Bell Bottoms Up Nashville: Our Experience at Lainey Wilson’s Honky Tonk
COME FOR THE HONKY TONK, STAY FOR THE SMASH BURGER!
When you think about Nashville honky tonks, great food may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But after two visits to Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up, the food is one of the biggest reasons I would go back.
Located just a block off Broadway, Bell Bottoms Up combines the fun of a Nashville honky tonk with surprisingly good food and plenty of Lainey Wilson style. Even better, you don’t have to wait until nighttime to enjoy it.
I’ve visited twice with my teenage daughter, including our most recent lunch with my mom. Both visits gave us a fun, family-friendly way to experience a Nashville honky tonk during the day.
In this Bell Bottoms Up Nashville review, I’m sharing what we ordered, what the atmosphere is like, and what you should know before visiting. And yes, we need to talk about that smash burger!
What Is Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up?
Bell Bottoms Up is a three-story honky tonk and restaurant in downtown Nashville inspired by country music star Lainey Wilson. It opened in 2024 and sits on 3rd Avenue, just one block from Broadway.
The main dining room is on the first floor, and this is where we ate during both of our visits. A large, double-sided bar sits near the center of the space, with the dining area and stage on the other side.
The decor is one of my favorite parts of Bell Bottoms Up. There are touches of Lainey’s style everywhere, but they’ve incorporated them in some really fun ways.
One of the first things that caught my attention was the lighting. Cowboy hats hang over the booths with light bulbs tucked inside. There are even hooks along the walls where you can hang your own cowboy hat while you eat!
The booths have leather seats with suede-like walls behind them, and photos of Lainey performing are displayed throughout the restaurant. But my favorite detail might be the huge chandelier featuring shiny gold bell bottoms hanging over the dining area.
Upstairs, you’ll find additional space and a rooftop bar with another stage. We stayed downstairs for lunch during both visits, but the rooftop was open during our most recent visit.
It definitely feels like a Nashville honky tonk, but it also feels very Lainey Wilson. And there are enough little details throughout the restaurant that it’s worth looking around while you’re there.
My Experience at Bell Bottoms Up
I’ve visited Bell Bottoms Up twice now, and both visits have been during the day with my teenage daughter. Our most recent visit also included my mom, so we had three generations enjoying a Nashville honky tonk together.
This time, we walked over after visiting the Dolly Parton museum nearby. We arrived for a late lunch on a Monday and were seated right away. The restaurant wasn’t empty, either. I would estimate that about half the tables were full, which felt pretty busy for a Monday afternoon.
The service was excellent from the moment we sat down. Our server came over quickly, took our drink orders, and gave us time to look over the menu. We were all hungry and decided pretty quickly, so we placed our food order right away.
I was surprised by how fast everything came out. I would guess we waited only about 10 minutes for our food, and everything arrived hot and fresh.
Our first visit was just as enjoyable, although the atmosphere was a little different. There was live music that afternoon, while there wasn’t anyone performing during our most recent lunch. I actually like that the two visits gave us a chance to experience Bell Bottoms Up both ways.
For our most recent meal, three drinks, three entrees, and a dessert to share came to around $80. For three people eating at a honky tonk in downtown Nashville, we all thought that was pretty reasonable.
Most importantly, neither visit felt like we were sacrificing good food for a fun Nashville atmosphere. Bell Bottoms Up has plenty of personality, but the food has been one of the biggest reasons I’ve enjoyed coming back.
What We Ordered at Bell Bottoms Up
The menu at Bell Bottoms Up isn’t huge, but everything we’ve tried during our two visits has been really good. And after our most recent lunch, I definitely have a new favorite.
I ordered the Smash Burger with Cajun waffle fries. The burger has two thin patties with cheddar, caramelized onions, pickles, and Duke’s mayo on a brioche bun. The bun was toasted, which is something I always love on a burger.
The patties had those slightly crispy edges that make a good smash burger so good. Between the toasted brioche bun, melted cheese, and crispy edges, this was easily one of the top three burgers I’ve ever had. And I order burgers pretty often!
Even the waffle fries surprised me. They arrived hot and crispy on the outside but soft inside. They were also incredibly flavorful. I don’t know what they do differently to them, but these weren’t fries I was leaving behind on the plate.
My daughter ordered the Baked Mac & Cheese, which she has also had here before. She loves mac and cheese and orders it at plenty of restaurants, so she has opinions! This one is incredibly cheesy and gooey, with the kind of cheese pull you hope for when you order baked mac and cheese.
TRAVELISTA TIP: If trying local food is one of your favorite parts of traveling, consider adding a downtown Nashville food tour to your trip. This walking tour combines several local food stops with Nashville history and sightseeing, giving you a chance to experience more of the city’s food scene beyond Broadway.
On our previous visit, I ordered the Roasted Mushroom & Short Rib Flatbread. It was much larger than I expected, and I ended up taking about half of it home. I had never tried short rib and mushrooms together on a flatbread before, but it worked. I really enjoyed it and would happily order it again, although I’d still choose that Smash Burger first.
And then there’s dessert!
