What it is
A custom hat bar is exactly what it sounds like: you pick a blank hat, then style it into something that's completely yours with the help of an on-site designer. It's become one of Nashville's signature group activities, and it fits the city perfectly — you're already surrounded by cowboy hats on Broadway, so why not leave with one you actually made?
At Honky Tonk Hat Bar, which bills itself as Nashville's original hat bar, the session runs about 90 minutes. You choose your base — cowboy or trucker/snapback styles are both on the menu — then work through the "bar" of accessories: feathers, chains, patches, pins, charms, ribbon, and custom branding. An experienced designer is paired with you the whole way, guiding what actually works on the hat so you don't end up with a mess of glued-on flair. There's a full-service beverage bar on site, so the group sips while they create. Cowboy hats are built on high-quality felt or straw; trucker and dad hats are the lighter, lower-cost option.
Why it's perfect for a bachelorette
Most bachelorette activities disappear the second they're over — the brunch is eaten, the pedal tavern rolls off. A custom hat is the rare one you take home. Every girl in the tribe walks out with a personal souvenir from the weekend, and unlike a matching sash or shot glass, it's something people genuinely wear again. Put the bride in white felt with a little veil-and-rhinestone moment and let the rest of the group go bold — instant coordinated look for the Broadway photos that night.
It also works as an activity, not just a purchase. Ninety minutes of designing, drinking, and comparing everyone's hat is a real hangout — a great mid-afternoon block that gives non-drinkers something to do with their hands and gives the whole group a shared project. And the photos are excellent: a wall of hats, a table of feathers and charms, the bride mid-design with a drink in hand.
Planning tips
Book as a group, in advance. Hat bars run on appointments and private/group sessions, and bachelorette-heavy weekends fill fast — reserve once you have a firm headcount rather than trying to walk in on a Saturday. Reach out directly through the operator to lock a group time.
Treat it as a daytime block. The session is roughly 90 minutes; slot it early-to-mid afternoon so your finished hats go straight into the night's Broadway crawl.
Mind the price tiers. Trucker and snapback hats start around $40 per person, while the felt cowboy-hat experience starts around $150 per person (2026). Decide as a group which tier you want before booking — mixing tiers in one session is fine, but the cowboy build is the bigger splurge.
Take it as a takeaway. The hat is the whole point of the memento, so plan for everyone to wear or pack theirs for the trip home. Felt hats especially don't love being crushed in a suitcase.
Good to know
- Where: Downtown Nashville — Honky Tonk Hat Bar is at 1343 Lewis Street, minutes from Broadway.
- Duration: about 90 minutes per session.
- Price: trucker/snapback from ~$40/person; cowboy (felt or straw) from ~$150/person (2026).
- Format: appointment-based; group, private, and sorority/bachelorette sessions available.
- Included: blank hat, accessory bar, a paired designer, and a full beverage bar to sip while you style.
- Booking: direct on the operator's website — no third-party listing needed.
