Mother's Ruin in Germantown is a great spot for dinner and drinks or a place to stop before going out. The whipped feta is definitely a must order. It comes with a lot of bread and is so good. Their smashburger is also really good, and the waffle fries are amazing. The drinks are a highlight too. I loved the skinny margaritas, and the frozen blackberry mule was so good. They have a really nice patio that's perfect for hanging out. The only downside is that I feel like they close the patio/space a little early around 10 PM, and after that the inside gets extremely packed and it's hard to move around. The mozzarella sticks were good, but a lot of them were missing cheese, which was disappointing. Overall, still a really fun spot with great food, drinks, and atmosphere. Definitely worth checking out for a casual dinner or drinks before heading out. read more

Mother’s Ruin - Single Patty Cheeseburger, mozzarella stitckz - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

Great spot with a lot of character. While staying in Clarksville, one of the locals recommended that try Mother's Ruin. Luckily it was walking distance from one of the trolley stops (Farmers Market). We came in on a Sunday afternoon. It was busy but we were able find a spot. We started with drinks. We then ordered a falafel sandwich with the waffle fries and a queso dip. The fries and the dip were delicious. The falafel sandwich was also good. The service was quick and we picked up a t-shirt on the way out. Definitely recommend if you are in the area. read more

This is a cute spot in Germantown, outside of Nashville. I am writing this from the perspective of someone younger and cooler than myself, lol. This is a fun place to hang with friends. The music is blasting and you order drinks at the counter. They have fun frozen concoctions. We swung in for a quick drink - there is not a lot to do in Germantown outside of fun places to eat and drink... and that's fine! read more

Mother’s Ruin - Frozen slushy and Velcro socks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

Always a smooth experience to slide into mothers. I love this breakfast bagel. Good ambiance. The music is usually fire. The rest of the menu is good too from the wings to the fries. Mozorella sticks. The best part is that the kitchen is usually open until 2 am so good quality food for a late night. Service is easy just order at the bar and the food is usually quick read more

Mother’s Ruin - McMother's everything bagel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Great spot love the whipped feta and patio only things we wish was the patio was open longer but they have great skinny margs and an upstairs too! read more

Mother’s Ruin - Whipped Feta Dip - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Good strong drinks and good bar food. Gets crowded really fast so you probably won't get a seat. read more

Mother’s Ruin - I like when bars have decent liquors for their wells. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

Great bar in Germantown. It's got that hipster, casual vibe that is for the millennial crowd. They serve good food, solid salty waffle fries. They have a fun drink menu with dirty, innuendo-y names. Outdoor, patio seating. It's located in a quiet neighborhood so the patio is very enjoyable. Parking was easy, bearing in mind I was here on a Tuesday night. Service was good, you order at the bar for food and drink. read more

Mother’s Ruin - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

We came to Mother's Ruin late on a weeknight after a huge work event. We were able to find free street parking nearby. Inside was a vibe and had great music playing. We were tired from the evening so decided to sit in their lovely back patio. We were a group of five and found a table pretty quickly. We had to go inside to order at the bar and take an order number to our table. I decided to try their seasonal pumpkin spice slushie. It was like a pina colada with pumpkin. It was a wild drink, but I had fun with it. For the table we shared some pretty yummy wings. Everyone else got a drink they enjoyed. I'd come back! read more

Mother’s Ruin - Falafel Burger, Waffle Fries, pumpkin spice slushie, and Dozen Wings - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

My friends and I won't be back - expensive drinks with cheap liquor that taste awful. The bartender tossed half of our drinks before we were even done. He also said we were charged for three drinks but when we got the bill, we saw that he charged us for four. There are way better places to go in Nashville. read more

Late night vegan options are usually impossible to come by, so I was very grateful for Mother's Ruin after 10pm on a weeknight recently. It's not a bonafide dive, don't worry, no surly old man bartenders (nor health code violations) to be found. Loud and punk rock, this is a really cool place to hang under most circumstances. If you're looking for more of a conversational atmosphere, there's the patio outside and they are respectful of their neighbors and have a strict closing time of 11pm. They are clear about operating hours on their website (also unlike most real divey bars, haha). Let me tick off other things on my "not a real dive bar but that makes me happy" list: -bubbles -wine -fun cocktails, some with a proud girl's girl vibe like a pumpkin piña colada -"all-day eats" until 1:30 and I don't mean your run-of-the-mill bar food either, like: Thai Brussels sprouts and a falafel burger -really nice bartenders So thank you, Mother's Ruin, for the punk rock vibes, unapologetic friendliness and bubbles. I'd gladly return when in town! read more

