Sometimes I walk in a bar and I know immediately that I would totally frequent the place if only I lived nearby. The Red Door Saloon is one of those places. First thing you notice when you come in is the big patio out front...they had it enclosed since it is winter but I imagine it is a fun place to hang out in the summer. Inside there are nooks and crannies like an old house and it is decorated in skulls, crossbones, and Cubs memorabilia. I know, random. They have TVs so you can watch the game, a long bar, and a table shaped like a baby grand piano (complete with keys painted on it). That's where I sat of course!! The waitress got off to a little of a slow service start, but then she picked it up and was awesome. We had some pizza and it was nothing special, like frozen pizza or something. They also have a large selection of hot dogs and brats and steamed sandwiches. I have the feeling though this is not really the place to go for food, it is the place to drink a lot. The crowd was all over the board but as it got later I saw more people in there that seemed like the typical people I avoid in Uptown Dallas, but not so many that I wouldn't hang out there. The bathrooms...I found it hilarious that the mirror above the sink was so high I couldn't even see the top of my head in it. And the curtains for doors are kind of annoying. But overall the bar was awesome and I will be back next time I am in town. And I did look in the hole. Fun!
(4)
Kyla A.
I so much prefer the East Nashville location of the Red Door, but this location is still pretty good considering the other options in the area. The main issue with Red Door West is the layout is a bit cramped and convoluted. When it's crowded, and it often is, it's hard to move around and find somewhere to land, especially when you're with a larger group. The crowd is very different here than at the other location as well. It's a lot of young professionals and the like. One thing I do prefer about this location is that they have more of the fruit infusions available. Red Door East just has the vodka pineapple mix, but West offers a few more varieties including a whiskey cherry infusion of which I am quite fond. They also have waiter service at this location which is almost entirely non-existent across town.
(3)
Mark M.
Its a staple. Weekends are busy but so is every other place.
(5)
Courtney B.
Surprisingly even though I live closer to this location than the one in East Nashville, I don't like it as much even though I gave them both the same rating. The staff are as friendly and efficient here as at the other location, but for some reason the crowd just isn't as cool. I guess that's just the difference between an East Nash and Midtown location. You get a lot more vandy kids and 'hey look at me i'm in the music business types' here but thats due to its proximity to both Vanderbilt and Music Row. Its a small, cozy bar and a great place to unwind with a drink. Unless you go on the weekends when it is so ridiculously packed it'll take you more time to get up to the bar than it will to actually get a drink. You can find Red Door on Division Street just a couple blocks from Broadway Brewhouse. The building is an old house and is so unassuming that you'd probably drive right past it several times if you weren't looking for it. There's no parking lot so have fun finding a spot on the street. Oh and don't forget to look in the hole in the floor....
(3)
Dustin S.
GREAT ENVIROMENT GOOD DRINK SPECIALS YOUNG CROWD FRAT BOYS AND SORITY GIRLS GOOD TIMES Awesome place for a group of people. College bar with a lot of frat kids and sorority girls but always fun. The place has a lot of history and is very original. Great place for locals or if you want a place to go with friends. I wouldn't recommend going alone or if you want to really party, but highly recommend for just a bar. 2 for 1 all week before 12 On my friends 21st birthday they wouldn't let her in, although she is now 21 they refused her because the ID also expired on her birthday which i thought was rediculous, they could have let that slide with such an occasion. Had no problems anywhere else.
(3)
Chesterfield L.
Just a great place to grab a damn beer. Love the Happy hour and wish I could find a place up north like it!
(5)
Declan G.
The Red Door is probably my favorite of the bars I've been to in Nashville. It's in an old house, so it feels kind of cozy, with two old-fashioned molded fireplaces and huge mirrors in heavy frames. The ceiling is covered with tin sign beer ads, there's a good-sized wooden deck out front, and a digital jukebox near the door. But I think the best parts of the Red Door are the good selection of draft beer (including $3 Yuenglings) and the Marilyn Monroe-themed room cork room, whose walls are completely covered with wine corks (I'd like who had the patience for that). My only complaints about the Red Door: the curtained stalls in the women's restroom are pretty unpleasant, and I think the bras hanging on the pirate paraphernalia above the bar are kind of tacky. Otherwise, it's pretty idea: the bartenders are down to earth, and the door guy was unusually friendly. The Red Door is pretty popular, but fortunately the space is divided up enough that the crowd doesn't get overwhelming. They serve pizza and other bar food until 1 am.
(5)
Nonie N.
walked into this place on a whim during a two for one on all drinks special hour. it was AWESOME. it only gets minus one star for the bathroom, which was clean, but very small and one of the doors wouldn't lock. other than that, great music, great crowd, great area in east nashville. truly one of the highlights of my trip to the city.
(4)
Katherine M.
Red Door is just a great local watering hole. It is a typical college town bar - loud, crowded, a bit dirty, but the drinks are cheap and strong! The bartenders are very nice and are truly having fun. Ask them to come up with a fun concoction for you and your chums (but beware) and they'll be happy to pour it up! If you're looking for a fun spot out on the town, this is a good choice. Red Door has plenty of seats, high-top tables, and a great patio. Again, it gets crowded, but that's part of it! Challenge your friends to a game of air hockey on the table outside. A great place to just chill. I have never had to wait long for a drink here. The waitstaff is always walking around making sure their customer's are happy and their drinks are full! You can get any and every type of beer here, and the drinks are mixed perfectly. Hurry to Red Door and know you're in for a fun, laid back night.
(4)
Caitlin D.
A great spot to take it easy and enjoy interesting company. My friend had a little too much fun sitting on a stool in front of the dishwasher, and the bartender laughed that he had heard that before. Good beer, the place is just dingy enough to be comfortable if you want to avoid the pretentious hotspots. Bring your eyepatch, you'll fit right in with the decor.
(4)
Peter K.
Let's get one thing out of the way; this is a singles college bar, no questions about it. This place gets packed and VERY HOT over the summer. You'll notice lots of sports memorabilia from Chicago adorned all over the walls; I believe the owner is from the windy city? Back to the drinks, you must try the root beer float shot and have a drink made with the soaked pineapples. If you're feeling like you have large bollocks, try some of the soaked cherries.
(3)
Sean B.
I don't know what all the poor reviews are about. Matt and I went here on Friday night and had a blast. The crowd changes drastically as the night wears on and thats the reason for the four stars. Well that and the fact that a crowd of drunken bridesmaids and another group of drunk frat boys were fighting over our table and who was getting it next. Paige our server was a bad b*tch of a server. She was on point. Food was ok nothing to write home about but to be honest, who goes to a bar for the food. Overall a great experience.
(4)
Nathan S.
Absolutely fantastic food! They have happy hour specials (2 for 1) on so many different drinks. The atmosphere is authentic Chicago style. Their food is excellent both taste wise and price wise. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and there is ample room within the bar. Definitely enjoyed this place, and were I a local, I would definitely come back. I recommend checking this place out if you're visiting Nashville!
(5)
Axel P.
Big disappointment. I heard this was a great Chicago atmosphere bar I'm visiting from Chicago in Nashville. I wanted to stop by and watch the Hawks game. The bar tender girl was more concerned about her cellphone than the customers waiting for a drink! I had to give them a star or I wouldn't be able to to post my comment.
(1)
Katie M.
Rude, inappropriate and unprofessional security staff. Drinks are great, but I've had horrible experiences here.
(1)
Nathan S.
Absolutely fantastic food! They have happy hour specials (2 for 1) on so many different drinks. The atmosphere is authentic Chicago style. Their food is excellent both taste wise and price wise. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and there is ample room within the bar. Definitely enjoyed this place, and were I a local, I would definitely come back. I recommend checking this place out if you're visiting Nashville!
(5)
Michelangelo S.
Cheap Beers & Cheap People SITREP I like it! A very low-key & unpretentious set-up. Gets very crowded on a Friday or Saturday night. THE SETUP This was a fun meet-up point to get some drinks and to socialize. * There is a very extensive bar area, which is good because waiting for servers can be an issues - since apparently they have preferences as to the groups of people they want to serve - so it was just better to go to the bar and get our own drinks. * There is also an extensive patio area which was really nice to hang out in. VARIED MUSIC FORMAT It was a lot of fun listening to the virtual DJ mix the music between country, pop and rock. The place just lit up with energy when Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar On Me" blasted through the establishment. For one brief moment I felt like I was back at my Fraternity's Frat parties in Washington State (even here in Nashville). THE PATIO Our preference was to be on the patio since there were smokers in our group. And once we pretty much did our own "self-serve" in acquiring own drinks, things were good. "GET SOME MORE CHAIRS FOR THE PATIO?" The annoying thing about the patio is not that there were insufficient tables - because there were plenty - but a significantly insufficient number of chairs. It got to a point were we tried to scavenge for chairs in non-patio areas just to get people in our group a seat. And it's not like people were hoarding chairs either - each table could easily sit 6-7 chairs with people in them, which was the average - but most of the people were standing around our table and adjacent tables, and there were 2-3 tables in our area where there were no chairs, because the other tables needed them for their patrons. THE LOWDOWN A decent enough bar with reasonable drink prices and to allow for good conversation, and has the potential for getting far better ratings with better customer service and more chairs, just sayin...
(3)
Franklin D.
Good because you can smoke inside while you enjoy your adult beverage. Not really my scene though. One of those places that sees a TON of traffic, usually too crowded, etc.
(3)
Shawn H.
Denying entry to a disabled Vet with a service dog. Scum of the earth. ADA laws exist for a reason, this place is that reason. Tennessee law matches federal law, which disallows the scum doorman from even asking for documentation.
(1)
Tyler D.
Look up there little video on YouTube. Denied entry to disabled vet for having service dog. I will not let you for get this little mistake. Nor will our brothers and sisters.
(1)
Charles R.
I would recommend going someplace else. The staff here from the front door security to the manager are fairly unprofessional. Why would ownership tolerate such behavior is beyond me. After reading all the stories of people and their identifications being confiscated it almost seems as if something strange is going on here. Buyer beware!!
(1)
Lori S.
The other review was right. A Chicago bar in the middle of Nashville! Service is great! Nice vibe. Go here.
(5)
Axel P.
Big disappointment. I heard this was a great Chicago atmosphere bar I'm visiting from Chicago in Nashville. I wanted to stop by and watch the Hawks game. The bar tender girl was more concerned about her cellphone than the customers waiting for a drink! I had to give them a star or I wouldn't be able to to post my comment.
(1)
Katie M.
Rude, inappropriate and unprofessional security staff. Drinks are great, but I've had horrible experiences here.
(1)
Brittany S.
The downside: my prescription Ray Bans were stolen here. Good luck to Mr./Mrs. Sticky Fingers in making use of them. The upside: I met the most adorable southern boy from Mississippi. I'm pretty sure we're going to get married and have twangy, Ole Miss-attending children. Yes, I'm 99% positive. Other upsides: The ventilation deserves 5 stars. If you don't know this already, smoking is permitted in Nashville bars. Soooo 2009. Good news is, Red Door Saloon is open to the outdoors allowing a bit of fresh air to get in. Quite frankly, it was the saving grace for my delicate Circle City lungs. Other upsides: from what I can remember, the bathrooms were survivable for a packed bar on a Saturday night. A bit on the clusterfuck side, but survivable nonetheless. Other upsides: the people in this town couldn't be any sweeter. They truly give Hoosier Hospitality a run for its money.
(4)
Kristin L.
Used to love this place--then I brought an international friend here for a drink and he was denied entry because his ID is Finnish. WTF? The rest of us Americans in the group are in our 30s, he's 33 per his official Finnish national ID, and he was sent to the curb?!? I've been to 100+ countries and never have been denied entry into a bar because of my U.S. ID. EVER. Way to go, Red Door--discouraging international tourism by banning foreigners from entering your establishment. Was his beard not long enough to be deemed "Nashville cool?" Were his glasses not boxy enough? Red Door is just proving the myth that Nashville is a regressive city, and as a native of this place, I'm downright embarrassed.
(1)
Brandon H.
I like this place a lot! I went on a Sunday afternoon and enjoyed the 2 for 1 beer special! $5.00 for two beers!? Yes, please! It wasnt crowded nor noisy. The patio was awesome with plenty of space and fresh air. This is my favorite bar in Nashville.
(5)
Justin C.
Visiting from Chicago and found this place. Instantly felt welcomed. Awesome atmosphere, good beer selection and great mix of people. Had a blast! Would absolutely return again.
(5)
Angela J.
Just dogs and burgers for food. It was ok.
(2)
Tommy B.
This is my first time on Nashville. This was the first place we went and it's literally behind our hotel. Cheap beer and hot dogs... What more could you ask for a bachelor party of 10? I suggest the Tiajuana Dog; spicy yet exciting. Everything else is pretty manageable. Definitely a good time.
(3)
Mike A.
It was more like a little house than a saloon. But maybe that's what a saloon is. I don't really know. I am from a place where we don't have things called saloons. In fact, isn't a saloon just a way of saying salon, but for dudes? I think it is. There's an air conditioning unit affixed to the ceiling that looks like it could fall and kill someone. Don't stand under that. Just in case there's an earthquake. Where I'm from, we have earthquakes (but no saloons). Maybe we could trade. You take the earthquakes, and I'll take the place with the precarious A/C unit. Ever wonder why people put the slash between the A and the C when writing A/C? You don't do that with anything else. Examples: Hair Conditioner = H/C? Nope. Under One Condition = U/O/C? Nope. I guess I just needed that first example. But I already wrote the second one and I don't see the point in deleting it, so it's staying there.
(4)
Taylor N.
This bar just isn't my favorite. I've only been there at night, when its crowded and you have to wait for 10 minutes at the bar to get a drink. I would imagine it'd be more enjoyable in the daytime with their great patio and garage door walls. Their bathrooms are always disgusting and 90% of the time, only one of the toilets work in the Ladies room (and that's if you're lucky). The crowd is mostly college students with a few tourists here or there. I've heard the East Nashville Red Door is a much better, more authentic experience.
(2)
Scotty C.
Came here to meet up with a group of yelpers during Yelp Spring Break '14. We had a late dinner and then decided to make appearance here before making our way back to the other end of town. Unfortunately, we were not nearly as drunk as we needed to be for Red Door. After walking in and using the restroom, I went on a search to find my pals who got were lost in the sea of college students and bro's. After a solid 10 minute search I found them in the back bar huddled against the wall drinking a beer. I personally was already over this spot and it turned out they all felt the same way. Didn't even other trying to fight my way to the bar for a beer and just left for greener pastures. Hammered, I probably would have had a blast. My advice... don't show up to Red Door Saloon if you're even slightly sober.
(2)
Rebecca B.
My friend was disrespected since she just moved here and had just changed her license, they would not let her in with her new Tennessee license. As her friend, we asked so we can't go in and his response was, "you all can go in, but she can't." Instead of apologizing of inconvenience, he told her friends they could go in without her. Thanks not only really rude, but just inconsiderate and unsafe.
(1)
Lindy B.
I've been here a few times and really it's just whatever. I like that the patio is really big but you better get here early to claim a table. I like that their mixed drinks are actually served in a glass, not a plastic cup. Pours are usually strong. I dislike that you can smoke inside. I dislike that there is only 2 toilets and 1 of the stalls is so small that my knees hit the wall in front of me while sitting on the toilet. I'm not THAT tall. When I've been there I've actually seen a pretty diverse crowd but for the most part it's college aged kids. Not my fave place, but not the worst either. It serves it's purpose.
(3)
Sheena T.
I already am not a fan of Red Door, and I greatly dislike Red Door in Midtown. I will admit...Red Door is the ONE thing that is better on the East Side (gasp, I know!). But this one is just bad. First of all... two for ones only last until 6pm while the East side offers it until 7, even on Fridays. Secondly, my friend and I were ignored by the seriously non busy bartender at 5 minutes to 6. We asked for drinks on happy hour; "oh, it just ended." Really?? I'm pretty sure the time literally just changed to 6:00. Thanks for that sweetheart. Our table ordered the nachos and they were seriously inedible. A pile of chips with a glop of Costco cheese and a couple pickled jalapenos and that was IT. It was also COLD upon arrival. The only bonus is that they have opened up a bigger patio, so there's more space than the horrid one before. Also, it helps with the smoking that is allowed at this bar. I am not a fan. And will continue to bitch and moan if people want to meet here.
(2)
Megan J.
yes, you can smoke here but i beg you, step outside! ventilation? hah! wait at patterson? walk over here for cheap beer and cheaper cocktails bathroom surprising even had toilet paper! a true dive bar gem
(3)
Nick B.
Great bar but getting kicked out for using the women's room is ridiculous. They girls in the guys bathroom were fine and the room used had one toliet and it locked. Get over it and tell you bouncers to chill out.
(1)
Eden O.
We were warned. . . but we went against the advice of locals and ate the pineapple. They were not kidding, those lil chunks of fruit are STRONG. Just another bit of a dive bar. Solid music, lots of space to wander both inside and out. Seems to be a Chicago bar judging by the sports paraphernalia.
(3)
Richard H.
we had a great time here (before we found out about downtown). nice non college kid crowd. great bar staff(special shoutout to our girl wendy(even though that wasn't her real name)). but do not under any circumstance have the booze infused cherries or pineapples, very hard to put down. although downtown is the place to hang and get crazy, I would definitely hang out here again.
(4)
Ju L.
5 stars! Oh wait! Karry L. and I were more or less dragged here kicking and screaming by an unnamed guilty party, who still insists that she enjoyed our 10 minutes inside even though 9.5 of said minutes were spent draped over the bar waiting for the dour-faced bartender to glance over while we endured being jostled by a herd of grunting dudes and screeching women. The last 30 seconds were spent downing our shots as quickly as possible and sprinting (but, in reality, burrowing) our way through the mass of bodies to the exit. The tequila was the weakest tequila I've ever had. It is a smoking establishment. Emerging back outside was some sort of beautiful, beautiful freedom. To be fair: - We were not really kicking and screaming, of course. We're civilized people. We just whined incessantly before, during, and after. - I suppose since our mystery friend inexplicably enjoyed her time here, this place could be *someone's* cup of tea. So yes, if you see yourself having a blast at a grimy, collegey circus of a bar, that extra star's for you. Even so, I am choosing not to name this friend so she will not have to endure the unrecognized but very real shame of having found this place tolerable. Worth a visit as a tourist? ...No.
(2)
Andrea L.
The bartenders and staff are RUDE! They didn't get my 2 drink order right and when I asked for a drink I was missing I received an eye roll. To my face. I work in the industry and will never go back there and I will also go out if my way to tell all my customers at a very busy restaurant I work at to not go there.
(1)
Kenny P.
At whatever cost stay away from this place. If you want to go to a Chicago bar then go to Chicago. Not only is this place a Chicago fake but the staff are all complete jerks. The service from the doorman, bar tenders and servers is shameful. They treat you like you need them more than they need you. The place is filthy and expensive. I wish I could give zero stars! Keep walking and enjoy all of the other traditional places that will treat you like royalty and give the real Nashville experience.
(1)
Bri A.
As a visitor from Chicago, you bet I loved this Cubs-themed bar! Okay, I'm a Sox fan, but a Chicago team is a Chicago team. It's a typical sports bar like back home, but with better drinks. My 7&7 came in a pint glass and was strong! They don't play around here! Don't forget to take a peek into the hole in the floor. Just do it, trust me! :)
(4)
John B.
Had a great time here recently. It can be crowded and loud, but it's definitely fun. This is the original location and opened in 2002. I wonder if they will have a 10 year party soon? The bartenders were friendly fast and if I recall correctly, pretty cute. ha ha. There are so many signs, knick-knacks, and things to look at, it's like an Applebee's but actually good. If you want to really abuse your liver, get the pineapple drink. It tasted like Everclear but is straight vodka. There are of course plenty of other things to drink and eat. They have lots of Hot Dogs ($5.95), Steamed Sandwhiches ($5.95), Ric's Wraps ($5.95), and Pizzas! If you are around this place in the daylight, checkout all the funny things written in the sidewalk. Oh, and definitely look for the hole in the floor.... spooky Next time I'll have to check out the East Nashville location. There are also 2 locations in Florida.
(5)
Corey W.
Nothing really special about this place. Add it too the other places that don't really stick out. Has all the checklist items a late night watering hole has porch, cheap beer, crushing wall of people, loud music so you can't actually communicate with anyone your with, and overweight bouncer. Really if you're already drunk stumble in you won't mind it. If you are still sober don't bother.
(2)
Corey G.
Great beer selection with awesome happy hour specials but very poor service. I've been to the Red Door Saloon in Panama City Beach which seemed to be more like a biker so I was extremely surprised that this Red Door was a Chicago sports bar.
(2)
Courtney K.
Chicago bar, Bartender was so rude. I was there during a dead time, and she was extremely short and rude.
(1)
Sarah C.
I had a pretty good time at the Red Door in Midtown. I ordered a LIT and for $8 it was in a pint glass and spoke true to warm nights on the Cape. Smoking is allowed which sort of bummed me out but sitting on their patio cures that issue. The decor is eclectic yet casual like a weird uncle's basement full of collectibles such as the Sailor Jerry neon above the bar. I am not sure if it was me or my inhibitions being lifted but there were some pretty decent looking folks if you are into that type of scene. The Red Door is anything but pretentious. The most interesting things that I can tell you about besides the aforementioned are the women's restrooms and the tables on the patio. First, the restrooms. Since I hadn't had the experience of the crusty curtain bathroom situation for the ladies (rumor mill), the plywood shoe box containing the porcelain pee-pot is apparently an upgrade. At least they had a sink and soap! Next, the tables. What do you get when you combine 5-7 intoxicated twenty-somethings and a table on a bar patio that is painted like grand piano. A Glee moment! Sweet Caroline, Piano Man, whatever! Talk about a conduit for bringing folks together!
(3)
Chris J.
By far the best bar in downtown, staff is fantastic, food is great and most importantly atmosphere is the best.
(5)
Karry L.
Look, I get it. I've been there before. I used to be in my early-twenties. I know what it's like to be hanging out on a weekend night and suddenly get hit with the non-negotiable urge to imbibe questionable alcohol, yell incoherently and make poor decisions. I know that well liquor is only tolerable when drunk in the company of assholes. I don't particularly care for this sort of stuff now, but these are all things that are familiar to me, and I am glad that certain bars exist to accommodate this desire. Red Door Saloon is definitely one of them. It's loud, crowded, vaguely sticky, and full of frat boys and sorostitutes looking to collect shot glasses and venereal diseases. I spent 10 minutes in there and wanted to punch at least 4 people by the time I left. I think I may have regressed as a human being. But my review is going to be based on only two things: quality of service, which was pitifully slow and inattentive, although that probably could've been helped if they staffed more than 2 bartenders per 300 patrons, and the price point. I'm still not sure how I ended up paying $22 for 3 shots of Cuervo, which according to my friend, tasted "watered down. I didn't feel anything." That is a damning statement coming from a skinny Asian girl. I can see why this bar exists, even if it does in fact represent the absolute dregs of humanity. The real problem is that it can't even adequately fulfill its two purposes: getting me wasted cheaply, and getting me wasted quickly.
(1)
Logan P.
I live less than a hundred yards from this bar and I'm never going back. I'm a regular, I'm friends with all of the bartenders and most of the servers. I was refused entry because I had a paper (temporary ID) which I was able to board an airplane with, but not drink a beer. The door man, read asshole, proceeded to make fun of me and call me names. The Red Door saloon sure knows how to treat its heavy tipping locals. The bouncers names were "bird" and Rob.
(1)
JD C.
I don't get the appeal of this place. I like to get drunk as much as the next guy, but Red Door is pretty terrible when it comes to atmosphere, service, and clientele. I went to college in a Big Ten college town, and bars like these were the norm.... At Vandy this is really the only place of its kind so it makes sense that its always packed. It's sort of a bizarro college bar experience, where the bros wear Dockers, tucked in Gant polo shirts, and have sunglasses on their head complete with neck strap; its kind of like being at an afterparty for a Kohl's ad photo shoot. The beer, if you're able to fight your way to the bar to get one, can be cheap if you like crappy beer or way overpriced if you like good beer (of which they have a few). Unfortunately, if you live in Nashville you will inevitably end up here at some point, likely because its one of your friends' favorite places to go. It may be enough to make you re-evaluate those you consider friends...
(2)
Patrick M.
2 for 1 on a Sunday even with a blackhawks game on, you can't go wrong. If your a Chicago fan this is a place to go, unfortunately they don't put the sound on.
(4)
James T.
Being a Chicagoan visiting Nashville, I thought it might be a cool place to catch the white sox game the other night. Nope...cubs bar. As a staunch cub hater, I can somewhat appreciate, but that seemed to effect the level of service at the bar. A+ on the ventilation as it was a smoking establishment. Beer prices were reasonable. I may have just been expecting more. I'll give it a go next winter when down for a predator game.
(3)
Jason S.
It will smell of smoke, it will be a diverse clientele, and you will get no frills. While you are there, you will wonder why the hell you chose to do this, and remember that "The Patterson House" is right down the street. What are you doing here? Did this seem like a good idea at the time? You have made a terrible mistake. But guess what, pal? Buck up and man up through this one. You're going to have to ride it out. Because that leather chick over there is old enough to be your mom but could still beat your ass if you show a moment's weakness. And what the hell are you doing on Yelp? That's a sure way to get yourself killed in here. Stay cool, act naturally, we're going to get through this together. (extra stars added to not get killed)
(3)
Jim V.
