Bioactive phenolic compounds, which are naturally occurring chemicals in foods and plants, have a variety of biological activities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer. Rapid and sensitive detection of phenolic compounds is therefore important to human health. In recent years, the marriage of nanomaterials with different analytical techniques has made some great breakthroughs in qualitative and quantitative analysis of bioactive phenolic compounds. Herein, we have comprehensively reviewed the recent advances (2020-now) in different analytical methods for bioactive phenolic compounds by integrating functional nanomaterials with diversified signal output modes, such as colorimetry, fluorescence, chemiluminescence, electrochemistry, and electrochemiluminescence. In addition, further directions regarding nano-analysis approaches for phenolic compounds are also discussed. The rapid development of advanced nanomaterial-based techniques will inspire further significant contribution to biomolecule analysis.