Curator’s statement
Nashville, Tennessee, is the entertainment mecca of the South! It is known for amazing live music any time of the day, Southern hospitality and friendly people, an amazing food scene, an array of sports venues and beautiful outdoor scenery. Nashville has it all whether you want the ultimate party trip with your friends or a quiet weekend in the countryside with that special someone or family. Your options are endless here in Nashville. As a Nashville local, I would love to welcome you here to my amazing city!
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Where to stay in Nashville
Virgin Hotels Nashville
No-frills, modern Nashville hotel perfectly situated for local touristing.
Fora Perks
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$100 food / beverage credit.
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Breakfast daily.
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Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Bobby Hotel
Fashionable property in downtown Nashville with hip rooms and suites.
Fora Perks
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$100 hotel / resort credit.
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Breakfast daily.
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Welcome amenity.
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Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Thompson Nashville
A chic boutique hotel offering luxury accommodations and curated experiences in the heart of Music City.
Fora Perks
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$100 food / beverage credit.
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Breakfast daily.
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Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Grand Hyatt Nashville
A polished property close to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum with sophisticated rooms and suites.
Fora Perks
- ★
Hotel / resort credit.
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Welcome amenity.
- ★
Breakfast daily.
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Upgrade & extended check-in/out, whenever possible.
Unlock perks by contacting Leigha to book your trip.
Things to do in Nashville
For an authentic Nashville experience, go to a writer's round at The Listening Room.
The Listening Room showcases songwriters that play their own original songs, it's a great way to hear the stories behind those songs from the songwriters themselves. Dine, drink and listen, a true Nashville experience to add to your list.
The Bluebird Cafe is another authentic experience. This is where Garth Brooks & Taylor Swift were discovered! The Bluebird Cafe is located in a strip mall in the neighborhood of Green Hills, blink and you miss it. It has rich history and showcases some serious world class songwriters. Enjoy dinner and drinks in an intimate setting. You never know who will show up at one of these writer's rounds. Book your tickets online in advance, this is a very small venue and tickets sell out quickly.
Enjoy a Tiki Cruise on the Lake!
Cruisin Tiki Nashville is a fun way to get your party out on the lake and enjoy some drinks & bites. They are located in Gallatin, TN just north of the city. They offer different cruises, from 90 minute morning mimosa cruises to a three-hour party cove experience! It is BYOB and BYOSnacks. They provide coolers and ice and can also provide shuttle service from downtown.
Want a more high end lake experience?
Nashville Toons has you covered! It is on a luxurious double-decker pontoon boat that can host up to 14 people! Your trip will start at the meetup spot in downtown Nashville where you and your party will take a free shuttle to the lake. You will then board your captained pontoon along with a host/hostess to serve you your BYOB drinks & food. The captain will be your DJ and play whatever music you want on their high end stereo system, there is also a waterslide along with a bathroom! It is a truly fun experience that will be a lasting memory for your party! You'll spend a full 3 hours on the lake and the shuttle will drop you back off to their downtown location where you can then hit Broadway!
Visit Nashville's oldest winery!
Visit the beautiful Belle Meade Winery. The winery is the first and oldest in Nashville. It is located on 32 acres of historic land in Belle Meade (10-15 minutes from downtown) Reserve a grounds pass and enjoy free wine samples and walk around the beautiful property. There are also bourbon tastings as well if that is more your speed.
Catch a sporting event!
Nashville is home to many college, and professional sports teams. Depending on the season you could catch anything from a Nashville Sounds minor league baseball game, to a Tennessee Titans game. Nashville is also home to the Nashville Predators hockey team, the Nashville SC (pro soccer) as well as SEC college sports teams - Vanderbilt Commodores and the Belmont Bruins.
Nashville Pedal Tavern
Experience lower Broadway on this 90 minute bike tour. You and your party can choose your experience either public or private. The Pedal Tavern guide will take down historic Music Row down through lower Broadway. You're driver will play their curated playlist to get you pumped up, while you sip and pedal through the city. You’ll make a stop in one of the legendary Honky Tonks for a drink special, and then a photo stop at the end of Broadway. (Pro tip: you don't really have to pedal, the bike is electric.) BYOB or preorder drinks in advance for this fun tour!
Go on a boutique shopping experience!
Beve Boutiques will take you and your party (private or public) to all the can't miss boutiques here in Nashville. Nashville has some really great shopping and you will see them all on this tour. The tour is two and a half hours long, you will receive a private hostess and shuttle driver, discounts from their preferred partners and a cooler stocked with ice, you can BYOB if you would like. Pick up location is downtown (can be picked up from your location if you are within a two-mile radius of their downtown pickup location.
Tour the Iconic Ryman Auditorium
Nashville's "Mother Church," The Ryman, is a world-renowned concert hall and is one of the most special places in Nashville. This beloved landmark is a must see. There are many tour options from self-guided to haunted history tours, check their website for all tour options. You can do a tour during the day and possibly catch a concert at night if you plan in advance. Concerts sell out quickly at The Ryman, be sure to check their calendar to see who is performing that night.
Y'all ever heard of Broadway?
Of course you have! Broadway is a live music dream!