Not a fan of this midtown establishment. Look for the skeleton in the hole in the floor board. This place is extremely small for the amount of people they try and pack in there. I don't understand the theme either. This place good definitely be on the show bar rescue just for the host, johns advice in bar science haha. But in all seriousness it is hard to get a drink. Other spots in midtown are better
(2)
Paul K.
It was my 6th visit to the place. It was sometime after the Yelp/Toyota event and we'd been hopping from bar to Rebar to bar and ended up at The Red Door. Every time I've ever been to the 'Door it's been a fight... a fight to get to the bar, a fight to find a place to stand, and a fight to get to the bathroom. In other words, it's not usually a place I've managed to enjoy. This was different. I finally had a taste of what the place was without the 300 people crammed into a space designed for 80. I'm not entirely sure why this place is so popular, not trying to dis it, I just don't get it. Perhaps it's the bar staff, they were friendly. Perhaps it's a bunch of cliques that get together and descend upon the place, I don't know, the other patrons have always looked about as annoyed as I usually am when I go to the place. The prices are so so, the atmosphere is on the good side of meh, and the bathrooms are a pit from hell that has opened on Earth, so there's got to be something I'm missing as it's also not convenient and parking is a pain. Not saying the other reviews are false, but the crowd that I didn't personally bring was not solid, the music was only ok, the drinks were average, the strangers were not sociable, and that's been every experience I've had here. Don't get me wrong, it's an ok bar, I am just failing to get the wow factor of it.
(3)
Janette W.
Man, did I feel old here! We walked in here on a whim and were immediately confronted with the youth! We battled through the crowd to grab a drink and I was impressed with the stiffness of my jack and coke. It's easy to find a quiet corner here if that's what you're looking for or a loud crowd.
(3)
Heidi S.
This used to be one of my favorite places to go on a Saturday night in my late 20s when I was single. That is definitely the type of crowd you will find there on the weekend nights. Now, if I go it is usually on Sunday afternoon with a group of friends for Sunday Funday since they do 2-4-1 all day there. I love the recent renovation/expansion they did and that they finally put real stall doors on the bathrooms instead of the old shower curtains they used to have. The bartenders are great. My only complaint would be that it can tend to be a little too smokey at times. I am looking forward to being able to hang on the expanded patio in the warmer months and I might update my review then.
(3)
Allison B.
Oh Red Door you always do me wrong. Some of my friends refer to you as Church, I refer to you as the Devils Lair. Church comes from the fact that Sunday they have 2 for 1 beer and double pour well drinks. What starts out as a Sunday funday quickly ends in headache. I always have a great time while I'm there but I pay for it later. I always seem to end up here after I've been somewhere else. Just like Marcia, I don't ever start out at Red Door, in fact many nights start with the phrase "lets not end up at Red Door." Red Door can be really packed on the the weekends with the douchey frat boys and sorostitues that plague midtown. If you can get past that, the service is always great, the drinks are strong and the shots are enormous. Smoking is allowed inside so if that bothers you, don't go. I think the drink prices are fair. I usually go for their pineapple infused vodka. Its super yummy and strong. They also have food. I have tried their hot dog and it was pretty good. But, I go to Red Door to drink, not eat. There are just some times when you need something to soak up the alcohol that led you to Red Door.
(3)
Ashwin M.
The all new and expanded patio is like smoking a bowl. Everything is suddenly everywhere. True to the American tradition of doing things, Red Door is now bigger, larger, wider, longer, and ...cooler!
(4)
Michael H.
I was puzzled by all the Chicago sports memorabilia thinking this was a play towards us Chicagoans in town for the Bears game. Turns out that its a Chicago bar in the middle of Nashville. Felt a bit like a bar you'd encounter in New Orleans with all the character. Putting aside that Red Door is behind an Embassy Suites in a parking lot, it was a good start to our weekend. Amazed by how many people smoked here with ashtrays everywhere. Nice deck for people watching.
(4)
Jasmine K.
I went to Red Door on a whim, I was on a girls trip from Columbus, OH and the bar was within walking distance of my hotel. It was Superbowl Sunday and the game was on; the bartenders were really cool and the beers were nice and cold. The bartenders gave us a free shot with our first round and later gave us bottle coozies with the bar logo. I would go back in a heartbeat, it was a cool local bar that didn't mind having some out of towners bellied up to the bar. Awesome prices 2 for 1 beers and well drinks. Only reason 4 stars instead of 5 is that they allow indoor smoking (but, it was ventilated REALLY well, my clothes didn't even stink)
(4)
Marcia M.
When I do end up here...it is at the end of a booze soaked evening but never as a starting point. Most people don't make the best choices after getting intoxicated... This place is a lot of fun if you come with your own group or "posse" but I would never come here without a couple of partners in crime. The crowd has always been in the "college age" demographic when I have visited...so I don't really have much interest there. I can't deny that fun evenings can be had but this just wouldn't be my first choice. On the flipside,the bartenders have always been great and I think that the drink prices are fair. That's all I got.
(3)
Nate L.
This bar is a gift that keeps in giving. I have always enjoyed it. All the way from the doorman to the bartenders. This place makes for a great Saturday night. Ronnie is the epitome of a service industry expert who goes above and beyond for the patrons
(5)
Jill R.
Sometimes I get the hankering to return to my college days. Sometimes it seems like a perfectly fine idea to smash into this bar on a Saturday night and relive the crushing flow of humanity I normally only tolerate on a southbound 4 train after a Yankees game. Sometimes I fancy myself a biker chick but also enjoy the relative safety of a midtown Nashville bar filled with other 20 somethings also pretending that they are tough. In those instances, Red Door is just great. Considering the tides of frat boys and infantry officers that this bar normally hosts, I've never had to wait that long for a drink. You're not getting master mixology here, you're getting loud music and laughs, and that's not all that bad. Have a local show you the peep hole in the floor by the north end of the bar, I won't ruin the surprise, but it's one of my favorite spots in Nashville to show off to out of towners. Don't wear your expensive shoes, they're gonna get stepped on or spilled on. Other than that, just go and have some fun!
(3)
Cory C.
This is a great bar until it gets late and it fills with loudness.The bartenders are very nice and quick with your drink orders. The problem doesn't seem to be with the saloon itself but more so the clientele of the place I encountered many ridiculously loud college dudes that I could barely talk to my brother but it was a saturday night so I guess it's what to be expected of a college bar. The prices are fair and you get what you pay for. Its a great place to come and have a beer on a nice day When the garage doors are up! So if your looking for a place to have a quiet conversation I would say this isn't the place for you. But if you need a place to go and act ridiculous with some friends then this is perfect for you! And the hole in the floor is cool! Check it out;)
(3)
Lilly G.
A Chicago bar in Nashville. The best of everything. One of the only bars we went to that didn't have live music, but they did have a jukebox and a friendly crowd, so no one's complaining.
(3)
David M.
Flew in to Nashville for a wedding and everyone decided to meet up here late night. The place was busy for a wednesday, but I'm not sure what the working hours are in an entertainment capital like Nashville. It had a large outdoor patio portion and a good selection of local beers. Great people watching too for a Wednesday night. I'd stop back in just for that and the beer!
(3)
Amanda W.
If you hate smelling like an ash tray at the end of the night, avoid going here. Avoid going to any bar on Division if you don't like or care to be around smoke. Otherwise, pretty good bar--always has a decent crowd. It's a typical bar, though. But I don't smoke, so after a night hanging out at Red Door, I woke up the next morning and everything in my room smelled like cigarettes. Find the hole in the floor. And when you do, just go stand by it and you'll get a good laugh at all the drunk girls that will get on all fours just to look through it. Hah!
(3)
Tom S.
Really with the smoking! Like going back in time 20 years! It was almost laughable! Gotta be a health hazard to work in a smoke filled room for hours! Why ruin such a cool place? People will still smoke outside! They will still come! Place smells so horrible inside!. It's 2013 get with the program people!
(2)
Heather H.
When I walked into this bar, I knew something just felt right. After initially thinking it was just my general love of the macabre, I realized that between the skeletons and skulls adorning the place was Chicago swag! Being originally from Chicagoland, it felt like a little bit of home. Beyond that, the atmosphere in this bar was just cool. As I was here in the summer, I'm sure it wasn't as crazy as it gets when school is in, but the drinks were strong, the staff friendly, and reminders of home everywhere - what more could a girl want?
(4)
Jennifer M.
While visiting some friends in Nashville, they brought me to this cool little bar. I enjoyed this place a lot. The crowd was cool and diverse. It wasn't a very big place, but we were able to find seats at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and outgoing. He offered drink suggestions and told us funny little stories. He even gave us a free drink, some concoction of alcohol he said we had to try. In general he really made the evening more entertaining. One funny thing I do recall is every few minutes the bar would shake/ vibrate. We asked the bartender what was happening and he informed us that it was the dishwasher. I thought that was weird but in my eyes it added to the charm of the place. The other cool thing I liked was they had complimentary books of matches which I like to collect.
(4)
Mike R.
A funky feel, very Nashville kinda place. I was there on sunday night (2 for 1 drinks, yeah!) so it was quiet in the sunday night kind of way. I've been by on the weekends, and it's always packed, so I appreciated being able to hang out without the crowds and get the feel of the place itself- neon, signs, and piano-keyboard table and all This is a good casual hang, and the perfect place to warm up, relax, and have a couple of good decent drinks before heading across the street to the Patterson House and doing a 180.
(4)
Nathan F.
So nice we had to try it twice! So at another bar deciding where to go next we ran into a couple that said we had to come to the Red Door and ask about the hole in the floor. I was intrigued as they wouldn't tell me what was in the hole. They just said to ask someone who worked there where the hole in the floor is. What was down there you ask? Guess you'll have to make the trip to Nashville to see!!! We had been drinking all night and this was our last stop and good thing it was. We didn't know what to order as every bartender in Nashville was the strongest pourer. So we decided to ask the bartender what the house specialty was. She told us of this amazing sounding (notice I said amazing sounding) pineapple drink. Pineapple chunks soaked in vodka for 10 days floating in pineapple vodka. Maybe if I had been sober I would have realized she said "Pineapple chunks soaked in vodka for 10 days floating in pineapple vodka" No pineapple juice, no cranberry juice, just vodka!!! OMG this was the strongest thing ever (see Stacey's review...14 sheets) On the second visit we took it easy and just had a rum & coke, but still crazy strong pours. The staff was super friendly and definitely pleasant on the eyes. Make this a must stop place on your next trip to Nashville, but remember to share the pineapple drinks with your friends
(5)
Sean F.
Found this place on a Thursday night after checking into the Embassy Suites right around the corner. Fun, dive-esque sort of place. I was flying solo but I bumped into a crowd of Vanderbilt third-year law students, a fun crowd to hang out with. The bartender was timely and attentive in keeping the drinks full. Coming from California, my only complaint is that smoking is allowed in the bar. I hate choking on smoke and smelling like a cigarette afterward! The patio makes for a good escape to get some fresh air! Lastly, check out the hole in the floor!
(4)
Kurt T.
For too long now, the drinkers of the world (myself included) have let the owners of our frequented establishments mislabel, mis-categorize and misrepresent themselves. We, the alcohol loving public no longer know that this "pub" is friendly to our jeans and tshirt repertoire, or if this "tavern" will leave even the fanciest hipster snob wanting with his desire for vegan vodka. Lucky for us Nashvillians, that line stops just short of 18th and Division, because the Red Door Saloon delivers exactly what it promises. Cloaked from head to toe in Chicago gear, this unassuming little house in midtown hides a neighborhood pub that people crusade other neighborhoods to get to. It offers no more amenities than you need or really should want in your local drinkery either. Quite a stash of liquor hides behind the bar accompanied by quite the staff of helpful (and in some cases very easy on the eyes( bartenders, as well as enough craft beer to keep even the snobbiest beer queer happy. (But don't worry, they still keep the PBR tallboys cold for the hipster that you just can't shake) Custom hot dogs, pizza, and sandwiches rule the menu, and get served up hot and quick with chips and slaw and plenty of salty goodness to keep you coming back to the well. And ample patio seating means you smoke haters can keep your dirty looks to a minimum and only exercise your frowns on your trips to the bathroom. But a word of caution... Don't come here if your usual bar requests include Mojitos, Martinis, things that requires 15+ingredients, have a color in the name, or look like an Amazonian jungle. Don't come here looking for quiet conversation or upscale dining. Don't come here for wine and cheese, or because "you didn't know Virago moved and you just CAN'T take a cab again" This is Cheers. This is a saloon. This a place to drink for drinkers who like the taste of drink (and I don't mean coke) This is the place where happy hour gets it's name. Finally, a saloon that is all that it is supposed to be. And really, who needs more?
(4)
Lauren S.
I'm from Chicago and this place is covered with Cubs logos so naturally, it makes me happy to have a drink or 2 here. It's like an old house on the inside with a bar down one side. Word of warning though, given the "old house" atmosphere, it does fill up quick and they do watch capacity. (by principle, i dont wait in line to get into a bar so I have had to go to 'plan b' a few times.) It's close to Vandy so the crowd is pretty college-oriented but not so much that I feel like I'm at a frat party. The drink prices seem very fair.
(3)
Justin R.
Went to the Red Door last night and its a great bar. If you hate the Cubs or Skeletons, then this is not the place for you. I'm still not sure what the deal is with all the Cubs stuff everywhere, but who cares, the place is cool. I have heard that weekend nights get crazy, but Thursday nights are pretty chill. They serve pickle shots (Zing Zang, Patron and a Pickle). I hear its awesome, but didn't get around to trying it last night. Don't worry, I'll try it next time and let ya'll know how it was. Drinks are pretty cheap and they have a good selection of beers. It was a little smoky, but no enough to give you an asthma attack!
(4)
Stacey L.
Liked this place so much we stopped here twice on our epic bar tour of Nashville! Beware the scary pineapple drink that they bill as their "specialty." If you are not already 3 sheets in, you will be at 14 sheets by the end of this drink. Now, as this was the second to last stop on a 8 stop Friday night, I am very glad that we made friends quickly and they were happy to drink the remainder of my drink. Thank you British soccer players for the good conversation! The bathrooms of this place leave a lot to be desired. I hate places that have curtains instead of doors... you just can't get them all the way closed. Both of my two traveling partners had a great time looking through their famous hole... I won't reveal what is lurking in their deep, dark basement! Definitely stop by! I heard that the food was good as well, but didn't try any. Service at the bar was great!
(5)
Kate L.
I used to be a regular at this venue, and recently returned for a night cap at the end of a long day. Two words: TOO SMOKY. This place would be great, but the smoke is completely out of control here in the winter. I was not even sure where it was all coming from because I didn't see anyone smoking, but nevertheless, my 60 minute stay left me needing to take my coat immediately to the dry cleaners. The upsides of Red Door are that the drinks are cheap and they make them strong. The patio is a great hang in the summer, and the location is an easy walk from both Demonbreun and the Midtown strip. If you are past the point of noticing details and you need a stiff cocktail before you hop in a cab, check it out.
(2)
Lyndi S.
I've been here a couple times, and have never been disappointed. It's a fairly open dive bar, with plenty of young people, ample seating, and bartenders/servers who are attentive, patient and friendly. I noticed that people were smoking, but I couldn't really smell it. My clothes didn't reek when I left, so I thought the place was in pretty good shape overall! Warning: I suggest waiting to attempt their bathrooms after a minimum of two drinks, or ample amounts of hand sanitizer. Don't say I didn't warn you. An added bonus: Find the hole in the floor in the back of the bar, kneel down (fellas, help the ladies in dresses from showin' their goodies), and look inside. I won't tell you what's down there, but it's worth a quick peek! Overall, Red Door Saloon is definitely one of my top bars for a midtown kind of night. And honestly, any bar that will bring me pickle juice with my tequila shots is pretty stellar in my book!
(4)
Christopher N.
Love the atmosphere, except, this is truly the most crowded, hard-to-order-a-drink bar on the planet on busy nights.
(4)
A B.
This is as perfect a bar/pub as I have come across. Full pour drinks, solid crowd, great music. I'd write more but it's so damn good, there is no point.
(5)
Ryan A.
Red Door has nothing that necessarily sets itself apart from other places, but I don't think its trying to. In my mind, its one of the better bars to hang out with friends, drink some cold beers, and listen to some tunes on the jukebox. It has really cool decor in the inside walls/ceilings, with plenty of skeletons, beer signs, and sports signs (mostly Chicago cubs, I'm assuming the owner is from chi town). The walls/ceilings are literally flooded with signs giving the bar plenty of character. They have a good selection of beers on tap, including Rogue Dead Guy, which I like to drink if I'm in the mood to make some bad decisions later in the night (dance like a fool). It has a high alc content, so a few of those and I'm good to go. I also enjoy the shuffleboard, which is fun to play when starting out the night. The outside patio is nice as well, and a good way to get some fresh air. What I don't like about this place is the smoke, the bathrooms, and how crowded it can get at night on weekends. The smoke, like I've said in other reviews, is just nasty. I can't believe Nashville hasn't banned it in bars yet. In regards to the bathrooms, they are pretty gross, no other way to describe that. Overall, it's a good place to start a night, end a night, or in between. I believe it stays within character, and I enjoy that in a bar. The bartenders are good, servers are good to look at :), and that makes things even better. Cheers!
(4)
M M.
This place used to be my favorite bar in Nashville, but their new policy on not accepting valid passports as ID is terrible! Not going here anymore!
(2)
Heidi G.
GREAT (STRONG) DRINKS & FUN BARTENDERS... I simply found it way too small & crowded for our group of five on a Saturday night.
(3)
James B.
This place has a really cool chill atmosphere. Music played here is not what you would expect just judging by the looks of the joint. That makes it all the better. The bartenders are quick and attentive. And great prices! Kudos to Red Door Saloon!!
(5)
Kaitlyn K.
The Red Door isn't fancy. As a matter of fact, there are shower curtains for bathroom doors. Not. Fancy. However, it is such a FUN bar, and totally gets the job done. Getting the job done = very generously poured beverages. The food that they serve is typical bar food, but sometimes your tummy wants a little fake cheesy nachos...ya know what I'm sayin? :) When the weather is nice, the patio is amazing. The inside of the bar is fun - I especially dig the wine cork walls. The neighborhood is awesome, too. You're walking distance from Patterson House, Winners, Losers, etc. You CAN smoke in this bar, so if you have allergies, this isn't for you. Big fan.
(4)
Megan C.
Ah, the Red Door. What can I say about you? If I visit on a Friday or Saturday night, it's likely standing room only. You can usually meet a colorful cast of characters-various ages, hipster to preppy to sparkly to heavily tatted. The pros: Drinks are stiff and not terribly expensive. Location in the Division area makes it great for hopping. You can play shuffleboard! Hidden skeleton through keyhole on the floor makes for an interesting thing to show your out of town friends. No cover! Patio is nice when the weather is warmer. The cons: A lot of times I just feel like I'm in the way. It's not a big place and it gets crowded. Bring your own crew...I don't feel like it's really conducive to making new friends. Really smoky. You'll need to shower or at the very least Febreeze your hair before bedtime...(no, I haven't done that before...)
(3)
Mark H.
No live music which sucked but this is a decent place for a late night beverage.
(3)
Sarah M.
Red Door Saloon is one of my favorite bars in Nasvhille. When you go to this bar and order a cocktail, you are given a full cocktail. They don't charge you ten bucks for a cocktail with no alchohol in it: YOU GET A FULL DRINK. The food is good and the service has always been efficient and great. Not to mention there is a pirate's skeleton underneath the floor that can only be seen from the keyhole in the ground. Pretttyy nifty! I like Red Door because you get a laid back crowd. I have met some of Nashville's Elite in this little bar--even though it would not be the place you would expect. They also have a shuffle board which is a huge thing to me now that I am entranced with the world of Curling! The only con is the restrooms--now I speak for the woman's restroom of course, but there is only two stalls and on the weekends, Red Door can get pretty packed. When it is packed, I do not like going there. It tends to be a dive that you stay at -- I have noticed if you are waiting for a table, you could be waiting for hours...people park and stay there till last call...which is cool. It is one of my favorite places to go... and don't forget two for Tuesdays!!! And they have good cheese dip....
(5)
Simply S.
I've only ended up at Red Door a few times. It's never my personal choice due to the crowd being an ALL rowdy college aged crowd. Nothing wrong with that ... it's just not my personal choice or my demographic. No one can really ever complain about it being slow. In fact my complaint is the exact opposite. Its packed to the point of standing room only, which makes it VERY difficult to get a drink. That also makes it hard to carry on a conversation with friends. Once you do make your way to the bar. The bartenders are very nice. If you are into the college crowd scene, get there early with your own small group of friends and find your "spot" -- it is okay.
(3)
Mike A.
4 stars? Ah hell nah. Drinks are overpriced, even for the neighborhood. True, you get your alcohol in your cocktails, but at what cost my friends? At what cost? And the food, Food? Eh. The only thing this place is good for is shuffleboard, but there's always someone playing or trying to get you to stop playing. The patio is alright I guess, but every bar in a two block radius has a patio so I'm not sure why this is better than the others. The only reason this doesn't get one star is because if you're looking to get laid by a very generic looking "pretty" girl, or a unmemorable looking West Nashville dude with long hair or a nicely gelled abercrombie cut, this will serve thine purposes perfectly. But for all the meat displayed here, I've yet to see many pickups. Mostly people come here from somewhere else with their friends. And don't think I have anything against fratboys either; I gave the Frayed Knot a better review. Also, parking isn't nice, but I don't care much about that either.
(2)
Zach G.
Beer. Liquor. Rinse. Repeat.
(4)
Montara M.
This place is a Nashville essential. If you're visiting in warm weather, be sure to enjoy the porch, and try drink they make here with the giant piece of liquor-soked pineapple!
(4)
Morgan K.
Great place for a cheap beer and to watch a game. Be sure to look in the hole on your first trip.
(3)
Robin S.
Red Door is one of those places that my friends and I "always forget about" but absolutely love going. It's not that it is hard to find, or forgettable, but for some reason it's not totally on our beaten path so to speak. Great bar though. Crowd ranges from the biker (motorcycle not Lance Armstrong) to the Vanderbilt prep to the country star (have spotted several here on occasion). For some reason, whenever I go here with friends, we tend to start the experience off with an Irish Car Bomb. I don't really know why, but I will say they are good! It's definitely a bar where beer is the choice drink, although they have a full bar. Bathrooms would be the main reason I don't give Red Door 5 stars. They are clean enough, just tiny and are not sufficient for the crowds that flock to this bar. If you can get past that fact, then definitely put Red Door on your list of bars to visit. Especially in the spring and summer when they open the deck. It's pretty kickin'.
(4)
Weston T.
A Chicago bar in Nashville... Interesting. However being from Chicago I found it a bit well un-Chicago. The main reason for the 2 stars is that the "Chicago" dog WAS NOT A CHICAGO DOG. They have it listed as Jumbo beer boiled hotdog topped with spicy mustard, melted cheese, slaw and onion on a steamed bun. WHAT!? Slaw on a Chicago dog? In the north we don't use "slaw". Here is what a Chicago dog consist of... yellow mustard, chopped white onions, sweet pickle relish (often a dyed neon-green variety, sometimes called piccalilli), a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt on a poppy seed bun. Overall everything else was ok good crowd and fun atmosphere. A bit over done with touristy Chicago things though. Oh and heres a freebie the shot of choice by all industry standards in Chicago is Jameson.
(2)
Claire B.
I have a soft spot for the original Red Door even though I feel like I fit in better at the East Nashville one. This place has a really cool vibe, and there's a huge covered patio on the front with some small "tables" (really they are beer barrels with tops) and some long benchlike tables. It gets pretty packed out there in the summer and it's a good varied crowd of people. In the winter, the crowd always keeps things warm and interesting inside. It's a cozy place and even though it's one of Nashville's cool hangouts, it still manages to keep a friendly dive-bar atmosphere. It's difficult to describe the allure of Red Door. It's a dive bar that girls wear their heels and party frocks to. How weird is that?
(4)
Double L.
This is a bada$$ bar. Good mix of people. I was there during this summer so not to sure what it is like when Vanderbilt is in. Sunday night has a great drink special. 2 for 1. They have a great beer selection and a nice juke box. A cool outdoor area and it looked like they make sandwiches. Bartenders were both really nice and although she didn't know how to pronounce "Tecate" and tried to tell me they didn't carry it even though I could see it in the fridge I still dig the place. I had a Model-o, anyway. RrL
(4)
jamie z.
I stopped in here last night at my girlfriends request. I wasn't a fan of the red door east, so i pretty much figured this would be a similar experience. I was wrong. As soon as i walked in i liked it. It definitely had a divey feel which i always love. I also liked the decor, it was very day of the dead, or "El Da de los Muertos" with all the figured, and skulls... the bartender was super sweet. She was quick with drink orders, and when we asked her about good bars that let you bring your dog, she didn't know, but checked with multiple friends via text to find out for us which was pretty awesome of her to go out of her way! The drinks are cheap, we had happy hour so that was perfect. Also they have shuffleboard! Its a personal favorite of mine.. addicting game that goes well with a few drinks. If i have to head out to west end, then at least i know there is a bar that isn't too loud or over crowded...
(5)
cal w.
I usually wind up there on Sunday nights. They have the best prices on Jameson and water. They also pour them nicely!!
(3)
Ellen F.
