Play Dance Bar

Play Dance Bar is one of Nashville’s biggest and best-known gay clubs, combining a large dance floor with regular drag shows and guest performers.

Located on Church Street next to Tribe, Play is the more high-energy option of the two. One side of the venue focuses on the stage, with multiple drag shows through the night, while the other is built around the dance floor and resident DJs. Fridays and Saturdays are the biggest nights, with shows at 9pm, 11pm and 1am.

The crowd is broad, with gay men, lesbians, trans people, straight friends and plenty of bachelorette groups all mixing together. That crossover crowd is part of Play’s identity, although on busy weekends it can feel less exclusively gay than some other Nashville venues.

Play has been voted one of Nashville’s top places to dance for years and remains one of the city’s main LGBTQ+ nightlife destinations. If you want drag, a packed dance floor and a proper late-night club rather than a neighbourhood bar, this is the place to go.