Ms. Kelli's Karaoke Bar

What to Expect

Ms. Kelli's is tucked down a flight of stairs that's easy to miss, just off Printer's Alley. Alex and Alice Kusich opened it in 2002 and named it after their daughter, Kelli, who still manages the place today. Depending on when you stop by, you could be greeted at the door by a staff member with a cooler of beer to get things going. Inside, it's bigger than it looks from the alley and gets loud fast once the dance floor fills up. It's $5 to get up and sing. Nobody holds back once they're up there, living up to the bar's own tagline: "where YOU are the star." The main bar is in the middle of the room with a full liquor and beer setup that regulars often call some of the cheapest drinks in downtown Nashville. The real signature, though, is the Jell-O shots, made fresh daily and running $3 a pop. A second, quieter bar sits in back next to the pool table, for anyone who'd rather talk than sing. The room is 21 and up and draws a genuine mix of tourists and regulars. It's open Sunday through Thursday from 7pm to 3am, and Friday and Saturday from 6pm to 3am. Country singer Cole Swindell has named it one of his favorite Nashville karaoke spots, meaning you never quite know who you'll end up singing next to.