There are bars upon bars that play live music and will play your favorite covers. Stop in request a song, dance with your friends (or strangers) have a drink and don't forget to tip the band! Then go on to the next bar, and the next bar, and the next bar. #barcrawl Also, drink responsibly, don't end up on the Instagram account @scoopnashville IYKYK.
Day trips
Want a break from downtown? Rent a car or rent my Jeep Wrangler on Turo and head 30-minutes south to Franklin, TN. I personally like to drive around and look at the beautiful southern homes. After you start daydreaming about front porch swings.
Go to Arrington Vineyards for a picnic in the vineyard and pick out a lovely bottle of wine and enjoy the vineyard views. If you go on a Friday they have Food Truck Fridays. Be sure to check their calendar for special events. After that, I highly recommend going to downtown Franklin, park, and walk around in this charming city. Enjoy the shops along the way and eat at one of the many restaurants Franklin has to offer.
If you don't make it to Arrington Vineyards, then I highly suggest going to JJ's Wine Bar.
It is located in the heart of downtown Franklin. It used to be an old house and is now converted to my favorite wine bar.
It is absolutely darling with outdoor wraparound porch seating. They also serve cocktails and food.. But I would save room and go to my personal favorite restaurant, Cork & Cow.
Make reservations for a truly delicious fine dining dinner experience. The service and food are some of the best in the Nashville area.
You will fall in love with this area and want to move here, lots of people do. If you're one of them, I know a great realtor for ya!
Places to eat & drink in Nashville
Start your morning off right and head to the famous Loveless Cafe. The Loveless Cafe is a landmark and has been in business since 1951! They make scratch-made Southern food and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. A true Nashville staple, enjoy the delicious homemade biscuits served with true Southern hospitality. While you wait (there normally is) or after you eat, check out the gift shop next door.
Bar Taco is located in the 12 South neighborhood another location was just added in East Nashville. The atmosphere is trendy and laid back with #vacationvibes. Pay extra and get the guac, it's so good! The margaritas are some of the best in the city and the tacos of course are amazing too! Great stop for lunch or dinner.
Ember's Ski Lodge is also in the 12 South neighborhood. (You could make a day out of 12 South cute shops, coffee shops and restaurants.) It is a casual restaurant with a Pacific Northwest vibe. Go to happy hour 4pm-7pm daily and grab a great drink special and some grub and enjoy the atmosphere. If the weather is nice sit out on their patio and do some people watching.
Skull's Rainbow Room: Located in the famous Printers Alley, Skull’s Rainbow Room is a unique dinner and drink experience. It is a famous Jazz bar and amazing restaurant that has been around since the 1940’s. Amazing fine dining restaurant, great live Jazz music played nightly. On the weekends there is a burlesque show starting at 10pm, it is not to be missed! Skull’s takes reservations two weeks in advance, so book it as soon as you can because reservations fill up quickly.
RH Cafe at Restoration Hardware: This is one of the most beautiful places to have brunch or just a glass of wine and a snack. It is truly a stunning cafe, take lots of pictures! Not to be weird but their bathroom is stunning too, go wash your hands just so you can see it, haha!
Have a boujee brunch at The Hampton Social. Make reservations in advance if you are in a group, this place is popular for a reason. Located off of lower Broadway. The Hampton Social allows you to live out your lady-of-leisure fantasies providing a Rose bar, a beautiful rooftop and coastal cuisine with hand-crafted cocktails. Enjoy your brunch with your girls and live the Rose All Day lifestyle! It's truly a beautiful restaurant with plenty of photo ops.
Barcelona Wine Bar: Stop at The Barcelona Wine Bar for Tapas and delicious wine. If the weather is nice you can sit on their cute patio, if not there is plenty of seating inside. Make reservations, this place is popular. After you enjoy some tapas and wine head next door for dinner at...
Bella Napoli for some homemade pasta or wood fired pizzas. The executive chef went to culinary school in Florence, I'm telling you the pasta is chef's kiss, so good!
Old Glory: After sipping wine at Barcelona Wine Bar and dinner at Bella Napoli go dancing or sit in the lounge area upstairs at The Old Glory right behind The Barcelona Wine Bar. It’s like a Speakeasy without needing to know a password. There is no signage go down the alleyway by Bella Napoli, and listen for the music coming from the door with a triangle. (The locals are going to kill me for sharing this secret spot.) Old Glory is now a dimly-lit cocktail lounge that used to be a 1920s boiler room. It still has its old charm. Drink some delicious craft cocktails and enjoy the music. Really good vibes!
Assembly Food Hall at 5th & Broad: Located on Broadway directly across the street from Bridgestone Arena, sits the Assembly Food Hall. The food hall has something for everyone, there are 30+ eateries and bars. It boasts Nashville's largest rooftop.
One of my favorite's is Sixty Vines, great place for groups to have a sit down dinner and they have 60 wines on tap! There is shopping, ice cream and 30+ local restaurants all on one glorious corner 5th & Broadway. Super convenient to eat a quick bite before hitting the honky tonks on Broadway!
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Travel Advisor
Leigha Bryson
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For more travel tips, check out Fora Advisor Sarah Barnett’s guide, Girl's Trip in Nashville to Satisfy the Foodies & Partiers Alike.
This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to Nashville.