I'm not sure why, but a trip to Nashville isn't complete without a trip to the Red Door. Maybe its because of the interesting "house-becomes-bar" aesthetic, or the biker/skeleton theme that subtley lurks beneath the sometimes fratty exterior...but really I think its just those pineapple martinis. Literally, drink one and you're good for a while. Drink two and you're not so good for a while. Its not the sweet, sweet liquid that gets you...its the HUGE pineapple chunk soaked in everclear. Enjoy!
Red Door is one of my favorite bars around campus on the west side. It's a local watering hole that gets a fairly diverse crowd from students, young professionals, to even an older crowd. The bar has a lot of character and is definitely not pretentious or annoying. They have good drinks, a great happy hour, 2 for 1 until 6, and they are one of the only places left with a shuffle board table, which is pretty amazing. They also have a covered and open patio and a good selection of seats inside as well. Its not very expensive for that area as well, but can get a little smoky, even though their ventilation works out okay. Just a chill place to go after work for a drink that won't break the bank.
(4)
JD C.
I don't get the appeal of this place. I like to get drunk as much as the next guy, but Red Door is pretty terrible when it comes to atmosphere, service, and clientele. I went to college in a Big Ten college town, and bars like these were the norm.... At Vandy this is really the only place of its kind so it makes sense that its always packed. It's sort of a bizarro college bar experience, where the bros wear Dockers, tucked in Gant polo shirts, and have sunglasses on their head complete with neck strap; its kind of like being at an afterparty for a Kohl's ad photo shoot. The beer, if you're able to fight your way to the bar to get one, can be cheap if you like crappy beer or way overpriced if you like good beer (of which they have a few). Unfortunately, if you live in Nashville you will inevitably end up here at some point, likely because its one of your friends' favorite places to go. It may be enough to make you re-evaluate those you consider friends...
(2)
Patrick M.
2 for 1 on a Sunday even with a blackhawks game on, you can't go wrong. If your a Chicago fan this is a place to go, unfortunately they don't put the sound on.
(4)
James T.
Being a Chicagoan visiting Nashville, I thought it might be a cool place to catch the white sox game the other night. Nope...cubs bar. As a staunch cub hater, I can somewhat appreciate, but that seemed to effect the level of service at the bar. A+ on the ventilation as it was a smoking establishment. Beer prices were reasonable. I may have just been expecting more. I'll give it a go next winter when down for a predator game.
(3)
Jason S.
It will smell of smoke, it will be a diverse clientele, and you will get no frills. While you are there, you will wonder why the hell you chose to do this, and remember that "The Patterson House" is right down the street. What are you doing here? Did this seem like a good idea at the time? You have made a terrible mistake. But guess what, pal? Buck up and man up through this one. You're going to have to ride it out. Because that leather chick over there is old enough to be your mom but could still beat your ass if you show a moment's weakness. And what the hell are you doing on Yelp? That's a sure way to get yourself killed in here. Stay cool, act naturally, we're going to get through this together. (extra stars added to not get killed)
(3)
Jim V.
Not a fan of this midtown establishment. Look for the skeleton in the hole in the floor board. This place is extremely small for the amount of people they try and pack in there. I don't understand the theme either. This place good definitely be on the show bar rescue just for the host, johns advice in bar science haha. But in all seriousness it is hard to get a drink. Other spots in midtown are better
(2)
Paul K.
It was my 6th visit to the place. It was sometime after the Yelp/Toyota event and we'd been hopping from bar to Rebar to bar and ended up at The Red Door. Every time I've ever been to the 'Door it's been a fight... a fight to get to the bar, a fight to find a place to stand, and a fight to get to the bathroom. In other words, it's not usually a place I've managed to enjoy. This was different. I finally had a taste of what the place was without the 300 people crammed into a space designed for 80. I'm not entirely sure why this place is so popular, not trying to dis it, I just don't get it. Perhaps it's the bar staff, they were friendly. Perhaps it's a bunch of cliques that get together and descend upon the place, I don't know, the other patrons have always looked about as annoyed as I usually am when I go to the place. The prices are so so, the atmosphere is on the good side of meh, and the bathrooms are a pit from hell that has opened on Earth, so there's got to be something I'm missing as it's also not convenient and parking is a pain. Not saying the other reviews are false, but the crowd that I didn't personally bring was not solid, the music was only ok, the drinks were average, the strangers were not sociable, and that's been every experience I've had here. Don't get me wrong, it's an ok bar, I am just failing to get the wow factor of it.
(3)
Janette W.
Man, did I feel old here! We walked in here on a whim and were immediately confronted with the youth! We battled through the crowd to grab a drink and I was impressed with the stiffness of my jack and coke. It's easy to find a quiet corner here if that's what you're looking for or a loud crowd.
(3)
Heidi S.
This used to be one of my favorite places to go on a Saturday night in my late 20s when I was single. That is definitely the type of crowd you will find there on the weekend nights. Now, if I go it is usually on Sunday afternoon with a group of friends for Sunday Funday since they do 2-4-1 all day there. I love the recent renovation/expansion they did and that they finally put real stall doors on the bathrooms instead of the old shower curtains they used to have. The bartenders are great. My only complaint would be that it can tend to be a little too smokey at times. I am looking forward to being able to hang on the expanded patio in the warmer months and I might update my review then.
(3)
Allison B.
Oh Red Door you always do me wrong. Some of my friends refer to you as Church, I refer to you as the Devils Lair. Church comes from the fact that Sunday they have 2 for 1 beer and double pour well drinks. What starts out as a Sunday funday quickly ends in headache. I always have a great time while I'm there but I pay for it later. I always seem to end up here after I've been somewhere else. Just like Marcia, I don't ever start out at Red Door, in fact many nights start with the phrase "lets not end up at Red Door." Red Door can be really packed on the the weekends with the douchey frat boys and sorostitues that plague midtown. If you can get past that, the service is always great, the drinks are strong and the shots are enormous. Smoking is allowed inside so if that bothers you, don't go. I think the drink prices are fair. I usually go for their pineapple infused vodka. Its super yummy and strong. They also have food. I have tried their hot dog and it was pretty good. But, I go to Red Door to drink, not eat. There are just some times when you need something to soak up the alcohol that led you to Red Door.
(3)
Ashwin M.
The all new and expanded patio is like smoking a bowl. Everything is suddenly everywhere. True to the American tradition of doing things, Red Door is now bigger, larger, wider, longer, and ...cooler!
(4)
Michael H.
I was puzzled by all the Chicago sports memorabilia thinking this was a play towards us Chicagoans in town for the Bears game. Turns out that its a Chicago bar in the middle of Nashville. Felt a bit like a bar you'd encounter in New Orleans with all the character. Putting aside that Red Door is behind an Embassy Suites in a parking lot, it was a good start to our weekend. Amazed by how many people smoked here with ashtrays everywhere. Nice deck for people watching.
(4)
Jasmine K.
I went to Red Door on a whim, I was on a girls trip from Columbus, OH and the bar was within walking distance of my hotel. It was Superbowl Sunday and the game was on; the bartenders were really cool and the beers were nice and cold. The bartenders gave us a free shot with our first round and later gave us bottle coozies with the bar logo. I would go back in a heartbeat, it was a cool local bar that didn't mind having some out of towners bellied up to the bar. Awesome prices 2 for 1 beers and well drinks. Only reason 4 stars instead of 5 is that they allow indoor smoking (but, it was ventilated REALLY well, my clothes didn't even stink)
(4)
Marcia M.
When I do end up here...it is at the end of a booze soaked evening but never as a starting point. Most people don't make the best choices after getting intoxicated... This place is a lot of fun if you come with your own group or "posse" but I would never come here without a couple of partners in crime. The crowd has always been in the "college age" demographic when I have visited...so I don't really have much interest there. I can't deny that fun evenings can be had but this just wouldn't be my first choice. On the flipside,the bartenders have always been great and I think that the drink prices are fair. That's all I got.
(3)
Nate L.
This bar is a gift that keeps in giving. I have always enjoyed it. All the way from the doorman to the bartenders. This place makes for a great Saturday night. Ronnie is the epitome of a service industry expert who goes above and beyond for the patrons
(5)
Jill R.
Sometimes I get the hankering to return to my college days. Sometimes it seems like a perfectly fine idea to smash into this bar on a Saturday night and relive the crushing flow of humanity I normally only tolerate on a southbound 4 train after a Yankees game. Sometimes I fancy myself a biker chick but also enjoy the relative safety of a midtown Nashville bar filled with other 20 somethings also pretending that they are tough. In those instances, Red Door is just great. Considering the tides of frat boys and infantry officers that this bar normally hosts, I've never had to wait that long for a drink. You're not getting master mixology here, you're getting loud music and laughs, and that's not all that bad. Have a local show you the peep hole in the floor by the north end of the bar, I won't ruin the surprise, but it's one of my favorite spots in Nashville to show off to out of towners. Don't wear your expensive shoes, they're gonna get stepped on or spilled on. Other than that, just go and have some fun!
(3)
Cory C.
This is a great bar until it gets late and it fills with loudness.The bartenders are very nice and quick with your drink orders. The problem doesn't seem to be with the saloon itself but more so the clientele of the place I encountered many ridiculously loud college dudes that I could barely talk to my brother but it was a saturday night so I guess it's what to be expected of a college bar. The prices are fair and you get what you pay for. Its a great place to come and have a beer on a nice day When the garage doors are up! So if your looking for a place to have a quiet conversation I would say this isn't the place for you. But if you need a place to go and act ridiculous with some friends then this is perfect for you! And the hole in the floor is cool! Check it out;)
(3)
Lilly G.
A Chicago bar in Nashville. The best of everything. One of the only bars we went to that didn't have live music, but they did have a jukebox and a friendly crowd, so no one's complaining.
(3)
David M.
Flew in to Nashville for a wedding and everyone decided to meet up here late night. The place was busy for a wednesday, but I'm not sure what the working hours are in an entertainment capital like Nashville. It had a large outdoor patio portion and a good selection of local beers. Great people watching too for a Wednesday night. I'd stop back in just for that and the beer!
(3)
Amanda W.
If you hate smelling like an ash tray at the end of the night, avoid going here. Avoid going to any bar on Division if you don't like or care to be around smoke. Otherwise, pretty good bar--always has a decent crowd. It's a typical bar, though. But I don't smoke, so after a night hanging out at Red Door, I woke up the next morning and everything in my room smelled like cigarettes. Find the hole in the floor. And when you do, just go stand by it and you'll get a good laugh at all the drunk girls that will get on all fours just to look through it. Hah!
(3)
Tom S.
Really with the smoking! Like going back in time 20 years! It was almost laughable! Gotta be a health hazard to work in a smoke filled room for hours! Why ruin such a cool place? People will still smoke outside! They will still come! Place smells so horrible inside!. It's 2013 get with the program people!
(2)
Jennifer M.
While visiting some friends in Nashville, they brought me to this cool little bar. I enjoyed this place a lot. The crowd was cool and diverse. It wasn't a very big place, but we were able to find seats at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and outgoing. He offered drink suggestions and told us funny little stories. He even gave us a free drink, some concoction of alcohol he said we had to try. In general he really made the evening more entertaining. One funny thing I do recall is every few minutes the bar would shake/ vibrate. We asked the bartender what was happening and he informed us that it was the dishwasher. I thought that was weird but in my eyes it added to the charm of the place. The other cool thing I liked was they had complimentary books of matches which I like to collect.
(4)
Heather H.
When I walked into this bar, I knew something just felt right. After initially thinking it was just my general love of the macabre, I realized that between the skeletons and skulls adorning the place was Chicago swag! Being originally from Chicagoland, it felt like a little bit of home. Beyond that, the atmosphere in this bar was just cool. As I was here in the summer, I'm sure it wasn't as crazy as it gets when school is in, but the drinks were strong, the staff friendly, and reminders of home everywhere - what more could a girl want?
(4)
Mike R.
A funky feel, very Nashville kinda place. I was there on sunday night (2 for 1 drinks, yeah!) so it was quiet in the sunday night kind of way. I've been by on the weekends, and it's always packed, so I appreciated being able to hang out without the crowds and get the feel of the place itself- neon, signs, and piano-keyboard table and all This is a good casual hang, and the perfect place to warm up, relax, and have a couple of good decent drinks before heading across the street to the Patterson House and doing a 180.
(4)
Nathan F.
So nice we had to try it twice! So at another bar deciding where to go next we ran into a couple that said we had to come to the Red Door and ask about the hole in the floor. I was intrigued as they wouldn't tell me what was in the hole. They just said to ask someone who worked there where the hole in the floor is. What was down there you ask? Guess you'll have to make the trip to Nashville to see!!! We had been drinking all night and this was our last stop and good thing it was. We didn't know what to order as every bartender in Nashville was the strongest pourer. So we decided to ask the bartender what the house specialty was. She told us of this amazing sounding (notice I said amazing sounding) pineapple drink. Pineapple chunks soaked in vodka for 10 days floating in pineapple vodka. Maybe if I had been sober I would have realized she said "Pineapple chunks soaked in vodka for 10 days floating in pineapple vodka" No pineapple juice, no cranberry juice, just vodka!!! OMG this was the strongest thing ever (see Stacey's review...14 sheets) On the second visit we took it easy and just had a rum & coke, but still crazy strong pours. The staff was super friendly and definitely pleasant on the eyes. Make this a must stop place on your next trip to Nashville, but remember to share the pineapple drinks with your friends
(5)
Lauren S.
I'm from Chicago and this place is covered with Cubs logos so naturally, it makes me happy to have a drink or 2 here. It's like an old house on the inside with a bar down one side. Word of warning though, given the "old house" atmosphere, it does fill up quick and they do watch capacity. (by principle, i dont wait in line to get into a bar so I have had to go to 'plan b' a few times.) It's close to Vandy so the crowd is pretty college-oriented but not so much that I feel like I'm at a frat party. The drink prices seem very fair.
(3)
Kurt T.
For too long now, the drinkers of the world (myself included) have let the owners of our frequented establishments mislabel, mis-categorize and misrepresent themselves. We, the alcohol loving public no longer know that this "pub" is friendly to our jeans and tshirt repertoire, or if this "tavern" will leave even the fanciest hipster snob wanting with his desire for vegan vodka. Lucky for us Nashvillians, that line stops just short of 18th and Division, because the Red Door Saloon delivers exactly what it promises. Cloaked from head to toe in Chicago gear, this unassuming little house in midtown hides a neighborhood pub that people crusade other neighborhoods to get to. It offers no more amenities than you need or really should want in your local drinkery either. Quite a stash of liquor hides behind the bar accompanied by quite the staff of helpful (and in some cases very easy on the eyes( bartenders, as well as enough craft beer to keep even the snobbiest beer queer happy. (But don't worry, they still keep the PBR tallboys cold for the hipster that you just can't shake) Custom hot dogs, pizza, and sandwiches rule the menu, and get served up hot and quick with chips and slaw and plenty of salty goodness to keep you coming back to the well. And ample patio seating means you smoke haters can keep your dirty looks to a minimum and only exercise your frowns on your trips to the bathroom. But a word of caution... Don't come here if your usual bar requests include Mojitos, Martinis, things that requires 15+ingredients, have a color in the name, or look like an Amazonian jungle. Don't come here looking for quiet conversation or upscale dining. Don't come here for wine and cheese, or because "you didn't know Virago moved and you just CAN'T take a cab again" This is Cheers. This is a saloon. This a place to drink for drinkers who like the taste of drink (and I don't mean coke) This is the place where happy hour gets it's name. Finally, a saloon that is all that it is supposed to be. And really, who needs more?
(4)
Justin R.
Went to the Red Door last night and its a great bar. If you hate the Cubs or Skeletons, then this is not the place for you. I'm still not sure what the deal is with all the Cubs stuff everywhere, but who cares, the place is cool. I have heard that weekend nights get crazy, but Thursday nights are pretty chill. They serve pickle shots (Zing Zang, Patron and a Pickle). I hear its awesome, but didn't get around to trying it last night. Don't worry, I'll try it next time and let ya'll know how it was. Drinks are pretty cheap and they have a good selection of beers. It was a little smoky, but no enough to give you an asthma attack!
(4)
Stacey L.
Liked this place so much we stopped here twice on our epic bar tour of Nashville! Beware the scary pineapple drink that they bill as their "specialty." If you are not already 3 sheets in, you will be at 14 sheets by the end of this drink. Now, as this was the second to last stop on a 8 stop Friday night, I am very glad that we made friends quickly and they were happy to drink the remainder of my drink. Thank you British soccer players for the good conversation! The bathrooms of this place leave a lot to be desired. I hate places that have curtains instead of doors... you just can't get them all the way closed. Both of my two traveling partners had a great time looking through their famous hole... I won't reveal what is lurking in their deep, dark basement! Definitely stop by! I heard that the food was good as well, but didn't try any. Service at the bar was great!
(5)
Kate L.
I used to be a regular at this venue, and recently returned for a night cap at the end of a long day. Two words: TOO SMOKY. This place would be great, but the smoke is completely out of control here in the winter. I was not even sure where it was all coming from because I didn't see anyone smoking, but nevertheless, my 60 minute stay left me needing to take my coat immediately to the dry cleaners. The upsides of Red Door are that the drinks are cheap and they make them strong. The patio is a great hang in the summer, and the location is an easy walk from both Demonbreun and the Midtown strip. If you are past the point of noticing details and you need a stiff cocktail before you hop in a cab, check it out.
(2)
Lyndi S.
I've been here a couple times, and have never been disappointed. It's a fairly open dive bar, with plenty of young people, ample seating, and bartenders/servers who are attentive, patient and friendly. I noticed that people were smoking, but I couldn't really smell it. My clothes didn't reek when I left, so I thought the place was in pretty good shape overall! Warning: I suggest waiting to attempt their bathrooms after a minimum of two drinks, or ample amounts of hand sanitizer. Don't say I didn't warn you. An added bonus: Find the hole in the floor in the back of the bar, kneel down (fellas, help the ladies in dresses from showin' their goodies), and look inside. I won't tell you what's down there, but it's worth a quick peek! Overall, Red Door Saloon is definitely one of my top bars for a midtown kind of night. And honestly, any bar that will bring me pickle juice with my tequila shots is pretty stellar in my book!
(4)
Christopher N.
Love the atmosphere, except, this is truly the most crowded, hard-to-order-a-drink bar on the planet on busy nights.
(4)
A B.
This is as perfect a bar/pub as I have come across. Full pour drinks, solid crowd, great music. I'd write more but it's so damn good, there is no point.
(5)
Ryan A.
Red Door has nothing that necessarily sets itself apart from other places, but I don't think its trying to. In my mind, its one of the better bars to hang out with friends, drink some cold beers, and listen to some tunes on the jukebox. It has really cool decor in the inside walls/ceilings, with plenty of skeletons, beer signs, and sports signs (mostly Chicago cubs, I'm assuming the owner is from chi town). The walls/ceilings are literally flooded with signs giving the bar plenty of character. They have a good selection of beers on tap, including Rogue Dead Guy, which I like to drink if I'm in the mood to make some bad decisions later in the night (dance like a fool). It has a high alc content, so a few of those and I'm good to go. I also enjoy the shuffleboard, which is fun to play when starting out the night. The outside patio is nice as well, and a good way to get some fresh air. What I don't like about this place is the smoke, the bathrooms, and how crowded it can get at night on weekends. The smoke, like I've said in other reviews, is just nasty. I can't believe Nashville hasn't banned it in bars yet. In regards to the bathrooms, they are pretty gross, no other way to describe that. Overall, it's a good place to start a night, end a night, or in between. I believe it stays within character, and I enjoy that in a bar. The bartenders are good, servers are good to look at :), and that makes things even better. Cheers!
(4)
Heidi G.
GREAT (STRONG) DRINKS & FUN BARTENDERS... I simply found it way too small & crowded for our group of five on a Saturday night.
(3)
M M.
This place used to be my favorite bar in Nashville, but their new policy on not accepting valid passports as ID is terrible! Not going here anymore!
(2)
James B.
This place has a really cool chill atmosphere. Music played here is not what you would expect just judging by the looks of the joint. That makes it all the better. The bartenders are quick and attentive. And great prices! Kudos to Red Door Saloon!!
(5)
Kaitlyn K.
The Red Door isn't fancy. As a matter of fact, there are shower curtains for bathroom doors. Not. Fancy. However, it is such a FUN bar, and totally gets the job done. Getting the job done = very generously poured beverages. The food that they serve is typical bar food, but sometimes your tummy wants a little fake cheesy nachos...ya know what I'm sayin? :) When the weather is nice, the patio is amazing. The inside of the bar is fun - I especially dig the wine cork walls. The neighborhood is awesome, too. You're walking distance from Patterson House, Winners, Losers, etc. You CAN smoke in this bar, so if you have allergies, this isn't for you. Big fan.
(4)
Megan C.
Ah, the Red Door. What can I say about you? If I visit on a Friday or Saturday night, it's likely standing room only. You can usually meet a colorful cast of characters-various ages, hipster to preppy to sparkly to heavily tatted. The pros: Drinks are stiff and not terribly expensive. Location in the Division area makes it great for hopping. You can play shuffleboard! Hidden skeleton through keyhole on the floor makes for an interesting thing to show your out of town friends. No cover! Patio is nice when the weather is warmer. The cons: A lot of times I just feel like I'm in the way. It's not a big place and it gets crowded. Bring your own crew...I don't feel like it's really conducive to making new friends. Really smoky. You'll need to shower or at the very least Febreeze your hair before bedtime...(no, I haven't done that before...)
(3)
Mark H.
No live music which sucked but this is a decent place for a late night beverage.
(3)
Chesterfield L.
Just a great place to grab a damn beer. Love the Happy hour and wish I could find a place up north like it!
Red Door Saloon is one of my favorite bars in Nasvhille. When you go to this bar and order a cocktail, you are given a full cocktail. They don't charge you ten bucks for a cocktail with no alchohol in it: YOU GET A FULL DRINK. The food is good and the service has always been efficient and great. Not to mention there is a pirate's skeleton underneath the floor that can only be seen from the keyhole in the ground. Pretttyy nifty! I like Red Door because you get a laid back crowd. I have met some of Nashville's Elite in this little bar--even though it would not be the place you would expect. They also have a shuffle board which is a huge thing to me now that I am entranced with the world of Curling! The only con is the restrooms--now I speak for the woman's restroom of course, but there is only two stalls and on the weekends, Red Door can get pretty packed. When it is packed, I do not like going there. It tends to be a dive that you stay at -- I have noticed if you are waiting for a table, you could be waiting for hours...people park and stay there till last call...which is cool. It is one of my favorite places to go... and don't forget two for Tuesdays!!! And they have good cheese dip....
(5)
Simply S.
I've only ended up at Red Door a few times. It's never my personal choice due to the crowd being an ALL rowdy college aged crowd. Nothing wrong with that ... it's just not my personal choice or my demographic. No one can really ever complain about it being slow. In fact my complaint is the exact opposite. Its packed to the point of standing room only, which makes it VERY difficult to get a drink. That also makes it hard to carry on a conversation with friends. Once you do make your way to the bar. The bartenders are very nice. If you are into the college crowd scene, get there early with your own small group of friends and find your "spot" -- it is okay.
(3)
Mike A.
4 stars? Ah hell nah. Drinks are overpriced, even for the neighborhood. True, you get your alcohol in your cocktails, but at what cost my friends? At what cost? And the food, Food? Eh. The only thing this place is good for is shuffleboard, but there's always someone playing or trying to get you to stop playing. The patio is alright I guess, but every bar in a two block radius has a patio so I'm not sure why this is better than the others. The only reason this doesn't get one star is because if you're looking to get laid by a very generic looking "pretty" girl, or a unmemorable looking West Nashville dude with long hair or a nicely gelled abercrombie cut, this will serve thine purposes perfectly. But for all the meat displayed here, I've yet to see many pickups. Mostly people come here from somewhere else with their friends. And don't think I have anything against fratboys either; I gave the Frayed Knot a better review. Also, parking isn't nice, but I don't care much about that either.
(2)
Zach G.
Beer. Liquor. Rinse. Repeat.
(4)
Montara M.
This place is a Nashville essential. If you're visiting in warm weather, be sure to enjoy the porch, and try drink they make here with the giant piece of liquor-soked pineapple!
(4)
Morgan K.
Great place for a cheap beer and to watch a game. Be sure to look in the hole on your first trip.
(3)
Robin S.
Red Door is one of those places that my friends and I "always forget about" but absolutely love going. It's not that it is hard to find, or forgettable, but for some reason it's not totally on our beaten path so to speak. Great bar though. Crowd ranges from the biker (motorcycle not Lance Armstrong) to the Vanderbilt prep to the country star (have spotted several here on occasion). For some reason, whenever I go here with friends, we tend to start the experience off with an Irish Car Bomb. I don't really know why, but I will say they are good! It's definitely a bar where beer is the choice drink, although they have a full bar. Bathrooms would be the main reason I don't give Red Door 5 stars. They are clean enough, just tiny and are not sufficient for the crowds that flock to this bar. If you can get past that fact, then definitely put Red Door on your list of bars to visit. Especially in the spring and summer when they open the deck. It's pretty kickin'.
(4)
Weston T.
A Chicago bar in Nashville... Interesting. However being from Chicago I found it a bit well un-Chicago. The main reason for the 2 stars is that the "Chicago" dog WAS NOT A CHICAGO DOG. They have it listed as Jumbo beer boiled hotdog topped with spicy mustard, melted cheese, slaw and onion on a steamed bun. WHAT!? Slaw on a Chicago dog? In the north we don't use "slaw". Here is what a Chicago dog consist of... yellow mustard, chopped white onions, sweet pickle relish (often a dyed neon-green variety, sometimes called piccalilli), a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt on a poppy seed bun. Overall everything else was ok good crowd and fun atmosphere. A bit over done with touristy Chicago things though. Oh and heres a freebie the shot of choice by all industry standards in Chicago is Jameson.