I finally got to check out this Germantown staple last week, and I can see why it's many locals' go-to neighborhood bar. Our group of five stopped by on a Tuesday night around 10 - as Mother's Ruin is surprisingly one of the few spots in Nashville that is not on Broadway but has a kitchen that's open late. The music inside is great, albeit loud, so we snagged a table on the patio, which closes at 11 on weeknights. Both food and drinks are ordered at the bar, but the service was quick even with a party of five! We shared some wings (which were tasty!) and some fries (which were crispy and well-seasoned). I got a glass of bubbles, which was served in a chilled glass. My friend ordered their frozen slushy, which is currently a pumpkin spice pina colada ... I feel like those flavors together shouldn't work, but it was surprisingly light and fun. Prices are a little on the high side, but pretty on par with other spots like this in Nashville. read more

We ran into this bar while exploring Germantown. It was packed on a Sunday afternoon. Apparently they had just finished a drag bunch, how fun! The pickle back shots were a solid option to get us started. I really liked the Adam not Larry cocktail. Food menu looked inviting but we were too full from breakfast. Music is cool and staff provided inviting vibes. read more

Mother’s Ruin - Adam not Larry - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

Popped in for a late night bite and got that and more! Staff were friendly and just looked like they all liked the jobs which was fun to watch. Clearly they know everyone who is hanging there late on a Sunday. Food came out so fast and perfectly done. Don't skip the smash burger! The fries were so good too! Would def stop back in for drinks and the stellar vibe. read more

Feels like home in mothers! Always top tier service no matter who is new or not, food is easily the best bar food those fish tacos are insane, the burger? Always hits and that seasoned ketchup kicks it up! Love their cocktail rotation and funny cocktail names. Even after all these years , they swing the lights if i ask them too! A are for the people! I hope to one day get a tour of the basement- how mysterious!! Lol read more

Mother’s Ruin - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Mother's Ruin is a local neighborhood bar in Germantown with a lot of character. It's casual, fun, and a cool place to hang out. Plus, I love how they're open late on weekdays! Whenever I have friends visiting, this is where I bring them when I want to show them something better than Broadway. I recently tried the "Woman On Top" cocktail, and it was delicious...I recommend! The food and drink prices are a little high, but totally worth it. The upstairs can get pretty loud and crowded, but there's also a spacious patio with lots of seating. I've only gone for drinks so far, but I've heard great things about the food. Multiple people have told me to try the breakfast taco (my weakness), so I'll be updating this review when I go back! read more

Ah, good ol' Mother's Ruin. This place is just the best. There are so many words I could use to describe this spot - it's fun, loud, unique, busy, delicious (food AND drinks). I've been many times and always have a blast and it's always a little bit different of an experience. The food here is sneaky good - I love everything. It's hot, crispy, fresh and just so good. Order whatever you want, you're going to love it. Especially the waffle fries... like come on, *heaven* Outside, inside, upstairs - hang out where you like and enjoy your libations. Every cocktail I've had here is banging - their set menu is great or you can order whatever you'd like. They have a pretty full setup. Service is solid - run up to the bar(s) for what you need and they'll take good care of you. I've never had an issue, even if when it's busy - you'll be just fine. read more

Generally this can be such a fun place with great food that you can get till 1/1:30 (because not many spots in town have this!). If there's a line, I always avoid it because I know how crowded the main floor will be, but if there isn't one, it's a fun, young vibe. I've met a lot of cool people and had great nights that ended here read more

Sayer and Geordan were awesome. Service was fast and efficient. Food was quick and awesome. Love the staff here. Yay.

Tucked into Germantown's buzzing food scene, Mother's Ruin Nashville is where elevated bar food meets bold flavors, late-night energy, and absolutely zero pretension. It's the kind of place where you expect to grab a drink and end up raving about the food for days. We started with the Thai Brussels Sprouts, and they were anything but an afterthought. Tossed with crunchy cashews, chickpeas, cilantro, and a punch of lime, the dish was spicy, tangy, and texturally perfect--an addictive start that raised the bar for everything that followed. The Chicken Caesar Salad hit the classic notes but stood out thanks to a generous dose of crispy breadcrumbs that added a welcome crunch to the creamy romaine-Parmesan mix. It's hearty, fresh, and exactly what a bar Caesar should be. Then came the Crispy Fish Tacos, which honestly stole the show. The fish was golden and flaky, topped with cool shredded slaw, spicy mayo, and a squeeze of lime all wrapped in warm La Chiquita flour tortillas. Flavor-packed and perfectly balanced--no extra sauce needed. But we couldn't skip the Mother's Smashburger--a messy, melty, salty masterpiece with white American cheese, crisp lettuce, pickles, onions, and a "secret sauce" that ties it all together. Served with Old Bay waffle fries and a spicy ketchup that deserves its own shoutout, it was hands-down one of the best bar burgers we've had in Nashville. Verdict: Chef Joe has really cultivated an amazing menu of elevated bar foods. Mother's Ruin isn't just a bar with food--it's a low-key culinary sleeper hit. Whether you're starting your night or ending it, this spot delivers food that's craveable, creative, and way better than it needs to be. Don't skip the fries. read more

