The Villager Tavern

This place does not have soft-tip dart boards, as wrongly described on the internet. Instead, we played steel-tip darts and made good friends. They run grab bags on Tuesdays and have other events throughout the week. No liquor, just a good variety of cold beers and live music. Oldest (darts) bar in Nashville, as the writings and the pictures on the walls. I loved this place!

Honestly they have had two shots now. First time was okkk. The host of the open mic, John rocked and the half of the owner on the front part was nice. Food was good, yet over priced for some crock pot routine. I do love a good dive bar with home folded goodness but it was a turn off when older brother who lead The night crew was not as nice as the younger brother and I don’t know. I just had never felt the desire to return in many months until just now . Honestly, I was headed home from an engagement in Nashville in order to get to Franklin and I saw it and I thought it would be a great stopping place to get a quick bite. I was instantly engaged in the vibe and ready to have a good time when all of a sudden I overheard the owner a.k.a. bartender number one from the last time make a snide nark comment about me and the song that was playing in my enthusiasm to drive everyone to have a good time and dance and just dance and sing and in fact, the funny thing was, they played the pink pony club and I was ending it singing. It’s the village Tavern. I’m gonna keep on dancing at the village Tavern And I can’t even believe the owner of the village Tavern. Would have the audacity to shade me when I was promoting his club in such a way would a turn off. I grabbed my keys in my wallet and all the money that I’ve invested in their business and I will never go there again.

I guess I became a frequent here some how. The atmosphere is welcoming. Monday night Jazz was great. Gumbo was amazing. And special event with free food is AMAZING. You dont want to miss out this place

Fun local spot with good vibes and darts. They only serve beer.

One of my most favorite restaurants. We travel a lot and I try to find the unique places and this is one for the books. I can’t spoil it all for you. You just have to go and see it for yourself! Food was AMAZING! Service was good as well. My drink wasn’t what I would say top of my list, but that was poor choosing on my end! Go and dine here you won’t regret it!

Quant place that has the best gumbo I've ever had. The beer is good and Rhonda our bartender is so wonderful.. we didn't want to leave. I recommend highly for a cold beer and great food!

Hole in the wall and I loved it. The bartenders were so nice. Even the "regulars" were friendly and offered recommendations and sparked up great conversations. We went there twice and will make this a "go to" spot when we visit Nashville.

Such a great dive! Friendly bartender and feel all the way around! Darts were a blast! The gumbo, beef po boy and turkey sub were amazing! They also have plenty of board games to play as well! One of our new fav spots!

A Nashville Gem! If you're searching for the heart and soul of Nashville, look no further than The Villager Tavern! This local treasure has earned its reputation as the city's best dive bar, blending the warmth of Southern hospitality with a vibrant atmosphere that keeps you coming back for more. Let's start with the food--oh, the food! The gumbo here is an absolute revelation. Bursting with bold flavors and the perfect balance of spices, it's hands down the best you'll find in Nashville. Each spoonful transports you straight to the bayou, with tender pieces of sausage and shrimp swimming in a rich, savory broth. It's comfort food at its finest! And if you're a fan of po' boys, The Villager's roast beef po' boy is a must-try. The beef is succulent, piled high on a perfectly crusty loaf, and slathered with just the right amount of gravy. It's an explosion of flavor with every bite, and you'll be craving it long after you leave. Now, let's talk about the juke box. This isn't just any juke box; it's arguably the best in the city! With an eclectic mix of classic tunes and hidden gems, it sets the perfect soundtrack for your evening. Whether you're in the mood for some soulful blues or toe-tapping rock, The Villager's juke box has got you covered. It's also a great venue for live music, such as their weekly songwriter's night and jazz nights. The Villager is the kind of place where you can lose yourself in music while sipping a cold drink and soaking in the vibe. But what truly sets The Villager Tavern apart is its unexpected charm. While you might think of a dive bar as a place for cheap drinks and good food, The Villager surprises with its art displays. You'd never expect to find such an array of local art in a dive bar, but here it flourishes! Vibrant paintings are hung throughout from local artists Tobias Piarrot, Jessica Bleu and Brenan, it's Nashville's most unlikely place to see great art. The combination of artistic expression and laid-back ambiance makes every visit a delightful experience. In a city known for its music and culinary delights, The Villager Tavern stands out as a quintessential Nashville experience. Whether you're a local or just passing through, this spot deserves a spot on your must-visit list. Come for the gumbo, stay for the darts and $9 pitchers of Shiner Bock, and enjoy the tunes while appreciating some fantastic art. You won't be disappointed!

