Skull's Rainbow Room is tucked into historic Printers Alley, and the building is old in all the right ways, full of character and a little mystery, the kind of room that has stories in the walls. Add live jazz drifting through it and you have a night out that feels nothing like the usual Nashville scene. The service was the highlight. Our server Ian took great care of us from start to finish, warm, attentive, and knowledgeable without ever making us feel rushed. The whole team was dialed in, but Ian made us feel like regulars on our very first visit. The food more than kept up. My pork chop was enormous and cooked beautifully, and my wife's empanadas and salad were just as good. The cocktails were fine, not quite the star of the show, but with food and atmosphere this good I did not mind one bit. read more

How do you search for: A funky good time where I can listen to Jazz, drink a few libations and have a good steak? Skull's Rainbow Room checks all the boxes. Nashville is a music town, throw a rock and you'll find a great spot at a bar playing music. Some of the bars have a stage where bands are jammin'! I'm looking for something different, something more contemporary, live jazz and a speakeasy feel. Skull's Rainbow Room delivered. Walking up to Printer's Alley, it's already giving off speakeasy vibes. I did my classic move, Get to the restaurant early and tell the waitress I'm so hungry and promise I won't be here all night. Man... I was set up with a great table and was told I have less than two hours. (I mean, I am Bill S from New York, I can be quite persuasive) My waiter comes over, we start talking about the east coast, how he misses New Jersey but loves his new home in Nashville. I order a martini and thick Prime Rib cut along with a side of truffle mashed potatoes. My drink comes out quickly and now I am in the jazz zone. These guys rocked it! Great music along with strong cocktails, I laugh and say to myself: I'm getting paid to be here! My steak comes to the table very quickly. Man this steak cut is a thing of beauty. The au jus with a bite of the truffle mashed potato, heaven. Now the piano player start playing The Love Theme from The Godfather?? Am I in heaven or.. are they trying to seduce me to the other side as I order another cocktail? Just a fantastic night, from the music to the food and libations at Skull's Rainbow Room. My waiter says, it's been two hours, would you like your drink brought to the bar? I declined as I paid my check. Skull's Rainbow Room is a must stop when in Nashville. You can check out any time you want.. but you can never leave! read more

Skull's Rainbow Room - Prime Rib - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Great service, exciting vibe, fabulous music. Im transported back in time . But not by the prices lol Skull's Rainbow Room in Nashville's historic Printers Alley first opened in 1948. The legendary venue is 78 years old.While originally established by David "Skull" Schulman, the venue closed in 1999 following his death, but was meticulously restored and officially reopened in 2015. read more

Skull's Rainbow Room - Dover scallops - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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A beloved institution been going since 1948 I guess it opened a little after World War 2. The prime rib is the best you will ever try. Service is outstandingly great. Get a reservation period. read more

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We arrived at 545 pm for a reservation for 3 on a Sunday evening. We were seated immediately and the waitress was very friendly. We ordered the eggplant appetizer that arrived topped with crawfish and it was delicious. It was a crispy and the crawfish were tender and the creaminess went well with the crisp of the eggplant. I also ordered the pork chop because I will consistently choose pork over beef. This dish was mammoth. The pork was cooked perfectly at medium temperature and it was juicy and tender. The edges were a tad charred and it made me excited for the next bite. It came with a bacon jam on top and it was basically finely chopped bacon with some additional sweet and savory ingredients. The tables sit very high so if you are short (which does not describe me) you may have a hard time cutting your food. The music was a nice touch and not your typical country option that you find most other places. The bathrooms are single bathrooms and unisex. Overall this was a cool spot and I would definitely return again. read more

Skull's Rainbow Room - Eggplant appetizer - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Such a fun experience at this establishment! Booked a late table to have drinks and a snack while enjoying the burlesque show. The service was excellent, and the show was very entertaining. This is a smaller venue so it's very intimate, and all of the performers (singers, bands, dancers) are all phenomenal. Highly recommend visiting here if you are in town! read more

