The Patterson House

Whenever we visit a new city, we’re always on the lookout for a cool cocktail bar. While doing some research before heading to Nashville, we stumbled access a speakeasy called The Patterson House.  It’s a 1920’s Prohibition-themed upscale bar, known for their craft cocktails and unique, cozy atmosphere.  And, from what we gather, this is more of a locals’ hangout.  If you are looking to avoid Broadway’s honky-tonks, The Patterson House is the perfect place.

Unfortunately, they don’t take reservations and from what we have read, the waits can be long at times. They have a comfortable waiting area with a  a thick curtain that divides it from the bar area. The hostess is pretty good a keeping it closed. Not only does it help protect the privacy for the drinking patrons, but it also creates some mystery for those waiting to get in.  Luckily, we didn’t have to wait very long at all to be seated.

Once you get in, you’ll see that the space is pretty small, with the bar taking up most of the space.  It can only accommodate about 80 guests at a time.

The House Rules

Before going in, beware of the house rules. Obviously, they aren’t very strictly enforced since we broke the first rule!  But, it was all for a good cause don’t you agree?

The interior is dimly lit by old-fashioned chandeliers and candles and therefore you will see that our pictures are pretty terrible.

The Cocktails

Clearly, handcrafted cocktails are the focus at The Patterson House, with many to choose from. The menu does have several options all categorized by liquor type. Our server was very helpful at helping us narrow down what to order.  Our first drinks were a Little Lad Dance and a Bougie Jack and Coke.  Both excellent.

We did order a few more, but they weren’t menu items.  Based on a few questions from the server, like our liquor preference and the flavor profiles that we were looking for, he surprised us with some great cocktails. If you get the chance to check out The Patterson House, don’t order off the menu, let them surprise you. Yes, the drinks were a little pricey, but the unique atmosphere and experience made up for it. In the event that cocktails aren’t your thing, they also serve wine and a handful of bottled beers. 

Frankly, they don’t have a very extensive food menu but, it consists of familiar bar fare like tater tots, chicken wings, and mini burgers along with some creative options like shrimp corndogs and fried brie. For a sweet snack, get the cinnamon sugar doughnuts. We did and they were delicious.

To sum it up, Patterson House is a great place for a relaxing night enjoying a few high quality and unique cocktails in Nashville.  It’s reminiscent of Canon in Seattle and Blyth and Burrows in Portland, Maine that we previously reviewed on this blog. If you are looking to head somewhere with a little more action but still with great cocktail options, consider checking out LA Jackson.

What is your favorite cocktail  bar? Comment below.