Entry No. 3 — the Nashville file — filed under: speakeasy
Old Glory
Built inside the actual 1920s boiler room of the old White Way Cleaners laundry plant — the electrical boxes, coal hopper, and smoke stack are still worked into the design. There's no sign; you find it through a gate, down an alley, up a few stairs, and through an inconspicuous door.
The story
Before anyone was sipping stirred spirits down here, 1200 Villa Place was thick with steam and coal dust. The space was the boiler room for White Way Cleaners, which grew into one of the largest industrial laundry operations in Nashville during the 1920s. When the dry-cleaning apparatus was cleared out, the owners didn't smooth over the brick or dry-wall over the skeleton—they built the bar directly around the original machinery.
You'll sit beneath a massive brick smokestack that climbs all the way through the ceiling. The original heavy electrical switchboxes are still bolted to the walls, and a rusted metal coal hopper hangs suspended right over the seating area like a piece of accidental brutalist art.
Finding it requires ignoring the standard retail facades around Edgehill Village. You have to slip through a gate, head down a dark alleyway, step up a short flight of stairs, and open a plain door that gives away nothing from the outside.
What it's like
Inside, the raw concrete walls and towering industrial height give the cavernous space an echoey, underground energy. It gets busy on weekends, but you can usually find a corner or claim a booth near the old hopper on weeknights. On quiet nights, live jazz trios play right on the floor level close to the tables. Keep an eye on your check when you wrap up: Tennessee tacks a 15% state liquor tax onto cocktail bills, and a 20% gratuity is frequently included on the final tab.
The move: Slip through the alley entrance together, claim a booth near the old coal hopper, and let the bartender build a round while a jazz trio plays a few feet away.
- 📍 Edgehill / Berry Hill
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1200 Villa Pl, Suite 103, Nashville, TN 37212
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Salt and Soles — Recline in a halotherapy salt cave half a mile away in Edgehill before stepping into the underground steam-plant boiler room for drinks.
- Belcourt Theatre Midnight Movies — Start your evening with early cocktails in the boiler room before catching a weekend midnight cult film screening under a mile up the road.
- Bar Sovereign — Double down on low-key, non-touristy hideouts by heading just over a mile east for tropical bottle-lit cocktails and secret hot chicken.
Good to know
How do I find the entrance?
Head to 1200 Villa Place, find the gate near the complex, walk down the alleyway, take the short flight of stairs, and push through the unmarked door. There is zero signage.
What are the operating hours?
Old Glory is open daily from 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM, with a daily happy hour from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Is there a cover charge or strict dress code?
No cover charge and no velvet-rope dress code—it delivers a speakeasy atmosphere without the pretentious entry ritual.
What should I know about the bill?
Bills include a mandatory 15% Tennessee liquor tax, and a 20% gratuity is often pre-applied to your check, so read the breakdown before adding an extra tip.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · theinfatuation.com · Instagram
last checked: 2026-07-20