Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Country music honky-tonk bar on Broadway, Nashville, United States
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge is a three-story bar with three separate performance spaces and stages featuring live country music from morning through late night. The building sits squarely on Broadway, where musicians perform continuously throughout the day and evening.
Hattie Louise Bess purchased the bar in 1960, and a painter accidentally covered the exterior in purple paint, creating the signature orchid color. This mistake became the foundation of the venue's visual identity.
The walls display photographs and memorabilia of country musicians who launched their careers performing here. You can see the traces of countless artists who made this place part of their musical journey.
The venue sits on Broadway directly behind the Ryman Auditorium and serves food and drinks throughout the day. You can visit in the morning or late at night, as the doors stay open from early morning until well past midnight.
Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, and Waylon Jennings used a private back entrance connecting directly to the Ryman Auditorium during their performances. This hidden passage linked two of Nashville's most important music venues without stepping outside.
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