If you are looking for a good dance club, then Play is surely a hotspot. Yes, it's a gay bar. As the previous reviews state. But, as a straight girl, I have to say it is SO FUN. I go here maybe once a year (but should more often) with a group of girlfriends just to dance. And not be hit on by total losers. It's fantastic! The bartenders make excellent drinks, the music is mostly "house" as they say, but it's loud and pumping through the dance floor. Everyone is nice--as previous reviewers state, no one here cares if you are gay or straight, male or female, everyone is just here for a good time. I highly recommend it. Oh and the drag shows are an absolute hoot. I haven't been to many drag shows (actually this is the only place I've seen them) but I have to admit it's difficult to tell if some of these guys are actually guys at all! They are that good. So, if you are looking to just go out to a great dance club with your friends, you have to come to Play. You won't regret it! read more

I have come full circle (this is my 360th review). Considering my last review was for a church, it makes me happy to review a place that many "religious" people might find disgusting and a bunch of other hate filled words. Okay, let's Play (get it..?) Alright, I have probably only been to about half a dozen legit gay bars, and this place was one of the better ones if not the best. I guess I'll disclose that I'm straight, but does that really matter? It might since I might not be able to fully review a place catered towards a specific people group, but I had a great time and would venture a guess that if I was gay or bi or whatever, that Play would be a great place to party. From the time our group entered, the people were cool, even the guy taking our cover. Good sign. The coat check lady was funny and nice. The scantily bartender concocted some very tasty cocktails and was friendly as well. The drag show actually dragged a bit but overall it was fairly entertaining and full of some talented people. The costumes and routines were, as expected, fabulous and creative. One performer actually did a flip into the splits, in heels! I had no idea there was a separate dance floor area until I walked by it en route to the bathroom. The dance floor was packed with sweaty cavorting people and it was easy to get swept up in the energy and music. I definitely danced and had a good time. The lasers and smoke effects were great. The bathrooms were fairly entertaining and often full of various groups (guys, girls whatever) of people. I was never harassed or felt uncomfortable but could see someone (a straight person) not used to this, as a little off-putting. But hello, you're at a gay bar. Have fun (play!), dance, people watch, drink, or just chill. Be safe and take a cab home, there were plenty waiting outside as we exited. There was also a cop across the street waiting to spot a potential drunk driver. ha ha. read more

It's a pretty good gay bar. I hate that they allow 18 and over when it should be just 21 and over. The drag shows are the BEST I've ever seen in any part of the United States no BS! Nashville gem. Bar tenders are awesome. My favorite is Kyle. 5 stars Nashville! read more

Awesome DJ - check! Awesome drag show - check! Strong drinks - check! Cheap cover - check! This is definitely the best night out in Nashville. The crowd is primarily LGBT but the place is "everyone friendly." There are special events, themed parties and drag performers from all over the country on various nights so it's a good idea to check the website before you go. read more

Loved the drag show. $10 was a great deal for 90 minute drag show and a great environment.

Play is the dance bar to go to in Nashville, gay or straight. The music is amazing, and there is always a line of people on the weekends waiting to get in. There's a cover charge, which I'm not usually a fan of, but I think it is worth it to get in to Play. I will say it seems like a very young crowd that frequents Play, and I'm not even that old! Just lots of college kids since I think you only have to be 18 to get in. Play is a gay bar, but there is a big mix of people who go there to dance and have a good time. Play is a huge place split in to two distinct spaces. The front bar has a stage where there are usually drag shows, and there is dancing and a dj in the back. Play brings in all kinds of guests. Kimberly Locke was there; Ultra Nate and Kristine W. were there for Pride. And it seems like every other week there is a porn star. Seriously. Everyone is at Play to have a good time whether they are scoping out the drag show (and the guys) in front or they are on the dance floor in the back. Definitely a fantastic addition to the Nashville nightlife, and a great dance spot, gay or straight. read more

So much fun every time I've been. Very popular. Good DJs most of the time working the dance floor on one side and drag on the other that is out of this world! Absolutely love the vibe. You'll love it if you've read this far. Check it out. Seriously. read more