I've lived here for 5 years. Every time my family comes to visit, this is the only place they want to come back to. Villager IS Nashville. Also, best jukebox in town !!

Love this place..Fantastic atmosphere serving great beer and home made cooked food. A great place to watch sport or play darts and the owner will do everything he can to ensure you have a good time. Definitely recommend The Villager to all looking to unwind or get the party started

The Villager Tavern is one of Nashville's hidden treasures, so much so that I have half a mind not to leave a review because I don't want tourists frequenting it too much (no offense, visitors!). This is a dive bar - if you want an Espresso Martini or a Green Tea shot, go hit up Broadway. Seriously. The Villager is seltzers and beer only. There are dart boards in the back (they even have a local darts league!) and plenty of board games to play with your friends. This eclectic dive is owned by some nice folks from New Orleans, and while they have a small food menu, what they have is delicious and worth trying. My personal favorite is the homemade gumbo and the turkey sandwich (get the combo!). They also have a killer roast beef sandwich and various chips. Every few weeks the bar hosts an event, and they're so much fun! Since the owners are Louisianans, Fat Tuesday is obviously a major one, and the family has a FREE (yes, I know) food buffet they provide to patrons. A free buffet of cajun food?? You won't meet a nicer family - no one hosts events like this in Nashville with such an offering and they have live music at most of their events. And the food is good af. If it's your birthday, make sure you chug some beer out of the birthday dog bowl - it's a tradition!! It's also a tradition to have your photo snapped and posted on the wall. You'll notice that the bar used to be a smoker's bar and there's 3 decades worth of photos on the wall (you can tell which ones were there pre-the no smoking). Last but not least, occasionally you'll find local artist Amy sitting in the bar, ready to paint you a beautiful landscape, portrait, or whatever you request. My husband had her paint a picture of our cat and it is one of my favorite pieces of art! THE VILLAGER RULES. Ignore the dumb Karens leaving bad reviews. Imagine creating a Yelp account just to crap all over a local small business (how embarrassing!).

The Villager Tavern is such a great Nashville hidden gem and one that deserves your attention. I always feel safe here even as a woman going into a bar alone, and I always end up making friends with a stranger. Everyone is super friendly and it truly is a one of a kind, no frills experience. They even offer N/A High Rise THC seltzers for those of us that are "Cali sober". If you're ever in the Hillsboro village area, be sure to check it out. The events they throw are always entertaining and the people that run the place are wonderful. Come for the darts and beer and stay for the awesome people.

If Rhonda is there you are guaranteed a few things : good jokes, good vibes, cold beer & hot gumbo ! I watched the semi finals of the euro football tournament here and made fast friends with 2 of the regulars. Cold draft Guinness is always a plus in my books & They have darts in the back and tons of reading in the bathrooms all in all a great dive bar !

Love Dives = A for the Villager I love the Villager. It's an old-fashioned neighborhood bar where you'll meet everyone from local shopkeepers to Vanderbilt University students. The beer is cheap and the company is good and I imagine it looks exactly like it did 50 years ago. Thanks

Went here a couple days ago with some friends. Highly recommend as it's been a go to spot for 20 years!! Love steel darts, love the crew, and love the atmosphere! And the po' boys... so good!

What a great time thank you!!what the best gumbo.family owned loving and caring hosts.mmake sure you play the board games

I don't like hanging out at bars. Villager Tavern is the exception to this. Everytime I go to Villager I know I'm gonna run into people that are not only friendly but COOL. Bartender/owner Andrew is awesome, music is jukebox only (but the music is all sick), and the food is actually good??? Great crowd, great atmosphere, tons of beautiful and gorgeous women 10/10. THE Nashville gem

Haven't found better gumbo in the city yet! This place is a fav. Check it out - local owned that's been around for like 40+ years

Favorite bar in Nashville. Best prices, great vibe, delicious food! And don't get me started on the bartenders Andrew is so sweet and sexy!!!!

