Canvas is a wonderful bar in the neighborhood! The red wine and mixed drinks are always great!

Canvas has come a long way here in Nashville and it has been really cool to see it all culminate in this amazing location in the Fatherland area of East Nashville. Canvas is a mix of lounge, bar, club and patio...and I am here for it all. The vibe here is a bit different than the other "family" bars in town, and in a much better way in my opinion. The crowd is diverse, more respectful and less pretentious than you may get downtown. This goes for the bartenders and staff too. Drinks are fairly priced and always poured well. They have a good variety of bottled and canned cocktails/beverages as well, but the cocktails, especially their seasonal selections, are where it is at. While we have been known to belly up to the bar or grab a high top inside, the patio, which has evolved in the last year, is our favorite spot. It is open air but able to be temperature controlled, covered to keep you out of the rain or sun, and has enough seating for small or large groups. Inside the layout is standard with the bar, a few booths, lounge seating a dance floor and a stage...because why wouldn't there be a stage?! My only gripe with the full layout is there is no room for the bar to get backed up, it is basically two deep and then you have to move over. Not sure if there is a solve for that, but worth pointing out. However, even with this, the bartenders are always efficient and keep things moving so it doesn't get backed up for long. Canvas is becoming the anchor of the "gayborhood" in this area and since they moved in an LGBTQ+ center and clinic have taken up residence in the same plaza. The parking lot is also home to the cities only Gay Farmers Market, which is a fun place to wander around before or after popping into Canvas for a cocktail or three. Overall, cool to have Canvas in the neighborhood and really cool to see them thriving in such a good space! read more

The vibe was very different from any other LGBT+ bar I have ever been to and I loved it. The bartender "Wes" was super sweet and welcoming even tho my friend was being difficult and a tad rude I was so embarrassed but he didn't make me feel uncomfortable at all, now my friend on the other hand I had to get her out of there! Sometimes you need to reflect on who you keep as company and step back for a moment. It really shows you who's by your side and who's there for a free ride. Long story short I'm moving on from that friendship but you didn't ask that, you just wanna know if I'd return or recommend this establishment and the answer is HECK YA!! read more

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Vince is the most amazing bartender. He always makes me laugh when I have had a rough day. He is such a genuinely nice person. Canvas is my favorite hangout. read more

I had such an unpleasant experience at Canvas Bar that I felt it was necessary to share. I was shocked by how I was treated by one of the bartenders, Vince. I have been several times since my good friend started working here. This time was different, Vince singled me out and was incredibly rude and degrading -- repeatedly. I simply asked if a friend of mine was working, and instead of a straightforward response, I was met with unnecessary attitude and condescension. It felt personal, and I honestly can't understand what warranted that kind of treatment. I watched him be friendly and professional to others around me, which made the whole experience feel even more targeted and uncomfortable. This isn't the kind of energy I expect when I'm out trying to enjoy myself. It left a bad taste, and unfortunately, I won't be returning anytime soon. read more

Out of the three local LGBTQ+ bars we patronized over our stay, this one was the best as far as atmosphere and friendliness goes. Our bartender was a gem. Drinks were pricey in comparison to other two for a single drink; however, it was happy hour 2 for 1 so that made up for it. Bar is spacious with indoor/outdoor seating and also they serve food (burgers, salads, etc). Ambience is really cool, with nice decor and certain features like a canvas (restrooms had hanging paint rollers on the wall) with various colors like water paintings and other hues. Parking was a little tight as it shares a spot with two other businesseses; however, it appeared that plenty of street parking was available. read more

Not a good experience, again. I have given this location several visits but it still fails to be my choice. The drinks are weak and overpriced, service has been slow each time I have been there regardless of crowd. The entertainment volume is too loud for conversations despite the furnishings design for conversation and the once nice smoking area is now pushed to the parking lot. I'm done with the location, Trax is better and a whole lot more friendly. read more

Jax was top notch! Give this guy a raise! Super cool and attentive. Definitely will be back

Fun bar with fun dance music and a lively yet laid back crowd, indoor seating and outdoor seating, kitchen closes at 10. Vensive pours and takes care of the crowd quickly. Jackson is friendly too! The crowd is diverse and kind to all! read more

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Canvas has a very laid-back and diverse vibe. I recently visited for the first time since they relocated and the new venue is far superior. I recommend, just don't lose your wallet! read more

Love Canvas so much and it is an incredible! My favorite gay bar in my Native home town! So incredible to have an energy of gay men and all Queer folks with such authentic energy and danced the night away at the Church st location many times! I feel at home in gay bars that have a wide array of patrons with unique style! read more

Fantastic bar and patio. Even better than the Church St location. Great music and vibe. Good bartenders. Best gay bar in Nashville!

Love this new location! Open. Accessible. Plenty of room to breathe. Service was good.