I waited in the bathroom line for an hour. I had to ring in the new year from the toilet. They should have anticipated their toilets being out of order... read more

Had a good feeling about this club as guys in St Louis were recommending it. I was very dissenting. It is a low quality gay bar. Overpriced entrance fee. Overcrowded. Drinks are watered. read more

So much fun! I may have had one of the best times I have ever had at this venue! (Play/Tribe) ... DJ is great .. dance floor is hoppin .. people are pretty and the drag shows are the best thing ever! Bartenders are all nice and it's in a great location (NOT DOWNTOWN). Only gripe is cover is a little steep ... I'm a girl .. this is a gay club .. so an $8 cover for OVER 21 on a FRIDAY ?! Fridays aren't "going out" nights in Nashville .. I think it should be $5. But I LOVE this place! read more

I loved this place and had so much fun! The girls are great and some of the performances were stunning. But you can't pay with credit/ debit card unless you drink more thank $20 or be charged with $3, which is not that much but I only wanted a beer. read more

Play - Aurora Sexton... Amazing - Gay Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Very sick at this place due to the fact that my friend went here to drink and have a good time and because she trips and falls down the stairs and falls on her face due to her wearing hills and the floor was wet they kick her out because they think she is "too drunk" when she had only had ONE drink. They didn't even ask her if she was ok or anything they just immediately pull her off the floor and tell her to "get the fuck out of my club you drunk bitch" if I could give this place 0 stars I would. read more

Went for New Year's Eve and waited in the bathroom line for an hour. Glad I paid $27 for this

If I could give zero stars, I totally would! I was pulled out by the security guards and told that I needed to speak to the manager. I of course was happy to oblige, I wasn't sure what was going on but I figured I had nothing hide. I had my son and his friend behind me, so I should be ok. Once we got outside, I asked what was this about and they said they "needed" to search my bag because afyer reviewing the cameras, they noticed when I swung my bag over my shoulder a bag if white substance had fell out of "my" bag!. I of course said, you are welcome to look in my bag, as I have nothing to hide.They looked in my bag and of course found nothing! They let me back in and at that point I as a mother I was SUPER OFFENDED especially since my son was standing in front of me! So, I grabbed my son and the rest of our group and left. Not the way I wanted to spend my Saturday in Nashville! read more

The drag show was a lot of fun. The drinks were strong -a little too strong, my memories of the night are vague. It was Sunday so the dance floor was empty but the DJ took my request and I had an excellent time anyway. read more

Honestly this is the worst gay bar/club I've been to in my entire life, and I wish I was exaggerating but I'm not. Horrible bartenders first of, bartender was busy checking his phone instead of starting our drinks. The music in the club part is actually amazing so that's a positive. Also the crowd here seemed we're immature and trashy maybe you guys need to do a 21 and over. Also not worth the $20 entrance fee. read more

I love the addition of Aurora in the drag show. The dancing is the best in town, but after clubbing in New York City I must suggest that Play stop being so tied to playing music videos on the dance floor. It's all about the music, not about the images of Kesha or some other dance diva on the wall. The revamp of the drag area really revived the whole bar for me. Moving in the right direction. read more

Unreal drag shows with a gigantic gay audience. The drag show ends early, but with a gigantic dance floor in the back the night doesn't end there. Keep your eye out for drag royalty (contestants from RPDR) as they seem to perform every few weeks. The bar is a must for any LGBTQ visiting the city read more

This place was AH-MAZING!! We visited for a bachelorette party over Labor Day weekend and I would go back a million times. The fun, lively, and exciting energy is contagious. One of my favorite things was that this bar was perfect for anyone whether you're straight or LGBTQ - you are welcome as long as you're looking to have a good time. We reserved a booth for the 9:00 show but I don't think we needed to as there were still plenty of open seats at this time. The play mates don't leave the stage (may not be allowed to) so you'll have to walk up and down the stairs from your booth to give them tips. Would've wanted to be closer to the stage as well but since we paid for the booth, we felt obligated to stay there. Around 11:00 the occupancy nearly tripled so the booth was desirable at that time! The bartenders were great and Ariel, our cocktail server, was on top of it - even with a packed house. I would suggest to arrive early to claim your space even though there really isn't a bad seat. The play mates were incredibly talented - how they perform in 6 inch heels is beyond me. There was also a guest appearance that night - LEO! Our group (and every other bachelorette group) swooned over him! He had the moves of JT with Bieber swag which put the icing on the cake for our visit to Play. read more