(2)
Nickie G.
Sometimes I walk in a bar and I know immediately that I would totally frequent the place if only I lived nearby. The Red Door Saloon is one of those places. First thing you notice when you come in is the big patio out front...they had it enclosed since it is winter but I imagine it is a fun place to hang out in the summer. Inside there are nooks and crannies like an old house and it is decorated in skulls, crossbones, and Cubs memorabilia. I know, random. They have TVs so you can watch the game, a long bar, and a table shaped like a baby grand piano (complete with keys painted on it). That's where I sat of course!! The waitress got off to a little of a slow service start, but then she picked it up and was awesome. We had some pizza and it was nothing special, like frozen pizza or something. They also have a large selection of hot dogs and brats and steamed sandwiches. I have the feeling though this is not really the place to go for food, it is the place to drink a lot. The crowd was all over the board but as it got later I saw more people in there that seemed like the typical people I avoid in Uptown Dallas, but not so many that I wouldn't hang out there. The bathrooms...I found it hilarious that the mirror above the sink was so high I couldn't even see the top of my head in it. And the curtains for doors are kind of annoying. But overall the bar was awesome and I will be back next time I am in town. And I did look in the hole. Fun!
(4)
Kyla A.
I so much prefer the East Nashville location of the Red Door, but this location is still pretty good considering the other options in the area. The main issue with Red Door West is the layout is a bit cramped and convoluted. When it's crowded, and it often is, it's hard to move around and find somewhere to land, especially when you're with a larger group. The crowd is very different here than at the other location as well. It's a lot of young professionals and the like. One thing I do prefer about this location is that they have more of the fruit infusions available. Red Door East just has the vodka pineapple mix, but West offers a few more varieties including a whiskey cherry infusion of which I am quite fond. They also have waiter service at this location which is almost entirely non-existent across town.
(3)
Mark M.
Its a staple. Weekends are busy but so is every other place.
(5)
Courtney B.
Surprisingly even though I live closer to this location than the one in East Nashville, I don't like it as much even though I gave them both the same rating. The staff are as friendly and efficient here as at the other location, but for some reason the crowd just isn't as cool. I guess that's just the difference between an East Nash and Midtown location. You get a lot more vandy kids and 'hey look at me i'm in the music business types' here but thats due to its proximity to both Vanderbilt and Music Row. Its a small, cozy bar and a great place to unwind with a drink. Unless you go on the weekends when it is so ridiculously packed it'll take you more time to get up to the bar than it will to actually get a drink. You can find Red Door on Division Street just a couple blocks from Broadway Brewhouse. The building is an old house and is so unassuming that you'd probably drive right past it several times if you weren't looking for it. There's no parking lot so have fun finding a spot on the street. Oh and don't forget to look in the hole in the floor....
(3)
Sean F.
Found this place on a Thursday night after checking into the Embassy Suites right around the corner. Fun, dive-esque sort of place. I was flying solo but I bumped into a crowd of Vanderbilt third-year law students, a fun crowd to hang out with. The bartender was timely and attentive in keeping the drinks full. Coming from California, my only complaint is that smoking is allowed in the bar. I hate choking on smoke and smelling like a cigarette afterward! The patio makes for a good escape to get some fresh air! Lastly, check out the hole in the floor!
(4)
Dustin S.
GREAT ENVIROMENT GOOD DRINK SPECIALS YOUNG CROWD FRAT BOYS AND SORITY GIRLS GOOD TIMES Awesome place for a group of people. College bar with a lot of frat kids and sorority girls but always fun. The place has a lot of history and is very original. Great place for locals or if you want a place to go with friends. I wouldn't recommend going alone or if you want to really party, but highly recommend for just a bar. 2 for 1 all week before 12 On my friends 21st birthday they wouldn't let her in, although she is now 21 they refused her because the ID also expired on her birthday which i thought was rediculous, they could have let that slide with such an occasion. Had no problems anywhere else.
(3)
Declan G.
The Red Door is probably my favorite of the bars I've been to in Nashville. It's in an old house, so it feels kind of cozy, with two old-fashioned molded fireplaces and huge mirrors in heavy frames. The ceiling is covered with tin sign beer ads, there's a good-sized wooden deck out front, and a digital jukebox near the door. But I think the best parts of the Red Door are the good selection of draft beer (including $3 Yuenglings) and the Marilyn Monroe-themed room cork room, whose walls are completely covered with wine corks (I'd like who had the patience for that). My only complaints about the Red Door: the curtained stalls in the women's restroom are pretty unpleasant, and I think the bras hanging on the pirate paraphernalia above the bar are kind of tacky. Otherwise, it's pretty idea: the bartenders are down to earth, and the door guy was unusually friendly. The Red Door is pretty popular, but fortunately the space is divided up enough that the crowd doesn't get overwhelming. They serve pizza and other bar food until 1 am.
(5)
Nonie N.
walked into this place on a whim during a two for one on all drinks special hour. it was AWESOME. it only gets minus one star for the bathroom, which was clean, but very small and one of the doors wouldn't lock. other than that, great music, great crowd, great area in east nashville. truly one of the highlights of my trip to the city.
(4)
Katherine M.
Red Door is just a great local watering hole. It is a typical college town bar - loud, crowded, a bit dirty, but the drinks are cheap and strong! The bartenders are very nice and are truly having fun. Ask them to come up with a fun concoction for you and your chums (but beware) and they'll be happy to pour it up! If you're looking for a fun spot out on the town, this is a good choice. Red Door has plenty of seats, high-top tables, and a great patio. Again, it gets crowded, but that's part of it! Challenge your friends to a game of air hockey on the table outside. A great place to just chill. I have never had to wait long for a drink here. The waitstaff is always walking around making sure their customer's are happy and their drinks are full! You can get any and every type of beer here, and the drinks are mixed perfectly. Hurry to Red Door and know you're in for a fun, laid back night.
(4)
Caitlin D.
A great spot to take it easy and enjoy interesting company. My friend had a little too much fun sitting on a stool in front of the dishwasher, and the bartender laughed that he had heard that before. Good beer, the place is just dingy enough to be comfortable if you want to avoid the pretentious hotspots. Bring your eyepatch, you'll fit right in with the decor.
(4)
Peter K.
Let's get one thing out of the way; this is a singles college bar, no questions about it. This place gets packed and VERY HOT over the summer. You'll notice lots of sports memorabilia from Chicago adorned all over the walls; I believe the owner is from the windy city? Back to the drinks, you must try the root beer float shot and have a drink made with the soaked pineapples. If you're feeling like you have large bollocks, try some of the soaked cherries.
(3)
Claire B.
I have a soft spot for the original Red Door even though I feel like I fit in better at the East Nashville one. This place has a really cool vibe, and there's a huge covered patio on the front with some small "tables" (really they are beer barrels with tops) and some long benchlike tables. It gets pretty packed out there in the summer and it's a good varied crowd of people. In the winter, the crowd always keeps things warm and interesting inside. It's a cozy place and even though it's one of Nashville's cool hangouts, it still manages to keep a friendly dive-bar atmosphere. It's difficult to describe the allure of Red Door. It's a dive bar that girls wear their heels and party frocks to. How weird is that?
(4)
Double L.
This is a bada$$ bar. Good mix of people. I was there during this summer so not to sure what it is like when Vanderbilt is in. Sunday night has a great drink special. 2 for 1. They have a great beer selection and a nice juke box. A cool outdoor area and it looked like they make sandwiches. Bartenders were both really nice and although she didn't know how to pronounce "Tecate" and tried to tell me they didn't carry it even though I could see it in the fridge I still dig the place. I had a Model-o, anyway. RrL
(4)
jamie z.
I stopped in here last night at my girlfriends request. I wasn't a fan of the red door east, so i pretty much figured this would be a similar experience. I was wrong. As soon as i walked in i liked it. It definitely had a divey feel which i always love. I also liked the decor, it was very day of the dead, or "El Da de los Muertos" with all the figured, and skulls... the bartender was super sweet. She was quick with drink orders, and when we asked her about good bars that let you bring your dog, she didn't know, but checked with multiple friends via text to find out for us which was pretty awesome of her to go out of her way! The drinks are cheap, we had happy hour so that was perfect. Also they have shuffleboard! Its a personal favorite of mine.. addicting game that goes well with a few drinks. If i have to head out to west end, then at least i know there is a bar that isn't too loud or over crowded...
(5)
cal w.
I usually wind up there on Sunday nights. They have the best prices on Jameson and water. They also pour them nicely!!
(3)
Ellen F.
I'm not sure why, but a trip to Nashville isn't complete without a trip to the Red Door. Maybe its because of the interesting "house-becomes-bar" aesthetic, or the biker/skeleton theme that subtley lurks beneath the sometimes fratty exterior...but really I think its just those pineapple martinis. Literally, drink one and you're good for a while. Drink two and you're not so good for a while. Its not the sweet, sweet liquid that gets you...its the HUGE pineapple chunk soaked in everclear. Enjoy!
(4)
Ben G.
Red Door is one of my favorite bars around campus on the west side. It's a local watering hole that gets a fairly diverse crowd from students, young professionals, to even an older crowd. The bar has a lot of character and is definitely not pretentious or annoying. They have good drinks, a great happy hour, 2 for 1 until 6, and they are one of the only places left with a shuffle board table, which is pretty amazing. They also have a covered and open patio and a good selection of seats inside as well. Its not very expensive for that area as well, but can get a little smoky, even though their ventilation works out okay. Just a chill place to go after work for a drink that won't break the bank.
(4)
Michelangelo S.
Cheap Beers & Cheap People SITREP I like it! A very low-key & unpretentious set-up. Gets very crowded on a Friday or Saturday night. THE SETUP This was a fun meet-up point to get some drinks and to socialize. * There is a very extensive bar area, which is good because waiting for servers can be an issues - since apparently they have preferences as to the groups of people they want to serve - so it was just better to go to the bar and get our own drinks. * There is also an extensive patio area which was really nice to hang out in. VARIED MUSIC FORMAT It was a lot of fun listening to the virtual DJ mix the music between country, pop and rock. The place just lit up with energy when Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar On Me" blasted through the establishment. For one brief moment I felt like I was back at my Fraternity's Frat parties in Washington State (even here in Nashville). THE PATIO Our preference was to be on the patio since there were smokers in our group. And once we pretty much did our own "self-serve" in acquiring own drinks, things were good. "GET SOME MORE CHAIRS FOR THE PATIO?" The annoying thing about the patio is not that there were insufficient tables - because there were plenty - but a significantly insufficient number of chairs. It got to a point were we tried to scavenge for chairs in non-patio areas just to get people in our group a seat. And it's not like people were hoarding chairs either - each table could easily sit 6-7 chairs with people in them, which was the average - but most of the people were standing around our table and adjacent tables, and there were 2-3 tables in our area where there were no chairs, because the other tables needed them for their patrons. THE LOWDOWN A decent enough bar with reasonable drink prices and to allow for good conversation, and has the potential for getting far better ratings with better customer service and more chairs, just sayin...
(3)
Franklin D.
Good because you can smoke inside while you enjoy your adult beverage. Not really my scene though. One of those places that sees a TON of traffic, usually too crowded, etc.
(3)
Shawn H.
Denying entry to a disabled Vet with a service dog. Scum of the earth. ADA laws exist for a reason, this place is that reason. Tennessee law matches federal law, which disallows the scum doorman from even asking for documentation.
(1)
Tyler D.
Look up there little video on YouTube. Denied entry to disabled vet for having service dog. I will not let you for get this little mistake. Nor will our brothers and sisters.
(1)
Charles R.
I would recommend going someplace else. The staff here from the front door security to the manager are fairly unprofessional. Why would ownership tolerate such behavior is beyond me. After reading all the stories of people and their identifications being confiscated it almost seems as if something strange is going on here. Buyer beware!!
(1)
Lori S.
The other review was right. A Chicago bar in the middle of Nashville! Service is great! Nice vibe. Go here.
(5)
Brittany S.
The downside: my prescription Ray Bans were stolen here. Good luck to Mr./Mrs. Sticky Fingers in making use of them. The upside: I met the most adorable southern boy from Mississippi. I'm pretty sure we're going to get married and have twangy, Ole Miss-attending children. Yes, I'm 99% positive. Other upsides: The ventilation deserves 5 stars. If you don't know this already, smoking is permitted in Nashville bars. Soooo 2009. Good news is, Red Door Saloon is open to the outdoors allowing a bit of fresh air to get in. Quite frankly, it was the saving grace for my delicate Circle City lungs. Other upsides: from what I can remember, the bathrooms were survivable for a packed bar on a Saturday night. A bit on the clusterfuck side, but survivable nonetheless. Other upsides: the people in this town couldn't be any sweeter. They truly give Hoosier Hospitality a run for its money.
(4)
Kristin L.
Used to love this place--then I brought an international friend here for a drink and he was denied entry because his ID is Finnish. WTF? The rest of us Americans in the group are in our 30s, he's 33 per his official Finnish national ID, and he was sent to the curb?!? I've been to 100+ countries and never have been denied entry into a bar because of my U.S. ID. EVER. Way to go, Red Door--discouraging international tourism by banning foreigners from entering your establishment. Was his beard not long enough to be deemed "Nashville cool?" Were his glasses not boxy enough? Red Door is just proving the myth that Nashville is a regressive city, and as a native of this place, I'm downright embarrassed.
(1)
Justin C.
Visiting from Chicago and found this place. Instantly felt welcomed. Awesome atmosphere, good beer selection and great mix of people. Had a blast! Would absolutely return again.
(5)
Brandon H.
I like this place a lot! I went on a Sunday afternoon and enjoyed the 2 for 1 beer special! $5.00 for two beers!? Yes, please! It wasnt crowded nor noisy. The patio was awesome with plenty of space and fresh air. This is my favorite bar in Nashville.
(5)
Mike A.
It was more like a little house than a saloon. But maybe that's what a saloon is. I don't really know. I am from a place where we don't have things called saloons. In fact, isn't a saloon just a way of saying salon, but for dudes? I think it is. There's an air conditioning unit affixed to the ceiling that looks like it could fall and kill someone. Don't stand under that. Just in case there's an earthquake. Where I'm from, we have earthquakes (but no saloons). Maybe we could trade. You take the earthquakes, and I'll take the place with the precarious A/C unit. Ever wonder why people put the slash between the A and the C when writing A/C? You don't do that with anything else. Examples: Hair Conditioner = H/C? Nope. Under One Condition = U/O/C? Nope. I guess I just needed that first example. But I already wrote the second one and I don't see the point in deleting it, so it's staying there.
(4)
Taylor N.
This bar just isn't my favorite. I've only been there at night, when its crowded and you have to wait for 10 minutes at the bar to get a drink. I would imagine it'd be more enjoyable in the daytime with their great patio and garage door walls. Their bathrooms are always disgusting and 90% of the time, only one of the toilets work in the Ladies room (and that's if you're lucky). The crowd is mostly college students with a few tourists here or there. I've heard the East Nashville Red Door is a much better, more authentic experience.
(2)
Scotty C.
Came here to meet up with a group of yelpers during Yelp Spring Break '14. We had a late dinner and then decided to make appearance here before making our way back to the other end of town. Unfortunately, we were not nearly as drunk as we needed to be for Red Door. After walking in and using the restroom, I went on a search to find my pals who got were lost in the sea of college students and bro's. After a solid 10 minute search I found them in the back bar huddled against the wall drinking a beer. I personally was already over this spot and it turned out they all felt the same way. Didn't even other trying to fight my way to the bar for a beer and just left for greener pastures. Hammered, I probably would have had a blast. My advice... don't show up to Red Door Saloon if you're even slightly sober.
(2)
Lindy B.
I've been here a few times and really it's just whatever. I like that the patio is really big but you better get here early to claim a table. I like that their mixed drinks are actually served in a glass, not a plastic cup. Pours are usually strong. I dislike that you can smoke inside. I dislike that there is only 2 toilets and 1 of the stalls is so small that my knees hit the wall in front of me while sitting on the toilet. I'm not THAT tall. When I've been there I've actually seen a pretty diverse crowd but for the most part it's college aged kids. Not my fave place, but not the worst either. It serves it's purpose.
(3)
Rebecca B.
My friend was disrespected since she just moved here and had just changed her license, they would not let her in with her new Tennessee license. As her friend, we asked so we can't go in and his response was, "you all can go in, but she can't." Instead of apologizing of inconvenience, he told her friends they could go in without her. Thanks not only really rude, but just inconsiderate and unsafe.
(1)
Angela J.
Just dogs and burgers for food. It was ok.
(2)
Tommy B.
This is my first time on Nashville. This was the first place we went and it's literally behind our hotel. Cheap beer and hot dogs... What more could you ask for a bachelor party of 10? I suggest the Tiajuana Dog; spicy yet exciting. Everything else is pretty manageable. Definitely a good time.
(3)
Sheena T.
I already am not a fan of Red Door, and I greatly dislike Red Door in Midtown. I will admit...Red Door is the ONE thing that is better on the East Side (gasp, I know!). But this one is just bad. First of all... two for ones only last until 6pm while the East side offers it until 7, even on Fridays. Secondly, my friend and I were ignored by the seriously non busy bartender at 5 minutes to 6. We asked for drinks on happy hour; "oh, it just ended." Really?? I'm pretty sure the time literally just changed to 6:00. Thanks for that sweetheart. Our table ordered the nachos and they were seriously inedible. A pile of chips with a glop of Costco cheese and a couple pickled jalapenos and that was IT. It was also COLD upon arrival. The only bonus is that they have opened up a bigger patio, so there's more space than the horrid one before. Also, it helps with the smoking that is allowed at this bar. I am not a fan. And will continue to bitch and moan if people want to meet here.
(2)
Megan J.
yes, you can smoke here but i beg you, step outside! ventilation? hah! wait at patterson? walk over here for cheap beer and cheaper cocktails bathroom surprising even had toilet paper! a true dive bar gem
(3)
Nick B.
Great bar but getting kicked out for using the women's room is ridiculous. They girls in the guys bathroom were fine and the room used had one toliet and it locked. Get over it and tell you bouncers to chill out.
(1)
Eden O.
We were warned. . . but we went against the advice of locals and ate the pineapple. They were not kidding, those lil chunks of fruit are STRONG. Just another bit of a dive bar. Solid music, lots of space to wander both inside and out. Seems to be a Chicago bar judging by the sports paraphernalia.
(3)
Richard H.
we had a great time here (before we found out about downtown). nice non college kid crowd. great bar staff(special shoutout to our girl wendy(even though that wasn't her real name)). but do not under any circumstance have the booze infused cherries or pineapples, very hard to put down. although downtown is the place to hang and get crazy, I would definitely hang out here again.
(4)
Ju L.
5 stars! Oh wait! Karry L. and I were more or less dragged here kicking and screaming by an unnamed guilty party, who still insists that she enjoyed our 10 minutes inside even though 9.5 of said minutes were spent draped over the bar waiting for the dour-faced bartender to glance over while we endured being jostled by a herd of grunting dudes and screeching women. The last 30 seconds were spent downing our shots as quickly as possible and sprinting (but, in reality, burrowing) our way through the mass of bodies to the exit. The tequila was the weakest tequila I've ever had. It is a smoking establishment. Emerging back outside was some sort of beautiful, beautiful freedom. To be fair: - We were not really kicking and screaming, of course. We're civilized people. We just whined incessantly before, during, and after. - I suppose since our mystery friend inexplicably enjoyed her time here, this place could be *someone's* cup of tea. So yes, if you see yourself having a blast at a grimy, collegey circus of a bar, that extra star's for you. Even so, I am choosing not to name this friend so she will not have to endure the unrecognized but very real shame of having found this place tolerable. Worth a visit as a tourist? ...No.
(2)
Andrea L.
The bartenders and staff are RUDE! They didn't get my 2 drink order right and when I asked for a drink I was missing I received an eye roll. To my face. I work in the industry and will never go back there and I will also go out if my way to tell all my customers at a very busy restaurant I work at to not go there.
(1)
Kenny P.
At whatever cost stay away from this place. If you want to go to a Chicago bar then go to Chicago. Not only is this place a Chicago fake but the staff are all complete jerks. The service from the doorman, bar tenders and servers is shameful. They treat you like you need them more than they need you. The place is filthy and expensive. I wish I could give zero stars! Keep walking and enjoy all of the other traditional places that will treat you like royalty and give the real Nashville experience.
(1)
Bri A.
As a visitor from Chicago, you bet I loved this Cubs-themed bar! Okay, I'm a Sox fan, but a Chicago team is a Chicago team. It's a typical sports bar like back home, but with better drinks. My 7&7 came in a pint glass and was strong! They don't play around here! Don't forget to take a peek into the hole in the floor. Just do it, trust me! :)
(4)
John B.
Had a great time here recently. It can be crowded and loud, but it's definitely fun. This is the original location and opened in 2002. I wonder if they will have a 10 year party soon? The bartenders were friendly fast and if I recall correctly, pretty cute. ha ha. There are so many signs, knick-knacks, and things to look at, it's like an Applebee's but actually good. If you want to really abuse your liver, get the pineapple drink. It tasted like Everclear but is straight vodka. There are of course plenty of other things to drink and eat. They have lots of Hot Dogs ($5.95), Steamed Sandwhiches ($5.95), Ric's Wraps ($5.95), and Pizzas! If you are around this place in the daylight, checkout all the funny things written in the sidewalk. Oh, and definitely look for the hole in the floor.... spooky Next time I'll have to check out the East Nashville location. There are also 2 locations in Florida.
(5)
Corey W.
Nothing really special about this place. Add it too the other places that don't really stick out. Has all the checklist items a late night watering hole has porch, cheap beer, crushing wall of people, loud music so you can't actually communicate with anyone your with, and overweight bouncer. Really if you're already drunk stumble in you won't mind it. If you are still sober don't bother.
(2)
Corey G.
Great beer selection with awesome happy hour specials but very poor service. I've been to the Red Door Saloon in Panama City Beach which seemed to be more like a biker so I was extremely surprised that this Red Door was a Chicago sports bar.
(2)
Courtney K.
Chicago bar, Bartender was so rude. I was there during a dead time, and she was extremely short and rude.
(1)
Sarah C.
I had a pretty good time at the Red Door in Midtown. I ordered a LIT and for $8 it was in a pint glass and spoke true to warm nights on the Cape. Smoking is allowed which sort of bummed me out but sitting on their patio cures that issue. The decor is eclectic yet casual like a weird uncle's basement full of collectibles such as the Sailor Jerry neon above the bar. I am not sure if it was me or my inhibitions being lifted but there were some pretty decent looking folks if you are into that type of scene. The Red Door is anything but pretentious. The most interesting things that I can tell you about besides the aforementioned are the women's restrooms and the tables on the patio. First, the restrooms. Since I hadn't had the experience of the crusty curtain bathroom situation for the ladies (rumor mill), the plywood shoe box containing the porcelain pee-pot is apparently an upgrade. At least they had a sink and soap! Next, the tables. What do you get when you combine 5-7 intoxicated twenty-somethings and a table on a bar patio that is painted like grand piano. A Glee moment! Sweet Caroline, Piano Man, whatever! Talk about a conduit for bringing folks together!
(3)
Chris J.
By far the best bar in downtown, staff is fantastic, food is great and most importantly atmosphere is the best.
(5)
Karry L.
Look, I get it. I've been there before. I used to be in my early-twenties. I know what it's like to be hanging out on a weekend night and suddenly get hit with the non-negotiable urge to imbibe questionable alcohol, yell incoherently and make poor decisions. I know that well liquor is only tolerable when drunk in the company of assholes. I don't particularly care for this sort of stuff now, but these are all things that are familiar to me, and I am glad that certain bars exist to accommodate this desire. Red Door Saloon is definitely one of them. It's loud, crowded, vaguely sticky, and full of frat boys and sorostitutes looking to collect shot glasses and venereal diseases. I spent 10 minutes in there and wanted to punch at least 4 people by the time I left. I think I may have regressed as a human being. But my review is going to be based on only two things: quality of service, which was pitifully slow and inattentive, although that probably could've been helped if they staffed more than 2 bartenders per 300 patrons, and the price point. I'm still not sure how I ended up paying $22 for 3 shots of Cuervo, which according to my friend, tasted "watered down. I didn't feel anything." That is a damning statement coming from a skinny Asian girl. I can see why this bar exists, even if it does in fact represent the absolute dregs of humanity. The real problem is that it can't even adequately fulfill its two purposes: getting me wasted cheaply, and getting me wasted quickly.
(1)
Logan P.
I live less than a hundred yards from this bar and I'm never going back. I'm a regular, I'm friends with all of the bartenders and most of the servers. I was refused entry because I had a paper (temporary ID) which I was able to board an airplane with, but not drink a beer. The door man, read asshole, proceeded to make fun of me and call me names. The Red Door saloon sure knows how to treat its heavy tipping locals. The bouncers names were "bird" and Rob.
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Juke Box Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Yes Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : Yes
Nickie G.