I hesitate to review this place because it is one of the only hidden gems in Nashville. Best sandwich in Nashville and don't sleep on that gumbo!

Great little dive bar. No liquor just beer an seltzers. Maybe e we one but not sure. Friendly bartenders! Lots of dart boards. Don't know about food but probably not a big selection. If you like dive bars, this is for you!

When I first came to this bar I was afraid that I wouldn't fit in, I was pleasantly proven wrong. One of the few places in Hillsboro Village to get food after 11pm, and the people who run it and work there are very kind. They have plenty of dart boards, a jukebox, and all kinds of weekly as well as pop up events. This bar and the building it's in is decades old so don't be surprised when it looks like it.

A Nashville staple!! Great family run service. As a Nashville native, it is one of the few remaining classic spots. Always recommend!!

I enjoyed my time here. The Villager has been established as a bar since the early 1970s. It is one of the originals of Hillsboro Village. Previously, it was smoking inside, but that is not the case anymore. It offers darts, beers on draft and beer in cans, but no liquor or wine. They have food as well for purchase. Last call is at 2:30AM. This is a place you come for a chill night out at a dive bar. You get a mix of college students, Hillsboro neighborhood locals, and dive bar aficionados. Regardless of what category you do or do not land in, you're welcome as you are and can find enjoyment in this cool vibes place.

I checked out the Villager Tavern over the weekend. It is a great spot, especially if you love dive bars, or darts. Beer selection was good and fairly prices. The food looked good, although I didn't eat it, a friend did and he liked it. My only gripe is they don't serve liquor. Fun place that I will return to.

Cool dive bar that has darts in the back to hone your skills. Friendly and fast service from the bartender. The big downfall of this joint is they still have smoking which usually kills a place for me fast but fortunately during my visit there was not much smoking going on but the smell was still strong. They had good deals on beer and they had great music playing. I also believe this bar is owned by Louisiana folks and is a good spot to watch the Saints. The Villager Tavern video review of their Mardi Gras party: https://youtu.be/mlFbv7G1Lxk

Bartender/owner(?) snapped my real ID in half, laughed, and told me to get a new one. I was at the bar the previous week and had no issues, but this guy completely ruined my legitimate ID. I am 25 years old and never has anyone questioned my ID until this guy. He didn't even apologize or admit that he made a mistake. I will never come to this bar again! I am so upset by this visit that I made a yelp account just to warn anyone who is thinking about coming here.

A refreshing change from all the pretention in Nashville. Rhonda is an awesome bartender. Long live dive bars!

Cool little dive in the Vanderbilt area. Friendly staff, darts and CHILI! That's a nice touch. I was wary of this spot because I thought it would be filled with annoying college punks. There's a bit of a college-y crowd but everyone keeps to themselves here and is just here to have a good time. One thing to note, it is a beer-only establishment. If I could change one thing, I would make sure they play music there.. there is a jukebox (cash only) but if no one is playing a song, then there is just pure silence. I'd still come back though! Decent little spot.

This place is horrible. I've went on 3 separate occasions (only for friends, not my first choice EVER). On the first visit, he was making HORRIBLE remarks about women and split beer all over me. On the second visit, he was joking about r*ping women. The third time, (tonight) he bent my friends GOVERNMENT ID and broke it. 0/10. The bar is great itself if the owner wasn't the worst person to exist.

What a cool place! We are visiting from out of town and needed to kill some time between lunch and our late afternoon plans. We stopped in here based off of Yelp and we're immediately bought a round by the owner (wish I'd caught his name!) Rhonda took excellent care of us. We drank beer and played darts for about two hours. Really cool place. They even took a photo of our group :)

I would give this place 5 stars as a dart bar, but because they allow smoking inside I feel like it deserves a 1. Coming from a city where smoking inside buildings has been banned, I was shocked when we went with friends to the Villager Tavern and had to endure so much smoke. This is definitely not good for anyone's health.