Play - Our bride-to-be with Leo! 3 - Gay Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Going to go Sunday as well... Went to see Drag Show and it was fun as heck! Mostly Gals tonight. Slightly expensive drinks but worth it. Even if you are straight, check this place out! read more

Definitely a fun place to go when you're in Nashville. Play has a great vibe-- lots of energy and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. The performers are fun and really entertaining to watch. I could spend hours watching the show while drinking. Speaking of which, their drinks are pretty tasty and have plenty of alcohol in them. They are a little on the expensive side though-- although nothing ridiculous. I recommend going later at night, around 11-12pm. That's when you'll have the most fun and get best crowd. read more

Really fun place, great drag shows. Drinks were decently cheap. I also recommend getting a booth for performances if you can! Comfortable and great sight line! read more

If I ever go clubbing with my girlfriend, I usually have to drag her out of the house. She's just not really into the club scene, or at least that's what I thought until I took her to Play. She actually told me about it. She had been telling me that we should go to Play for several months. I was a bit hesitant at first, as I'm a heterosexual male. I'm not homophobic or anything...I have several gay friends...but the idea of going to a club exclusively for homosexuals didn't really appeal to me that much. Regardless, I was still curious, so a few weeks ago, my girlfriend and I finally went to Play with a few gay friends. When I walked through the door, I was asked for $20 ($10 cover per person). "This better either be really good, or the drinks better be dirt cheap," I was thinking. I typically don't go to clubs with a cover higher than five bucks. When we got past the front desk and out into the club, I was highly impressed! The first room had a large stage, several tables, a huge, full-service bar in the back, and quite a bit of standing room in between. There was also techno/dance music playing. There was no actual dance floor...yet. There was another big room that I hadn't been to yet. The other room was just as large, if not larger. The (quite massive) dance floor was here. We walked through the dance floor to the back, where there were more seats and a smaller bar. One of our friends bought us a round of cranberry vodkas. We then went back to the stage room. I sat down at a table with many questions in my mind. Why was there a stage here? Do they have live music? Do they serve food? My questions were answered almost instantly. The friend who bought our drinks then bought us an appetizer of jalapeño poppers. They were quite tasty. My girlfriend bought me a beer, and we just sat there for a few minutes, jamming out to the energetic dance music. Then my other questions were answered. The DRAG SHOW was announced, as four (or maybe five) beautiful drag queens marched onto the stage. Now, these drag queens weren't just male cross-dressers with shaved legs and pillows in their shirts. The only thing that made them male was the fact that they had an invisible penis. They had breast implants and the whole shebang. There was no way to tell they were men. I wouldn't have known if they didn't say anything. The show began with all the queens dancing and lip-syncing an old Broadway show tune together. After that, each one had their own little dance routine. They each did three or four songs. Some were local to Play, and some were from out of town. I can't remember their names, but my two favorites were the "Barbie doll" one (a tall, model-esque blonde), and the one with large, red, poofy hair. During the show, I got up and ordered an excellent bloody Mary that's worth noting. It was less tomatoey and more Worcestershirey than your average Bloody Mary, and if I remember correctly, it was made from scratch, not a mix. I'll definitely be ordering one next time I go. Anyway, we all left not long after the drag show was over. It was totally worth the experience. I had never seen a live drag show before, and after seeing it, I can understand why the cover was so high. I still think it should have been a bit less (maybe more like $7), which is why I rated this four stars instead of five. If the cover was $5 or less, it would have easily gotten a five-star rating. I definitely plan on going back though. Next time, I'm actually going to dance...I didn't get a chance to actually get on the dance floor. So if you have plenty of spare money to burn one night, burn it on Play. You won't regret it, even if you're straight like me! read more

