The Pond is a self described dive bar located in a strip mall area in Franklin Tennessee. I like to patronize places that aren't chains and aren't super popular spots when I travel, as I enjoy being around common folks in areas that I go to. The Pond doesn't disappoint. It is exactly what one would expect when seeking a dive bar atmosphere. A little ratty, a little rowdy and a whole lot of fun. The coup de grace was they had Guinness on tap, which was completely unexpected. We traveled to Franklin looking for an alternative to Broadway in Nashville on our first night in town. It is worth the trip. Franklin is a very old town with great old architecture and buildings over 200 years old that still look stunning. The Pond was the real reason for my drive down although it was our last stop on our tour of Franklin. The staff was friendly, the Hamburger and fries was delicious, and the beer was cold. They have many options to choose from on tap. They have Darts inside and a couch you'd find down in your friends basement that he found on a tree bank trash day, but that simply adds to the dive bar charm. We stayed for one drink and the burger as we were exhausted from a red eye flight the night before. If you're looking for a dive bar that stays open late and apparently gets packed as the night goes on, this is the spot for you. Most places close early in Franklin, so this is apparently the after hours spot that everyone ends up going to when all other options are closed. The Pond reminded me of a few dive bar spots in Vegas, and I have to recommend you pay them a visit, if for no other reason, just to say you've been there. read more

The Pond - Guinness - so delicious - Music Venues Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

See all

Great service and awesome atmosphere , would definitely recommend visiting. The drinks were great and prices were great.

Bartender was rude as fuck and then Denied me entry because my ID had a small crack in it. Recently moved here- was my first time at The Pond. Will not return. read more

Service was very mediocre. I sat at bar and was ignored until I waived down the bartender. It was not busy. Bartender was more interested in talking with coworkers and flirting with them than taking care of me. If service is poor and everything else is perfect , I'm still not coming back. Service should be a priority and it is lacking here. read more

We had some time to kill before our reservations for dinner & found this local pub via a Reddit post. We were thrilled to find Buffalo Trace, a cool/casual space, and a board game that had been revamped by the team. We were super early so no live music yet, but we will def be coming back to check it out in the future. Had such a good time hanging out here! We didn't order any food, but looked like some solid options! read more

The Pond - a little fun pub game & buffalo trace - Music Venues Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

See all

Dope spot to have right by the in-laws house after long days around the holidays. Vintage vibe with a niche feel

Called to make sure they would have Karaoke on a Thursday night and was told they would begin at 9:00. Unfortunately the karaoke never happened. Bar employees didn't really know what was going on. They seemed to spend a couple of hours working on the stage lights instead. However, the bar service was fine and drinks were reasonably priced. read more

Great little dive bar with good beer and friendly staff . It's a little small, and they have a little area out back.,

This is a great local bar in Franklin. Stopped in last night for some live music and to catch the Alabama game. Great bar food - we had the cheeseburgers and jalapeño poppers. Burger was juicy and cooked perfect and the poppers were great! The bar has a 'dive bar' feel in a good way. The regulars are fun and bar tenders are fast and friendly. Definitely the place to stop in Franklin for a cold beer and to catch some live music or watch the game read more

I come to the pond almost everyday after work. It is absolutely a great place to just relax and have a drink and meet some great different people from locals to traveling souls! You gotta try the patty melt it's a must have and play some darts and listen to some unique bands on the weekends! read more

Great little spot and super cool staff! Music, darts, back porch... What more do you need out of a local cheers spot??? read more

The Pond - a woman behind the bar at a liquor shop - Music Venues Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

It used to have more character, but it is fine. My big complaint is the overwhelming amount of Alabama pictures and photos. I don't like Alabama, but that's not even the point. How stupid of a business person do you have to be to limit your clientele? I own a business and I allow zero stickers or tags of any team. So dumb. read more

Easily my favorite bar! I can't wait until they're open again. Great food and even better staff. read more

See all

Love love love this bar, the atmosphere, the people it brings in. The bartenders are all awesome such a laid back environment definitely a hidden gem. We all enjoy it here!!!! Try Eddie's eggs!!! read more

See all

I've been going to this bar regularly for the majority of its existence, and there's not another place in Franklin like it. The bartenders are always friendly and treat people like friends, not just customers. The regulars are like family, and I've met some of my best friends here. If you're nice and want to get along with a great group of people, everyone here will make you feel like you fit right in. They also make a great burger and fries! read more

A great local dive bar with exceptional service and a warm, welcoming atmosphere! I would highly recommend stopping in to check it out!

