The Villager Tavern

Nashville, Tennessee

Field Note

Comparison to an armed forces surplus store might be a slight in any other walk of life, but for a dive bar, the distinction should be seen as a badge of honor. Such is the case for The Villager Tavern in Nashville’s otherwise swanky neighborhood of Hillsboro Village thanks to a massive American flag painted atop the Nashville dive bar’s exterior painted a very military-grade shade of green.

Just a few blocks from Vanderbilt University, the clientele within The Villager Tavern bears little resemblance to a VFW, the hordes here drawn since the bar’s opening in 1978 in large part thanks to the dart room inside. Five steel-tip dart boards can be found in the rear of the building, a structure that dates back to the early 1900s according to the bar. Blind draw tournaments and near year-round dart leagues produce a steady flow of activity and a reputation as one of the best dart rooms in the country.

Thankfully, the darts are now thrown inside a smoke-free environment, not the case for much of The Villager Tavern’s existence. When the pandemic hit and the bar turned to to-go orders to maintain some level of income, The Villager Tavern’s owners saw the positive effects on the space that came with a lack of cigarette smoke in the air. The decision was made then, holding ever since. In the clear air, stained glass-style lamps, beer flags, personal garments and a spare disco ball can all be seen suspended from the bar’s faded ceiling.

Aside from darts, the longest running tradition within The Villager Tavern is the dog bowl beer provided on the house during the 24 hours on either side of a patron’s birthday. The practice is exactly what it sounds like, a lovingly poured pool of draft beer floating in a dog bowl offered free of charge. The interior walls of The Villager Tavern are covered in both fresh and ancient pictures of visitors from years past enjoying their Nashville dive bar birthday treat.

For all of its traditions, what distinguishes The Villager Tavern may just be its contrast to the gentrified neighborhood on either side of the long-standing structure. The massive painted flag, opaque glass block window, fogged up window in the front and sporadic beer sign illumination cut a very different look than the jewelry stores and upscale apparel options nearby.

At first glance, the walls just inside The Villager Tavern’s front doors look like typical dive bar sticker-covered surfaces, but closer inspection reveals that each splash of color comes from photos of regulars and locals snapped during birthday celebrations and otherwise. These photos are utterly prolific, gracing every inch of most interior surfaces not otherwise reserved for televisions and ceiling panels. Many dive bars have stapled dollar bills in the same way that The Villager Tavern features photos of the community that has supported the business for decades.

The space itself is separated into two distinct halves, party up front (the bar) and business in the back (a row of well-illuminated dart boards). Faded photos extend along the walls to the rear dart board room, but classic banners proclaiming the champions of dart leagues from years past line the ridges of the ceiling that extend above the row of boards. Trophies, of course, can be found dotting the dart room as remnants of past achievements. For those a bit unprepared for the darting big leagues that no doubt find their Nashville home at The Villager Tavern, dart supplies are sold on-site to bolster any newcomer’s arsenal.

As if additional reasons to visit were required, The Villager Tavern hosts a myriad of theme events that range from weekly open mic nights to video game tournaments, art shows and even a disco prom. Live music takes over a portion of the space on occasion as well, everything built around a tight knit community vibe that betrays the otherwise transient nature of the Hillsboro neighborhood that surrounds the Nashville bar.