Edley's Bar-B-Que holds the corner of 12th Avenue South at Kirkwood, the 12 South barbecue counter that put a proper bar program next to the smoker. It is the neighbourhood spot where a tray of brisket arrives beside a frozen cocktail, not a soda.
The flagship sits at 2706 12th Avenue South in the 12 South district, one of Nashville's most walkable retail and dining strips. Edley's grew from this counter into a small local group with East Nashville and Nolensville Pike rooms, but the 12 South original remains the one most visitors mean. Tripadvisor and Yelp both rank it among the city's most-reviewed barbecue rooms, with well over a thousand reviews on each.
This is the bar for a drinker who wants Texas-style barbecue and a real cocktail in the same sitting. The order counter runs casual and quick, the picnic-table seating fills with locals, and the bar pours beyond the usual beer-and-soda lineup. Skip it if you want table service and quiet, because the room is loud and the line moves fast.
The space is a working barbecue joint, with the smoker scent in the air, counter ordering and a mix of indoor seating and a covered patio. It reads as neighbourhood rather than tourist, which is the point in 12 South, and the bar holds its own as a place to settle in after the food arrives.
Order the Bushwacker, the frozen chocolate and rum cocktail Edley's is known for, which regulars on Yelp call the move whatever the weather. For food, the Tuck Special tops smoked brisket with a fried egg and Tiger Sauce, and the wings come dusted in dry rub. Pair the brisket plate with a local draft or the Bushwacker and expect a moderate tab for the quality of the smoke.
The crowd is 12 South itself: neighbourhood regulars, families early, and a younger after-work and weekend crowd later. It runs busiest at weekend lunch and on warm evenings when the patio fills, so an early or off-peak visit buys a shorter line.
Who it is for: serious barbecue with a real drink, a casual group meal, and anyone who wants the Bushwacker that locals keep recommending. Best time to go is a weekday afternoon to beat the counter line, or a warm evening for a plate and a frozen cocktail on the patio.
A practical note: ordering is at the counter and seating is first-come, so claim a table before you queue on a busy day. For the wider field, our guide to the best after-work bars in Nashville sets this counter against the city's wind-down rooms, and the Nashville bar guide maps where to drink across the neighbourhoods. Anyone building a 12 South afternoon should also browse our pillar on the best after-work bars worldwide.
Sources: Edley's Bar-B-Que official site, 12 South location (2026); Yelp Edley's Bar-B-Que reviews; Tripadvisor Edley's Bar-B-Que listing; Nashville Lifestyles dining guide.