We shared the Hippie’s Skillet Cookie between the three of us. It comes to the table warm with a chocolate chip cookie, vanilla ice cream, peanut butter sauce, hot fudge, and Reese’s.
As the ice cream melts into the warm cookie, everything gets gooey and messy in the best possible way. My daughter and I had already tried this dessert during our first visit, so ordering it again was an easy decision.
One skillet was plenty for the three of us to share after lunch. If you’re trying to decide whether to save room for dessert, save room for the skillet cookie!
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Live Music and the Rooftop at Bell Bottoms Up
Of course, food is only part of the experience at a Nashville honky tonk. Bell Bottoms Up also has live music, including performances on both the main dining room stage and the rooftop.
During our first visit, there were musicians performing while we ate. I loved being able to sit down for lunch in the middle of a weekday and still listen to live music. That’s one of those things that just feels very Nashville!
There wasn’t anyone performing during our most recent lunch, so live music isn’t necessarily guaranteed every time you stop in. If hearing live music is important to you, I recommend checking the performance schedule before your visit.
TRAVELISTA TIP: Hoping to catch live music during your visit? Bell Bottoms Up posts its current lineup online, including performance times and whether the artist will be on the Dining Stage or Rooftop Stage. Check the schedule before you go so you can plan your visit around a performance.
Bell Bottoms Up also has a rooftop bar and stage. We ate downstairs during both visits, but the rooftop was open when we visited most recently. I saw several people heading upstairs to check it out.
The rooftop gives you another option if you’re visiting more for the honky tonk experience than a sit-down meal. For us, the main dining room has worked perfectly, especially when visiting with family during the day.
Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up Nashville FAQs
If you’re planning your first visit to Bell Bottoms Up, you may have a few questions before you go. Here are some of the things I think are most helpful to know, especially if you’re visiting with family or planning to stop in while exploring downtown Nashville.
Is Bell Bottoms Up Family-Friendly?
Yes! Bell Bottoms Up is family-friendly during the day and evening. Guests under 21 are welcome until 10 p.m. After 10 p.m., the venue becomes 21 and up.
I’ve visited twice with my teenage daughter and have always felt completely comfortable bringing her. During our most recent lunch, we saw several other families dining there as well. Bell Bottoms Up even offers a small kids menu for younger visitors.
TRAVELISTA TIP: If you’re visiting Bell Bottoms Up with kids, I recommend going for lunch or earlier in the afternoon. You can still enjoy the honky tonk atmosphere and may catch live music, but it feels much more family-friendly than the late-night Broadway scene.
Do You Need Reservations for Bell Bottoms Up?
No. You don’t need a reservation to visit Bell Bottoms Up. Most seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, although a limited number of reservations are available.
We didn’t have reservations for either of our visits and were seated without a problem. During our most recent Monday lunch, we were able to walk in and get a table right away.
That said, downtown Nashville can get extremely busy, especially on weekends and during special events. If you’re visiting at a popular time and want to avoid waiting, it may be worth making a reservation in advance.
Does Bell Bottoms Up Have a Gift Shop?
Yes! Bell Bottoms Up has a small gift shop just inside the main entrance. It carries Lainey Wilson and Bell Bottoms Up merchandise, including T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, stickers, and other souvenirs.
You also don’t have to eat at the restaurant to shop. During our visit, we saw several people come inside just to browse the gift shop and then leave.
It’s not a huge store, but it’s worth a quick stop if you’re a Lainey Wilson fan or want a Bell Bottoms Up souvenir to take home.
Where is Bell Bottoms Up Located, and Where Should You Park?
Bell Bottoms Up is located at 120 3rd Avenue South in downtown Nashville, just one block off Broadway. It’s directly across from the Johnny Cash Museum and next to the Goo Goo Chocolate Co., making it an easy stop while exploring downtown.
We usually treat this as a place to walk to rather than somewhere we drive to specifically. On our most recent visit, we walked over after visiting the Dolly Parton museum, and it was a quick and easy walk.
Bell Bottoms Up does not have its own parking lot. If you’re driving downtown, you’ll need to use one of the nearby parking garages or paid lots. If you’re already visiting Broadway, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, or other downtown attractions, I’d park once and walk.
TRAVELISTA TIP: Downtown Nashville parking can get expensive, so I recommend planning several nearby stops and parking only once. Bell Bottoms Up is an easy walk from Broadway and several popular downtown attractions.
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Final Thoughts: Our Bell Bottoms Up Experience
After two visits to Bell Bottoms Up, I can confidently say this is one Nashville honky tonk I’ll keep coming back to.
I love that we can visit during the day with my teenage daughter and still get that fun Nashville atmosphere. Add in the Lainey Wilson-inspired decor, live music, rooftop, and genuinely good food, and there’s a lot to love here.
But for me, the food is what really pushes Bell Bottoms Up beyond being just another celebrity honky tonk. Everything we’ve tried has been good, and that Smash Burger alone is enough to get me back through the door!
If you’re spending a day exploring downtown Nashville, Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up is an easy place to work into your plans. Stop in for lunch, listen to some live music, look around at all the fun details, and definitely save room for the skillet cookie.
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