Sometimes I walk in a bar and I know immediately that I would totally frequent the place if only I lived nearby. The Red Door Saloon is one of those places. First thing you notice when you come in is the big patio out front...they had it enclosed since it is winter but I imagine it is a fun place to hang out in the summer. Inside there are nooks and crannies like an old house and it is decorated in skulls, crossbones, and Cubs memorabilia. I know, random. They have TVs so you can watch the game, a long bar, and a table shaped like a baby grand piano (complete with keys painted on it). That's where I sat of course!! The waitress got off to a little of a slow service start, but then she picked it up and was awesome. We had some pizza and it was nothing special, like frozen pizza or something. They also have a large selection of hot dogs and brats and steamed sandwiches. I have the feeling though this is not really the place to go for food, it is the place to drink a lot. The crowd was all over the board but as it got later I saw more people in there that seemed like the typical people I avoid in Uptown Dallas, but not so many that I wouldn't hang out there. The bathrooms...I found it hilarious that the mirror above the sink was so high I couldn't even see the top of my head in it. And the curtains for doors are kind of annoying. But overall the bar was awesome and I will be back next time I am in town. And I did look in the hole. Fun!
(4)Kyla A.
I so much prefer the East Nashville location of the Red Door, but this location is still pretty good considering the other options in the area. The main issue with Red Door West is the layout is a bit cramped and convoluted. When it's crowded, and it often is, it's hard to move around and find somewhere to land, especially when you're with a larger group. The crowd is very different here than at the other location as well. It's a lot of young professionals and the like. One thing I do prefer about this location is that they have more of the fruit infusions available. Red Door East just has the vodka pineapple mix, but West offers a few more varieties including a whiskey cherry infusion of which I am quite fond. They also have waiter service at this location which is almost entirely non-existent across town.
(3)Mark M.
Its a staple. Weekends are busy but so is every other place.
(5)Courtney B.
Surprisingly even though I live closer to this location than the one in East Nashville, I don't like it as much even though I gave them both the same rating. The staff are as friendly and efficient here as at the other location, but for some reason the crowd just isn't as cool. I guess that's just the difference between an East Nash and Midtown location. You get a lot more vandy kids and 'hey look at me i'm in the music business types' here but thats due to its proximity to both Vanderbilt and Music Row. Its a small, cozy bar and a great place to unwind with a drink. Unless you go on the weekends when it is so ridiculously packed it'll take you more time to get up to the bar than it will to actually get a drink. You can find Red Door on Division Street just a couple blocks from Broadway Brewhouse. The building is an old house and is so unassuming that you'd probably drive right past it several times if you weren't looking for it. There's no parking lot so have fun finding a spot on the street. Oh and don't forget to look in the hole in the floor....
(3)Dustin S.
GREAT ENVIROMENT GOOD DRINK SPECIALS YOUNG CROWD FRAT BOYS AND SORITY GIRLS GOOD TIMES Awesome place for a group of people. College bar with a lot of frat kids and sorority girls but always fun. The place has a lot of history and is very original. Great place for locals or if you want a place to go with friends. I wouldn't recommend going alone or if you want to really party, but highly recommend for just a bar. 2 for 1 all week before 12 On my friends 21st birthday they wouldn't let her in, although she is now 21 they refused her because the ID also expired on her birthday which i thought was rediculous, they could have let that slide with such an occasion. Had no problems anywhere else.
(3)Chesterfield L.
Just a great place to grab a damn beer. Love the Happy hour and wish I could find a place up north like it!
(5)Declan G.
The Red Door is probably my favorite of the bars I've been to in Nashville. It's in an old house, so it feels kind of cozy, with two old-fashioned molded fireplaces and huge mirrors in heavy frames. The ceiling is covered with tin sign beer ads, there's a good-sized wooden deck out front, and a digital jukebox near the door. But I think the best parts of the Red Door are the good selection of draft beer (including $3 Yuenglings) and the Marilyn Monroe-themed room cork room, whose walls are completely covered with wine corks (I'd like who had the patience for that). My only complaints about the Red Door: the curtained stalls in the women's restroom are pretty unpleasant, and I think the bras hanging on the pirate paraphernalia above the bar are kind of tacky. Otherwise, it's pretty idea: the bartenders are down to earth, and the door guy was unusually friendly. The Red Door is pretty popular, but fortunately the space is divided up enough that the crowd doesn't get overwhelming. They serve pizza and other bar food until 1 am.
(5)Nonie N.
walked into this place on a whim during a two for one on all drinks special hour. it was AWESOME. it only gets minus one star for the bathroom, which was clean, but very small and one of the doors wouldn't lock. other than that, great music, great crowd, great area in east nashville. truly one of the highlights of my trip to the city.
(4)Katherine M.
Red Door is just a great local watering hole. It is a typical college town bar - loud, crowded, a bit dirty, but the drinks are cheap and strong! The bartenders are very nice and are truly having fun. Ask them to come up with a fun concoction for you and your chums (but beware) and they'll be happy to pour it up! If you're looking for a fun spot out on the town, this is a good choice. Red Door has plenty of seats, high-top tables, and a great patio. Again, it gets crowded, but that's part of it! Challenge your friends to a game of air hockey on the table outside. A great place to just chill. I have never had to wait long for a drink here. The waitstaff is always walking around making sure their customer's are happy and their drinks are full! You can get any and every type of beer here, and the drinks are mixed perfectly. Hurry to Red Door and know you're in for a fun, laid back night.
(4)Caitlin D.
A great spot to take it easy and enjoy interesting company. My friend had a little too much fun sitting on a stool in front of the dishwasher, and the bartender laughed that he had heard that before. Good beer, the place is just dingy enough to be comfortable if you want to avoid the pretentious hotspots. Bring your eyepatch, you'll fit right in with the decor.
(4)Peter K.
Let's get one thing out of the way; this is a singles college bar, no questions about it. This place gets packed and VERY HOT over the summer. You'll notice lots of sports memorabilia from Chicago adorned all over the walls; I believe the owner is from the windy city? Back to the drinks, you must try the root beer float shot and have a drink made with the soaked pineapples. If you're feeling like you have large bollocks, try some of the soaked cherries.
(3)Sean B.
I don't know what all the poor reviews are about. Matt and I went here on Friday night and had a blast. The crowd changes drastically as the night wears on and thats the reason for the four stars. Well that and the fact that a crowd of drunken bridesmaids and another group of drunk frat boys were fighting over our table and who was getting it next. Paige our server was a bad b*tch of a server. She was on point. Food was ok nothing to write home about but to be honest, who goes to a bar for the food. Overall a great experience.
(4)Nathan S.
Absolutely fantastic food! They have happy hour specials (2 for 1) on so many different drinks. The atmosphere is authentic Chicago style. Their food is excellent both taste wise and price wise. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and there is ample room within the bar. Definitely enjoyed this place, and were I a local, I would definitely come back. I recommend checking this place out if you're visiting Nashville!
(5)Axel P.
Big disappointment. I heard this was a great Chicago atmosphere bar I'm visiting from Chicago in Nashville. I wanted to stop by and watch the Hawks game. The bar tender girl was more concerned about her cellphone than the customers waiting for a drink! I had to give them a star or I wouldn't be able to to post my comment.
(1)Katie M.
Rude, inappropriate and unprofessional security staff. Drinks are great, but I've had horrible experiences here.
(1)Nathan S.
Absolutely fantastic food! They have happy hour specials (2 for 1) on so many different drinks. The atmosphere is authentic Chicago style. Their food is excellent both taste wise and price wise. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and there is ample room within the bar. Definitely enjoyed this place, and were I a local, I would definitely come back. I recommend checking this place out if you're visiting Nashville!
(5)Michelangelo S.
Cheap Beers & Cheap People SITREP I like it! A very low-key & unpretentious set-up. Gets very crowded on a Friday or Saturday night. THE SETUP This was a fun meet-up point to get some drinks and to socialize. * There is a very extensive bar area, which is good because waiting for servers can be an issues - since apparently they have preferences as to the groups of people they want to serve - so it was just better to go to the bar and get our own drinks. * There is also an extensive patio area which was really nice to hang out in. VARIED MUSIC FORMAT It was a lot of fun listening to the virtual DJ mix the music between country, pop and rock. The place just lit up with energy when Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar On Me" blasted through the establishment. For one brief moment I felt like I was back at my Fraternity's Frat parties in Washington State (even here in Nashville). THE PATIO Our preference was to be on the patio since there were smokers in our group. And once we pretty much did our own "self-serve" in acquiring own drinks, things were good. "GET SOME MORE CHAIRS FOR THE PATIO?" The annoying thing about the patio is not that there were insufficient tables - because there were plenty - but a significantly insufficient number of chairs. It got to a point were we tried to scavenge for chairs in non-patio areas just to get people in our group a seat. And it's not like people were hoarding chairs either - each table could easily sit 6-7 chairs with people in them, which was the average - but most of the people were standing around our table and adjacent tables, and there were 2-3 tables in our area where there were no chairs, because the other tables needed them for their patrons. THE LOWDOWN A decent enough bar with reasonable drink prices and to allow for good conversation, and has the potential for getting far better ratings with better customer service and more chairs, just sayin...
(3)Franklin D.
Good because you can smoke inside while you enjoy your adult beverage. Not really my scene though. One of those places that sees a TON of traffic, usually too crowded, etc.
(3)Shawn H.
Denying entry to a disabled Vet with a service dog. Scum of the earth. ADA laws exist for a reason, this place is that reason. Tennessee law matches federal law, which disallows the scum doorman from even asking for documentation.
(1)Tyler D.
Look up there little video on YouTube. Denied entry to disabled vet for having service dog. I will not let you for get this little mistake. Nor will our brothers and sisters.
(1)Charles R.
I would recommend going someplace else. The staff here from the front door security to the manager are fairly unprofessional. Why would ownership tolerate such behavior is beyond me. After reading all the stories of people and their identifications being confiscated it almost seems as if something strange is going on here. Buyer beware!!
(1)Lori S.
The other review was right. A Chicago bar in the middle of Nashville! Service is great! Nice vibe. Go here.
(5)Axel P.
Big disappointment. I heard this was a great Chicago atmosphere bar I'm visiting from Chicago in Nashville. I wanted to stop by and watch the Hawks game. The bar tender girl was more concerned about her cellphone than the customers waiting for a drink! I had to give them a star or I wouldn't be able to to post my comment.
(1)Katie M.
Rude, inappropriate and unprofessional security staff. Drinks are great, but I've had horrible experiences here.
(1)Brittany S.
The downside: my prescription Ray Bans were stolen here. Good luck to Mr./Mrs. Sticky Fingers in making use of them. The upside: I met the most adorable southern boy from Mississippi. I'm pretty sure we're going to get married and have twangy, Ole Miss-attending children. Yes, I'm 99% positive. Other upsides: The ventilation deserves 5 stars. If you don't know this already, smoking is permitted in Nashville bars. Soooo 2009. Good news is, Red Door Saloon is open to the outdoors allowing a bit of fresh air to get in. Quite frankly, it was the saving grace for my delicate Circle City lungs. Other upsides: from what I can remember, the bathrooms were survivable for a packed bar on a Saturday night. A bit on the clusterfuck side, but survivable nonetheless. Other upsides: the people in this town couldn't be any sweeter. They truly give Hoosier Hospitality a run for its money.
(4)Kristin L.
Used to love this place--then I brought an international friend here for a drink and he was denied entry because his ID is Finnish. WTF? The rest of us Americans in the group are in our 30s, he's 33 per his official Finnish national ID, and he was sent to the curb?!? I've been to 100+ countries and never have been denied entry into a bar because of my U.S. ID. EVER. Way to go, Red Door--discouraging international tourism by banning foreigners from entering your establishment. Was his beard not long enough to be deemed "Nashville cool?" Were his glasses not boxy enough? Red Door is just proving the myth that Nashville is a regressive city, and as a native of this place, I'm downright embarrassed.
(1)Brandon H.
I like this place a lot! I went on a Sunday afternoon and enjoyed the 2 for 1 beer special! $5.00 for two beers!? Yes, please! It wasnt crowded nor noisy. The patio was awesome with plenty of space and fresh air. This is my favorite bar in Nashville.
(5)Justin C.
Visiting from Chicago and found this place. Instantly felt welcomed. Awesome atmosphere, good beer selection and great mix of people. Had a blast! Would absolutely return again.
(5)Angela J.
Just dogs and burgers for food. It was ok.
(2)Tommy B.
This is my first time on Nashville. This was the first place we went and it's literally behind our hotel. Cheap beer and hot dogs... What more could you ask for a bachelor party of 10? I suggest the Tiajuana Dog; spicy yet exciting. Everything else is pretty manageable. Definitely a good time.
(3)Mike A.
It was more like a little house than a saloon. But maybe that's what a saloon is. I don't really know. I am from a place where we don't have things called saloons. In fact, isn't a saloon just a way of saying salon, but for dudes? I think it is. There's an air conditioning unit affixed to the ceiling that looks like it could fall and kill someone. Don't stand under that. Just in case there's an earthquake. Where I'm from, we have earthquakes (but no saloons). Maybe we could trade. You take the earthquakes, and I'll take the place with the precarious A/C unit. Ever wonder why people put the slash between the A and the C when writing A/C? You don't do that with anything else. Examples: Hair Conditioner = H/C? Nope. Under One Condition = U/O/C? Nope. I guess I just needed that first example. But I already wrote the second one and I don't see the point in deleting it, so it's staying there.
(4)Taylor N.
This bar just isn't my favorite. I've only been there at night, when its crowded and you have to wait for 10 minutes at the bar to get a drink. I would imagine it'd be more enjoyable in the daytime with their great patio and garage door walls. Their bathrooms are always disgusting and 90% of the time, only one of the toilets work in the Ladies room (and that's if you're lucky). The crowd is mostly college students with a few tourists here or there. I've heard the East Nashville Red Door is a much better, more authentic experience.
(2)Scotty C.
Came here to meet up with a group of yelpers during Yelp Spring Break '14. We had a late dinner and then decided to make appearance here before making our way back to the other end of town. Unfortunately, we were not nearly as drunk as we needed to be for Red Door. After walking in and using the restroom, I went on a search to find my pals who got were lost in the sea of college students and bro's. After a solid 10 minute search I found them in the back bar huddled against the wall drinking a beer. I personally was already over this spot and it turned out they all felt the same way. Didn't even other trying to fight my way to the bar for a beer and just left for greener pastures. Hammered, I probably would have had a blast. My advice... don't show up to Red Door Saloon if you're even slightly sober.
(2)Rebecca B.
My friend was disrespected since she just moved here and had just changed her license, they would not let her in with her new Tennessee license. As her friend, we asked so we can't go in and his response was, "you all can go in, but she can't." Instead of apologizing of inconvenience, he told her friends they could go in without her. Thanks not only really rude, but just inconsiderate and unsafe.
(1)Lindy B.
I've been here a few times and really it's just whatever. I like that the patio is really big but you better get here early to claim a table. I like that their mixed drinks are actually served in a glass, not a plastic cup. Pours are usually strong. I dislike that you can smoke inside. I dislike that there is only 2 toilets and 1 of the stalls is so small that my knees hit the wall in front of me while sitting on the toilet. I'm not THAT tall. When I've been there I've actually seen a pretty diverse crowd but for the most part it's college aged kids. Not my fave place, but not the worst either. It serves it's purpose.
(3)Sheena T.
I already am not a fan of Red Door, and I greatly dislike Red Door in Midtown. I will admit...Red Door is the ONE thing that is better on the East Side (gasp, I know!). But this one is just bad. First of all... two for ones only last until 6pm while the East side offers it until 7, even on Fridays. Secondly, my friend and I were ignored by the seriously non busy bartender at 5 minutes to 6. We asked for drinks on happy hour; "oh, it just ended." Really?? I'm pretty sure the time literally just changed to 6:00. Thanks for that sweetheart. Our table ordered the nachos and they were seriously inedible. A pile of chips with a glop of Costco cheese and a couple pickled jalapenos and that was IT. It was also COLD upon arrival. The only bonus is that they have opened up a bigger patio, so there's more space than the horrid one before. Also, it helps with the smoking that is allowed at this bar. I am not a fan. And will continue to bitch and moan if people want to meet here.
(2)Megan J.
yes, you can smoke here but i beg you, step outside! ventilation? hah! wait at patterson? walk over here for cheap beer and cheaper cocktails bathroom surprising even had toilet paper! a true dive bar gem
(3)Nick B.
Great bar but getting kicked out for using the women's room is ridiculous. They girls in the guys bathroom were fine and the room used had one toliet and it locked. Get over it and tell you bouncers to chill out.
(1)Eden O.
We were warned. . . but we went against the advice of locals and ate the pineapple. They were not kidding, those lil chunks of fruit are STRONG. Just another bit of a dive bar. Solid music, lots of space to wander both inside and out. Seems to be a Chicago bar judging by the sports paraphernalia.
(3)Richard H.
we had a great time here (before we found out about downtown). nice non college kid crowd. great bar staff(special shoutout to our girl wendy(even though that wasn't her real name)). but do not under any circumstance have the booze infused cherries or pineapples, very hard to put down. although downtown is the place to hang and get crazy, I would definitely hang out here again.
(4)Ju L.
5 stars! Oh wait! Karry L. and I were more or less dragged here kicking and screaming by an unnamed guilty party, who still insists that she enjoyed our 10 minutes inside even though 9.5 of said minutes were spent draped over the bar waiting for the dour-faced bartender to glance over while we endured being jostled by a herd of grunting dudes and screeching women. The last 30 seconds were spent downing our shots as quickly as possible and sprinting (but, in reality, burrowing) our way through the mass of bodies to the exit. The tequila was the weakest tequila I've ever had. It is a smoking establishment. Emerging back outside was some sort of beautiful, beautiful freedom. To be fair: - We were not really kicking and screaming, of course. We're civilized people. We just whined incessantly before, during, and after. - I suppose since our mystery friend inexplicably enjoyed her time here, this place could be *someone's* cup of tea. So yes, if you see yourself having a blast at a grimy, collegey circus of a bar, that extra star's for you. Even so, I am choosing not to name this friend so she will not have to endure the unrecognized but very real shame of having found this place tolerable. Worth a visit as a tourist? ...No.
(2)Andrea L.
The bartenders and staff are RUDE! They didn't get my 2 drink order right and when I asked for a drink I was missing I received an eye roll. To my face. I work in the industry and will never go back there and I will also go out if my way to tell all my customers at a very busy restaurant I work at to not go there.
(1)Kenny P.
At whatever cost stay away from this place. If you want to go to a Chicago bar then go to Chicago. Not only is this place a Chicago fake but the staff are all complete jerks. The service from the doorman, bar tenders and servers is shameful. They treat you like you need them more than they need you. The place is filthy and expensive. I wish I could give zero stars! Keep walking and enjoy all of the other traditional places that will treat you like royalty and give the real Nashville experience.
(1)Bri A.
As a visitor from Chicago, you bet I loved this Cubs-themed bar! Okay, I'm a Sox fan, but a Chicago team is a Chicago team. It's a typical sports bar like back home, but with better drinks. My 7&7 came in a pint glass and was strong! They don't play around here! Don't forget to take a peek into the hole in the floor. Just do it, trust me! :)
(4)John B.
Had a great time here recently. It can be crowded and loud, but it's definitely fun. This is the original location and opened in 2002. I wonder if they will have a 10 year party soon? The bartenders were friendly fast and if I recall correctly, pretty cute. ha ha. There are so many signs, knick-knacks, and things to look at, it's like an Applebee's but actually good. If you want to really abuse your liver, get the pineapple drink. It tasted like Everclear but is straight vodka. There are of course plenty of other things to drink and eat. They have lots of Hot Dogs ($5.95), Steamed Sandwhiches ($5.95), Ric's Wraps ($5.95), and Pizzas! If you are around this place in the daylight, checkout all the funny things written in the sidewalk. Oh, and definitely look for the hole in the floor.... spooky Next time I'll have to check out the East Nashville location. There are also 2 locations in Florida.
(5)Corey W.
Nothing really special about this place. Add it too the other places that don't really stick out. Has all the checklist items a late night watering hole has porch, cheap beer, crushing wall of people, loud music so you can't actually communicate with anyone your with, and overweight bouncer. Really if you're already drunk stumble in you won't mind it. If you are still sober don't bother.
(2)Corey G.
Great beer selection with awesome happy hour specials but very poor service. I've been to the Red Door Saloon in Panama City Beach which seemed to be more like a biker so I was extremely surprised that this Red Door was a Chicago sports bar.
(2)Courtney K.
Chicago bar, Bartender was so rude. I was there during a dead time, and she was extremely short and rude.
(1)Sarah C.
I had a pretty good time at the Red Door in Midtown. I ordered a LIT and for $8 it was in a pint glass and spoke true to warm nights on the Cape. Smoking is allowed which sort of bummed me out but sitting on their patio cures that issue. The decor is eclectic yet casual like a weird uncle's basement full of collectibles such as the Sailor Jerry neon above the bar. I am not sure if it was me or my inhibitions being lifted but there were some pretty decent looking folks if you are into that type of scene. The Red Door is anything but pretentious. The most interesting things that I can tell you about besides the aforementioned are the women's restrooms and the tables on the patio. First, the restrooms. Since I hadn't had the experience of the crusty curtain bathroom situation for the ladies (rumor mill), the plywood shoe box containing the porcelain pee-pot is apparently an upgrade. At least they had a sink and soap! Next, the tables. What do you get when you combine 5-7 intoxicated twenty-somethings and a table on a bar patio that is painted like grand piano. A Glee moment! Sweet Caroline, Piano Man, whatever! Talk about a conduit for bringing folks together!
(3)Chris J.
By far the best bar in downtown, staff is fantastic, food is great and most importantly atmosphere is the best.
(5)Karry L.
Look, I get it. I've been there before. I used to be in my early-twenties. I know what it's like to be hanging out on a weekend night and suddenly get hit with the non-negotiable urge to imbibe questionable alcohol, yell incoherently and make poor decisions. I know that well liquor is only tolerable when drunk in the company of assholes. I don't particularly care for this sort of stuff now, but these are all things that are familiar to me, and I am glad that certain bars exist to accommodate this desire. Red Door Saloon is definitely one of them. It's loud, crowded, vaguely sticky, and full of frat boys and sorostitutes looking to collect shot glasses and venereal diseases. I spent 10 minutes in there and wanted to punch at least 4 people by the time I left. I think I may have regressed as a human being. But my review is going to be based on only two things: quality of service, which was pitifully slow and inattentive, although that probably could've been helped if they staffed more than 2 bartenders per 300 patrons, and the price point. I'm still not sure how I ended up paying $22 for 3 shots of Cuervo, which according to my friend, tasted "watered down. I didn't feel anything." That is a damning statement coming from a skinny Asian girl. I can see why this bar exists, even if it does in fact represent the absolute dregs of humanity. The real problem is that it can't even adequately fulfill its two purposes: getting me wasted cheaply, and getting me wasted quickly.
(1)Logan P.
I live less than a hundred yards from this bar and I'm never going back. I'm a regular, I'm friends with all of the bartenders and most of the servers. I was refused entry because I had a paper (temporary ID) which I was able to board an airplane with, but not drink a beer. The door man, read asshole, proceeded to make fun of me and call me names. The Red Door saloon sure knows how to treat its heavy tipping locals. The bouncers names were "bird" and Rob.
(1)JD C.
I don't get the appeal of this place. I like to get drunk as much as the next guy, but Red Door is pretty terrible when it comes to atmosphere, service, and clientele. I went to college in a Big Ten college town, and bars like these were the norm.... At Vandy this is really the only place of its kind so it makes sense that its always packed. It's sort of a bizarro college bar experience, where the bros wear Dockers, tucked in Gant polo shirts, and have sunglasses on their head complete with neck strap; its kind of like being at an afterparty for a Kohl's ad photo shoot. The beer, if you're able to fight your way to the bar to get one, can be cheap if you like crappy beer or way overpriced if you like good beer (of which they have a few). Unfortunately, if you live in Nashville you will inevitably end up here at some point, likely because its one of your friends' favorite places to go. It may be enough to make you re-evaluate those you consider friends...
(2)Patrick M.
2 for 1 on a Sunday even with a blackhawks game on, you can't go wrong. If your a Chicago fan this is a place to go, unfortunately they don't put the sound on.
(4)James T.
Being a Chicagoan visiting Nashville, I thought it might be a cool place to catch the white sox game the other night. Nope...cubs bar. As a staunch cub hater, I can somewhat appreciate, but that seemed to effect the level of service at the bar. A+ on the ventilation as it was a smoking establishment. Beer prices were reasonable. I may have just been expecting more. I'll give it a go next winter when down for a predator game.
(3)Jason S.
It will smell of smoke, it will be a diverse clientele, and you will get no frills. While you are there, you will wonder why the hell you chose to do this, and remember that "The Patterson House" is right down the street. What are you doing here? Did this seem like a good idea at the time? You have made a terrible mistake. But guess what, pal? Buck up and man up through this one. You're going to have to ride it out. Because that leather chick over there is old enough to be your mom but could still beat your ass if you show a moment's weakness. And what the hell are you doing on Yelp? That's a sure way to get yourself killed in here. Stay cool, act naturally, we're going to get through this together. (extra stars added to not get killed)
(3)Jim V.
Not a fan of this midtown establishment. Look for the skeleton in the hole in the floor board. This place is extremely small for the amount of people they try and pack in there. I don't understand the theme either. This place good definitely be on the show bar rescue just for the host, johns advice in bar science haha. But in all seriousness it is hard to get a drink. Other spots in midtown are better
(2)Paul K.
