Nashville
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Nashville is world renowned for its music and honky-tonks (a honky-tonk is a small bar that usually plays live or recorded country music). As the “Country Music Capital of the World,” music highly influences life as well as activity within this city, attracting famous and rising country music stars to its various venues throughout the year. Combined with it’s mild weather, southern charm, and fun nightlife, the stage is set for an enjoyable weekend out on the town—cowboy boots and all—when in Nashville.
Travel tip #1: Nashville has become a hotspot for bachelorette parties over recent years due to its lively party scene. You’ll more than likely see party buses and groups of humans dressed to the nines while in Nash. With that in mind, expect large groups and crowds when out, especially during brunch and dinner hours as well as into the wee hours of the night.
Places of Interest
Broadway: Broadway is a major road that cuts through Nashville’s downtown. Lower Broadway is known as the entertainment district, also referred to as Honky Tonk Highway, complete with countless bars and live music venues. You’ll also find restaurants, shops, and late-night spots in this area.
Music Row: Considered the heart of Nashville’s entertainment industry, this is where many record labels and recording studios are located, such as RCA Studio B, Columbia’s Historic Quonset Hut (the first recording studio on Music Row), and Owen Bradley Park. The Music Row area is centered around Music Square East and West, where you can stroll around while enjoying a cup of coffee from one of the local cafes as you learn about the city’s musical history.
The Gulch: The Gulch is located between Downtown and Music Row. It features chic hotels, fashion boutiques, and trendy restaurants. Spend a couple of hours at the Frist Art Museum or head over to The Station Inn, which is a tiny club open since the 1970s known for bluegrass performances.
12 South: Compared to other areas of Nashville, 12 South is highly walkable. This half-mile stretch is the perfect place to spend a morning and early afternoon, starting with brunch at one of the many delicious eateries followed by vintage, boutique, and street vendor shopping. Grab a coffee and a sweet treat from a bakery, too, while you’re there.
Midtown: Midtown is a major nightlife hub where Vanderbilt University students frequent due to close proximity to campus; spots like the Kung Fu Saloon are popular amongst the younger crowds. There are gay bars and clubs on Church Street that host drag shows, live music, and variety acts throughout the week. Centennial Park is within the Midtown District, as well, with its lake, sunken garden, and Parthenon replica.
Printer’s Alley: Printer’s Alley is a famous alley in Downtown that was known for its various publishing and print shops during the early 20th century. The portion of the alley between Union and Church Street is the home of a nightclub district from the 1940s. Now, this small district is a collective hub of clubs, bars, and live music spots geared towards the nightlife scene.
National Museum of African American Music: The National Museum of African American Music is an interactive museum on Fifth and Broadway. The museum showcases the musical genres inspired, created, and/or influenced by African-Americans over multiple centuries. History is interwoven into the exhibits, making this museum a great combination of information- and interest-based learning. Buy tickets in advance online; entry is based on timeslot.
Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum: The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is one of the world’s largest museums and research centers that is dedicated to preserving American vernacular music. Compared to the National Museum of African American Music, the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum is much less interactive and does not do the best job at encompassing the history of American music, its diverse roots, and the complexity of the American experience. However, it is still worthwhile to visit to learn more about country music, view historic relics, and see lots of records.
Ryman Auditorium: This historic 2,362-seat live performance venue is known for its acoustics. The Ryman is a favorite music venue for performers and audiences because the sound is unmatched by any other venue in the world. If you don’t want to or lack the time to see a show, tours of the space are available.
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge: Tootsies is the most famous honky tonk on downtown Nashville’s Broadway. This multi-level late night venue has hosted dozens of Country Music legends, like Faron Young, Charley Pride, Patsy Cline, and Loretta Lynn.
Travel tip #2: Cowboy boots are all the rage in Nashville! If you’re looking for a good place to wrangle some authentic leather boots, check out Boot Country or Nashville Boot Company. Don’t be afraid to ask an employee to assist with fit, as there are tips and tricks for selecting the best sized pair.
Food & Drink
Frothy Monkey: Frothy Monkey is cafe, specialty coffee roaster, and wholesale bakery with several locations and production facilities throughout the cities of Nashville, Franklin, Chattanooga, and Birmingham. They’re great for a quick pick-me-up while out and about in 12 South.
Five Daughter’s Bakery: Five Daughters Bakery is a family business that started in Franklin, Tennessee. All of their pastries are made from scratch each day using non-GMO ingredients. Be sure to try their signature 100 Layer Donut amongst other tasty treats.
The Butter Milk Ranch: A spectacular brunch spot with sweet Southern service. Their bakery and restaurant is in 12 South, where you’ll find small batch-baked croissants, eclairs, cookies, and more in addition to delicious breakfast and lunch options. Wait times can be quite long on weekends and they do not take reservations.
Suzy Wong’s: A fun locally owned establishment to enjoy food, drinks, and drag! Their Drag’n Brunch experience features three fabulous queens who will host you for a couple of hours. You can make online reservations for their live drag shows that happen on Friday afternoons, Saturday mornings, and Sunday mornings.