I had my doubts when I arrived, most patrons were very standoffish, and not the most friendly; however, Jackson is the only reason I stayed to give this place a shot. He is the only one that made me feel comfortable and was very friendly and accommodating. He also providing recommendations for food and drink. The place is decorated vibrantly with an explosion of color. Its also clean and there is sufficient parking. You can tell that the place has a local following and this probably the reasoning for the cold shoulder of a non-local, however, as someone who travels often, probably not a place I would refer to friends, colleagues or other travelers unless except if in the immediate area for a quick drink and dash. read more

Looks like they moved locations and changed their address so my initial review got suppressed and hidden. I was on a first date here and ordered tequila, I was almost roofied. I felt a pill dissolving in my mouth when I took a sip and told my date I'd be right back and went to the bathroom to spit it out. A bartender had followed behind me and opened the bathroom and checked on me to see if I was okay which was odd because I didn't really tip anyone off to what happened. I discreetly let my date know what happened and we left as we were there to see a famous drag queen at a bar close by. Later on I reached out to management and they tried playing it off like they have training classes to prevent that and saying it could have been a dish tab. What dish tab in a bar sink is smaller than a dime and accidentally falls into a hand poured drink? After I pressed the issue the owner essentially told me any further conversation would have to be spoken through his attorney and my date also told me that others had similar experiences there after the fact. Be careful as there are lots of trafficking problems in Nashville and I fear this is just an attempt at rebranding. read more

I've been there a couple of times it's a great place I guarantee you won't be disappointed

Really love the vibe and the drink menu is grea.jax-isiah is top notch, he is on top of his game!

I loved the old "Canvas," but was not a fan of their tiny patio space. Fast forward to the new, upgraded location. Very nice and the staff have kept their friendly attitudes. My husband and I have a dog with separation anxiety, which means he goes where we go. Plus, I like to smoke cigars when I drink. Guess what? Both cigar smokers and dogs are welcome on their patio! Thank you guys for giving us a comfortable place to enjoy with our pup. Ps. If we keep slapping our LGBTQ+ places with shitty 1-star reviews about miniscule gripes, we won't have any more places to go...Perhaps, we can all learn how to speak to others with respect and get our points across without trying to close these people's businesses because "the bartender was mean to me." Just a thought. Peace. read more

Went for Monday night Girl Crush trivia! Service was friendly given they were overwhelmed with a new event and crowd. Everyone smiled and did their best. My burger was tasty! Quality place and at a comfortable price range. read more

Canvas Lounge - a group of people sitting at a bar - Lounges Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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This bar is everything! The staff is so awesome, especially Jax and Isiah are the best! We felt like we were being catered to personally, their demeanor is what service is all about! I highly recommend this bar, try every drink you can ! read more

Super friendly and welcoming "upscale dive bar" with some of the best bar food I've had. Mack is awesome and the most gay friendly straight guy. Corey and Joey are hilarious. Everyone there was cool. One more note, the bathroom smelled better than any bar bathroom I've been in. So the one star review dude might have been in another bar. read more

Canvas Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Good food and drinks. Good service. Nice atmosphere. Usually quiet enough to talk and be heard.

Thank you for hosting Hot Mess Classic end of weekend party. Great bar staff. The guy that helped me was fast and efficient. The door person could use some additional training. When a patron asks for a first aid kit, the response should not be "go ask the bar staff". Hello it was packed. A better response might have been to ask if I was okay and offer to go get the first aid kit. The drag queens performing were incredible. I liked the patio space and comfy furniture. Clean restrooms too. read more

Canvas redecorates, renovates and revamps to adapt to Post-Covid world. From the excellent menu, designed by chef Seth Thomas to the personalized service, provided by an eager-to-serve handsome and strapping bar staff, Canvas delights the senses with a unique offering of lounge meets dance club, delicious food and experienced bar staff. Fear not, for you are in safe hands here. The staff are all genuine, kind-hearted people who are happy to have conversation and entertain. The decor (recently updated) speaks to the inclusivity and one-of-a-kind spirit of Nashville. Whether you're a visitor or a native, you'll appreciate the fine service and welcoming atmosphere of Canvas. A must visit bar in Nashville, and a safe-haven for the regulars who call it home. read more

I love the new location. It is super nice. They now have servers. The new location is more spacious. read more

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I was very hesitate on going here but as soon as I walked in the staff was great and my bartender JAX poured great drinks and even walked me to the bathroom I couldn't find. if visit Nashville visit this lounge and ask for JAX read more

Moved to nashville five years ago when this place was in its first location. It was really cool decor wise and I really liked the bartenders. Fast forward. About 3 years ago a barback named Mack was hired and he had two full blown NAZI SS TATS on his body and was working shirtless. A few of us complained and then Darek the owner circled the wagons. It was staff before customers and the position was that they were tats from Mack's time in the marines and they are misunderstood and everyone needs to BACK THE HELL UP. No. They were nazi tats, go to any textbook and look. The excuses didn't fly with many of us so we stopped going. A few have wandered back in and found themselves BANNED but guess who is still there? Mack and his tats. It's a shame. Don't easte your gay $ here. You will find a much more welcoming less Nazi vibe at Tribe or Play. I tried to reason with the owner and manager about this and they weren't having it. Fun fact- Seth the manager has left and I give it weeks before Nazi tats manage the read more

The burger is very small for 11$ and if you order it make you tell them how you want it cooked. Mine came out raw.