It was my 6th visit to the place. It was sometime after the Yelp/Toyota event and we'd been hopping from bar to Rebar to bar and ended up at The Red Door. Every time I've ever been to the 'Door it's been a fight... a fight to get to the bar, a fight to find a place to stand, and a fight to get to the bathroom. In other words, it's not usually a place I've managed to enjoy. This was different. I finally had a taste of what the place was without the 300 people crammed into a space designed for 80. I'm not entirely sure why this place is so popular, not trying to dis it, I just don't get it. Perhaps it's the bar staff, they were friendly. Perhaps it's a bunch of cliques that get together and descend upon the place, I don't know, the other patrons have always looked about as annoyed as I usually am when I go to the place. The prices are so so, the atmosphere is on the good side of meh, and the bathrooms are a pit from hell that has opened on Earth, so there's got to be something I'm missing as it's also not convenient and parking is a pain. Not saying the other reviews are false, but the crowd that I didn't personally bring was not solid, the music was only ok, the drinks were average, the strangers were not sociable, and that's been every experience I've had here. Don't get me wrong, it's an ok bar, I am just failing to get the wow factor of it.
(3)Janette W.
Man, did I feel old here! We walked in here on a whim and were immediately confronted with the youth! We battled through the crowd to grab a drink and I was impressed with the stiffness of my jack and coke. It's easy to find a quiet corner here if that's what you're looking for or a loud crowd.
(3)Heidi S.
This used to be one of my favorite places to go on a Saturday night in my late 20s when I was single. That is definitely the type of crowd you will find there on the weekend nights. Now, if I go it is usually on Sunday afternoon with a group of friends for Sunday Funday since they do 2-4-1 all day there. I love the recent renovation/expansion they did and that they finally put real stall doors on the bathrooms instead of the old shower curtains they used to have. The bartenders are great. My only complaint would be that it can tend to be a little too smokey at times. I am looking forward to being able to hang on the expanded patio in the warmer months and I might update my review then.
(3)Allison B.
Oh Red Door you always do me wrong. Some of my friends refer to you as Church, I refer to you as the Devils Lair. Church comes from the fact that Sunday they have 2 for 1 beer and double pour well drinks. What starts out as a Sunday funday quickly ends in headache. I always have a great time while I'm there but I pay for it later. I always seem to end up here after I've been somewhere else. Just like Marcia, I don't ever start out at Red Door, in fact many nights start with the phrase "lets not end up at Red Door." Red Door can be really packed on the the weekends with the douchey frat boys and sorostitues that plague midtown. If you can get past that, the service is always great, the drinks are strong and the shots are enormous. Smoking is allowed inside so if that bothers you, don't go. I think the drink prices are fair. I usually go for their pineapple infused vodka. Its super yummy and strong. They also have food. I have tried their hot dog and it was pretty good. But, I go to Red Door to drink, not eat. There are just some times when you need something to soak up the alcohol that led you to Red Door.
(3)Ashwin M.
The all new and expanded patio is like smoking a bowl. Everything is suddenly everywhere. True to the American tradition of doing things, Red Door is now bigger, larger, wider, longer, and ...cooler!
(4)Michael H.
I was puzzled by all the Chicago sports memorabilia thinking this was a play towards us Chicagoans in town for the Bears game. Turns out that its a Chicago bar in the middle of Nashville. Felt a bit like a bar you'd encounter in New Orleans with all the character. Putting aside that Red Door is behind an Embassy Suites in a parking lot, it was a good start to our weekend. Amazed by how many people smoked here with ashtrays everywhere. Nice deck for people watching.
(4)Jasmine K.
I went to Red Door on a whim, I was on a girls trip from Columbus, OH and the bar was within walking distance of my hotel. It was Superbowl Sunday and the game was on; the bartenders were really cool and the beers were nice and cold. The bartenders gave us a free shot with our first round and later gave us bottle coozies with the bar logo. I would go back in a heartbeat, it was a cool local bar that didn't mind having some out of towners bellied up to the bar. Awesome prices 2 for 1 beers and well drinks. Only reason 4 stars instead of 5 is that they allow indoor smoking (but, it was ventilated REALLY well, my clothes didn't even stink)
(4)Marcia M.
When I do end up here...it is at the end of a booze soaked evening but never as a starting point. Most people don't make the best choices after getting intoxicated... This place is a lot of fun if you come with your own group or "posse" but I would never come here without a couple of partners in crime. The crowd has always been in the "college age" demographic when I have visited...so I don't really have much interest there. I can't deny that fun evenings can be had but this just wouldn't be my first choice. On the flipside,the bartenders have always been great and I think that the drink prices are fair. That's all I got.
(3)Nate L.
This bar is a gift that keeps in giving. I have always enjoyed it. All the way from the doorman to the bartenders. This place makes for a great Saturday night. Ronnie is the epitome of a service industry expert who goes above and beyond for the patrons
(5)Jill R.
Sometimes I get the hankering to return to my college days. Sometimes it seems like a perfectly fine idea to smash into this bar on a Saturday night and relive the crushing flow of humanity I normally only tolerate on a southbound 4 train after a Yankees game. Sometimes I fancy myself a biker chick but also enjoy the relative safety of a midtown Nashville bar filled with other 20 somethings also pretending that they are tough. In those instances, Red Door is just great. Considering the tides of frat boys and infantry officers that this bar normally hosts, I've never had to wait that long for a drink. You're not getting master mixology here, you're getting loud music and laughs, and that's not all that bad. Have a local show you the peep hole in the floor by the north end of the bar, I won't ruin the surprise, but it's one of my favorite spots in Nashville to show off to out of towners. Don't wear your expensive shoes, they're gonna get stepped on or spilled on. Other than that, just go and have some fun!
(3)Cory C.
This is a great bar until it gets late and it fills with loudness.The bartenders are very nice and quick with your drink orders. The problem doesn't seem to be with the saloon itself but more so the clientele of the place I encountered many ridiculously loud college dudes that I could barely talk to my brother but it was a saturday night so I guess it's what to be expected of a college bar. The prices are fair and you get what you pay for. Its a great place to come and have a beer on a nice day When the garage doors are up! So if your looking for a place to have a quiet conversation I would say this isn't the place for you. But if you need a place to go and act ridiculous with some friends then this is perfect for you! And the hole in the floor is cool! Check it out;)
(3)Lilly G.
A Chicago bar in Nashville. The best of everything. One of the only bars we went to that didn't have live music, but they did have a jukebox and a friendly crowd, so no one's complaining.
(3)David M.
Flew in to Nashville for a wedding and everyone decided to meet up here late night. The place was busy for a wednesday, but I'm not sure what the working hours are in an entertainment capital like Nashville. It had a large outdoor patio portion and a good selection of local beers. Great people watching too for a Wednesday night. I'd stop back in just for that and the beer!
(3)Amanda W.
If you hate smelling like an ash tray at the end of the night, avoid going here. Avoid going to any bar on Division if you don't like or care to be around smoke. Otherwise, pretty good bar--always has a decent crowd. It's a typical bar, though. But I don't smoke, so after a night hanging out at Red Door, I woke up the next morning and everything in my room smelled like cigarettes. Find the hole in the floor. And when you do, just go stand by it and you'll get a good laugh at all the drunk girls that will get on all fours just to look through it. Hah!
(3)Tom S.
Really with the smoking! Like going back in time 20 years! It was almost laughable! Gotta be a health hazard to work in a smoke filled room for hours! Why ruin such a cool place? People will still smoke outside! They will still come! Place smells so horrible inside!. It's 2013 get with the program people!
(2)Heather H.
When I walked into this bar, I knew something just felt right. After initially thinking it was just my general love of the macabre, I realized that between the skeletons and skulls adorning the place was Chicago swag! Being originally from Chicagoland, it felt like a little bit of home. Beyond that, the atmosphere in this bar was just cool. As I was here in the summer, I'm sure it wasn't as crazy as it gets when school is in, but the drinks were strong, the staff friendly, and reminders of home everywhere - what more could a girl want?
(4)Jennifer M.
While visiting some friends in Nashville, they brought me to this cool little bar. I enjoyed this place a lot. The crowd was cool and diverse. It wasn't a very big place, but we were able to find seats at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and outgoing. He offered drink suggestions and told us funny little stories. He even gave us a free drink, some concoction of alcohol he said we had to try. In general he really made the evening more entertaining. One funny thing I do recall is every few minutes the bar would shake/ vibrate. We asked the bartender what was happening and he informed us that it was the dishwasher. I thought that was weird but in my eyes it added to the charm of the place. The other cool thing I liked was they had complimentary books of matches which I like to collect.
(4)Mike R.
A funky feel, very Nashville kinda place. I was there on sunday night (2 for 1 drinks, yeah!) so it was quiet in the sunday night kind of way. I've been by on the weekends, and it's always packed, so I appreciated being able to hang out without the crowds and get the feel of the place itself- neon, signs, and piano-keyboard table and all This is a good casual hang, and the perfect place to warm up, relax, and have a couple of good decent drinks before heading across the street to the Patterson House and doing a 180.
(4)Nathan F.
So nice we had to try it twice! So at another bar deciding where to go next we ran into a couple that said we had to come to the Red Door and ask about the hole in the floor. I was intrigued as they wouldn't tell me what was in the hole. They just said to ask someone who worked there where the hole in the floor is. What was down there you ask? Guess you'll have to make the trip to Nashville to see!!! We had been drinking all night and this was our last stop and good thing it was. We didn't know what to order as every bartender in Nashville was the strongest pourer. So we decided to ask the bartender what the house specialty was. She told us of this amazing sounding (notice I said amazing sounding) pineapple drink. Pineapple chunks soaked in vodka for 10 days floating in pineapple vodka. Maybe if I had been sober I would have realized she said "Pineapple chunks soaked in vodka for 10 days floating in pineapple vodka" No pineapple juice, no cranberry juice, just vodka!!! OMG this was the strongest thing ever (see Stacey's review...14 sheets) On the second visit we took it easy and just had a rum & coke, but still crazy strong pours. The staff was super friendly and definitely pleasant on the eyes. Make this a must stop place on your next trip to Nashville, but remember to share the pineapple drinks with your friends
(5)Sean F.
Found this place on a Thursday night after checking into the Embassy Suites right around the corner. Fun, dive-esque sort of place. I was flying solo but I bumped into a crowd of Vanderbilt third-year law students, a fun crowd to hang out with. The bartender was timely and attentive in keeping the drinks full. Coming from California, my only complaint is that smoking is allowed in the bar. I hate choking on smoke and smelling like a cigarette afterward! The patio makes for a good escape to get some fresh air! Lastly, check out the hole in the floor!
(4)Kurt T.
For too long now, the drinkers of the world (myself included) have let the owners of our frequented establishments mislabel, mis-categorize and misrepresent themselves. We, the alcohol loving public no longer know that this "pub" is friendly to our jeans and tshirt repertoire, or if this "tavern" will leave even the fanciest hipster snob wanting with his desire for vegan vodka. Lucky for us Nashvillians, that line stops just short of 18th and Division, because the Red Door Saloon delivers exactly what it promises. Cloaked from head to toe in Chicago gear, this unassuming little house in midtown hides a neighborhood pub that people crusade other neighborhoods to get to. It offers no more amenities than you need or really should want in your local drinkery either. Quite a stash of liquor hides behind the bar accompanied by quite the staff of helpful (and in some cases very easy on the eyes( bartenders, as well as enough craft beer to keep even the snobbiest beer queer happy. (But don't worry, they still keep the PBR tallboys cold for the hipster that you just can't shake) Custom hot dogs, pizza, and sandwiches rule the menu, and get served up hot and quick with chips and slaw and plenty of salty goodness to keep you coming back to the well. And ample patio seating means you smoke haters can keep your dirty looks to a minimum and only exercise your frowns on your trips to the bathroom. But a word of caution... Don't come here if your usual bar requests include Mojitos, Martinis, things that requires 15+ingredients, have a color in the name, or look like an Amazonian jungle. Don't come here looking for quiet conversation or upscale dining. Don't come here for wine and cheese, or because "you didn't know Virago moved and you just CAN'T take a cab again" This is Cheers. This is a saloon. This a place to drink for drinkers who like the taste of drink (and I don't mean coke) This is the place where happy hour gets it's name. Finally, a saloon that is all that it is supposed to be. And really, who needs more?
(4)Lauren S.
I'm from Chicago and this place is covered with Cubs logos so naturally, it makes me happy to have a drink or 2 here. It's like an old house on the inside with a bar down one side. Word of warning though, given the "old house" atmosphere, it does fill up quick and they do watch capacity. (by principle, i dont wait in line to get into a bar so I have had to go to 'plan b' a few times.) It's close to Vandy so the crowd is pretty college-oriented but not so much that I feel like I'm at a frat party. The drink prices seem very fair.
(3)Justin R.
Went to the Red Door last night and its a great bar. If you hate the Cubs or Skeletons, then this is not the place for you. I'm still not sure what the deal is with all the Cubs stuff everywhere, but who cares, the place is cool. I have heard that weekend nights get crazy, but Thursday nights are pretty chill. They serve pickle shots (Zing Zang, Patron and a Pickle). I hear its awesome, but didn't get around to trying it last night. Don't worry, I'll try it next time and let ya'll know how it was. Drinks are pretty cheap and they have a good selection of beers. It was a little smoky, but no enough to give you an asthma attack!
(4)Stacey L.
Liked this place so much we stopped here twice on our epic bar tour of Nashville! Beware the scary pineapple drink that they bill as their "specialty." If you are not already 3 sheets in, you will be at 14 sheets by the end of this drink. Now, as this was the second to last stop on a 8 stop Friday night, I am very glad that we made friends quickly and they were happy to drink the remainder of my drink. Thank you British soccer players for the good conversation! The bathrooms of this place leave a lot to be desired. I hate places that have curtains instead of doors... you just can't get them all the way closed. Both of my two traveling partners had a great time looking through their famous hole... I won't reveal what is lurking in their deep, dark basement! Definitely stop by! I heard that the food was good as well, but didn't try any. Service at the bar was great!
(5)Kate L.
I used to be a regular at this venue, and recently returned for a night cap at the end of a long day. Two words: TOO SMOKY. This place would be great, but the smoke is completely out of control here in the winter. I was not even sure where it was all coming from because I didn't see anyone smoking, but nevertheless, my 60 minute stay left me needing to take my coat immediately to the dry cleaners. The upsides of Red Door are that the drinks are cheap and they make them strong. The patio is a great hang in the summer, and the location is an easy walk from both Demonbreun and the Midtown strip. If you are past the point of noticing details and you need a stiff cocktail before you hop in a cab, check it out.
(2)Lyndi S.
I've been here a couple times, and have never been disappointed. It's a fairly open dive bar, with plenty of young people, ample seating, and bartenders/servers who are attentive, patient and friendly. I noticed that people were smoking, but I couldn't really smell it. My clothes didn't reek when I left, so I thought the place was in pretty good shape overall! Warning: I suggest waiting to attempt their bathrooms after a minimum of two drinks, or ample amounts of hand sanitizer. Don't say I didn't warn you. An added bonus: Find the hole in the floor in the back of the bar, kneel down (fellas, help the ladies in dresses from showin' their goodies), and look inside. I won't tell you what's down there, but it's worth a quick peek! Overall, Red Door Saloon is definitely one of my top bars for a midtown kind of night. And honestly, any bar that will bring me pickle juice with my tequila shots is pretty stellar in my book!
(4)Christopher N.
Love the atmosphere, except, this is truly the most crowded, hard-to-order-a-drink bar on the planet on busy nights.
(4)A B.
This is as perfect a bar/pub as I have come across. Full pour drinks, solid crowd, great music. I'd write more but it's so damn good, there is no point.
(5)Ryan A.
Red Door has nothing that necessarily sets itself apart from other places, but I don't think its trying to. In my mind, its one of the better bars to hang out with friends, drink some cold beers, and listen to some tunes on the jukebox. It has really cool decor in the inside walls/ceilings, with plenty of skeletons, beer signs, and sports signs (mostly Chicago cubs, I'm assuming the owner is from chi town). The walls/ceilings are literally flooded with signs giving the bar plenty of character. They have a good selection of beers on tap, including Rogue Dead Guy, which I like to drink if I'm in the mood to make some bad decisions later in the night (dance like a fool). It has a high alc content, so a few of those and I'm good to go. I also enjoy the shuffleboard, which is fun to play when starting out the night. The outside patio is nice as well, and a good way to get some fresh air. What I don't like about this place is the smoke, the bathrooms, and how crowded it can get at night on weekends. The smoke, like I've said in other reviews, is just nasty. I can't believe Nashville hasn't banned it in bars yet. In regards to the bathrooms, they are pretty gross, no other way to describe that. Overall, it's a good place to start a night, end a night, or in between. I believe it stays within character, and I enjoy that in a bar. The bartenders are good, servers are good to look at :), and that makes things even better. Cheers!
(4)M M.
This place used to be my favorite bar in Nashville, but their new policy on not accepting valid passports as ID is terrible! Not going here anymore!
(2)Heidi G.
GREAT (STRONG) DRINKS & FUN BARTENDERS... I simply found it way too small & crowded for our group of five on a Saturday night.
(3)James B.
This place has a really cool chill atmosphere. Music played here is not what you would expect just judging by the looks of the joint. That makes it all the better. The bartenders are quick and attentive. And great prices! Kudos to Red Door Saloon!!
(5)Kaitlyn K.
The Red Door isn't fancy. As a matter of fact, there are shower curtains for bathroom doors. Not. Fancy. However, it is such a FUN bar, and totally gets the job done. Getting the job done = very generously poured beverages. The food that they serve is typical bar food, but sometimes your tummy wants a little fake cheesy nachos...ya know what I'm sayin? :) When the weather is nice, the patio is amazing. The inside of the bar is fun - I especially dig the wine cork walls. The neighborhood is awesome, too. You're walking distance from Patterson House, Winners, Losers, etc. You CAN smoke in this bar, so if you have allergies, this isn't for you. Big fan.
(4)Megan C.
Ah, the Red Door. What can I say about you? If I visit on a Friday or Saturday night, it's likely standing room only. You can usually meet a colorful cast of characters-various ages, hipster to preppy to sparkly to heavily tatted. The pros: Drinks are stiff and not terribly expensive. Location in the Division area makes it great for hopping. You can play shuffleboard! Hidden skeleton through keyhole on the floor makes for an interesting thing to show your out of town friends. No cover! Patio is nice when the weather is warmer. The cons: A lot of times I just feel like I'm in the way. It's not a big place and it gets crowded. Bring your own crew...I don't feel like it's really conducive to making new friends. Really smoky. You'll need to shower or at the very least Febreeze your hair before bedtime...(no, I haven't done that before...)
(3)Mark H.
No live music which sucked but this is a decent place for a late night beverage.
(3)Sarah M.
Red Door Saloon is one of my favorite bars in Nasvhille. When you go to this bar and order a cocktail, you are given a full cocktail. They don't charge you ten bucks for a cocktail with no alchohol in it: YOU GET A FULL DRINK. The food is good and the service has always been efficient and great. Not to mention there is a pirate's skeleton underneath the floor that can only be seen from the keyhole in the ground. Pretttyy nifty! I like Red Door because you get a laid back crowd. I have met some of Nashville's Elite in this little bar--even though it would not be the place you would expect. They also have a shuffle board which is a huge thing to me now that I am entranced with the world of Curling! The only con is the restrooms--now I speak for the woman's restroom of course, but there is only two stalls and on the weekends, Red Door can get pretty packed. When it is packed, I do not like going there. It tends to be a dive that you stay at -- I have noticed if you are waiting for a table, you could be waiting for hours...people park and stay there till last call...which is cool. It is one of my favorite places to go... and don't forget two for Tuesdays!!! And they have good cheese dip....
(5)Simply S.
I've only ended up at Red Door a few times. It's never my personal choice due to the crowd being an ALL rowdy college aged crowd. Nothing wrong with that ... it's just not my personal choice or my demographic. No one can really ever complain about it being slow. In fact my complaint is the exact opposite. Its packed to the point of standing room only, which makes it VERY difficult to get a drink. That also makes it hard to carry on a conversation with friends. Once you do make your way to the bar. The bartenders are very nice. If you are into the college crowd scene, get there early with your own small group of friends and find your "spot" -- it is okay.
(3)Mike A.
4 stars? Ah hell nah. Drinks are overpriced, even for the neighborhood. True, you get your alcohol in your cocktails, but at what cost my friends? At what cost? And the food, Food? Eh. The only thing this place is good for is shuffleboard, but there's always someone playing or trying to get you to stop playing. The patio is alright I guess, but every bar in a two block radius has a patio so I'm not sure why this is better than the others. The only reason this doesn't get one star is because if you're looking to get laid by a very generic looking "pretty" girl, or a unmemorable looking West Nashville dude with long hair or a nicely gelled abercrombie cut, this will serve thine purposes perfectly. But for all the meat displayed here, I've yet to see many pickups. Mostly people come here from somewhere else with their friends. And don't think I have anything against fratboys either; I gave the Frayed Knot a better review. Also, parking isn't nice, but I don't care much about that either.
(2)Zach G.
Beer. Liquor. Rinse. Repeat.
(4)Montara M.
This place is a Nashville essential. If you're visiting in warm weather, be sure to enjoy the porch, and try drink they make here with the giant piece of liquor-soked pineapple!
(4)Morgan K.
Great place for a cheap beer and to watch a game. Be sure to look in the hole on your first trip.
(3)Robin S.
Red Door is one of those places that my friends and I "always forget about" but absolutely love going. It's not that it is hard to find, or forgettable, but for some reason it's not totally on our beaten path so to speak. Great bar though. Crowd ranges from the biker (motorcycle not Lance Armstrong) to the Vanderbilt prep to the country star (have spotted several here on occasion). For some reason, whenever I go here with friends, we tend to start the experience off with an Irish Car Bomb. I don't really know why, but I will say they are good! It's definitely a bar where beer is the choice drink, although they have a full bar. Bathrooms would be the main reason I don't give Red Door 5 stars. They are clean enough, just tiny and are not sufficient for the crowds that flock to this bar. If you can get past that fact, then definitely put Red Door on your list of bars to visit. Especially in the spring and summer when they open the deck. It's pretty kickin'.
(4)Weston T.
A Chicago bar in Nashville... Interesting. However being from Chicago I found it a bit well un-Chicago. The main reason for the 2 stars is that the "Chicago" dog WAS NOT A CHICAGO DOG. They have it listed as Jumbo beer boiled hotdog topped with spicy mustard, melted cheese, slaw and onion on a steamed bun. WHAT!? Slaw on a Chicago dog? In the north we don't use "slaw". Here is what a Chicago dog consist of... yellow mustard, chopped white onions, sweet pickle relish (often a dyed neon-green variety, sometimes called piccalilli), a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt on a poppy seed bun. Overall everything else was ok good crowd and fun atmosphere. A bit over done with touristy Chicago things though. Oh and heres a freebie the shot of choice by all industry standards in Chicago is Jameson.
(2)Claire B.
I have a soft spot for the original Red Door even though I feel like I fit in better at the East Nashville one. This place has a really cool vibe, and there's a huge covered patio on the front with some small "tables" (really they are beer barrels with tops) and some long benchlike tables. It gets pretty packed out there in the summer and it's a good varied crowd of people. In the winter, the crowd always keeps things warm and interesting inside. It's a cozy place and even though it's one of Nashville's cool hangouts, it still manages to keep a friendly dive-bar atmosphere. It's difficult to describe the allure of Red Door. It's a dive bar that girls wear their heels and party frocks to. How weird is that?
(4)Double L.
This is a bada$$ bar. Good mix of people. I was there during this summer so not to sure what it is like when Vanderbilt is in. Sunday night has a great drink special. 2 for 1. They have a great beer selection and a nice juke box. A cool outdoor area and it looked like they make sandwiches. Bartenders were both really nice and although she didn't know how to pronounce "Tecate" and tried to tell me they didn't carry it even though I could see it in the fridge I still dig the place. I had a Model-o, anyway. RrL
(4)jamie z.
I stopped in here last night at my girlfriends request. I wasn't a fan of the red door east, so i pretty much figured this would be a similar experience. I was wrong. As soon as i walked in i liked it. It definitely had a divey feel which i always love. I also liked the decor, it was very day of the dead, or "El Da de los Muertos" with all the figured, and skulls... the bartender was super sweet. She was quick with drink orders, and when we asked her about good bars that let you bring your dog, she didn't know, but checked with multiple friends via text to find out for us which was pretty awesome of her to go out of her way! The drinks are cheap, we had happy hour so that was perfect. Also they have shuffleboard! Its a personal favorite of mine.. addicting game that goes well with a few drinks. If i have to head out to west end, then at least i know there is a bar that isn't too loud or over crowded...
(5)cal w.
I usually wind up there on Sunday nights. They have the best prices on Jameson and water. They also pour them nicely!!
(3)Ellen F.
I'm not sure why, but a trip to Nashville isn't complete without a trip to the Red Door. Maybe its because of the interesting "house-becomes-bar" aesthetic, or the biker/skeleton theme that subtley lurks beneath the sometimes fratty exterior...but really I think its just those pineapple martinis. Literally, drink one and you're good for a while. Drink two and you're not so good for a while. Its not the sweet, sweet liquid that gets you...its the HUGE pineapple chunk soaked in everclear. Enjoy!
(4)Mariela C.
