Back in the day, if I told anyone from outside of the South that I was from Nashville, they'd reply "Oh, cool" or "Is that in Texas?" and then turn away from disinterest. Over the last few years, though, Nashville's popularity has skyrocketed, largely due to its reputation as a hotspot for bachelor and bachelorette parties. Transplants and locals alike have contributed to its rapid transformation into a city with a thriving live music scene (more than just the Country Capital of the World) and foodie paradise. Nashville is simultaneous hipster and trendy, affordable and expensive, depending on what you're looking for, but what you'll undeniably experience is a strong dose of Southern charm.
How long to stay:
A long weekend of 3 - 4 days should be sufficient to see the city, but perhaps not enough to taste it all. Spring or Autumn are the best seasons to avoid the brutal heat, but if you find yourself in Ca$hville in the summer, take a day trip to hike and swim at Cummins Falls, a 1.5 hour drive east.
Where to stay:
Downtown: there are lots of hotels downtown near Broadway, "the strip" close to the waterfront with most of the touristy honky-tonks
Hillsboro Village: a few trendy blocks near Vanderbilt, a 10 minute drive from downtown. Notable shops are Pangaea for jewelry, clothes, and trinkets, and Fido for brunch and coffee, a former stomping ground of Taylor Swift.
12th Avenue South: one of the most popular Nashville streets near where the locals live, a 10 minute drive from downtown with lots of good restaurants and shopping, including Reese Witherspoon’s flagship clothing store, Draper James, and the Instagrammable “I BELIEVE IN NASHVILLE” sign
East Nashville: hipster neighborhood with great food and drinks, including The Pharmacy Burger and Beer Parlor and Marche French Restaurant
The Gulch: yuppie, cosmopolitan high-rise apartment neighborhood with several good food options, including Biscuit Love, a 5 minute drive from downtown
What to pack:
Cowboy boots: for honky tonking
Denim (shorts, jeans, shirts, vests): because it's the South
Plaid shirt: see above
Gettin' around:
Renting a car is the easiest. Uber and Lyft are convenient but could get pricey.
Check it out:
Broadway: Nashvegas' spot for nightlife, but also good to visit during the day to check out the cowboy boot stores and a famous poster shop called Hatch Show Print
Centennial Park and the Parthenon: huge green space in Nashville's city center, famous for its life-sized replica of the Greek Parthenon. Fun fact: before "Music City," Nashville was known as "The Athens of the South" -- before the city realized no one cared.
Riverfront Park: take a break from honky tonking with a visit to this park at the end of Broadway, complete with swings, picnic tables, and outdoor workout equipment
Pedal Tavern: pedal around the city at day or night while drinking and sightseeing on a trolley. Yee-haw!
Bluebird Café: singer/songwriter cafe famous for its feature in the TV Show Nashville. It's nearly impossible to get tickets (you need to book online at 9AM sharp a week in advance), but if you're up for waiting outside a couple hours before showtime, you might get a seat. A food/drink minimum is required, so get the A+ baked brie.
Pinewood Social: this place has everything—food, drinks, work space, a bowling alley, outdoor courtyard, and even two pools. Go there to chill for a few hours.
Pedestrian Bridge: walk off the biscuits and moonshine with a stroll across this bridge offering a decent view of Nashville's skyline
Music Row: a street famous for record labels and recording studios, though not much else
Nightlife:
Broadway: the heart of Nashville, with seemingly endless live music honkey-tonk bars open all day
Tootsies: perhaps the most famous bar on Broadway, with three stories of live music and a rooftop deck
The Stage: spacious two story bar with a fun vibe
Rippy’s: open-air, two-story corner bar directly across from the Bridgestone arena
Honky Tonk Central: massive three story, open-air bar with different genres of live music on each floor
Acme: multi-story bar with roof deck located at the end of Broadway. Worth the walk for moonshine-flavored slushies called Mule Kickers.
The Patterson House: speakeasy with creative, though pricey drinks near Music Row. Get there early or expect a wait.
Wildhorse Saloon: world famous line dancing bar one block from Broadway where you can truly experience what it means to HONKY TONK
What to nom:
Hot chicken:
Nashville is the birthplace of one of the most delicious foods you will ever eat, so if you visit without tasting this burning, greasy, tear-inducing, fried perfection, you are doing everything wrong.
Prince's: the one and only original hot chicken shack. The mild spiciness level is safe, medium is for people who can tolerate spicy, and hot will almost certainly make you cry. Do not touch your face while eating-- the burn is real. Prince's recently opened a larger, nicer location serving the same great food. New and old locations are both around a 15 minute drive from city-center.
Hattie B's: not the original, but really good hot chicken located in Nashville for people who don't want to venture out and do care about side-dish variety, since Hattie B's offers options like mac and cheese and greens that Prince's lacks
Bolton's: Bolton's main differentiator is that it offers not only hot chicken, but also hot FISH. Located near East Nashville.
Anywhere else: you're kidding yourself
Southern food:
Monell’s: wear your stretchy pants for affordable, family-style all you can eat southern cooking with three locations that will have you making new friends and rolling home
Loveless Café: world-famous for its biscuits, though not necessarily worth the trek given other options closer to the city. Located on the beautiful Natchez Trace a ~25 minute drive away.
Brunch:
Pancake Pantry: quite possibly the best pancakes in the world, and a Nashville staple located in Hillsboro Village. I don't even like pancakes, but I'm obsessed with the Pancake Pantry's sweet potato pancakes with cinnamon syrup. They have pancakes topped with fruit, pancakes wrapped around sausages, and even Mexican cornmeal pancakes. Wake up early or go on a weekday when the line is shorter. Pro tip: order half plates of everything so you can try more.
Biscuit Love: new, hip breakfast/brunch restaurant in the Gulch famous for its biscuits (duh), but also its fried chicken, blueberry-stuffed biscuit donut holes, and sweet and spicy bacon. Its The East Nasty sandwich was awarded the 2015 best breakfast sandwich in America.
The Garden: life-changing bananas foster pancakes near downtown
The Frothy Monkey: gourmet coffee shop with creative latte flavors to keep you buzzed. Locations downtown and in East Nashville.
Sweets:
Jeni’s Ice Cream: gourmet ice cream with unique flavors like Brambleberry Crisp, Pistachio and Honey, and Goat Cheese with Cherries. Multiple locations including Hillsboro Village, 12th Ave South, and East Nashville
Five Daughters Bakery: five-layer donuts (aka cronuts) that have taken Nashville by storm
Las Paletas: avocado fans rejoice! This popsicle shop offers the green goodness in a cold, creamy pop perfect for combating the brutal Nashville summer heat.
Other notables:
The Pharmacy Burger and Beer Parlor: affordable, juicy burgers on fresh baked buns from the local Provence French cafe, plus hand crafted sodas, craft beer, and one of the best vegetarian burgers I’ve ever eaten—the chickpea
Marche: great French food famous for brunch near East Nashville
McDougal’s: best fried chicken tenders and selection of sauces you will ever eat (but not hot chicken)
Calypso Café: when your arteries and waistline need a break, head to this healthy cheap eatery and order the Lucayan Salad with a side of bean and corn salad. Multiple locations including East Nashville and Centennial Park.
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