Skull's Rainbow Room - Fun old menu inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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We made early reservations for a date night when we were in Nashville and this place did not disappoint. We ordered the pork rib empanadas, the rack of lamb, braised short rib, and a side of brussel sprouts. Everything was sooo good, my date said that was one of the best rack of lamb they've had. Our dinners came with the mashed potato's and a zucchini medley. The drinks were also really good, and they had blue cheese stuffed olives for the dirty martini, my fav! The service was great and everything came out pretty fast. We sat right next to the stage where they had a guy playing piano that night and it wasn't too loud, we were able to have conversation still just fine. I'd 100% come back here. read more

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Iconic old speakeasy feeling place. Make reservation for dining . Began with a bottle of Kim Crawford Sauvignon blanc. Started with a wedge salad & escargot appetizer - very good ! For entree shared lamb chops ,with mashed potatoes , mixed veggies. Was excellent . Nitecap was a mighty strong White Russian . 20 plus minute wait for restroom - only downer band was ok read more

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This place is epic! The live music, the drinks and the food were next level. One recommendation is to make a reservation in advance! We were lucky enough to score 2 seats at the bar after a last minute stop in for some beverages and stayed for the rest of the night. We tried many different cocktails and even enjoyed a delicious glass of wine with our steak we ordered for dinner. They had an excellent selection of both. We were starved so we ordered some Prime Rib Empanadas to start that were excellent! The cook was perfect and the flavor was amazing. We decided to stay for dinner instead of going someplace else since we were having so much fun and ordered a NY Strip side of asparagus. The steak was cooked to perfection exactly as we ordered it. The bar tender was top notch and provided the best bar service I have ever had and the place was packed! Kudos to this team on providing amazing service. It was fun to see that there were so many people that were clearly regulars. As an out of town visitor that speaks to a establishment that is so close to tourist hot spots that bring in that many regulars. After my experience I can see why people keep coming back. Can't wait for my next visit to Nashville this will be on my must go back list! read more

Skull's Rainbow Room - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Great drinks! Can't beat the ambiance. Love the dark, speakeasy vibe. Friendly staff and of course, great live piano on tap! Definitely worth the hype. read more

Skull's Rainbow Room - Stage - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Im giving this place a 4 only because I didn't try any of the food, otherwise Iikely would give it a 5. A local recommended this place describing it as a jazz bar, and Im so glad she did. Away from Broadway, this place already felt more calm and like a place people could enjoy music in the city without the rowdy crowds. The staff was very friendly and luckily we went early enough to find seats as its pretty difficult to get seats at the bar, especially on weekends. I did however notice the bartenders would try to find people seats or ask people no longer drinking to give up their seat for someone that was. This felt like a nice gesture to accommodate all guests. In terms of drinks, my favorite was the rainbow room. It was a very light tasting drink with more of a pineapple flavor profile making it really easy to drink. It wasnt too sweet and the ginger gave it warm balance. Next time I am in town I definitely would come back here and make a dinner reservation as any food I did see looked really good. read more

Skull's Rainbow Room - Rainbow Room - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Came here one night and didn't have a reservation , the hostess was kind of rude. I made a reservation for the next night. We were early and this hostess was friendlier. We wanted a change of scenery from the honkytonk bars of Broadway. There was an amazing jazz band playing but the surrounding tables were so loud we couldn't really enjoy them. Cool ambiance. We had already eaten so we got the chocolate mousse cake which was very good. I would recommend checking out. read more

Skull's Rainbow Room - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Enjoyed the burlesque show! A fun time and would definitely go again. The production was great including the live music, dancing, and outfits. All the girls were fantastic! I did not eat but the food looked really good. read more

4.5 for Skulls! This place is amazing. The service was great. Me and my fiancé are getting married next week and they gave us complimentary champagne. We started off with the lobster bisque and the Cesar salad. The Caesar salad was just your regular salad but the lobster bisque was very rich and tasteful. They had a lot of options whenever it came to cocktails and beer as well. For our meal we split a NY Strip with mashed potatoes. I'm usually a ribeye guy but I will say the steak was cooked to perfection. Melted in your mouth and the butter they used was spectacular. The mashed potatoes I thought were a little dry but my fiancé loved them. You can feel the history when you walk into this place. The piano playing in the background is lovely. We will be back! read more

Don't miss out! Amazing experience, live music, outstanding food, atmosphere and service. Kudos to Emily and the Sous Chef Noah! Would definitely come back when in town. read more