I know my review is going to disturb many of the Red Door fanatics but I just don't love the place. I think the décor is great, the bartenders are usually mildly friendly, but something is lacking. If you are looking for the vandy/Nashville professionals crowd, this is a great place to come and have some drinks. However, I find the place generally too crowded and smoky for my liking. I do however love the interior of red door, I wouldn't call it homey, but it's definitely different and aesthetically pleasing! I have also had some interesting drinks there, but again, it's not my favorite.
(3)Ben G.
Red Door is one of my favorite bars around campus on the west side. It's a local watering hole that gets a fairly diverse crowd from students, young professionals, to even an older crowd. The bar has a lot of character and is definitely not pretentious or annoying. They have good drinks, a great happy hour, 2 for 1 until 6, and they are one of the only places left with a shuffle board table, which is pretty amazing. They also have a covered and open patio and a good selection of seats inside as well. Its not very expensive for that area as well, but can get a little smoky, even though their ventilation works out okay. Just a chill place to go after work for a drink that won't break the bank.
(4)JD C.
I don't get the appeal of this place. I like to get drunk as much as the next guy, but Red Door is pretty terrible when it comes to atmosphere, service, and clientele. I went to college in a Big Ten college town, and bars like these were the norm.... At Vandy this is really the only place of its kind so it makes sense that its always packed. It's sort of a bizarro college bar experience, where the bros wear Dockers, tucked in Gant polo shirts, and have sunglasses on their head complete with neck strap; its kind of like being at an afterparty for a Kohl's ad photo shoot. The beer, if you're able to fight your way to the bar to get one, can be cheap if you like crappy beer or way overpriced if you like good beer (of which they have a few). Unfortunately, if you live in Nashville you will inevitably end up here at some point, likely because its one of your friends' favorite places to go. It may be enough to make you re-evaluate those you consider friends...
(2)Patrick M.
2 for 1 on a Sunday even with a blackhawks game on, you can't go wrong. If your a Chicago fan this is a place to go, unfortunately they don't put the sound on.
(4)James T.
Being a Chicagoan visiting Nashville, I thought it might be a cool place to catch the white sox game the other night. Nope...cubs bar. As a staunch cub hater, I can somewhat appreciate, but that seemed to effect the level of service at the bar. A+ on the ventilation as it was a smoking establishment. Beer prices were reasonable. I may have just been expecting more. I'll give it a go next winter when down for a predator game.
(3)Jason S.
It will smell of smoke, it will be a diverse clientele, and you will get no frills. While you are there, you will wonder why the hell you chose to do this, and remember that "The Patterson House" is right down the street. What are you doing here? Did this seem like a good idea at the time? You have made a terrible mistake. But guess what, pal? Buck up and man up through this one. You're going to have to ride it out. Because that leather chick over there is old enough to be your mom but could still beat your ass if you show a moment's weakness. And what the hell are you doing on Yelp? That's a sure way to get yourself killed in here. Stay cool, act naturally, we're going to get through this together. (extra stars added to not get killed)
(3)Jim V.
Not a fan of this midtown establishment. Look for the skeleton in the hole in the floor board. This place is extremely small for the amount of people they try and pack in there. I don't understand the theme either. This place good definitely be on the show bar rescue just for the host, johns advice in bar science haha. But in all seriousness it is hard to get a drink. Other spots in midtown are better
(2)Paul K.
It was my 6th visit to the place. It was sometime after the Yelp/Toyota event and we'd been hopping from bar to Rebar to bar and ended up at The Red Door. Every time I've ever been to the 'Door it's been a fight... a fight to get to the bar, a fight to find a place to stand, and a fight to get to the bathroom. In other words, it's not usually a place I've managed to enjoy. This was different. I finally had a taste of what the place was without the 300 people crammed into a space designed for 80. I'm not entirely sure why this place is so popular, not trying to dis it, I just don't get it. Perhaps it's the bar staff, they were friendly. Perhaps it's a bunch of cliques that get together and descend upon the place, I don't know, the other patrons have always looked about as annoyed as I usually am when I go to the place. The prices are so so, the atmosphere is on the good side of meh, and the bathrooms are a pit from hell that has opened on Earth, so there's got to be something I'm missing as it's also not convenient and parking is a pain. Not saying the other reviews are false, but the crowd that I didn't personally bring was not solid, the music was only ok, the drinks were average, the strangers were not sociable, and that's been every experience I've had here. Don't get me wrong, it's an ok bar, I am just failing to get the wow factor of it.
(3)Janette W.
Man, did I feel old here! We walked in here on a whim and were immediately confronted with the youth! We battled through the crowd to grab a drink and I was impressed with the stiffness of my jack and coke. It's easy to find a quiet corner here if that's what you're looking for or a loud crowd.
(3)Heidi S.
This used to be one of my favorite places to go on a Saturday night in my late 20s when I was single. That is definitely the type of crowd you will find there on the weekend nights. Now, if I go it is usually on Sunday afternoon with a group of friends for Sunday Funday since they do 2-4-1 all day there. I love the recent renovation/expansion they did and that they finally put real stall doors on the bathrooms instead of the old shower curtains they used to have. The bartenders are great. My only complaint would be that it can tend to be a little too smokey at times. I am looking forward to being able to hang on the expanded patio in the warmer months and I might update my review then.
(3)Allison B.
Oh Red Door you always do me wrong. Some of my friends refer to you as Church, I refer to you as the Devils Lair. Church comes from the fact that Sunday they have 2 for 1 beer and double pour well drinks. What starts out as a Sunday funday quickly ends in headache. I always have a great time while I'm there but I pay for it later. I always seem to end up here after I've been somewhere else. Just like Marcia, I don't ever start out at Red Door, in fact many nights start with the phrase "lets not end up at Red Door." Red Door can be really packed on the the weekends with the douchey frat boys and sorostitues that plague midtown. If you can get past that, the service is always great, the drinks are strong and the shots are enormous. Smoking is allowed inside so if that bothers you, don't go. I think the drink prices are fair. I usually go for their pineapple infused vodka. Its super yummy and strong. They also have food. I have tried their hot dog and it was pretty good. But, I go to Red Door to drink, not eat. There are just some times when you need something to soak up the alcohol that led you to Red Door.
(3)Ashwin M.
The all new and expanded patio is like smoking a bowl. Everything is suddenly everywhere. True to the American tradition of doing things, Red Door is now bigger, larger, wider, longer, and ...cooler!
(4)Michael H.
I was puzzled by all the Chicago sports memorabilia thinking this was a play towards us Chicagoans in town for the Bears game. Turns out that its a Chicago bar in the middle of Nashville. Felt a bit like a bar you'd encounter in New Orleans with all the character. Putting aside that Red Door is behind an Embassy Suites in a parking lot, it was a good start to our weekend. Amazed by how many people smoked here with ashtrays everywhere. Nice deck for people watching.
(4)Jasmine K.
I went to Red Door on a whim, I was on a girls trip from Columbus, OH and the bar was within walking distance of my hotel. It was Superbowl Sunday and the game was on; the bartenders were really cool and the beers were nice and cold. The bartenders gave us a free shot with our first round and later gave us bottle coozies with the bar logo. I would go back in a heartbeat, it was a cool local bar that didn't mind having some out of towners bellied up to the bar. Awesome prices 2 for 1 beers and well drinks. Only reason 4 stars instead of 5 is that they allow indoor smoking (but, it was ventilated REALLY well, my clothes didn't even stink)
(4)Marcia M.
When I do end up here...it is at the end of a booze soaked evening but never as a starting point. Most people don't make the best choices after getting intoxicated... This place is a lot of fun if you come with your own group or "posse" but I would never come here without a couple of partners in crime. The crowd has always been in the "college age" demographic when I have visited...so I don't really have much interest there. I can't deny that fun evenings can be had but this just wouldn't be my first choice. On the flipside,the bartenders have always been great and I think that the drink prices are fair. That's all I got.
(3)Nate L.
This bar is a gift that keeps in giving. I have always enjoyed it. All the way from the doorman to the bartenders. This place makes for a great Saturday night. Ronnie is the epitome of a service industry expert who goes above and beyond for the patrons
(5)Jill R.
Sometimes I get the hankering to return to my college days. Sometimes it seems like a perfectly fine idea to smash into this bar on a Saturday night and relive the crushing flow of humanity I normally only tolerate on a southbound 4 train after a Yankees game. Sometimes I fancy myself a biker chick but also enjoy the relative safety of a midtown Nashville bar filled with other 20 somethings also pretending that they are tough. In those instances, Red Door is just great. Considering the tides of frat boys and infantry officers that this bar normally hosts, I've never had to wait that long for a drink. You're not getting master mixology here, you're getting loud music and laughs, and that's not all that bad. Have a local show you the peep hole in the floor by the north end of the bar, I won't ruin the surprise, but it's one of my favorite spots in Nashville to show off to out of towners. Don't wear your expensive shoes, they're gonna get stepped on or spilled on. Other than that, just go and have some fun!
(3)Cory C.
This is a great bar until it gets late and it fills with loudness.The bartenders are very nice and quick with your drink orders. The problem doesn't seem to be with the saloon itself but more so the clientele of the place I encountered many ridiculously loud college dudes that I could barely talk to my brother but it was a saturday night so I guess it's what to be expected of a college bar. The prices are fair and you get what you pay for. Its a great place to come and have a beer on a nice day When the garage doors are up! So if your looking for a place to have a quiet conversation I would say this isn't the place for you. But if you need a place to go and act ridiculous with some friends then this is perfect for you! And the hole in the floor is cool! Check it out;)
(3)Lilly G.
A Chicago bar in Nashville. The best of everything. One of the only bars we went to that didn't have live music, but they did have a jukebox and a friendly crowd, so no one's complaining.
(3)David M.
Flew in to Nashville for a wedding and everyone decided to meet up here late night. The place was busy for a wednesday, but I'm not sure what the working hours are in an entertainment capital like Nashville. It had a large outdoor patio portion and a good selection of local beers. Great people watching too for a Wednesday night. I'd stop back in just for that and the beer!
(3)Amanda W.
If you hate smelling like an ash tray at the end of the night, avoid going here. Avoid going to any bar on Division if you don't like or care to be around smoke. Otherwise, pretty good bar--always has a decent crowd. It's a typical bar, though. But I don't smoke, so after a night hanging out at Red Door, I woke up the next morning and everything in my room smelled like cigarettes. Find the hole in the floor. And when you do, just go stand by it and you'll get a good laugh at all the drunk girls that will get on all fours just to look through it. Hah!
(3)Tom S.
Really with the smoking! Like going back in time 20 years! It was almost laughable! Gotta be a health hazard to work in a smoke filled room for hours! Why ruin such a cool place? People will still smoke outside! They will still come! Place smells so horrible inside!. It's 2013 get with the program people!
(2)Jennifer M.
While visiting some friends in Nashville, they brought me to this cool little bar. I enjoyed this place a lot. The crowd was cool and diverse. It wasn't a very big place, but we were able to find seats at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and outgoing. He offered drink suggestions and told us funny little stories. He even gave us a free drink, some concoction of alcohol he said we had to try. In general he really made the evening more entertaining. One funny thing I do recall is every few minutes the bar would shake/ vibrate. We asked the bartender what was happening and he informed us that it was the dishwasher. I thought that was weird but in my eyes it added to the charm of the place. The other cool thing I liked was they had complimentary books of matches which I like to collect.
(4)Heather H.
When I walked into this bar, I knew something just felt right. After initially thinking it was just my general love of the macabre, I realized that between the skeletons and skulls adorning the place was Chicago swag! Being originally from Chicagoland, it felt like a little bit of home. Beyond that, the atmosphere in this bar was just cool. As I was here in the summer, I'm sure it wasn't as crazy as it gets when school is in, but the drinks were strong, the staff friendly, and reminders of home everywhere - what more could a girl want?
(4)Mike R.
A funky feel, very Nashville kinda place. I was there on sunday night (2 for 1 drinks, yeah!) so it was quiet in the sunday night kind of way. I've been by on the weekends, and it's always packed, so I appreciated being able to hang out without the crowds and get the feel of the place itself- neon, signs, and piano-keyboard table and all This is a good casual hang, and the perfect place to warm up, relax, and have a couple of good decent drinks before heading across the street to the Patterson House and doing a 180.
(4)Nathan F.
So nice we had to try it twice! So at another bar deciding where to go next we ran into a couple that said we had to come to the Red Door and ask about the hole in the floor. I was intrigued as they wouldn't tell me what was in the hole. They just said to ask someone who worked there where the hole in the floor is. What was down there you ask? Guess you'll have to make the trip to Nashville to see!!! We had been drinking all night and this was our last stop and good thing it was. We didn't know what to order as every bartender in Nashville was the strongest pourer. So we decided to ask the bartender what the house specialty was. She told us of this amazing sounding (notice I said amazing sounding) pineapple drink. Pineapple chunks soaked in vodka for 10 days floating in pineapple vodka. Maybe if I had been sober I would have realized she said "Pineapple chunks soaked in vodka for 10 days floating in pineapple vodka" No pineapple juice, no cranberry juice, just vodka!!! OMG this was the strongest thing ever (see Stacey's review...14 sheets) On the second visit we took it easy and just had a rum & coke, but still crazy strong pours. The staff was super friendly and definitely pleasant on the eyes. Make this a must stop place on your next trip to Nashville, but remember to share the pineapple drinks with your friends
(5)Lauren S.
I'm from Chicago and this place is covered with Cubs logos so naturally, it makes me happy to have a drink or 2 here. It's like an old house on the inside with a bar down one side. Word of warning though, given the "old house" atmosphere, it does fill up quick and they do watch capacity. (by principle, i dont wait in line to get into a bar so I have had to go to 'plan b' a few times.) It's close to Vandy so the crowd is pretty college-oriented but not so much that I feel like I'm at a frat party. The drink prices seem very fair.
(3)Kurt T.
For too long now, the drinkers of the world (myself included) have let the owners of our frequented establishments mislabel, mis-categorize and misrepresent themselves. We, the alcohol loving public no longer know that this "pub" is friendly to our jeans and tshirt repertoire, or if this "tavern" will leave even the fanciest hipster snob wanting with his desire for vegan vodka. Lucky for us Nashvillians, that line stops just short of 18th and Division, because the Red Door Saloon delivers exactly what it promises. Cloaked from head to toe in Chicago gear, this unassuming little house in midtown hides a neighborhood pub that people crusade other neighborhoods to get to. It offers no more amenities than you need or really should want in your local drinkery either. Quite a stash of liquor hides behind the bar accompanied by quite the staff of helpful (and in some cases very easy on the eyes( bartenders, as well as enough craft beer to keep even the snobbiest beer queer happy. (But don't worry, they still keep the PBR tallboys cold for the hipster that you just can't shake) Custom hot dogs, pizza, and sandwiches rule the menu, and get served up hot and quick with chips and slaw and plenty of salty goodness to keep you coming back to the well. And ample patio seating means you smoke haters can keep your dirty looks to a minimum and only exercise your frowns on your trips to the bathroom. But a word of caution... Don't come here if your usual bar requests include Mojitos, Martinis, things that requires 15+ingredients, have a color in the name, or look like an Amazonian jungle. Don't come here looking for quiet conversation or upscale dining. Don't come here for wine and cheese, or because "you didn't know Virago moved and you just CAN'T take a cab again" This is Cheers. This is a saloon. This a place to drink for drinkers who like the taste of drink (and I don't mean coke) This is the place where happy hour gets it's name. Finally, a saloon that is all that it is supposed to be. And really, who needs more?
(4)Justin R.
Went to the Red Door last night and its a great bar. If you hate the Cubs or Skeletons, then this is not the place for you. I'm still not sure what the deal is with all the Cubs stuff everywhere, but who cares, the place is cool. I have heard that weekend nights get crazy, but Thursday nights are pretty chill. They serve pickle shots (Zing Zang, Patron and a Pickle). I hear its awesome, but didn't get around to trying it last night. Don't worry, I'll try it next time and let ya'll know how it was. Drinks are pretty cheap and they have a good selection of beers. It was a little smoky, but no enough to give you an asthma attack!
(4)Stacey L.
Liked this place so much we stopped here twice on our epic bar tour of Nashville! Beware the scary pineapple drink that they bill as their "specialty." If you are not already 3 sheets in, you will be at 14 sheets by the end of this drink. Now, as this was the second to last stop on a 8 stop Friday night, I am very glad that we made friends quickly and they were happy to drink the remainder of my drink. Thank you British soccer players for the good conversation! The bathrooms of this place leave a lot to be desired. I hate places that have curtains instead of doors... you just can't get them all the way closed. Both of my two traveling partners had a great time looking through their famous hole... I won't reveal what is lurking in their deep, dark basement! Definitely stop by! I heard that the food was good as well, but didn't try any. Service at the bar was great!
(5)Kate L.
I used to be a regular at this venue, and recently returned for a night cap at the end of a long day. Two words: TOO SMOKY. This place would be great, but the smoke is completely out of control here in the winter. I was not even sure where it was all coming from because I didn't see anyone smoking, but nevertheless, my 60 minute stay left me needing to take my coat immediately to the dry cleaners. The upsides of Red Door are that the drinks are cheap and they make them strong. The patio is a great hang in the summer, and the location is an easy walk from both Demonbreun and the Midtown strip. If you are past the point of noticing details and you need a stiff cocktail before you hop in a cab, check it out.
(2)Lyndi S.
I've been here a couple times, and have never been disappointed. It's a fairly open dive bar, with plenty of young people, ample seating, and bartenders/servers who are attentive, patient and friendly. I noticed that people were smoking, but I couldn't really smell it. My clothes didn't reek when I left, so I thought the place was in pretty good shape overall! Warning: I suggest waiting to attempt their bathrooms after a minimum of two drinks, or ample amounts of hand sanitizer. Don't say I didn't warn you. An added bonus: Find the hole in the floor in the back of the bar, kneel down (fellas, help the ladies in dresses from showin' their goodies), and look inside. I won't tell you what's down there, but it's worth a quick peek! Overall, Red Door Saloon is definitely one of my top bars for a midtown kind of night. And honestly, any bar that will bring me pickle juice with my tequila shots is pretty stellar in my book!
(4)Christopher N.
Love the atmosphere, except, this is truly the most crowded, hard-to-order-a-drink bar on the planet on busy nights.
(4)A B.
This is as perfect a bar/pub as I have come across. Full pour drinks, solid crowd, great music. I'd write more but it's so damn good, there is no point.
(5)Ryan A.
Red Door has nothing that necessarily sets itself apart from other places, but I don't think its trying to. In my mind, its one of the better bars to hang out with friends, drink some cold beers, and listen to some tunes on the jukebox. It has really cool decor in the inside walls/ceilings, with plenty of skeletons, beer signs, and sports signs (mostly Chicago cubs, I'm assuming the owner is from chi town). The walls/ceilings are literally flooded with signs giving the bar plenty of character. They have a good selection of beers on tap, including Rogue Dead Guy, which I like to drink if I'm in the mood to make some bad decisions later in the night (dance like a fool). It has a high alc content, so a few of those and I'm good to go. I also enjoy the shuffleboard, which is fun to play when starting out the night. The outside patio is nice as well, and a good way to get some fresh air. What I don't like about this place is the smoke, the bathrooms, and how crowded it can get at night on weekends. The smoke, like I've said in other reviews, is just nasty. I can't believe Nashville hasn't banned it in bars yet. In regards to the bathrooms, they are pretty gross, no other way to describe that. Overall, it's a good place to start a night, end a night, or in between. I believe it stays within character, and I enjoy that in a bar. The bartenders are good, servers are good to look at :), and that makes things even better. Cheers!
(4)Heidi G.
GREAT (STRONG) DRINKS & FUN BARTENDERS... I simply found it way too small & crowded for our group of five on a Saturday night.
(3)M M.
This place used to be my favorite bar in Nashville, but their new policy on not accepting valid passports as ID is terrible! Not going here anymore!
(2)James B.
This place has a really cool chill atmosphere. Music played here is not what you would expect just judging by the looks of the joint. That makes it all the better. The bartenders are quick and attentive. And great prices! Kudos to Red Door Saloon!!
(5)Kaitlyn K.
The Red Door isn't fancy. As a matter of fact, there are shower curtains for bathroom doors. Not. Fancy. However, it is such a FUN bar, and totally gets the job done. Getting the job done = very generously poured beverages. The food that they serve is typical bar food, but sometimes your tummy wants a little fake cheesy nachos...ya know what I'm sayin? :) When the weather is nice, the patio is amazing. The inside of the bar is fun - I especially dig the wine cork walls. The neighborhood is awesome, too. You're walking distance from Patterson House, Winners, Losers, etc. You CAN smoke in this bar, so if you have allergies, this isn't for you. Big fan.
(4)Megan C.
Ah, the Red Door. What can I say about you? If I visit on a Friday or Saturday night, it's likely standing room only. You can usually meet a colorful cast of characters-various ages, hipster to preppy to sparkly to heavily tatted. The pros: Drinks are stiff and not terribly expensive. Location in the Division area makes it great for hopping. You can play shuffleboard! Hidden skeleton through keyhole on the floor makes for an interesting thing to show your out of town friends. No cover! Patio is nice when the weather is warmer. The cons: A lot of times I just feel like I'm in the way. It's not a big place and it gets crowded. Bring your own crew...I don't feel like it's really conducive to making new friends. Really smoky. You'll need to shower or at the very least Febreeze your hair before bedtime...(no, I haven't done that before...)
(3)Mark H.
No live music which sucked but this is a decent place for a late night beverage.
(3)Chesterfield L.
Just a great place to grab a damn beer. Love the Happy hour and wish I could find a place up north like it!
(5)Mariela C.
I know my review is going to disturb many of the Red Door fanatics but I just don't love the place. I think the décor is great, the bartenders are usually mildly friendly, but something is lacking. If you are looking for the vandy/Nashville professionals crowd, this is a great place to come and have some drinks. However, I find the place generally too crowded and smoky for my liking. I do however love the interior of red door, I wouldn't call it homey, but it's definitely different and aesthetically pleasing! I have also had some interesting drinks there, but again, it's not my favorite.
(3)Sarah M.
Red Door Saloon is one of my favorite bars in Nasvhille. When you go to this bar and order a cocktail, you are given a full cocktail. They don't charge you ten bucks for a cocktail with no alchohol in it: YOU GET A FULL DRINK. The food is good and the service has always been efficient and great. Not to mention there is a pirate's skeleton underneath the floor that can only be seen from the keyhole in the ground. Pretttyy nifty! I like Red Door because you get a laid back crowd. I have met some of Nashville's Elite in this little bar--even though it would not be the place you would expect. They also have a shuffle board which is a huge thing to me now that I am entranced with the world of Curling! The only con is the restrooms--now I speak for the woman's restroom of course, but there is only two stalls and on the weekends, Red Door can get pretty packed. When it is packed, I do not like going there. It tends to be a dive that you stay at -- I have noticed if you are waiting for a table, you could be waiting for hours...people park and stay there till last call...which is cool. It is one of my favorite places to go... and don't forget two for Tuesdays!!! And they have good cheese dip....
(5)Simply S.
I've only ended up at Red Door a few times. It's never my personal choice due to the crowd being an ALL rowdy college aged crowd. Nothing wrong with that ... it's just not my personal choice or my demographic. No one can really ever complain about it being slow. In fact my complaint is the exact opposite. Its packed to the point of standing room only, which makes it VERY difficult to get a drink. That also makes it hard to carry on a conversation with friends. Once you do make your way to the bar. The bartenders are very nice. If you are into the college crowd scene, get there early with your own small group of friends and find your "spot" -- it is okay.
(3)Mike A.
4 stars? Ah hell nah. Drinks are overpriced, even for the neighborhood. True, you get your alcohol in your cocktails, but at what cost my friends? At what cost? And the food, Food? Eh. The only thing this place is good for is shuffleboard, but there's always someone playing or trying to get you to stop playing. The patio is alright I guess, but every bar in a two block radius has a patio so I'm not sure why this is better than the others. The only reason this doesn't get one star is because if you're looking to get laid by a very generic looking "pretty" girl, or a unmemorable looking West Nashville dude with long hair or a nicely gelled abercrombie cut, this will serve thine purposes perfectly. But for all the meat displayed here, I've yet to see many pickups. Mostly people come here from somewhere else with their friends. And don't think I have anything against fratboys either; I gave the Frayed Knot a better review. Also, parking isn't nice, but I don't care much about that either.
(2)Zach G.
Beer. Liquor. Rinse. Repeat.
(4)Montara M.
This place is a Nashville essential. If you're visiting in warm weather, be sure to enjoy the porch, and try drink they make here with the giant piece of liquor-soked pineapple!
(4)Morgan K.
Great place for a cheap beer and to watch a game. Be sure to look in the hole on your first trip.
(3)Robin S.
Red Door is one of those places that my friends and I "always forget about" but absolutely love going. It's not that it is hard to find, or forgettable, but for some reason it's not totally on our beaten path so to speak. Great bar though. Crowd ranges from the biker (motorcycle not Lance Armstrong) to the Vanderbilt prep to the country star (have spotted several here on occasion). For some reason, whenever I go here with friends, we tend to start the experience off with an Irish Car Bomb. I don't really know why, but I will say they are good! It's definitely a bar where beer is the choice drink, although they have a full bar. Bathrooms would be the main reason I don't give Red Door 5 stars. They are clean enough, just tiny and are not sufficient for the crowds that flock to this bar. If you can get past that fact, then definitely put Red Door on your list of bars to visit. Especially in the spring and summer when they open the deck. It's pretty kickin'.
(4)Weston T.
