Layla’s Honky Tonk

About Layla’s Honky Tonk

Layla’s Honky Tonk, also known as Layla’s Bluegrass Inn, has been run by Layla Vartanian since 1997, when she took over the business; she bought the building itself in 2010. It is at 418 Broadway and is frequently cited as the oldest bar on the strip. It is also the only bar on Lower Broadway that is both female-owned and independently owned, which on this street is genuinely rare.

The room is small, a single space with one stage and the ceiling lined with vintage license plates. There is no rooftop and no stack of floors, and that is the appeal. What separates Layla’s from most of Broadway is its booking philosophy: it leans toward original music and bluegrass rather than wall-to-wall covers, and Vartanian herself performs with her band. The crowd is music purists, locals, and travelers who did their homework and came looking for the real thing.

Layla’s is the pick for anyone who wants authentic, original honky-tonk and bluegrass in an intimate room rather than a covers-and-crowds party. It is small, so it fills up, and it rewards getting there before the rush. If your priority is the music itself, start here.

Who’s playing tonight?

The live-music lineup for Layla’s Honky Tonk is part of the Bars on Broadway schedule, refreshed every morning and night. Check tonight’s Broadway lineup →