Have you ever rolled around in an ashtray and enjoyed the overpowering aroma of old cigarettes. Well this place is as close to that as I've found. I went at the request of and old friend that had moved to Nashville. We wanted to go there because they have a large area for chucking darts. And I enjoy chucking darts. Well The positive was the dart boards were good and there was plenty of space to use them. However Its hard to play when your on the verge of choking. Burying you face in your armpit from time to time to give your lungs a break. Sadly the beer didn't make up for it. Their best draft at the time was Yuengling. Well I enjoyed seeing an old 'mate' and throwing darts but that was it.

Great bar to grab some beer and play darts! Yes, it's going to smell like smoke. You are going to smell like smoke. And breathing inside the place is not super fun. Be aware of that going in; it's part of what makes the VIllager, the Villager. They have about 5 dart boards in back, fun jukebox of music, and Mario party (maybe more games??) over the bar. And they had the Titans game playing the back the other day. A handful of beer choices, but pretty simple standard choices. Don't expect more than that. They have a $5 card minimum, which was about two beers. I've always had personable and respectable interactions with the bar staff and no issue feeling comfortable inside. Everyone is there to have a good time. And fun birthday idea: go on in and get you a free dog bowl of beer!

The bartender was great and the atmosphere was awesome. Don't get food, their "famous" sandwich tastes and smelt like dog food. I got home like 3 hours ago and I still smell the dog food on my hands.. NO FOOOOOOOOD.

My boyfriend and I went here last night and were greeted by the *the* rudest bartender. We have both worked the industry for a decade+ and I understand people have bad nights but holy sh!t. The attitude of a teenager on a grown a$$ man. We Handed over our IDs then instead of handing them back or placing them back on the bar the guy threw them down. So we decided to down our drinks and gtfo of this place that smelled awful. Asked for the tab and same thing with my cc. Who hurt you?

Cool dive bar but sadly I'm a vodka girl and they're beer only. Tons of seating and numerous FREE dart boards in the back. The smoke smell, ugh. I know it's a dive bar and smoking is still allowed, but dude this place needs to be fumigated big time. HOWEVER, the bartenders are chill, the poboys are good and the conversation is lively. $2 16oz PBR through Yelp Check-In too, which my husband took advantage of.

3.5 We were in the area on a Saturday night for a work event and we wanted to grab a quick beer after. We found The Villager on Yelp and decided to check it out. I love me a good dive bar so this was an exciting find. It's totally different than most of the upscale cocktail lounges that are popping up all over Nashville. When walking in, I loved the feel of the place. Pictures and posters all over the walls, free darts in the back, stools to grab a seat at the bar or along the wall. However, the smell. I understand that with a bar that allows smoking, it's going to smell like smoke. But wow. This place was on another level. It was difficult to be in there for too long. If you smoke, I'm sure you'll love this place! If you don't, good luck. They have great deals on beer and a few decent choices on tap. I saw an IPA option so that's always a plus. We used the check-in offer on Yelp to get $2 PBR cans. Nothing like a cold PBR to bring me back to my college days. The bartender was really friendly and helpful. Overall, a really great little dive bar if you can stand the smell!

This place has absolutely killer po'boys and gumbo. Decent beer prices. Just wish there was a way to smoke at the sidewalk tables and keep your drink with you. Only negative is that sometimes they'll have the volume on for one TV showing Family Guy, or something like that, while every other TV is showing playoff games.

Divey AF and great! Beer and hard teas only. Amazing po boys and gumbo! Great peeps and vibes

Just visited for my first time this past Fat Tuesday and the food and atmosphere did not disappoint! This will now be me and my friends tradition. Homemade gumbo and food from a true Louisianna'n is unlike any other around. A lot of people poured in so make sure you get there early! You can enjoy a game of darts while you play and check out all the cool artifacts on the walls. 10/10 recommend.

Fun low key pub owned by New Orleans natives. The gumbo and po boys are the real deal!

Quite possibly the best dive bar in Nashville. Savanna was our bartender and was the best. This is a straight up beer only bar. Such a great vibe from the minute we walked in.

The day time (early afternoon) bartender does not want to work. There were only two other people in the bar and bartender just stood behind the bar and did not wait on anyone. I left after not being provided service or even acknowledgement.

I mean does it get any better than the Villager! Amazing dive bar, great drink prices and awesome service! Love the crowd love the vibes I mean it's just the perfect getaway and night out! If your visiting Nashville.. COME HERE!