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This place is a blast. We started our evening there at 9pm where we got to listen to a young woman perform and an ageless lady perform. At 11, the burlesque started. They were performing a murder mystery show and the audience was allowed to participate (within reason: never touch a performer, folks). The food was brilliant, some of the best I've had in decades. The service was great. The waitress was really on the ball. read more

Great food, drinks and service in a room full of talent. The setting could not have been better. This place gets extremely busy so look for reservation. During show times it's standing room only. Musicians were great and the food was spectacular. This place is definitely a showman style bar and it's not the environment where I would generally expect to find incredible food. Prime Rib was honestly the thickest cut I have even seen and truffle fries were amazing. Definitely 5 stars and should be on your list of things to do in Nashville. read more

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Very cool vibe and great Jazz music while eating dinner. I wish they had a ribeye on the menu but settled for the prime rib. Food was good and service was great. It's worth a visit in Printers Alley. read more

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a hidden gem in Printer's Alley with a few surprises beyond the food and beverage. Exceptional Service.

Ordered the chicken and scallops was juicy, extremely tender and flavorful best chicken ever had at a restaurant. All the sides are huge ginormous portions.. you get a vegetable medley with your dinner. We did not know that in ordered brussels sprouts on the side no need to order extra you get enough with your dinner. The brussels sprouts were a little dry, needed more juice or broth.. service was exceptional very attentive, knowledgeable from Food to alcohol recommendations were spot on an excellent. The decor was beautiful, shiny , sparkly, speakeasy, flair, and old world style preserving the history of the building. The entertainers are so talented and gifted It blew us away and was such a blessing to be able to have experience this iconic establishment. read more

Skull's Rainbow Room - Scallops mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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This place doesn't need another raving review, but I'm going to write one anyway. We had an amazing time. As soon as I heard about this place and read the reviews, I knew it'd be a great experience, and it immediately went onto the list. I was looking for live music and a great Nashville experience, and this totally fit the bill. The pictures of the prime rib and pork chop made it obvious what was for dinner over a month in advance. Reservations are available 2 weeks ahead of time, so I waited up until midnight to snag a spot. Unfortunately, on Saturdays, the only options seemed to be 5:30pm or 9pm, so I ended up with a 9pm reservation. I didn't realize how well this would work out; we ended up staying for the burlesque show, which started at 11pm, was entertaining, and a great first experience for us out-of-towners. We got apps from another restaurant and showed up at 9pm for our reservation and were seated quickly and efficiently. The vibe was very cool and we were instantly drawn in by the lively music and ambiance. We got our planned meals: the prime rib, with sides of mac and cheese and lemon pepper asparagus, and the pork chop, which came with mashed potatoes and sauteed zucchini and summer squash. The mashed potatoes were probably the best side out of all, the lemon pepper asparagus was delicious and well seasoned, the zucchini and summer squash were light and paired well with the savory pork chop, and the mac and cheese was fantastic though I would've liked an extra pinch of salt. However, the stars were easily the prime rib and pork chop - holy cow. They were massive, perfectly cooked, and so good. My guy has had his fair share of prime ribs and said this was one of, if not, the best he's ever had. We were both blown away by our meals! We ended with the lemon butter cake, which was the perfect ending to our meal. I thought the cake would just have some lemon flavor, but there was maybe a lemon glaze on top that was clearly made in-house with lemon juice. It was such a refreshing, tart bite at the end of a delectable meal and we were overall surprised by the execution at Skull's. Service was attentive, thoughtful, and consistent. Cocktails were fantastic and read as simple on the menu but had great flavor and balance. Definitely worth the visit and would recommend to anyone visiting the area! read more

It's the quintessential historical bar. Lots of history to discover. We loved it so much, we came here three times on our trip! The music is phenomenal, and definitely don't miss their burlesque show! It was amazing entertainment and so high end. Scott and Bruno are amazing bartenders! Scott makes a great sour (the egg white is so frothy and perfect, and no ice chips to be found) and Bruno has all the best recommendations for places to visit (his drinks are great too). They made our trip extra fun and special. What a great experience. Definitely come here if you're in Nashville! read more

