Nolan crashed home a 25-metre shot in the 32nd minute to lift Bolton up to third in the table, eight points behind leaders Chelsea and two adrift of second-placed Wigan Athletic.
Spurs, who slipped to sixth following their first away defeat of the season, came closest to equalising when defender Paul Stalteri's stoppage-time shot struck the crossbar.
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe had an effort ruled out for offside before halftime and Nolan nearly doubled Bolton's lead after the interval when his angled shot cannoned back off the post.
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce said luck was on the side of his team.
"A little bit of good fortune is needed in every game and today, after a terrific goal (by Nolan), we had a couple of let offs," Allardyce told Sky Sports television.
"Defoe was definitely onside...and then at the end a hopeful cross (by Stalteri) could easily have gone in. When you are going well near the top of the league those sort of things go for you."
Spurs manager Martin Jol was unhappy his side failed to pick up a point.
"I appreciate it is a very difficult job to be a referee but for the linesman it should be easier," said Jol referring to Defoe's disallowed goal.
"I think we did everything right. In the second half we were a bit unlucky.
"We should have scored a goal and then it would have been a draw. I could have lived with a draw but not a defeat like this."