NON SMOKERS BEWARE: there is smoking, so if you're sensitive to it, you might not want to visit, but I still think you should! What a killer dive bar! This place is the epitome of a great dive bar, small, funky, and awesome! They do trivia and karaoke on certain nights of the week and it's always a blast! The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable about all your beer and alcohol questions. This place is just a blast and I highly recommend it to everyone wanting a cheap, cold beer! read more

The Pond in Franklin is a bar and venue with a space similar to Douglas Corner Cafe in Nashville.The room is long and narrow with a bar along one wall at the back and the stage at the far end of the room. The entrance and hallway run the length of the side of the room opposite the bar. The chairs and tables are pub style wooden chairs. The Vibe is really a 'local bar' kinda vibe. It doesn't feel like a dive, but as far as Franklin, TN is concerned it probably is a dive since they don't have marble floors. I like the bar, it is really relaxed. They have a pretty good event calendar which includes the Music City Burlesque troop occasionally. They also host a 'bike' night so you can cruise on over with your motorcycle, park and have an evening of fun with other bikers. Bands from Nashville definitely have this bar in their circuit of places to play too. read more

I went to the Pond with my husband. When we walked in the bartender acknowledged us immediately. We ordered beers and then decided to order dinner. I got the fish and chips and my husband got chicken tenders. The chicken tenders were great, but the fish was the best I've tasted in Nashville/Franklin. I love fried fish and The Pond is now my go to place for fish! Loved the decor too! read more

Sometimes you wanna go where every body knows your name and that place is The Pond. Super friendly atmosphere-variety of beer and full bar. Depending on if live music is your thing you can stay later those nights. Coolest, sweetest staff and regulars that made me feel right at home. East Nashville vibes right in Franklin! read more

Thick thick thick with stinky cigarette smoke. Dark. Small. Maybes half dozen regulars inside. Menu at the front said to ask the bartender if they're serving burgers. I proceeded to the bar. After standing their several minutes unacknowledged. I decided the kitchen is probably filthy anyways & walked out. Bartender at a different place I ended up eating at said it's really just for regulars & he's yet to figure out what the stain on the couch is. Great candidate for bar rescue. Not sure how they stay open or have such a great rating. read more

Good time! Burgers as chicken tenders were cooked perfectly and had great flavor. Live music was excellent and service was fabulous!

Forever loving you guys! All the regulars drinking at the park lol!!!! We will be back! I will get my mic ultra again!! read more

The Pond - The pond substitution! One day we will be back! We will always support you guys!! For now we are hanging out at the park! - Music Venues Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

The Pond is like if Cheers were cool, and had amazing music. What i mean is that the regulars at The Pond are like a family. In fact one year a bunch of us who didn't have anywhere to go had thanksgiving together at one of the regular's house. The Pond is your best bet for music in Franklin, and even most of Nashville. Many now popular acts have graced the stage at the pond. Hell Justin Townes Earl used to play there every wednesday for a month or two straight before the release of his first record. I have also seen Tommy Crane play there several times. The staff has always been top notch since the start. Co-Owner Justin Martin has an amazing musical and beer palette. The Pond is where I learned to love craft beers. I discovered many great breweries from Sweetwater, to Terrapin, Rogue, and many others. Also Justin has helped invent some amazing mixed drinks. My favorite being what is called "Flick The Minnow". This drink is possibly my favorite mixed drink ever... I have many fond memories being a musician who has played there many times myself. For a long period of time I ran an open mic there which became quite popular. Many amazing artists used to attend this random tuesday open mic, such as Kristen Cothron, Joel Meeks, Kara Langer, Peter Wells, Boomer Castleman, and many more. I will also note I once set their stage on fire by accident. I used to take a joke shot on stage (which originally started as a dare from justin)... It was a mixture of half 151 and half tabasco sauce lit on fire... Well one time it was filled too high, and it drizzled over lighting my hand on fire... I then dropped the shot on the stage and yeah... Another time I took 6 of those shots, which are called Satan's Taints on stage. The Pond's atmosphere is dark yet cozy... Lots of amazing artwork from local artist's and some from Justin himself adorn the walls. Most of the artwork is also for sale. One thing I really respected about the pond was that they normally hired quite capable sound guys. Something very few bars tend to do. This comes from Justin's understanding of quality when it comes to music. I think a downfall of a lot of bars is their lack of quality control when it comes to music. Hunter S. Thompson is quoted as saying "Good people drink good beer." This one sentence pretty much sums up the pond. read more

