Skull’s Rainbow Room is a speakeasy-style supper club at 222 Printers Alley in downtown Nashville. It traces its roots to 1948, when David “Skull” Schulman ran it as one of the alley’s most storied nightspots. Today it pairs elevated American cooking and craft cocktails with live jazz and burlesque in a room that preserves the alley’s after-dark history.
Guests step down into a dim, vintage lounge with a small stage that hosts live jazz early in the evening and burlesque later at night. Diners on OpenTable consistently single out the prime rib, along with attentive service and strong live music. The menu leans toward Southern-tinged steakhouse fare, and the bar pours classic and house cocktails suited to the setting.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Hours and cover: According to the official site, Skull’s opens Monday through Saturday from 5pm to 2am. On Sunday it runs a 10am–2pm daytime service, then reopens from 5pm to 2am.
Burlesque nights: On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a $25 cover applies from 9pm for the 11pm burlesque show.
Timing your visit: The kitchen closes at 11pm daily, so plan dinner early. For a quieter meal without the cover, choose a weeknight or an early weekend seating.
Booking: Reserve ahead, especially on weekends.
Getting there: Printers Alley runs between Third and Fourth Avenues North, a short walk from the Lower Broadway honky-tonks and the Ryman Auditorium.
