review will steer clear as well.
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Michelle J.

Yelp
Good times, good drinks, good people, what more can you ask for. The locals there were awesome and fun and even purchased drinks for us. We were there as part of a bachelorette party weekend. The outdoor patio area is great. There is no food there but I thought the place is great, especially if you have a group.

Grey M.

Yelp
Worst bar in Nashville. And I've lived here my whole life so I've been to nearly all of them. If I could give this place, zero stars, I emphatically would. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. You've been warned.