Franklin's Melting Pot. I love it. Every sector of the people-watching rainbow is represented at the Pond. You've got crotchety old men huddled over their beers watching sports highlights at the bar. You've got some serious big-booty sistas "dropping it like its hot" to early 90's hip-hop. You've got 20-something gay boys making out on a couch I would hate to see under a blacklight. You've got your karaoke crew, showing up every Thursday night to sing the same songs to the pumping fists of the same crowd. (One guy ABSOLUTELY SLAYS that song by the Darkness that used to be popular in the mid-2000's) You've got the whole cast of characters. I see the same faces there every night. They exchange hugs, smile, catch up with each other, and of course they do a bunch of shots. You've got some of the friendliest bartenders in the business (and I've been in a LOT of bars in a LOT of different towns). Seriously, these guys/girls know how to make you feel welcome. You've got the merchandise. The beer selection is pretty darn good. Lots of New Belgium stuff on tap, but I generally rock a Laughing Skull. Yuengling is usually on special for about $2.50. Lots of different bottles of liquor on the wall, the ladies seem to love the Tennessee Honey by Jack Daniels. You've got the decor. The vintage tap-handles on the ceiling and the Marilyn Monroe paintings on the South wall get a thumbs-up. The tattoo flash koi logo is everywhere. Kind of Ed Hardy-esque so thumbs down. read more

Pulled in with a crew of 11 after a hot day on bikes. Bartender was awesome and felt at home in an instant. Also gave us directions and recommendations for next refreshment stops. read more

The Pond - Music Venues Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

See all

Unbelievably cool hidden gem in a strip mall in Franklin of all places. And when I say hidden I really mean it because being unfamiliar with the area I almost couldn't find it. Was my GPS on the fritz? Wouldn't be the first time. No, it's there, it just isn't readily visible from Hillsboro road. Even the second time I went I still had a hard time finding it. The inside is dark, almost dingy, and unfortunately really smokey. That last part is real turnoff for me but the charm of this place is still worth it. I've been here for a couple of "Saturday Night Specials" and I've seen everything from an attractive suicide girl dancing with a hula hoop to a full on burlesque ensemble to a live band and also several amateur comedians. Maybe it was the abundance of booze (we'll get to that in a minute) but I've laughed uproariously every time I've been there. The host/MC of the Saturday special, Randy, is also rather funny. You can check on Facebook for the particular lineup every week. The shows are supposed to start at 10 but in my experience they are always start late. It is best to arrive early because by 10 the place has always been standing room only and on one Saturday I was there the place hit capacity. It's really not that big. The ambiance of this place is really great in a WTF kind of way. I think another yelper said the inside looks like what you would expect in a high school party basement and I couldn't agree more. There a few tables and several couches... it's kind of strange but it all works. Be careful if you are drinking anything other than beer because the drinks are stronger than what you pour yourself at home. Bourbon on the rocks? Okay. Here is a whole glass of bourbon and a couple ice cubes. It's easy to get twisted quick, fast, and in a hurry. I can't see myself going here every weekend but this place is a fantastic change of pace to do something out of the ordinary and is totally worth the long trek down to the butthole of Franklin. read more

I showed up, there was a Burlesque show going on, place was flooded with non-regulars that were there for the show (I know because I was one and recognized several people). Awkwardly placed stage causes the entrance to the place to feel like you're entering either a haunted house or a low-budget gentleman's establishment. Mixed drinks looks like they were jack and jack that had been passed by coke once and got a drop or two... table I sat at with some friends had paint-thinner strength whiskey with a slight tinge of coke faintly evident. Looks as though they give you the alcohol and you get to bring your own coke. The wings were meh I am told. They honestly looked a shade of orange I have never seen chicken. More like giant meat-shaped carrots. Smoking is allowed, evidently encouraged. I dug the place, I didn't spend much time there, but it was the type of place I would go to again, and want to go to when it's a nicer day. Finding the place for the first time is a bit of a wandering parking lot adventure... if you pull in the Kroger(or Dollar General) entrance, just head toward the back and it's the last mini strip on the left. read more

Ok so I would have never have known this place was here if I hadn't locked my keys in my truck at Kroger. I saw an open sign, came in and fell in love. Really friends bar back, after picking on me, made me some strong drinks, the music was amazing. They had one of the best bluegrass bands playing I've heard in awhile. Super comfy couches, large bar area and great locals made me fell like I was home. It's a dive bar dream come true. if your looking for some good ol people, some kick ass tunes, and a cold beer, swing in here, I do every time I'm in town. *note if your a bleach blonde yoo hoo girl go to tin roof where you'll find your people..... read more

Who knew the Frank-diddy had dive bars? I guess its a left over relic from when Franklin used to actually be a farming community? Either way, very nicely done dive efforts Franklin, I really like this dodgy place. Couches I'd be scared to sit on? Check. Mediocre entertainment nights? Check. A well-priced well-drink (see what I did there?) that is pretty much booze and more booze? Check. Horrid food you'd only want to eat after 4 of aforementioned strong drinks? Aaaaaaand check. (to be fair my friends ordered the sicker bar items, there were some a'ight looking things up for grabs) After finding the place in a strip mall parking lot, making my way past ID check and pulling up a wobbly chair with my shot strength bourbon I tremendously enjoyed the people watching and random stuff on the walls. Oh, yeah - there was a show that night too on a tiny little stage so I imagine they have regular shows, but the real show is the bar and patrons itself. If I lived in the 'burbs this would be my place fo' sho'. read more