There's not much to compare to in Nashville, but Play is the best gay bar in town. It's also the best place to dance on the weekends! They recently revamped the drag show area, and they have their own outside area in the back if you're a smoker. The cover can get expensive on the weekends if you're under 21, so try to go on Wednesdays for College Night (free with a school ID) or Thursdays if you're female (Ladies Night free!). read more

I've stop by Play every time I'm in Nashville. It's a great "gay bar" but in fact caters to every sexual orientation. I love that this venue is split into three different parts. The bar with the main stage that has drag shows throughout the night, the "club" portion with a bar, seating and a large dance floor and the outside patio for smokers and those who just want to take a breather. You can call and reserve one of the two side booth and they have a coat check which I really appreciate. The line is usually rather long so make sure that you bring cash for the cover, which is usually $10. My only criticism is that it's so difficult to get a drink sometimes and they're not very good. read more

Great place to dance with a HUGE dance floor! $10 Cover fee, nice diverse crowd and atmosphere, I remember alot of current music in techno form, but definitely a good variety. I am just so glad it doesn't play country music. Alot of friendly people. Only reason why I gave a 4/5 was that it was jammed packed and my foot got stepped on and was bruised. Great place to have fun with a diverse group and dance your ass off. read more

Absolutely terrible experience. We visited Play during a recent bachelorette trip. In the beginning we were having fun and enjoying the show; however, the night quickly took a turn for the worst. We rented a private booth, which we paid a lot of money for, on top of high entrance fees. We had a nice waitress but she was difficult to find and took awhile to get back to us. The problem with the booth was there was zero security and aid in keeping others out. People would just open the ropes and come in and sit. We asked nicely for them to leave but people refused. We could not find any staff willing to help with this issue. The worst part was that these people who came into our booth kept saying inappropriate things to us and ultimately groping some of our group members. Again...no one working there was willing to even listen to us. We decided to close our tab and leave. When the waitress finally came back we gave her our credit cards to close our tabs and she didn't return for the next 20 minutes. In the meantime, someone from the bar came to tell us our time was up in the booth and became exasperated when we said we would leave as soon as we paid our tabs. (They showed up to tell us our time was up but never to help when we asked). We were afraid if we left our spot we'd never get our cards back as the place was packed. The staff member continued to be very pushy and told us we could retrieve our cards at the bar. We reluctantly moved to the bar area and once there were LITERALLY ignored by every bartender that walked passed. Finally (30 minutes after moving to the bar), a manager showed up-only after one of our group members basically threatened to call the police if no one helped us. He tracked down our waitress and got our cards back. So to sum it all up we paid hundred of dollars for a fun time-instead we were groped,yelled at, pushed, and had to threaten to call police on the staff. In our hearts, we are all very supportive of the gay community, but we all truly felt that part of the reason we were treated this way was due to the fact that we obviously weren't part of this community personally-although we were there happily supporting them. We were beyond disappointed and disheartened by our experience. We truly felt mistreated by the staff and the community at the bar. Honestly the only way I can describe this night was a nightmare. read more

Best place for a drag show!!! Vanity is my favorite queen!! Every time am intown I always come here for the show !

As excited as I was to finally come and see what all the hype was about, I, unfortunately, was left extremely disappointed. You have to pay a $10 door fee even when there are no events happening (something I was totally fine with, they gotta make their money) but then you get in and drinks are still nearly $10! This wouldn't be a huge deal if they weren't SO watered down and mostly filler; I've had WAY more potent drinks on Broadway for $6 (not even talking about happy hour, deals, etc.). All of this STILL didn't deter me from trying my best to have a good time. I thought "whatever, I came to dance anyway" so I went to the rave area in the back and not only was forced to bob my head to horrible early 00s techno (when we got LUCKY) but listen to the crappy bubble gum pop they don't even play on the radio (majority of the time) and be expected to "drop it low" and "go crazy" over THAT...I came to shake what my momma gave me and they didn't play ONE rap/hip-hop song the whole time. And to top it all off, despite all the promises of it being a place where the LGBTQ community can come together to have a great time in a place where "everyone" can feel safe, welcome, and free, the place was STILL crawling with disgusting, creepy, middle-aged straight men who would force themselves all over you. I couldn't handle it and only stayed an hour and a half, which really sucks because I felt like I not only wasted my money, but my entire Saturday night (it is an hour's drive for me). The ONLY part of the night I found enjoyable was watching the fabulous drag show, but as I said, I came to dance (even their performance music wasn't very good). If you are like me and enjoy dancing to rap/hip-hop, there is a club(?) above Big Shotz on Broadway that has a DJ come on the weekends; the last time we went we had an absolute blast! It's really too bad Play was so disappointing, I really loved the idea of it. read more