See all

Make sure you try the Harrison Chevy cocktail! It's a little bit spicy, but really good. read more

Mother’s Ruin - Harrison Chevy cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Thinking back on this burger I had. Delicious. My wife had the breakfast bagel and she loved it. The lemonade slush was absolute greatness (and strong) but the latte left much to desire. Dog friendly!!! Overall chill vibe, great food, good drinks! Will definitely stop by if I'm ever back in town. read more

Mother’s Ruin - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

Went her for brunch with my wife and adult daughter. The drinks were killer! The staff were on their jobs and friendly. The food was better than I expected. I loved the breakfast burrito! The place looks like a hole in the wall, but once inside it was expansive with a cool vibe. I'll go again when in Nashville. read more

Fun bar in Germantown with some cool cocktails! We stopped in for a few drinks and they have a great selection to choose from. They also have brunch on the weekends! Bartenders were really personable. Will definitely be back on our next trip (or perhaps the mothers day challenge!). read more

The Nashville fried chicken was actually pretty good and the fries are good, the tiramisu was very rich. I got the chicken in wrap form and it was super fulfilling. read more

All of the bartenders were so fun & attentive. The drinks were amazing and fairly priced!

super popular, nice space inside and out, but overall the cocktail menu and execution was just alright. was able to walk in and squeeze into a spot at the bar read more

Good drinks and environment love the backyard area but expensive an espresso martini was $18.... And it wasn't even great. read more

Mother’s Ruin - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Drinks, great. Vibes, great. Chicken sandwich and fries, great. 10/10 would recommend!

This place is always a vibe! Great food, and great drinks! The staff are super friendly! Could never go wrong at mother's ruin whether it's day or night! read more

We came here to celebrate my husband's coworker. The bar itself is smaller than expected. We had a pretty large group, and it definitely felt like we were in the way of other patrons and staff. Definitely not worth going if you have a huge group of people simply because there's just not enough space. The cocktails were fairly priced but mid in taste, if I went back, I'd probably stick with their beers. We were only here for drinks, so I didn't get to try their food. Definitely worth checking out, but it is a little loud so also not a great place for a big group setting. The workers are great and super friendly, they handed out free shots to our group as we were celebrating. If you're in the area, worth checking out. read more

Great food, great atmosphere and great staff! Would definitely recommend this to anyone who has the chance to stop in!

Great local bar in Nashville! Delicious drinks and friendly staff. Ambiance is great with good vibes. Great place to get away from touristy spots, totally recommend this hidden gem. read more

Mother’s Ruin - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

So I stopped in after dinner at Monell's which is two doors down. Let me tell you- this bar is officially one of my new favorites in BNA. The bartenders are easy going and one of them, if he isn't already, needs to be a certified mixologist because his drinks had me forget the entire night. I love the ambiance it's so chill but does get lively towards later in the evening. I already can't wait to go back on my next trip to BNA. read more

This is one is one of the few spots that serves quality late night food in the area. I ordered the hot chicken sandwich which was cooked perfectly. It's made from thigh meat which is harder to screw up, but it was really juicy and crispy even 30 minutes later. The waffle fries well seasoned. I wish they had bbq sauce though. I had to come back to try some of their other food dining in. The burger execution was perfect. The patty had a really nice crust and exploded juices when I bit into it. I thought I had good burgers in the bay, but this takes it a step up. I got a side of brussel sprouts which were well made but too salty. I sat at the bar and the service was top tier. The bartenders were really friendly and kept checking in on me. I'll be back! I'll definitely be back! read more

Mother’s Ruin - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

A place in Germantown area of Nashville serving up craft cocktails to be enjoyed. Has patio as well as bar to make the space larger. Quite a crowd after 8. The bartenders were able to keep pace with the crowd. Semi dive bar vibe. read more

We were greeted right away by the bartender which I really appreciated as it was already starting to get busy. For the price of the drinks, I feel like the presentation is a little meh. Cute outdoor patio and the upstairs is very cozy and has interesting decor. Lots of college-aged crowd but there were some older people as well. All in all, yes I would come back! read more

Mother’s Ruin - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

My friend and I celebrated Mother's Day early and thought that Mothers Ruin was the perfect place to start out at!! The drinks were really good! I had an antique shit show for my first drink and it was very refreshing!! The atmosphere was cool! I liked the upstairs with all the mismatched chairs and tables! read more

Mother’s Ruin - Antique Shitshow - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

The atmosphere is nice as well as relaxed and the staff seem friendly. The food, although we had just two items were ok. read more

Mother’s Ruin - The burger packs seasoning and was a little bland the fries were good thougv - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

Stopped in for a quick drink and a bite to eat. The wings and Brussels sprouts were worth it by themselves. The bar was busy but cozy and chill. I plan to come back next time I'm in Nashville. read more

I go there more for their food than drinks. Best breakfast burritos in town!!! Love the chicken sandwich also. Always local hang spot!