As far as Franklin goes - this is the closest thing to a Dive bar that you'll find. They have some couches - some bar tables, and a nice L shaped bar that almost always has a few people around it drinking PBR. There's also a deck out back with a dart board and a couple picnic tables. Dont come into the Pond thinking you're going to get some froofroo frozen drinks - you should really stick to beer, or maybe a simple mixed drink. You'll feel out of place if you dont! It's a great place to go when you're fed up with Franklin pretentiousness and just want to kick back with a PBR (or a Yingling) and hang with some friends. read more

Since a friend and I got off work early on Friday, we decided to get our nails done. Of course, this is a holiday weekend so there was a wait to get our nails and pedicure done. So, my friend suggested we get a quick drink at here. It was great! I had a great time! This place reminded me of Courtyard Cafe (a neighborhood bar reminiscent of Cheers). It was a place where everyone knows your name. Although there was only 5 people there (keep in mind, we were there around 3:30), it was great! I would definitely recommend this place for a low-key great time! read more

Unbelievable 1200 Taps... great owner and friendly people.... a true Dive Bar you're going to love read more

The Pond - The Pond is our new favorite Dive Bar in Franklin TN. Over 1200 taps - Music Venues Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

We were in the mood for a low key spot and absolutely loved this place. I've bet I've passed it a few hundred times and never knew it was there. Very cool staff that made us feel like regulars right away. Speaking of regulars, the other patrons were equally as friendly and easy to feel right at home with. Great selections, good live tunes, laid back vibe all around. Not many places around like this one! We will definitely be going back! read more

My favorite bar in franklin. Cowboy bar by day, rock and roll bar by night. Friendly and comfy, couches and a great stage. And darts!! Lots of beers on tap. read more

The Pond - Eddie! - Music Venues Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

This is my neighborhood bar. Have had nothing but great experiences here, no matter the weird request (I like room temperature beer). Staff is friendly and it seems like one of those comfortable bars you want to keep coming to. read more

Let me put it simply... You don't know The Pond, and I'm somewhat glad you don't. Why? Because it's the best bar you will ever visit in your life. Remember every movie you ever watched? Every show you've ever seen? Any story you have ever heard about a bar? Well it happened here. Stories that should happen on Friday nights are carved in stone on Tuesday's at The Pond. You met the love at your life at The Pond. You realized the purpose of your life at this bar. You went in one time and left a regular. This bar, sir, is owned and operated by the best people life has to offer. To put it simply, this is that bar everyone has told you about. Good times, good friends, and you can actually smoke indoors. - Great selection of drafts - Any liquor you would need and desire - All food is made with love - Service that makes high class restaurants jealous - Did I mention it's all the best price you can get in this state? Like I said, I hope you don't find this place. It's the diamond in the rough that Jafar was looking for all along. If you got that last reference, you should go to this bar right now. read more

This is my first review and what a better place to review. If you are looking for a bar that is more friendly than Cheers go to the Pond. I don't know which is better the customers who accept you as a friend during your first beer or the bartenders that when you sit at the bar on your second calls you by name and puts your beer in front of you. Then you have to take into consideration all of the old taps on the ceiling that will take you down memory lane or the great music mix from the bartenders set list that shows you a great insight to their personality. It could also be just how there are so many people from different parts of life with such great stories. It may take a little time for me to figure out my favorite thing about the Pond or you can go, write your own review and give me your thoughts. I found this place on Yelp and was so happy I did, I bet you will too. read more

I've been to quite a few dive bars in my time, and I'm not sure this qualifies, but if that's what they want to be classified as, hell, we're cool! Great little spot in a nondescript strip mall. You have to be looking for it and know the address, or trust me, you won't find it. We walked in on a Sunday morning about 11:45 and we were the only ones in there. Nice bartender, very talkative and friendly. I had a bloody Mary and my husband was drinking Miller Lite and Rolling Rock. Nothing fancy, but the prices were great and the people all friendly (as it was packed by the time we left). It's got TVs, lots of couches and tables. A stage for live music, I'm assuming on weekend nights? My ONLY reason for the lack of 5-stars is the smoking. I don't like smoking. I'm not saying you don't have the right, you do. I just don't want to smell it or inhale it. Other than that, great little place! read more

Great local hang out, bartenders are friendly and cool! Drinks and shots were good and Even got a hug for checking in!