Nice, attractive place. But Bartenders more interested in talking on their phones than looking up to see who's trying to order drinks. Even waving arms to get their attention didn't work. read more

The truffle fries and nachos were incredible. We ordered the next night somewhere else and they did not compare in the slightest to these. Great service too!! read more

the best service i've ever had at a bar! NC and Wes are amazing spirits and i love to be in their presence. they make you feel the most comfortable in a bar and give the best energy possible! i highly recommend coming to see them read more

Maybe we had such a great experience at Tribe or maybe it was that we were a mixed couple (Asian & white) or their locals only but our impression of Canvas was less than stellar. We sat & waited for nearly 20 minutes before I walked to ask for a drink but once we got our drinks there was decent follow up. We are tourists so at the end of the day it doesn't matter but we will return to Nashville but not Canvas. read more

Cool divey gay venue with interesting art. Decently priced drinks and friendly bartender. I was meeting up with someone later on that evening, so I went here first with another friend to have a couple beers. I was the only girl in the bar, which was cool with me. Sometimes it is nice not to have so much estrogen floating around (haha!) Either way, i enjoyed the laid-back vibe. Nice spot and easy parking, right out front on a Monday night. read more

This place was disgusting. There was too much DNA on the bathroom walls for it to have been recent and overlooked. They just don't care. It was disgusting. Drink at home. read more

Cool spot. Took a last minute Labor Day weekend trip to Nashville and stayed near here. This wound up being our ground zero, essentially. Great food, awesome staff and good prices in a popular area. Can't really go wrong. read more

Okay. First and foremost I love the space. The fireplace, the wall colors, the red curtain picture framed window in the back. BUT. I stopped in on the grand opening. I was excited to hear they were having a vodka special because dirty martini's are my jam! What a disappointment. It was watered down, tasted like there was soda water in it and undrinkable. I liked the bartender too so it hurt to send it back. He made another, which was a little better but not great. I should also note I drink all sorts of vodka, the cheap stuff when I'm broke and the good stuff when I'm celebrating. I've had vodka made from potatoes, grapes, rice, etc. I was willing to let it slide until I heard the bartender say in the back, "If you don't like vodka, don't order it!" (Don't mess with a girl and her martini.) Wow, I'm sorry, it's not the vodka, it was your drink! The snootiness was through the roof. I wanted to raise hell, because yes, I have made drinks before and I understand the importance of putting on a happy face but I didn't. I drank what I could muster and left. I hate writing bad reviews, I do, but I had to. I want this place to succeed so I hope the owner, or bartender, reads this and takes it as constructive criticism. 1. Practice up on the martini, it's a classic. 2. People are going to send back drinks, it happens, but don't be a jerk about it! read more

I went hear on a Thursday night to hear a friend play and was really happy with my experience. The sound system, though a bit loud for the mid-sized area, was really clear and audible. The decor is really fun, interesting, and visually pleasing, and there is a scent going through the place that is really, really nice. I couldn't pinpoint what it was, but it was like a higher class Bath & Body Works apple-y potpourri sort of scent. Everyone working and patron-ing was nice and though I didn't have anything to drink, I heard they were cheap. read more

Canvas Lounge - Jesse Lafser @ Canvas Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

After years of planning and dreaming, Darek Tanner, one of the people who helped make Tin Roof Nashville a success, has created Canvas Lounge. He has worked diligently on opening his own bar for years, and the wait has definitely paid off. Darek turned the vacant space on Church St, a blank canvas, into a beautiful one. The space is now artsy, edgy, unique, and fun. From the blank canvases that Darek encourages artists to draw their own creations on while visiting to the two old time phone booths against the wall, this place is like no other in Nashville. The bartenders make your drinks with fresh squeezed juice. My greyhound (grapefruit and vodka) was perfect, not too sweet and not too tart. And the food.. WOW. The food is amazing. Darek created the menu as he himself is a talented chef, and succeeded in making it not just another bar menu. Try the spicy, tomato-filled pizzas. I couldn't stop eating slices last night and am still craving more 24 hours later. Be sure to check out Nashville's newest hot spot! read more

Canvas Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Joey is the best bartender on the planet. He's so sweet. Love him. This is no offense to the other bartenders. Love the vibes and the staff here. If you don't give a single flying fuck, this is the bar to go to. read more

This is a dive bar that I frequent regularly. In recent visits, I have seen lots of updates that are very appealing: getting rid of the tall backs of the booths, moving around hanging decorations and artwork. This bar is very fun for all!!! The artwork has always been pop art and I think they could showcase other gay artists from Nashville to switch it up; maybe there's a contract with the artist. The Divine prints are amazing, as are the black light sugar skulls. Lots of LGBTQIA icons depicted. The smoking area is just right, small and intimate, and the bar has a reasonable amount of seating for how many people attend. The owner is super nice and dedicated; everyone else who works there are good guys. Drinks are what to expect from a dive bar. Free condoms. (Stay safe!) Four stars because it's very dimly lit, for that sultry vibe, and crammed with interesting things to look at. (Guess that's good if there's someone you don't want to look at) May be time to cut back the tree and paint a bit though? Be back soon!!! read more