We stumbled into Skull's Rainbow Room on a Tuesday night during our Nashville trip just for drinks, and honestly had no idea what we were walking into. Felt like walking into a speakeasy. Low light, cozy atmosphere and our bartender Alan was so genuine and passionate about the place that he sold us on coming back for dinner the next night. Best decision of the whole trip. The food was absolutely outstanding. The wedge salad with blue cheese dressing was one of the best I've had, crisp, fresh, and that dressing was exceptional. The beef carpaccio was elegant and flavorful, though I wouldn't have minded a more generous portion of beef. The bread box was... let's call it a unique experience. But none of that mattered once the scallops hit the table, perfectly seared, melt in your mouth with creamy mashed potatoes and beautifully prepared vegetables. And then the prime rib. Oh. The prime rib. That crust. The flavor. I genuinely don't have the words. It's the kind of dish you think about long after you've left the table. Alan, thank you for not letting us just walk out that first night without convincing us to come back. You made our Nashville trip unforgettable. We'll be back. read more

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I felt like this business did us wrong with the burlesque show. They sell standing room tickets for the show and they oversell way the space. It is your problem if you can't find a spot where you can see the show and MANY of us had that issue. We left after one dance because we were so uncomfortable. The talent looked skilled and the bartender was so great. 5 stars for them! read more

Server was great. Ambiance was great. Location was easy. Food was off the charts. Live pianist was great. All great.

I was excited to eat here again as it was to die for the first time around. Tonight I think it dropped the ball in the kitchen. The service and ambiance was fantastic, doesn't get any better. We tried a few dishes, 1.prime rib-Absolutely delicious 2.Lamb rack-burned black solid on the outside-wasn't the only rack to come out that way that night, disappointing Sides Mac n cheese-dry and dull Brussels-good Mashed potatoes-nothing stood out about them Peanut butter pie-Devine For the reputation and price point, this place has to always hit the mark and regardless of how much I love this place, it was a bit of a let down. read more

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We stumbled across this place as a last resort for Easter brunch, and I am so glad we did. The band that accompanied our brunch was top notch and really perfected our meal. The service really made us feel one of a kind, which is hard to do in today's environment. read more

There were very few reservations, and we ended up getting the first seating at 5 o'clock. We were seated right away in a booth that we requested, and our server came up quickly to take our drink orders. After that, we placed our food order, but it took almost 45 minutes to receive our food, which seemed excessive. We did not order an appetizer, and no was offered/ availableof bread. Recommending an appetizer might help, but I'm not sure if we would show up any sooner. The bar was very full. The piano player did a great job. The food was excellent, but it felt like it took too long to arrive. The price was reasonable. read more

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Got seated right next to the famous checked stage, and the live music was great and engaging! The food is also pretty solid: ordered a wedge salad and NY prime steak. The steak was flavorful, tender, and not too salty. It's amazing that such a historic venue is still busy on a Wednesday evening. Heard this place gets pretty packed on the weekends, so would recommend coming here on weekdays as no reservation was needed! read more

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Flavio, Ethan and Carissa were absolutely amazing! There was a leak over our table but they quickly pivoted and re-sat us. The food was FANTASTIC, and the service was top notch. This was my second time here and it just gets better! Such a wonderful experience and fabulous staff. read more

Skull's Rainbow Room - Filet, asparagus, lobster mashed potatoes, pork chop. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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We had a horrible eggplant appetizer that we told the waiter about. He said sorry maybe next time you come back it will be better. Also prime rib came over done. Again too bad was the response from the waiter . Don't appreciate being argued with concerning the bill. After spending over 600.00 the waiter could have cared less. Extremely disappointing. Brought friends from out of state. They were not impressed. There were taxes upon taxes added to the bill. Absolutely criminal how they hide the prices until the bill came. Asked for the manager. Never came by read more

Wow! Phenomenal experience from the music to the cool vibe, awesome bartenders and delicious food. A friend who lives here recommended it when on a visit and it was the best! Literally the most delicious pork chop I've ever had. Highly recommend. Make reservations because it was packed on a Tuesday! We lucked out and got seats at the bar. read more