Cold, cheap beer, great location, but suuuuuper smoky inside. It burned my eyes just being in there and no one was even smoking at the time.

This is a definite dive bar. It's super smoky in the place as well. That doesn't bother me, but nice to know ahead of time. They have a bunch of dartboards and it was mainly a younger crowd. The bartender was friendly and made a mean turkey sandwich. It's a cool place to stop in for a late night beer

Delivers the goods. Great Dive Bar. With many dart boards. Friendly patrons. And yes you have to have a Shiner Bock there.

I was introduced to the Villager by Vandy alums and it is a landmark in Hillsboro Village that holds a lot of memories for its patrons. As an outsider, I enjoy hanging out at the Villager and checking out dogbowl pictures on the wall and stopping in around birthdays because you get a free dogbowl of beer. However, there are no other alcoholic beverages offered for those who are not beer drinkers. And now that most Nashville bars are smoke free, its difficult to enjoy myself for an extended period of time through the blanket of smoke that engulfs you upon entering. They have decent juke box and darts, foosball, and some old school video arcade games (Ms. Packman!) that are very enjoyable. They have a couple menu items, but to be honest, I wouldn't eat here. Sorry. It's not a place where I would ever be a regular, but I'll stop in for my dogbowl or to share in a friends birthday dogbowl celebration!

The Villager Tavern is proof that the West Side has a few inexpensive and down-to-earth bars to offer. While I typically prefer a bar that serves liquor, the Villager's location and atmosphere are enough to draw you in off the street. It's surrounded by some other pretty great establishments (the Belcourt, Jackson's, Pancake Pantry, et cetera), and it's just what HIllsboro needs in terms of bars. I'd say the Villager's neatest aspect is its long and spacious dart-throwing room, which has something like four or five dartboards. However, the restrooms are tucked in a narrow hallway at the back, so making a quick bathroom run can actually be somewhat of a hazard with all the darts whizzing to and fro. They have a moderate selection of beers at pretty cheap prices, and the bartenders always seem to be friendly and talkative, which I actually find quite refreshing. If you're celebrating a birthday, it's absolutely crucial to let the staff know. B-day patrons are required to drink an excessive amount of beer from a large dog bowl that is kept on hand for just such occasions. People often complain about the amount of smoke, but pathetic nicotine addicts such as myself don't tend to notice. I recommend the Villager for idle nights you'd like to fill with pretty inexpensive pitchers and dart tournaments.

The Shiners are always frosty and Scott makes a hell of a po-boy! The darts are awesome too. Great jukebox!

You will not find a better place to play darts in this city. Simply put, they know their strength and they play to it well. The beer selection is OK and the prices are great. The major reason why I don't go here more is because it's filled with cigarette smoke. Be prepared to change your clothes and take a shower after visiting, because just 30min at this place and you're going to smell horrible. Also, the juke box selection is phenomenal.

This place rocks. The bartenders are A1. The beer is top notch and I always meet cool people when I get off a stressful shift from the ER.

The Villager Tavern is quite possibly my favorite place to hang in Nashville. It's the prefect bar to finish your night on the town or spend a few hours making friends with the regulars. There is no pretense; there is good beer, great people, and great conversation, not to mention 5 dart boards to help you work on your game. On top of that, the bar staff is not only personable but they treat you like friends. It may not be fancy but there is always a great time to be had at the Villager.

It's a dive and it's smokey. If you're into that kind of thing, read on... Cheap beer - check. Shiner is $9.50 for a pitcher, $2.75/pint. LaGunitas will run you about $4.75 but that's still not bad. Really that's the only check you need but wait! There's more! I heard a rumor they'll give you a dog bowl of beer on your 21st birthday... They serve food. No, really, I promise. And it's GOOD. You only have one choice of food (sandwich) and two choices of kind of sandwich (turkey or roast beef) but it's actually really tasty. They also have darts and foosball and a jukebox and a couple video game machines. A fun neighborhood bar. My husband and I ended up her on our first date after Fido closed for the night so it has a special place in my heart. I hope it stays around for a while.

One of the best beer deals in town if get a pitcher. Shiner Bock and Miller light are just under $10 a pitcher. Five dartboards, a foosball table, and a great jukebox +3 large screen HD televisions.