Nashville is most known for its vibrant music scene, which is how it earned its nickname, Music City. I have been living in Nashville my entire life, and you get used to seeing honky-tonk bars, live music, and cowboy hats on every corner. But as Nashville is becoming one of America’s fastest growing cities, it’s dealing in more than just music. Community diversity, a thriving art scene, amazing food, and now, geek culture, are taking over Music City. I decided to go to five places in the greater Nashville area that every local geek could enjoy!

Game Point Cafe

107 S 11th St, Nashville, TN 37206

Game Point is Nashville’s first board game cafe located in East Nashville’s popular Five Points neighborhood, sharing a space with Bongo East. With a game library of over 400 unique games, ranging from classic to strategic games, Game Point hopes to share their passion of board games and give the community a place to be social without being tied down to your phone. They even have designated game coaches that will assist you in learning all the rules and basics of whatever games you decide to play. Grab a coffee or a local craft brew and enjoy a game night with your friends at Game Point cafe!

Game Galaxy Arcade

1000 Rivergate Pkwy, Goodlettsville, TN 37072

3 S Lowry St, Smyrna, TN 37167

Game Galaxy is a retro arcade with two locations in the Nashville area. Between the two locations, they have roughly 500 pinball and upright arcade machines! Not only do they offer a vintage arcade experience, but they also provide a console gaming area with VR and a Nintendo Switch. You can buy, sell, trade games, attend a monthly fighting tournament, or just relax and play your favorite titles. Game Galaxy Arcade is staying true to their word and keeping the arcade scene alive!

Mckay’s Used Books & CDs

636 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209

Don’t let the name confuse you. Mckay’s is not your average used book store, because they sell way more than just books! The 31,000 square foot space has something to entice every kind of enthusiast. New and pre-owned video games, comic books, collectibles, and vinyl are just SOME of the merchandise that Mckay’s provides for their customers.

Platforms

801 2nd Ave. S, Nashville TN 37210

Platforms is one of my favorites spots, and it is no secret why. This family-owned, gamer’s café offers VR, console, PC gaming, and a full beverage and food menu.  Founder Luke Sykes and co-founder Aiden Jones are dedicated to providing a social space for Nashville’s growing gaming community to experience high quality gameplay that you won’t find anywhere else in the city. Platforms works closely with some of the local game developers and social clubs, like Music City Geeks, to host events such as their past E3 live stream, Friday Night Fighting tournaments, indie game release parties, and much more. Their immersive atmosphere and gaming experience is one that can’t be beat!

The Green Dragon Pub & Brewery

714 F W Main St, Murfreesboro, TN 37129

The Green Dragon is a hidden gem in the greater Nashville area. The owners of this brewpub are die-hard Tolkien fans, and it shows in their recreated version of The Green Dragon Inn from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. From the decor to the names of their in-house brews, this family friendly pub makes you feel like you’re really in The Shire. Only seating about 35 people, The Green Dragon is a cozy, community focused pub dedicated to giving you a place to relax after work with great food, drinks, and an even better atmosphere. Whether you want “the best ale in the Shire,” or just a place to relax after work, The Green Dragon is serving us Middle-Earth realness that you won’t want to miss.

Whether you’re a gamer or an avid reader, Music City has something to offer every geek. So, if you are in the Nashville area, be sure to check these places out!

Sign up to get news, announcements, and other fun stuff straight to your inbox.

Featured image credit: Julia Hankins/Geek Gals