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Our group except for the 21 year old loved the ambiance of the skull room. Felt like a 1920's supper club . We stayed for the Burlesque show. Very entertaining. Food was amazing. Had the Prime Rib and truffle mashed potatoes. Didn't even need a knife to cut the steak. Wine options and drinks (Rainbow drink) was delicious. Make reservations in advance if you can. We got lucky to find a reservation same day for 8pm. We stayed after dinner and hung out against the wall for the 11pm Burlesque show . Make a late reservation if you want to sit at a table to see the show sitting. They made my daughter's 21st birthday special with amazing birthday desserts and a candle. Definitely go for a special occasion or an entertaining night. The music style felt like 1940's to 60's genre. Relaxing and peaceful. read more

Skull's Rainbow Room - Birthday dessert - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Delicious food. Dark, vibey, loud ambiance. Has Uncle Nearest whiskey! Solid service. Would recommend. read more

Skull's Rainbow Room - Salmon and (undercooked) brussel sprouts. Salmon was delicious - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Ok, so not everyone thinks Nashville = jazz! But this is one of my favorite night clubs in Nashville. It's a nice relief to get off "the strip" The music is always phenomenal, and the food! Let me just say yumm! I had the scallops which were perfectly seared and delicious. Bruno, one of their amazing bartenders makes a mean cocktail, or you can go dealers choice and let them come up with something that won't disappoint. A definite must! But reservations are highly recommended or you'll probably end up standing room only. read more

We celebrated my friend's birthday and the service was top notch. We were greated by Nathan was absolutely so kind. Our server Carissa was so attentive, and just the sweetest. She treated my friend to a bday surprise. The manger Flavio also came to our table and told us stories and history about Skulls. All 3 of them made the experience unforgettable. The good was so amazing, I took Carissa's recommendations and it was absolutely delicious. The music set the vibe and the venue was beautiful. I highly recommend. read more

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Great experience! Highly recommend. Food, service, and ambience were great. The dancers and entertains were amazing and fun. read more

Skull's Rainbow Room - Cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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While visiting Nashville, this restaurant/bar kept popping up as a can't miss experience and they were spot on! I made reservations a week ahead of time for 7:30pm on a Saturday. We were seated right away by the stage that had incredible live music. The interior is dark , spooky, and romantic. We ordered a Bossa Nova cocktail that was fantastic ! We ordered the lobster bisque and the eggplant. The lobster bisque was top 3 of the best I've ever had! The eggplant was so delicious and crispy. I ordered the Fiver scallops for dinner and they were just as incredible as the rest of the food! Our server was also amazing and very attentive. An absolute gem if a place! read more

We visited to celebrate our 28th anniversary, and unfortunately, left feeling embarrassed and disrespected. During our meal, complimentary champagne was brought to the table. As my husband doesn't drink, I allowed my 18-year-old daughter to have a small sip of his glass. The server approached us in a rude and condescending manner, speaking to us as though we were being intentionally difficult, despite us being nothing but polite and courteous throughout. We apologized and were warned that if she had another sip, we would be asked to leave. She did not have another sip, yet the server still returned with the manager regardless. I fully understand that underage drinking is taken seriously, and we respect that. However, allowing our 18-year-old daughter a single sip of champagne is hardly the same situation, and the response from staff felt entirely disproportionate. Shortly after, our original waiter disappeared entirely and we were assigned someone new without any explanation. The shift in service was noticeable and uncomfortable, and made the rest of the evening feel unwelcoming. For a table that spent over $250 and remained kind and respectful throughout the entire experience, we felt the situation was handled with very little professionalism or grace. To top it off, the food itself was underwhelming for the price point. We had higher expectations given the cost, and the meal simply didn't deliver. As locals, this was not our first time dining out in the area and it certainly won't be our last, just not here. There are far better restaurants nearby that actually value their customers, and that is where we will be taking our business going forward. Overall a very disappointing way to spend a special anniversary. We won't be returning and would encourage others to keep this experience in mind. read more

I love Skulls for dinner. But BRUNCH was a no for us. And yes, inside was still dark during brunch. We were excited to check out the brunch because we all enjoy dinner at Skulls. We were pretty disappointed in our food. We got 2 orders of beignets, some were hallow some were thick and doughy. My prime rib was so salty. I took it home to cook and add in a salad, still salty. The salmon was fishy. The shrimp and grits were good but because the grits were fried cakes the sauce didn't go into the grits, so it was dry. The cocktails for brunch tasted like juice. Service that day also wasn't the best. Maybe they should just stick to dinner. read more

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