Layer Cake: As their name suggests, this spot has four levels (layers) of dining experiences under a single roof. The bright, colorful walls compliment the dazzling chandeliers while DJs can be heard bumping music throughout the day. The top layer is a rooftop bar that gets quite busy at night.
Nashville Farmers’ Market: This large indoor and outdoor market features a wide variety of local foods, produce, crafts, classes, and chef demos. Inside, you’ll find plenty of shops and eateries, including Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream and Lilly’s Hot Chicken. The open-air outdoor farm sheds consist of large covered sheds that serve as a home to more than 100 farmers, artisans and small businesses throughout the year.
White Limozeen: You’ll love the glitzy decor and pink everything at White Limozeen, which is aptly named after Dolly Parton’s 1989 studio album. This fun venue can be found on the roof of the Graduate Hotel and serves tasty bites, seafood, and cocktails. Note that it is ages 21+ after 7 pm. Reservations are required if you prefer table rather than bar seating.
Velvet Taco: With locations spritzed throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia, this popular expanding chain is known for its unique taco options. From chimichurri to tofu to beer battered cauliflower, the variety offered caters to everyone. The Midtown location in Nashville is nestled amongst other eateries as well as bars and entertainment venues.
Party Fowl: Party Fowl specializes in Nashville Hot Chicken, brunch, and boozy slushies. Their menu includes several hot chicken dishes with heat levels ranging from Southern Fried to “Poultrygeist.” Be warned, as their hot level is extremely hot!
Hattie B’s: A chain found in Atlanta and other cities, Hattie B’s originated in Nashville and is now a staple to many who visit the city. Hattie B’s is popular amongst tourists, which is noticeable based upon the lines that can pour out onto the sidewalk. Definitely a place to try at least once, but there are definitely other lesser known options out there like Prince’s and Helen’s Hot Chicken.
The Row Kitchen & Pub: The Row was the hangout spot for over 30 years for singers and songwriters who helped shape country music history. The restaurant’s Southern cuisine represents a true taste of Nashville, especially when it’s served alongside daily live music performances.
Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint: All of the food at Martin’s is made from scratch, daily. It takes up to 24 hours to smoke the barbecued meats over local hickory wood, a process that aims to preserve and celebrate the art of Western Tennessee’s whole-hog BBQ tradition. The menu is fairly straightforward yet offers enough variety to please everyone at your table.
Skull’s Rainbow Room: Located in Printer’s Alley, this circa-1948 elevated speakeasy-style establishment has tasty food, fun cocktails, burlesque performances, and live music. As of 2023, burlesque takes place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights beginning at 11:00 pm and includes a cover charge of $20 cash. Reservations are not accepted for burlesque shows but general dinner reservations can be made up to two weeks in advance.
Travel tip #3: White barbecue sauce, aka Alabama White Sauce, is a southern sauce typically made of mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and spices. Although it originated from the neighboring state of Alabama, it can be found on Nashville menus, tables, and on the side of all kinds of foods. It’s a great complimentary dipping sauce for Nashville hot chicken!
Transportation & Accommodation
Like many American cities, it is easiest and most efficient to get around Nashville by car. Ride-sharing apps, like Uber and Lyft, are very popular amongst locals and tourists alike. For those who prefer public transportation options, there is an airport shuttle and local bus route that get you between Downtown and the Nashville International Airport (BNA, which stands for Berry Field Nashville). The WeGo Public Transit provides hourly service between downtown and the airport throughout the week. WeGo also provides bus service across Nashville, offering all-day, unlimited-ride passes for as low as $5 USD. Some hotels offer complimentary parking to offset traffic in high-volume areas of the city, such as Downtown, but you can find parking by using Park It Downtown or SpotHero.
Downtown, Music Row, The Gulch, and Midtown are great areas to stay in when visiting Nashville; they are all located amidst lots of eateries, bars, and music venues. Hotels are the best option if you prefer something more centrally-located, as more affordable AirBnbs are usually a bit further outside of the city center. When in Nashville, my friend and I stayed at Hotel Fraye in Midtown. It was absolutely gorgeous and offered a really fun brunch on Saturdays with a live DJ. I liked that it wasn’t in the chaos of Downtown and was a short car ride away from most places we were interested in visiting.
Travel tip #4: The Downtown area of Nashville is fairly walkable, however, it is easier to access different areas of the city by using a ride-share service or by driving. Although the map may make an area appear to be walkable, it might not be due to highway-like roads that divide the city.
Climate
Nashville has hot, humid summers and cool winters that are typical of the Upper South region of the United States. In the summer, temperatures climb above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) yet the oppressive southern humidity makes it feel much hotter. Summer lows are usually around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 Celsius). Snowfall occurs during the winter months, but it is usually not heavy and typically does not pass over seven inches per winter season. Tennessee has two tornado seasons: March through May and Mid-October through November. The occasional tornado can strike outside of these time frames, as well, but these seasons are when tornadoes are most common. The end of May until mid-June in addition to the beginning of October are the best times for comfortable weather conditions.