I love gay clubs and Play is the best that I have been too. It is def. more guys than girls, but then again, they might call themselves girls! I always have a blast and look forward to the drag shows which are always jam packed. If you go, see if Micah can serve your drinks as he is very reasonable and very fast. read more

Cant believe I've been here sooo many times and haven't left a review. This place is one of our favorites in Nashville. It's so great having a spot everyone can go to and just be themselves without judgment. Several of my friends don't enjoy the fact that it's really not a "gay" club anymore but most of us love the fact that we can go out with straight as well as lgbtq friends and always have a great time! The dance floor is probably one of the best in Nashville, with great dj's that can turn almost any song into something amazing to dance to. Great lighting and energy. And gotta love their theme and foam parties!! Their drag show is always fun too. Playful but tasteful. My fiancé and I convinced her old school somewhat anti gay step father to come out and he really enjoyed it (though we couldn't convince him to stay and dance:) And their bartenders are some of the best in Nashville too. Never have to wait too long for a drink and ALWAYS super friendly and helpful. read more

Gosh, can I remember enough about my former life as an adorable, insane, drag-queen-tipping party girl before I had a baby and became old and un-fun? I'll try. When I moved to Nashville from Memphis, one of the first things I asked my then-boyfriend (now-husband) was, "Ooh, do y'all have a gay bar here??!" I always heard they were really cool. He confirmed and I asked if we could go sometime. Honestly, I wasn't sure if Straighty would be comfortable at one. He said "Sure!" and the next weekend there we were, at Play. We laughed along with the hilarious emcee and I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the drag show! I admit I led a sheltered, religious childhood. I had never seen a drag queen in person and really wasn't convinced they existed outside of movies. The show was high-energy and fun. The bartenders are hot hot and some take their shirts off through the course of the evening. The music is loud and fun. There is a limited amount of seating, so get there early for a decent seat or you'll be standing in a pair of heels for hours. After the show (or during, if you're feeling froggy), you go trough some double doors to another huge room that is a big dance floor with bars and raised seating around it. Music is loud and pumping and a large screen plays music videos. By this time I was always buzzed if not damn drunk, so the room had this ethereal feel to it and bodies just moved and wiggled indiscriminately. My favorite memory of Play was being taught by a very flamboyant guy how to do a good lap dance. Vodka flowing, cool music, a fun show, dancing and partying with strangers who treat you like their BFF? It doesn't get any better. We danced until 2 or 3 am and consequently visited Play many, many more times until I happily found out I was pregnant last year. Ah, those were the days of being young and carefree! I highly recommend it as a clean, safe, fun atmosphere. We were always treated wonderfully even though we were a straight couple at a "gay" bar. When they say "Everyone welcome," you feel like they mean it. read more

This was my first time to visit Play while visiting Nashville. I really liked the bar a lot. There are to different sides to the building, one side for the drag show and one that is a dance club. Although we did have a lot of fun at Play I will say that it is a lot more crowded than the gay bars from where I live. But, all in all it was a fun time! read more

I came here with a group of 1 other male and 6 females in 2011 for an entourage of 2 birthday parties in my group. Because I don't drink alcohol, I sat there and watched all the going-ons around me. My girlfriend and I were the 2 drivers, as 8 people wouldn't fit "comfortably" into 1 vehicle. We got there around 9pm on a wednesday, which was student night. I think we got in free or a severely discounted price. It's in a good location, and it was a lot of fun. A great first experience into this type of environment. read more