A Chicago bar in Nashville... Interesting. However being from Chicago I found it a bit well un-Chicago. The main reason for the 2 stars is that the "Chicago" dog WAS NOT A CHICAGO DOG. They have it listed as Jumbo beer boiled hotdog topped with spicy mustard, melted cheese, slaw and onion on a steamed bun. WHAT!? Slaw on a Chicago dog? In the north we don't use "slaw". Here is what a Chicago dog consist of... yellow mustard, chopped white onions, sweet pickle relish (often a dyed neon-green variety, sometimes called piccalilli), a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt on a poppy seed bun. Overall everything else was ok good crowd and fun atmosphere. A bit over done with touristy Chicago things though. Oh and heres a freebie the shot of choice by all industry standards in Chicago is Jameson.
(2)Nickie G.
Sometimes I walk in a bar and I know immediately that I would totally frequent the place if only I lived nearby. The Red Door Saloon is one of those places. First thing you notice when you come in is the big patio out front...they had it enclosed since it is winter but I imagine it is a fun place to hang out in the summer. Inside there are nooks and crannies like an old house and it is decorated in skulls, crossbones, and Cubs memorabilia. I know, random. They have TVs so you can watch the game, a long bar, and a table shaped like a baby grand piano (complete with keys painted on it). That's where I sat of course!! The waitress got off to a little of a slow service start, but then she picked it up and was awesome. We had some pizza and it was nothing special, like frozen pizza or something. They also have a large selection of hot dogs and brats and steamed sandwiches. I have the feeling though this is not really the place to go for food, it is the place to drink a lot. The crowd was all over the board but as it got later I saw more people in there that seemed like the typical people I avoid in Uptown Dallas, but not so many that I wouldn't hang out there. The bathrooms...I found it hilarious that the mirror above the sink was so high I couldn't even see the top of my head in it. And the curtains for doors are kind of annoying. But overall the bar was awesome and I will be back next time I am in town. And I did look in the hole. Fun!
(4)Kyla A.
I so much prefer the East Nashville location of the Red Door, but this location is still pretty good considering the other options in the area. The main issue with Red Door West is the layout is a bit cramped and convoluted. When it's crowded, and it often is, it's hard to move around and find somewhere to land, especially when you're with a larger group. The crowd is very different here than at the other location as well. It's a lot of young professionals and the like. One thing I do prefer about this location is that they have more of the fruit infusions available. Red Door East just has the vodka pineapple mix, but West offers a few more varieties including a whiskey cherry infusion of which I am quite fond. They also have waiter service at this location which is almost entirely non-existent across town.
(3)Mark M.
Its a staple. Weekends are busy but so is every other place.
(5)Courtney B.
Surprisingly even though I live closer to this location than the one in East Nashville, I don't like it as much even though I gave them both the same rating. The staff are as friendly and efficient here as at the other location, but for some reason the crowd just isn't as cool. I guess that's just the difference between an East Nash and Midtown location. You get a lot more vandy kids and 'hey look at me i'm in the music business types' here but thats due to its proximity to both Vanderbilt and Music Row. Its a small, cozy bar and a great place to unwind with a drink. Unless you go on the weekends when it is so ridiculously packed it'll take you more time to get up to the bar than it will to actually get a drink. You can find Red Door on Division Street just a couple blocks from Broadway Brewhouse. The building is an old house and is so unassuming that you'd probably drive right past it several times if you weren't looking for it. There's no parking lot so have fun finding a spot on the street. Oh and don't forget to look in the hole in the floor....
(3)Sean F.
Found this place on a Thursday night after checking into the Embassy Suites right around the corner. Fun, dive-esque sort of place. I was flying solo but I bumped into a crowd of Vanderbilt third-year law students, a fun crowd to hang out with. The bartender was timely and attentive in keeping the drinks full. Coming from California, my only complaint is that smoking is allowed in the bar. I hate choking on smoke and smelling like a cigarette afterward! The patio makes for a good escape to get some fresh air! Lastly, check out the hole in the floor!
(4)Dustin S.
GREAT ENVIROMENT GOOD DRINK SPECIALS YOUNG CROWD FRAT BOYS AND SORITY GIRLS GOOD TIMES Awesome place for a group of people. College bar with a lot of frat kids and sorority girls but always fun. The place has a lot of history and is very original. Great place for locals or if you want a place to go with friends. I wouldn't recommend going alone or if you want to really party, but highly recommend for just a bar. 2 for 1 all week before 12 On my friends 21st birthday they wouldn't let her in, although she is now 21 they refused her because the ID also expired on her birthday which i thought was rediculous, they could have let that slide with such an occasion. Had no problems anywhere else.
(3)Declan G.
The Red Door is probably my favorite of the bars I've been to in Nashville. It's in an old house, so it feels kind of cozy, with two old-fashioned molded fireplaces and huge mirrors in heavy frames. The ceiling is covered with tin sign beer ads, there's a good-sized wooden deck out front, and a digital jukebox near the door. But I think the best parts of the Red Door are the good selection of draft beer (including $3 Yuenglings) and the Marilyn Monroe-themed room cork room, whose walls are completely covered with wine corks (I'd like who had the patience for that). My only complaints about the Red Door: the curtained stalls in the women's restroom are pretty unpleasant, and I think the bras hanging on the pirate paraphernalia above the bar are kind of tacky. Otherwise, it's pretty idea: the bartenders are down to earth, and the door guy was unusually friendly. The Red Door is pretty popular, but fortunately the space is divided up enough that the crowd doesn't get overwhelming. They serve pizza and other bar food until 1 am.
(5)Nonie N.
walked into this place on a whim during a two for one on all drinks special hour. it was AWESOME. it only gets minus one star for the bathroom, which was clean, but very small and one of the doors wouldn't lock. other than that, great music, great crowd, great area in east nashville. truly one of the highlights of my trip to the city.
(4)Katherine M.
Red Door is just a great local watering hole. It is a typical college town bar - loud, crowded, a bit dirty, but the drinks are cheap and strong! The bartenders are very nice and are truly having fun. Ask them to come up with a fun concoction for you and your chums (but beware) and they'll be happy to pour it up! If you're looking for a fun spot out on the town, this is a good choice. Red Door has plenty of seats, high-top tables, and a great patio. Again, it gets crowded, but that's part of it! Challenge your friends to a game of air hockey on the table outside. A great place to just chill. I have never had to wait long for a drink here. The waitstaff is always walking around making sure their customer's are happy and their drinks are full! You can get any and every type of beer here, and the drinks are mixed perfectly. Hurry to Red Door and know you're in for a fun, laid back night.
(4)Caitlin D.
A great spot to take it easy and enjoy interesting company. My friend had a little too much fun sitting on a stool in front of the dishwasher, and the bartender laughed that he had heard that before. Good beer, the place is just dingy enough to be comfortable if you want to avoid the pretentious hotspots. Bring your eyepatch, you'll fit right in with the decor.
(4)Peter K.
Let's get one thing out of the way; this is a singles college bar, no questions about it. This place gets packed and VERY HOT over the summer. You'll notice lots of sports memorabilia from Chicago adorned all over the walls; I believe the owner is from the windy city? Back to the drinks, you must try the root beer float shot and have a drink made with the soaked pineapples. If you're feeling like you have large bollocks, try some of the soaked cherries.
(3)Claire B.
I have a soft spot for the original Red Door even though I feel like I fit in better at the East Nashville one. This place has a really cool vibe, and there's a huge covered patio on the front with some small "tables" (really they are beer barrels with tops) and some long benchlike tables. It gets pretty packed out there in the summer and it's a good varied crowd of people. In the winter, the crowd always keeps things warm and interesting inside. It's a cozy place and even though it's one of Nashville's cool hangouts, it still manages to keep a friendly dive-bar atmosphere. It's difficult to describe the allure of Red Door. It's a dive bar that girls wear their heels and party frocks to. How weird is that?
(4)Double L.
This is a bada$$ bar. Good mix of people. I was there during this summer so not to sure what it is like when Vanderbilt is in. Sunday night has a great drink special. 2 for 1. They have a great beer selection and a nice juke box. A cool outdoor area and it looked like they make sandwiches. Bartenders were both really nice and although she didn't know how to pronounce "Tecate" and tried to tell me they didn't carry it even though I could see it in the fridge I still dig the place. I had a Model-o, anyway. RrL
(4)jamie z.
I stopped in here last night at my girlfriends request. I wasn't a fan of the red door east, so i pretty much figured this would be a similar experience. I was wrong. As soon as i walked in i liked it. It definitely had a divey feel which i always love. I also liked the decor, it was very day of the dead, or "El Da de los Muertos" with all the figured, and skulls... the bartender was super sweet. She was quick with drink orders, and when we asked her about good bars that let you bring your dog, she didn't know, but checked with multiple friends via text to find out for us which was pretty awesome of her to go out of her way! The drinks are cheap, we had happy hour so that was perfect. Also they have shuffleboard! Its a personal favorite of mine.. addicting game that goes well with a few drinks. If i have to head out to west end, then at least i know there is a bar that isn't too loud or over crowded...
(5)cal w.
I usually wind up there on Sunday nights. They have the best prices on Jameson and water. They also pour them nicely!!
(3)Ellen F.
I'm not sure why, but a trip to Nashville isn't complete without a trip to the Red Door. Maybe its because of the interesting "house-becomes-bar" aesthetic, or the biker/skeleton theme that subtley lurks beneath the sometimes fratty exterior...but really I think its just those pineapple martinis. Literally, drink one and you're good for a while. Drink two and you're not so good for a while. Its not the sweet, sweet liquid that gets you...its the HUGE pineapple chunk soaked in everclear. Enjoy!
(4)Ben G.
Red Door is one of my favorite bars around campus on the west side. It's a local watering hole that gets a fairly diverse crowd from students, young professionals, to even an older crowd. The bar has a lot of character and is definitely not pretentious or annoying. They have good drinks, a great happy hour, 2 for 1 until 6, and they are one of the only places left with a shuffle board table, which is pretty amazing. They also have a covered and open patio and a good selection of seats inside as well. Its not very expensive for that area as well, but can get a little smoky, even though their ventilation works out okay. Just a chill place to go after work for a drink that won't break the bank.
(4)Michelangelo S.
Cheap Beers & Cheap People SITREP I like it! A very low-key & unpretentious set-up. Gets very crowded on a Friday or Saturday night. THE SETUP This was a fun meet-up point to get some drinks and to socialize. * There is a very extensive bar area, which is good because waiting for servers can be an issues - since apparently they have preferences as to the groups of people they want to serve - so it was just better to go to the bar and get our own drinks. * There is also an extensive patio area which was really nice to hang out in. VARIED MUSIC FORMAT It was a lot of fun listening to the virtual DJ mix the music between country, pop and rock. The place just lit up with energy when Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar On Me" blasted through the establishment. For one brief moment I felt like I was back at my Fraternity's Frat parties in Washington State (even here in Nashville). THE PATIO Our preference was to be on the patio since there were smokers in our group. And once we pretty much did our own "self-serve" in acquiring own drinks, things were good. "GET SOME MORE CHAIRS FOR THE PATIO?" The annoying thing about the patio is not that there were insufficient tables - because there were plenty - but a significantly insufficient number of chairs. It got to a point were we tried to scavenge for chairs in non-patio areas just to get people in our group a seat. And it's not like people were hoarding chairs either - each table could easily sit 6-7 chairs with people in them, which was the average - but most of the people were standing around our table and adjacent tables, and there were 2-3 tables in our area where there were no chairs, because the other tables needed them for their patrons. THE LOWDOWN A decent enough bar with reasonable drink prices and to allow for good conversation, and has the potential for getting far better ratings with better customer service and more chairs, just sayin...
(3)Franklin D.
Good because you can smoke inside while you enjoy your adult beverage. Not really my scene though. One of those places that sees a TON of traffic, usually too crowded, etc.
(3)Shawn H.
Denying entry to a disabled Vet with a service dog. Scum of the earth. ADA laws exist for a reason, this place is that reason. Tennessee law matches federal law, which disallows the scum doorman from even asking for documentation.
(1)Tyler D.
Look up there little video on YouTube. Denied entry to disabled vet for having service dog. I will not let you for get this little mistake. Nor will our brothers and sisters.
(1)Charles R.
I would recommend going someplace else. The staff here from the front door security to the manager are fairly unprofessional. Why would ownership tolerate such behavior is beyond me. After reading all the stories of people and their identifications being confiscated it almost seems as if something strange is going on here. Buyer beware!!
(1)Lori S.
The other review was right. A Chicago bar in the middle of Nashville! Service is great! Nice vibe. Go here.
(5)Brittany S.
The downside: my prescription Ray Bans were stolen here. Good luck to Mr./Mrs. Sticky Fingers in making use of them. The upside: I met the most adorable southern boy from Mississippi. I'm pretty sure we're going to get married and have twangy, Ole Miss-attending children. Yes, I'm 99% positive. Other upsides: The ventilation deserves 5 stars. If you don't know this already, smoking is permitted in Nashville bars. Soooo 2009. Good news is, Red Door Saloon is open to the outdoors allowing a bit of fresh air to get in. Quite frankly, it was the saving grace for my delicate Circle City lungs. Other upsides: from what I can remember, the bathrooms were survivable for a packed bar on a Saturday night. A bit on the clusterfuck side, but survivable nonetheless. Other upsides: the people in this town couldn't be any sweeter. They truly give Hoosier Hospitality a run for its money.
(4)Kristin L.
Used to love this place--then I brought an international friend here for a drink and he was denied entry because his ID is Finnish. WTF? The rest of us Americans in the group are in our 30s, he's 33 per his official Finnish national ID, and he was sent to the curb?!? I've been to 100+ countries and never have been denied entry into a bar because of my U.S. ID. EVER. Way to go, Red Door--discouraging international tourism by banning foreigners from entering your establishment. Was his beard not long enough to be deemed "Nashville cool?" Were his glasses not boxy enough? Red Door is just proving the myth that Nashville is a regressive city, and as a native of this place, I'm downright embarrassed.
(1)Justin C.
Visiting from Chicago and found this place. Instantly felt welcomed. Awesome atmosphere, good beer selection and great mix of people. Had a blast! Would absolutely return again.
(5)Brandon H.
I like this place a lot! I went on a Sunday afternoon and enjoyed the 2 for 1 beer special! $5.00 for two beers!? Yes, please! It wasnt crowded nor noisy. The patio was awesome with plenty of space and fresh air. This is my favorite bar in Nashville.
(5)Mike A.
It was more like a little house than a saloon. But maybe that's what a saloon is. I don't really know. I am from a place where we don't have things called saloons. In fact, isn't a saloon just a way of saying salon, but for dudes? I think it is. There's an air conditioning unit affixed to the ceiling that looks like it could fall and kill someone. Don't stand under that. Just in case there's an earthquake. Where I'm from, we have earthquakes (but no saloons). Maybe we could trade. You take the earthquakes, and I'll take the place with the precarious A/C unit. Ever wonder why people put the slash between the A and the C when writing A/C? You don't do that with anything else. Examples: Hair Conditioner = H/C? Nope. Under One Condition = U/O/C? Nope. I guess I just needed that first example. But I already wrote the second one and I don't see the point in deleting it, so it's staying there.
(4)Taylor N.
This bar just isn't my favorite. I've only been there at night, when its crowded and you have to wait for 10 minutes at the bar to get a drink. I would imagine it'd be more enjoyable in the daytime with their great patio and garage door walls. Their bathrooms are always disgusting and 90% of the time, only one of the toilets work in the Ladies room (and that's if you're lucky). The crowd is mostly college students with a few tourists here or there. I've heard the East Nashville Red Door is a much better, more authentic experience.
(2)Scotty C.
Came here to meet up with a group of yelpers during Yelp Spring Break '14. We had a late dinner and then decided to make appearance here before making our way back to the other end of town. Unfortunately, we were not nearly as drunk as we needed to be for Red Door. After walking in and using the restroom, I went on a search to find my pals who got were lost in the sea of college students and bro's. After a solid 10 minute search I found them in the back bar huddled against the wall drinking a beer. I personally was already over this spot and it turned out they all felt the same way. Didn't even other trying to fight my way to the bar for a beer and just left for greener pastures. Hammered, I probably would have had a blast. My advice... don't show up to Red Door Saloon if you're even slightly sober.
(2)Lindy B.
I've been here a few times and really it's just whatever. I like that the patio is really big but you better get here early to claim a table. I like that their mixed drinks are actually served in a glass, not a plastic cup. Pours are usually strong. I dislike that you can smoke inside. I dislike that there is only 2 toilets and 1 of the stalls is so small that my knees hit the wall in front of me while sitting on the toilet. I'm not THAT tall. When I've been there I've actually seen a pretty diverse crowd but for the most part it's college aged kids. Not my fave place, but not the worst either. It serves it's purpose.
(3)Rebecca B.
My friend was disrespected since she just moved here and had just changed her license, they would not let her in with her new Tennessee license. As her friend, we asked so we can't go in and his response was, "you all can go in, but she can't." Instead of apologizing of inconvenience, he told her friends they could go in without her. Thanks not only really rude, but just inconsiderate and unsafe.
(1)Angela J.
Just dogs and burgers for food. It was ok.
(2)Tommy B.
This is my first time on Nashville. This was the first place we went and it's literally behind our hotel. Cheap beer and hot dogs... What more could you ask for a bachelor party of 10? I suggest the Tiajuana Dog; spicy yet exciting. Everything else is pretty manageable. Definitely a good time.
(3)Sheena T.
I already am not a fan of Red Door, and I greatly dislike Red Door in Midtown. I will admit...Red Door is the ONE thing that is better on the East Side (gasp, I know!). But this one is just bad. First of all... two for ones only last until 6pm while the East side offers it until 7, even on Fridays. Secondly, my friend and I were ignored by the seriously non busy bartender at 5 minutes to 6. We asked for drinks on happy hour; "oh, it just ended." Really?? I'm pretty sure the time literally just changed to 6:00. Thanks for that sweetheart. Our table ordered the nachos and they were seriously inedible. A pile of chips with a glop of Costco cheese and a couple pickled jalapenos and that was IT. It was also COLD upon arrival. The only bonus is that they have opened up a bigger patio, so there's more space than the horrid one before. Also, it helps with the smoking that is allowed at this bar. I am not a fan. And will continue to bitch and moan if people want to meet here.
(2)Megan J.
yes, you can smoke here but i beg you, step outside! ventilation? hah! wait at patterson? walk over here for cheap beer and cheaper cocktails bathroom surprising even had toilet paper! a true dive bar gem
(3)Nick B.
Great bar but getting kicked out for using the women's room is ridiculous. They girls in the guys bathroom were fine and the room used had one toliet and it locked. Get over it and tell you bouncers to chill out.
(1)Eden O.
We were warned. . . but we went against the advice of locals and ate the pineapple. They were not kidding, those lil chunks of fruit are STRONG. Just another bit of a dive bar. Solid music, lots of space to wander both inside and out. Seems to be a Chicago bar judging by the sports paraphernalia.
(3)Richard H.
we had a great time here (before we found out about downtown). nice non college kid crowd. great bar staff(special shoutout to our girl wendy(even though that wasn't her real name)). but do not under any circumstance have the booze infused cherries or pineapples, very hard to put down. although downtown is the place to hang and get crazy, I would definitely hang out here again.
(4)Ju L.
5 stars! Oh wait! Karry L. and I were more or less dragged here kicking and screaming by an unnamed guilty party, who still insists that she enjoyed our 10 minutes inside even though 9.5 of said minutes were spent draped over the bar waiting for the dour-faced bartender to glance over while we endured being jostled by a herd of grunting dudes and screeching women. The last 30 seconds were spent downing our shots as quickly as possible and sprinting (but, in reality, burrowing) our way through the mass of bodies to the exit. The tequila was the weakest tequila I've ever had. It is a smoking establishment. Emerging back outside was some sort of beautiful, beautiful freedom. To be fair: - We were not really kicking and screaming, of course. We're civilized people. We just whined incessantly before, during, and after. - I suppose since our mystery friend inexplicably enjoyed her time here, this place could be *someone's* cup of tea. So yes, if you see yourself having a blast at a grimy, collegey circus of a bar, that extra star's for you. Even so, I am choosing not to name this friend so she will not have to endure the unrecognized but very real shame of having found this place tolerable. Worth a visit as a tourist? ...No.
(2)Andrea L.
The bartenders and staff are RUDE! They didn't get my 2 drink order right and when I asked for a drink I was missing I received an eye roll. To my face. I work in the industry and will never go back there and I will also go out if my way to tell all my customers at a very busy restaurant I work at to not go there.
(1)Kenny P.
At whatever cost stay away from this place. If you want to go to a Chicago bar then go to Chicago. Not only is this place a Chicago fake but the staff are all complete jerks. The service from the doorman, bar tenders and servers is shameful. They treat you like you need them more than they need you. The place is filthy and expensive. I wish I could give zero stars! Keep walking and enjoy all of the other traditional places that will treat you like royalty and give the real Nashville experience.
(1)Bri A.
As a visitor from Chicago, you bet I loved this Cubs-themed bar! Okay, I'm a Sox fan, but a Chicago team is a Chicago team. It's a typical sports bar like back home, but with better drinks. My 7&7 came in a pint glass and was strong! They don't play around here! Don't forget to take a peek into the hole in the floor. Just do it, trust me! :)
(4)John B.
Had a great time here recently. It can be crowded and loud, but it's definitely fun. This is the original location and opened in 2002. I wonder if they will have a 10 year party soon? The bartenders were friendly fast and if I recall correctly, pretty cute. ha ha. There are so many signs, knick-knacks, and things to look at, it's like an Applebee's but actually good. If you want to really abuse your liver, get the pineapple drink. It tasted like Everclear but is straight vodka. There are of course plenty of other things to drink and eat. They have lots of Hot Dogs ($5.95), Steamed Sandwhiches ($5.95), Ric's Wraps ($5.95), and Pizzas! If you are around this place in the daylight, checkout all the funny things written in the sidewalk. Oh, and definitely look for the hole in the floor.... spooky Next time I'll have to check out the East Nashville location. There are also 2 locations in Florida.
(5)Corey W.
Nothing really special about this place. Add it too the other places that don't really stick out. Has all the checklist items a late night watering hole has porch, cheap beer, crushing wall of people, loud music so you can't actually communicate with anyone your with, and overweight bouncer. Really if you're already drunk stumble in you won't mind it. If you are still sober don't bother.
(2)Corey G.
Great beer selection with awesome happy hour specials but very poor service. I've been to the Red Door Saloon in Panama City Beach which seemed to be more like a biker so I was extremely surprised that this Red Door was a Chicago sports bar.
(2)Courtney K.
Chicago bar, Bartender was so rude. I was there during a dead time, and she was extremely short and rude.
(1)Sarah C.
I had a pretty good time at the Red Door in Midtown. I ordered a LIT and for $8 it was in a pint glass and spoke true to warm nights on the Cape. Smoking is allowed which sort of bummed me out but sitting on their patio cures that issue. The decor is eclectic yet casual like a weird uncle's basement full of collectibles such as the Sailor Jerry neon above the bar. I am not sure if it was me or my inhibitions being lifted but there were some pretty decent looking folks if you are into that type of scene. The Red Door is anything but pretentious. The most interesting things that I can tell you about besides the aforementioned are the women's restrooms and the tables on the patio. First, the restrooms. Since I hadn't had the experience of the crusty curtain bathroom situation for the ladies (rumor mill), the plywood shoe box containing the porcelain pee-pot is apparently an upgrade. At least they had a sink and soap! Next, the tables. What do you get when you combine 5-7 intoxicated twenty-somethings and a table on a bar patio that is painted like grand piano. A Glee moment! Sweet Caroline, Piano Man, whatever! Talk about a conduit for bringing folks together!
(3)Chris J.
By far the best bar in downtown, staff is fantastic, food is great and most importantly atmosphere is the best.
(5)Karry L.
Look, I get it. I've been there before. I used to be in my early-twenties. I know what it's like to be hanging out on a weekend night and suddenly get hit with the non-negotiable urge to imbibe questionable alcohol, yell incoherently and make poor decisions. I know that well liquor is only tolerable when drunk in the company of assholes. I don't particularly care for this sort of stuff now, but these are all things that are familiar to me, and I am glad that certain bars exist to accommodate this desire. Red Door Saloon is definitely one of them. It's loud, crowded, vaguely sticky, and full of frat boys and sorostitutes looking to collect shot glasses and venereal diseases. I spent 10 minutes in there and wanted to punch at least 4 people by the time I left. I think I may have regressed as a human being. But my review is going to be based on only two things: quality of service, which was pitifully slow and inattentive, although that probably could've been helped if they staffed more than 2 bartenders per 300 patrons, and the price point. I'm still not sure how I ended up paying $22 for 3 shots of Cuervo, which according to my friend, tasted "watered down. I didn't feel anything." That is a damning statement coming from a skinny Asian girl. I can see why this bar exists, even if it does in fact represent the absolute dregs of humanity. The real problem is that it can't even adequately fulfill its two purposes: getting me wasted cheaply, and getting me wasted quickly.
(1)Logan P.
I live less than a hundred yards from this bar and I'm never going back. I'm a regular, I'm friends with all of the bartenders and most of the servers. I was refused entry because I had a paper (temporary ID) which I was able to board an airplane with, but not drink a beer. The door man, read asshole, proceeded to make fun of me and call me names. The Red Door saloon sure knows how to treat its heavy tipping locals. The bouncers names were "bird" and Rob.
(1)