Nashville Guide
This is my second time in Nashville and I feel like this city continues to outdo itself. Nashville has always been a key player in the music scene, drawing in some of the most creative people. However, if you can navigate through the bachelorette parties and traffic jams, you will find a city full of incredible live music, amazing food, culture, and great people. A city with beauty, soul ,and more than a little grit.
Time of Year: February, would love to see this city in summer.
Duration: 3 nights
Hotel: Four Seasons
Best Thing: Nash Trash Tour
Best Restaurant: Rolf & Daughters
Photo: Christie Kanani
Where To Stay
Four Season Nashville — Four Seasons is the new social hub of downtown Nashville’s SoBro neighborhood, just steps from music, sports and entertainment. Feel the rhythm of our vibrant restaurants and event spaces, and the harmony of our Spa and rooftop pool – celebrating nature with views of the Cumberland River and Riverfront Park. With unparalleled Four Seasons service and warm Southern hospitality, we’ll inspire a truly authentic experience of Music City.
Hermitage — This is the swankiest hotel in town and drips in old-world charm. The food at Capitol Grille (not to be confused with the the Capital Grille chain) is pretty traditional, but it’s fun just for the atmosphere. Be sure to check out the Oak Bar, which features an extensive whiskey collection.
Graduate Nashville — Surround yourself in history and legend at our funky, floral jewel box. Right in the heart of Midtown, Graduate Nashville features playful, luxe guest rooms that celebrate the town’s innate charm. Channel your inner Opry star at our animatronic karaoke bar, Cross Eyed Critters, or take in the Nashville skyline from the rooftop bar, White Limozeen. The hotel is just a short stroll from Vanderbilt University and its stadium
Others on my list
Thompson Nashville
Urban Cowboy
Where To Eat
Brunch —
Four Seasons Nashville — we had the best avocado toast and amazing cappuccino. The setting is beautiful and their team is so kind.
Cafe Roze — Grab a seat at the long marble bar and settle in for a crazy good avocado shake (made with kale, banana, almond milk, and bee pollen) before a bowl of savory oats, served with a poached egg, mustard greens, and roasted shiitake mushrooms.
E & Rose — the go-to spot for juices and smoothies. They have great grabn’ go options for your flight home.
Lunch —
Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa — if you want to be down in the mix of music row, Casa Rosa was a great stop for Tex Mex. The decor was fun and live music downstairs. Opt for the fish tacos and really good guacamole.
Acme — Even though it's the central hot spot for a lot of Nashville's live music scene, South Broadway's huge bars can skew touristy and get overwhelmingly rowdy at night. Acme Feed & Seed's bold challenge to that stereotype. The first floor restaurant is fast-casual menu of Southern-inflected dishes like Redneck Lo Mein with collard greens and an andouille soy glaze, a Down Home Falafel Sandwich, and flavorful ribs.
Bartaco — Get the trays of guacamole, salsa, and an assortment of tacos. Try their well-tended cocktail list (favorites are the margarita, the mojito, and a bold blend of chorizo spice, reposado, and mezcal called the CLT)
Dinner —
Rolf & Daughters — This small-ish, rustic eatery is situated in the hip Germantown area and has all the elements one might expect from a trusty neighborhood spot. The menu is loaded with hearty, Mediterranean-inflected comfort food (octopus, pastured chicken with garlic confit, and several kinds of crostini), the specialty here is pasta.
Kayne Steakhouse — Kayne Prime is the artful fusion of a chef-chic boutique restaurant with a great American steakhouse. Although deeply rooted in the classic style, Kayne is a celebration of the now, featuring modern interpretations of the classics in the form of market-driven, fresh, farm-to-table creations.
O-Ku Sushi — This was a Gwyneth Paltrow favorite in Nashville and it lives up to the hype. Asian cuisine with a regional approach through a menu that focuses on unique ingredients and sophisticated presentations.
Twelve Thirty Club — The inspiration for The Twelve Thirty Club is rooted in the supper clubs of the 19th-century. Located right in the middle of downtown, the 12/30 Club is a multi-level dining, cocktail and music experience. When Nick and I were here, we enjoyed great cocktails, dry rubbed wings and a fun atmosphere.
Where Else To Eat
These are the restaurants I haven’t had the opportunity to get to but are at the top of my list for future trips!
—The Optimist
—City House
—Folk: Pizza
—Audreys
—Lockland Table
Live Music & Drinks
Tootsies — If you like good country music Tootsies is at the top, which is apparently the #1 honky-tonk bar in the world! A fun historical fact: Artists performing at the Grand Ole Opry used to sneak to Tootsie’s through the alley connecting it to the Ryman Auditorium during the show.
Robert’s Western World — Our favorite honky-tonk for dancing, this low-key bar has live music every night. You can also buy cowboy boots here; one of the walls is lined in shelves full of pairs in every shape and size imaginable.
Bootleggers Inn — We’ve now been here twice and both times they had the best one man band in town. It’s not as popular as all the other bars, which is a good thing!
Station Inn — Located in the up-and-coming Gulch neighborhood, the Station Inn is a vestige of another time. Don’t be fooled by the bare-bones exterior, this is the best venue for bluegrass. We didn’t make it here this time, however it’s on my list!
Attaboy — This speakeasy is a favorite of mine in Nashville. Knock on the door, wait for it to open and a host will greet you and ask for how many in your party. You’ll then be seated or given a wait time. Once you’re in, there’s no menu. Staff will ask a short round of questions to hone in on exactly what type of drink each customer is in the mood for, and then take it from there.
Grand Old Opry — Several times a week, the Grand Ole Opry takes place as a showcase of the best country, bluegrass, and folk bands in the country. You will see the best music artists in town performing here. The entire show is broadcast live on WSM-AM at 7 p.m. and is the longest-running radio show in history. People say the Opry is touristy, and this is true, but it is at the same time absolutely authentic and the quality of the concerts is truly remarkable.
Ryman — The Ryman was founded as a church in 1892, which explains the church pew seating. In the mid-twentieth century it came to house the legendary Johnny Cash television show and the weekly Grand Ole Opry concert and radio show, which was broadcast on WSM-AM. The television show is no more, and the Opry has moved to a new home at the Grand Ole Opry House, but the Ryman remains a must-experience concert venue for its spectacular acoustics.
Bluebird Cafe — Located just fifteen minutes outside of Downtown Nashville, this low-key spot hosts an open mic where you can hear up-and-coming and established singer-songwriters. I loved the show Nashville and they filmed so much in here as well.
Nash Trash Tour — The Jugg Sisters Original Tour (OT) has been a Nashville institution since 1997. This comedy show on wheels, hosted by the Sheri Lynn & Brenda Kay, stays booked months in advance with no advertising...their fan base was built on hundreds of great online reviews, and many, many repeat customers!
Hop on the Big Pink Bus as Sheri Lynn and Brenda Kay Jugg dish the old stories on your favorite polyester, double-knit, sequined country music legends. You'll ride past storied institutions like the Ryman Auditorium and Honky Tonk row, a quick stop for photo ops, and later a pitstop souvenirs (or a fresh beverage) at the Country Music Hall of Fame, then take a quick spin on legendary Music Row before returning to the Market.
The tour lasts just under two hours (depending on traffic), and travels through downtown Nashville. There's lots of audience participation and improv comedy, which means there's as much going on inside the bus as outside...you'll laugh 'til your face hurts! It's a rowdy, very risqué, one-of-a-kind musical-comedy extravaganza. Please note: if you're easily offended by blue humor (dirty jokes), we recommend that you take the MRC tour instead.