If I could do 3.5 stars for Play I would. I've been going to Play periodically since the doors first opened. I've had some pretty fun times there and some just "eh" times there. Although I think the difference is usually my mood and level of intoxication, not really anything to do with the place itself. If you're into the whole drag queen thing then this is your place. Personally, I am not too interested in all that and the drag bar area is always way too packed. The dance area is pretty big and looks pretty cool. I like that they have the DJ on the stage now and not up in the top corner. Sometimes the dance floor gets completely packed and your forced to bump into sweaty, half naked men. Sounds like heaven if you're a gay man, right? I wish instead of blowing smoke onto the dance floor they would blow out deodorant. There is nothing worse than trying to get your groove on and being nasal-y assaulted by someone else's funk. Eww. I personally think the barely legal-aged boys dancing around on the bar in their underwear is a bit much. It's kind of gross to watch 40+ aged men drooling all over a 19 yr old boy. Overall, Play is a place I like to come check out about once a year. I realize I'm old now (mid thirties) and I'm sure that has a lot to do with my opinions on the place. However, even if I was younger I could never give this place 5 stars because it will never be as fun or awesome as the mother club it was derived from, The Connection. Or as the regulars/locals called it, Connections. Gosh, I miss those times. :) read more

Absolutely not! My niece recently turned 21, and me being the cool aunt I am, I came here with her and some friends. Well, her boyfriend drove us and got a drink while he was there, however, being the responsible young man he is, he got a soda right after to sober up. When another one of their friends drank from the soda, a security guard came up and told him he had to leave. My niece then followed them to see what was up. They thought my nieces friend was drinking an alcoholic beverage and escorted him out, no questions asked. We tried to clear things up, but they wouldn't let us talk. My nieces boyfriend then went to the bar to get his credit card back, and they told him they didn't have it! Can you believe it? That's credit card fraud and identify theft if I've ever heard it! Don't give this place your business! They are stubborn and rude thiefs, and they give the LGBT community a bad name! Marcy out read more

My friend (who is gay) invited me one night to hang out at Play. I didn't watch the drag show but went over to where the dancing was happening. We danced to what seemed to be an endless playlist of 90's music including R Kelly's Ignition, seriously, they need a better DJ and better music, true club music that is. read more

Love Play! Came here for a bachelor party and had been here before. We love the differences in Nashville to our regular play home in louisville. Both have outstanding performers! I love the different personalities in the performers; songs like radioactive, not ready to make nice, my wish, strawberry wine, six inch heels! Slow, fast, emotional, fun, always great! Something for everyone. The dance floor is packed like sardine cans but isn't that what makes it more fun! Bathrooms were clean, bartenders have a decently heavy hand, and the door was quick and painless! Must for everyone loving life and wanting to enjoy their not typical Nashville honkey Tonk self! Aurora is very artistic and her outfit are on point! Princess is super super unique! We love when she visits louisville. Different songs and always new material. Akasha was from louisville play and we love her at home! Very talented! She can run into a split like no ones business and just has a beautiful confidence about her! Jayden Diore Fierce guested and was a Nashville Latrice but better if that possible! More sass less church mother but we do all love that about Latrice I know! In short: JUST GO!!!!! If you know it's a busy weekend, reserve a table; well worth it! read more

Play is a quint-essential gay bar. It has a main bar and stage area for the drag shows and nightly performances, and a separate room with a relatively large dance floor and other bars. Staff is always very nice and fast, and overall this is one of the cleaner gay bars that I have been to. On Wednesdays there is no cover for anyone with a student ID, and Friday and Saturday there is a $10 cover. The reason for 4 stars vs 5 is that I dont like paying the cover, but thats part of the industry I suppose. Overall, great gay bar in the Vanderbilt area. read more

This club was okay. It made me miss our queens back home but this was a good experience. I will say the downside her was the main bar was very busy and difficult to get to. That being said, it wasn't as difficult to get to as the stage was! You'd think that it'd be easy to tip the performers but not here. My advice? If you wanna tip them, get there early and stand as close to the stage as possible. Also, get your drink at the bar in the dance room! read more