Attaboy

"Find Attaboy’s small teal-green building in an alley that would look abandoned if not for the painted martini glass on the front. Knock on the door to get in, and step through a large blackout curtain into one of the darkest rooms to drink in the city. There’s no menu here, you just tell the staff what kinds of cocktails or spirits you usually drink, what flavor you’re craving, or even what mood you’re in. They’ll craft something on the spot so good, that even your one friend who is extremely particular about their Old Fashioneds will be talking about it for weeks to come. Just don’t request vodka because nobody who works here thinks it brings anything to the party. " - ann walczak

"Housed in an inconspicuous concrete-block building in East Nashville, Attaboy isn’t much of a looker from the outside. But once you enter the speakeasy’s dimly lit barroom, the cocktails make it clear that this place isn’t messing around. It’s the sister bar to the Attaboy in NYC, and the same rules apply here: there’s no menu and the bartenders just ask you your preferences—favorite liquors, flavor profiles, and your mood that day. And somehow, they never miss. Even the simplest drinks have depth and complexity thanks to surprising additions (creme de cacao in an Old Fashioned, for example), and lighter cocktails like their take on the East Side Ricky will make a gin-believer out of any vodka devotee. " - bailey freeman, ann walczak

"Housed in an inconspicuous concrete-block building in East Nashville, Attaboy isn’t much of a looker from the outside. But once you enter the speakeasy’s dimly lit barroom, the cocktails make it clear that this place isn’t messing around. It’s the sister bar to the Attaboy in NYC, and the same rules apply here: there’s no menu and the bartenders just ask you your preferences—favorite liquors, flavor profiles, and your mood that day. And somehow, they never miss. Even the simplest drinks have depth and complexity thanks to surprising additions (creme de cacao in an Old Fashioned, for example), and lighter cocktails like their take on the East Side Ricky will make a gin-believer out of any vodka devotee." - Bailey Freeman

"Nashville’s had a lot of transplant restaurants and bars, but this NYC spot has been one of its happiest additions and works for really any occasion. There’s no menu here, you just answer a couple of questions from the bartender—think things like "how do you feel about gin" or "spicy or sweet?"—and then they make the perfect drink for that precise moment in your life. The atmosphere is also always on point, with dim lights, hushed tones, and alt music set on low." - Jackie Gutierrez Jones 2, Carlo Mantuano

"This NYC stalwart decided to make East Nashville its home-away-from-home back in 2017 and the city is all the better for it. Just like any proper house guest, you’ll be asked to politely knock on the door before being allowed entry. But don’t bother looking for a menu. Instead, the bartenders here will ask a few questions about likes and dislikes before concocting a cocktail off the cuff." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones, Eater Staff