The NHL playoffs kick off on April 19, and Nashville has plenty of great spots to catch the action. Whether you're looking for a lively sports bar, a chill brewery, or a fun beer hall, these top picks have big screens, great food, and cold drinks to keep you cheering all game long!
It’s April, and as the temperature warms up and the days get longer, many people’s thoughts turn to…ice hockey?
Well, yes. The National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs start on April 19, 2025. Even Bobby doesn’t know which 16 teams will be in the playoffs. But we do have some ideas of places that typically show Nashville Predators games and are good bets for watching the playoffs, no checking or assists needed. If the Preds make it in, there will be even more options and maybe some streets blocked off for outdoor screenings and large gatherings.
• The Franklin Theatre is hosting one of the last regular-season Pred games Watch Parties on April 12. Wayne D and DJ Battle will get the party going starting at 8 p.m.
• The brothers behind Almost Friday Sporting Club have said they want their downtown bar to feel like “a Super Bowl watch party” every day. It’s a high-energy spot with lots of TVs, a full bar, a big menu and bar games to keep you occupied if there’s a lull in the game.
• Germantown’s Bearded Iris Brewing makes a diverse selection of craft beers and hosts a number of local food trucks to feed you while you sample the ales and watch the games.
• As seen on the Food Network show, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, 12South’s Bottle Cap is a bar with a wide-selection on fried foods (you haven’t visited the South until you’ve eaten a fried pickle) and TVs hanging all around, meaning you get a view of the screen from almost every vantage point.
• DraftKings Sports & Social Nashville has 50,000 square feet of space devoted to helping you cheer on your favorite teams (whether they play with pucks and sticks or something else). Wagering on some games is part of the fun at DraftKings.
• Owned by a former city council member, East Nashville Beer Works is a family-friendly, dog-friendly taproom largely frequented by locals. If you want to catch a game and also want to talk to your friends and enjoy a relatively chill vibe, make this your first NHL-watching stop.
• M.L. Rose Craft Beer & Burgers is a locally owned chain with many locations, including one Capitol View and one in 12South. This is a good destination for hungry game watchers who want more than pretzels and bar snacks with their beer and TV viewing.
• A fun beer garden, proximity to First Horizon stadium (home of the Nashville Sounds) and TV screens make Von Elrod’s Beer Hall & Kitchen a destination for locals and visitors. There are 38 different beers on tap.
