Boasting only 14 indoor seats, the delightfully intimate Bay 6 cocktail bar occupies one of six stalls at The Wash, a contemporary food court concept in East Nashville. We caught up with Beau Gaultier, Operating Partner and Beverage Director at Bay 6, to learn about the idea behind this unique bar, its menu offerings, and Beau’s take on what’s trending in the local culinary scene!
Bay 6 and its origins can be best described as a happy accident. In fact, Beau admits that the bar has become something different than what he initially expected. The concept for Bay 6 was actually born from a single specification given to the developers of The Wash: to transform a 350-square-foot space into a destination cocktail bar.
In need of someone who knew how to run a successful bar program, the developers of The Wash leaned on Beau for his knowledge and expertise. Pulling from his 10 years of bartending experience, Beau worked with their team to officially open Bay 6 in 2022.
“From its inception, Bay 6 was built around the idea of, ‘Okay, we want to have this option for The Wash, and we need to create something that fits,’” explains Beau. “We also didn’t want to invite all of these upcoming restaurateurs into The Wash, ask them to put out high-quality product and food, and then put in what’s essentially a drink stand. We didn’t just want Bay 6 to be a beer tap at the end of The Wash.”
Since its opening, Beau has developed a unique description for Bay 6, often calling it “an izakaya-ish neighborhood bar.” This was a theme that Beau started to lean into when guests kept mentioning that Bay 6 reminded them of similar spaces in Japan, New York, and Los Angeles. In fact, this is how a lot of the bar’s concepts came about — from guests, staff, and Beau himself interacting with the space.
“If we had another blank slate, we’d probably accidentally just do Bay 6 all over again because it’s just what we all like,” Beau adds. “So much of the stuff inside the bar — so many of the cocktail names and so much of the product we bring in — is all based on what the staff or guest wants.”
You can see this idea brought to life by simply looking at the walls inside Bay 6. Nearly every piece of decor has a story attached to it, as much of it has been donated by guests or staff members. It started when Beau brought in a collection of old Fast & Furious VHS tapes as a way to fill shelf space.
As you sip on your cocktail, take a look around the bar. You’ll spot additional VHS tapes guests have found at Goodwill, a pineapple toothpick holder a guest picked up during a vacation to Hawaii, or bespoke shot glasses made by one of the bartender’s mothers.
“Bay 6 just became the way that the people who hang out here wanted it to be,” explains Beau. “That’s really one of the joys of having such a small space. You can allow yourself to be vulnerable and take those kinds of risks and change with the things your audience wants.”
While some cocktail bars can feel intimidating when you first step inside or look at the menu, you’ll have the opposite experience at Bay 6. Beau and the rest of the bartenders want the menu to be approachable — a trend that Beau says is taking off in both Nashville and the culinary world as a whole.
“We don’t want everything to appeal to everybody, but at the same time, we want everything to be easily digestible and understandable,” says Beau. “We don’t want anybody to ever walk in and feel intimidated by what they see on the menu or how the bartenders act.”
The cocktail menu includes 15 house beverages that rotate roughly every three months, and Beau and his staff create drinks with a highbrow-lowbrow approach. While the cocktails are delicious and made with high-quality liquor, you may also find some unexpected ingredients, too. For example, Bay 6 offers an espresso martini in a shot form. Aptly named an espresso marteeny, the drink includes high-end coffee liquor in addition to Yoo-hoo for the creamy element.
While everyone’s tastebuds are undoubtedly different, Beau says a few cocktails on the menu seem well-loved by almost everyone. One such drink is The Staring Contest. Offered both frozen and on the rocks, it’s Bay 6’s refreshing take on a watermelon margarita. Another popular drink is a piña colada that includes rum, mezcal, Jägermeister, pineapple, coconut, and oat milk as a secret ingredient.
Whether visiting Bay 6 for an after-work drink or hanging out with friends on the patio, you’re sure to find something to satisfy your tastebuds!
Bay 6 is located at 1101 McKennie Ave., Suite 6, Nashville, TN 37206. To learn more, visit bay6nashville.com or call (615) 346-9352.
This article is sponsored by Bay 6. All photography provided.
