A Local’s Guide to Nashville

Explore Urban Greenery

• Rent an electric bike from BCycle and take a ride through Shelby Park. Pack a picnic and make a stop at Cornelia Fort Airpark to sit and people-watch.

Live Music

• Try to catch a show at the iconic Ryman Auditorium, the Mother Church of Country Music, the birthplace of bluegrass, and the original home of the Grand Ole Opry.

• Stop by The Bluebird Cafe or The Listening Room for a Writers Round, a Nashville staple in which the songwriters take turns playing their original songs and sharing stories about the writing process in a casual setting. Make sure to check out how to get tickets in advance!

Karaoke

• Head to Santa’s Pub for a night of karaoke at a dive bar in a double-wide trailer run by Santa himself (or at least a man who very closely resembles him). This spot is a Nashville gem frequented by famous Nashville acts on the regular. You can smoke inside, but make sure to follow Santa’s two rules — no swearing and no drinks on the karaoke stage.

Sports

• Grab tickets to a soccer game at Geodis Park or a hockey game at Bridgestone Arena to see the Nashville Predators. Neither option will disappoint!

Art Scene

• Check out the local art scene during the First Saturday Art Crawl. If you’re not in town for First Saturday, make sure to check out The Frist, which features rotating national and local exhibits.

Germantown

• Take a stroll through Germantown to do some window shopping and grab a coffee at Elegy or Barista Parlor. If you’re so inclined, make an appointment at Poppy & Monroe for their lush waterless mani/pedi (bonus points: everything they use is nontoxic).

Natchez Trace

• Make the drive out to Natchez Trace Bridge to enjoy the views before or after hitting up Loveless Cafe for some down-home cooking.

Vintage Shopping

• Spend the afternoon thrifting your way through East Nashville. Don’t miss Garage Sale Vintage, Music City Vintage, Black Shag, Star Struck Vintage, Anaconda and Lykee House!

Afternoon Tea

• Make a reservation for afternoon tea at The Hermitage. The service is themed “Spillin’ Tea with Draper James” and features recipes inspired by Reese Witherspoon’s cookbook, Whiskey in a Teacup.

Third Man Records

• Stop by Jack White’s flagship, Third Man Records, to explore their novelties shop and create a custom 6” phonographic disk in their refurbished 1947 Voice-o-Graph machine. Make sure to check the calendar for their Blue Room, which sometimes hosts big-name acts in a more intimate venue setting.

• Rolf & Daughters: This is my personal favorite restaurant in Nashville. A New American take on Italian with a small rotating seasonal menu in a rustic brick building. Vibes are always immaculate, and I’ve never had a single thing that I haven’t loved from this spot.

• Folk: From the same folks (ha!) behind Rolf & Daughters, this spot focused more on wood-fired pizzas. A great happy hour and an incredible patio keeps this place high on my list! Don’t miss the clam pizza.

• Margot: This spot is one of Nashville’s OG farms to table spots featuring a French inspired menu. It’s quaint and always delicious.

• St. Vito Focaccia: Elevated Sicilian style pizzas and small plates in The Gulch - great for lunch or a casual dinner.

• Kisser: Recently featured on several best new restaurant lists, Kisser is lunch-only spot serving up Japanese comfort food. They don’t take reservations, so be prepared to wait for a table especially if it’s a weekend!

• The Pharmacy: This place has my favorite burgers in Nashville. They have an extensive German beer list and a beautiful outdoor biergarten in the heart of East Nash. Don’t miss the garlic aioli and fry combo!

• Cafe Roze: Cafe Roze is a tried-and-true spot serving up breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a cute little pink cafe environment. The food and drinks here are consistently incredible.

• Lou: A natural wine and farm to table shared plates spot inside a historic craftsman in East Nashville that also serves up a killer brunch.

• Attaboy: Attaboy is a speakeasy concept in East Nashville. They don’t have a menu - you simply tell the bartender what you’re in the mood for and they’ll mix up something custom. P.S. - they don’t serve Vodka (so don’t ask).

• The Fox: Featured as one of Food & Wine’s 10 Best U.S. bars, this spot is a cozy cocktail bar in East Nashville with killer drinks and small plates. Make a reservation if you can - it’s tiny.

• Dinos: Dino’s is a Nashville late night staple slinging burgers and animal style fries alongside tallboys. Claiming to be East Nashville’s Oldest Dive Bar, it’s a must add to your list.