From Fab to Funky, My Favorite Picks For Boutique Hotels in Nashville

The Urban Cowboy

Regarding boutique hotels in Nashville, the Urban Cowboy is an absolute must-visit. We had high expectations and it exceeded all. This cowboy-themed, eight-suite bed and breakfast is a true gem, where no detail is left undone.

As soon as we arrived, we were greeted with a warm welcome, a glass of wine, and a tour of the property. One of the unique features of this place is the presence of a fantastic pizza restaurant right there on-site. If you're in the mood for something different, Lockeland Table is just around the corner and comes highly recommended. Plus, the hotel hosts live music in the lobby on select evenings — which, unfortunately, we missed both nights. However, we did enjoy an excellent late-night cocktail at the adjacent bar, Public House.

While there isn't a traditional concierge service on-site at all times, the staff is just a text away, ready to provide recommendations whenever you need them.

We chose "The Muse" for our stay — a king suite on the second floor with a charming clawfoot tub and an abundance of character. Beyond the appealing aesthetics, every aspect of the room exudes comfort, from the bed and towels to the plush robes and leather chairs. Surprisingly, it was incredibly quiet too. The Urban Cowboy is nestled on a serene street in a peaceful neighborhood and we didn't hear a peep from the other rooms. It was, without a doubt, one of the most restful nights of sleep I've had in a long time. The minibar in the room was thoughtfully stocked with a variety of local treats, including sparkling sodas, craft beers, hangover remedies and luxurious bubble bath products. While the bathroom doesn't feature a shower, we fell in love with, our early morning hot bath soaks under the skylight. It was an incredibly relaxing and tranquil way to kickstart the day.

Each morning, the staff set up a delightful breakfast spread in the lobby - Greek yogurt, fresh blueberries, granola and piping hot coffee. It was just the right amount to fuel us up for our adventures and exploration of Nashville.

Other top pics for boutique hotels in Nashville:

The Russell

This historic church-turned-boutique hotel is a vibrant, eclectic space with an incredible retro Nashville vibe. The stained glass that shines into the lobby is really something to see and as you venture deeper into the hotel, you’ll find features left over from its previous life as a house of worship — vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows and church pews converted into headboards.

Each of the 23 unique rooms, different in shape and layout, features a pop of bold color, the comfiest bed, fun decor and a thoughtful goodie basket filled with local snacks and a guidebook. During our stay at The Russell, we booked a Classic King room with rich blue walls and a vibrant orange bathroom.

The lobby offers a communal setting to enjoy your morning coffee from the coffee bar. Off the lobby, you can find cool spaces like a podcast recording studio and a photo booth. Who doesn’t love a photo booth?

With a slogan of “Stay Here, Change Lives,” you can feel good about your stay. Through The Russell’s Rooms For Rooms program, the owners contribute a portion of each stay to support local homeless ministries.

Fairlane Hotel

If you’re feeling less boho and more mid-mod, the Fairlane might be right up your alley. With terrazzo flooring and wood furnishings, the Fairlane gives you enough luxury to feel legit, but not out of place.

The fourth-floor restaurant, Ellington’s, offers a retro-feeling bar that you could really settle into for a few high balls. In the morning, Fairlane’s Bagelshop serves up hand-rolled and kettle-boiled bagels from 7am through the early afternoon.

The Fairlane’s rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, marble showers, luxe bathrobes, a 55” TV and lush Euro-top beds. Though I’ve never stayed at this hotel, it’s high on my list. After a recent trip in which we were upgraded to a suite, I’m very curious about Fairlane’s three suites. They seem like the perfect setting to kick back and unwind after a long day, and the hotel’s placement in downtown Nashville guarantees a view worth savoring.

What I’m most excited about is the newly unveiled Emerald City bar on the rooftop of Fairlane. It just opened in September 2023 and draws its theme from the Wizard of Oz and the musical Wicked. With a trendy neon-deco vibe, it promises to be an immersive experience worthy of the musical’s national tour arrival in Nashville.

Waymore’s Guest House & Casual Club

Waymore’s gives that eclectic, funky-western Nashville feel. Described as “a place for long hangs, tall tales and no hard feelings,” its rooms are designed with a low-key substance that makes you (and your dog) feel like a Nashvillian yourself.

While the vibes and views alone make Waymore’s worth the stay, they’re working on giving guests, well, a lot more. The Waymore’s lobby doubles as a lounge with a full bar, adjacent to the Waymore’s Allday Cafe, which serves up brunch until two and bites til 9 — Nashville classics like hot cakes in the morning and fried chicken sandwiches in the afternoon. Coming soon, Waymore’s plans to open its Tall Tales rooftop bar and a meeting space for groups. You know, if you’re trying to cram in a little business with your pleasure.

The East Nashville location of this indie darling hotel is perfect. Less than two miles away from downtown, the State Capitol and the arts district, it’s just far enough out to get a quiet night of sleep.

The Dive Motel & Swim Club

Imagine Twin Peaks and Austin Powers had a baby and raised it in Nashville and you’ll have a sense of what the Dive Motel has to offer.

Each room is one-of-a-kind and comes with a trademark Party Switch, which conjures a disco ball that spins to one of the Dive’s four radio channels (aptly named Sex, Drugs, Rock ‘n Roll and Sleep). Leopard print, fur, in-room hot tubs — deliciously ringard. Half the fun is finding the room that speaks to you.

A throwback to the roadside diners of the 60’s and 70’s, The Dive Bar opens at 9am and stays open until 2am, serving drinks and fare like sandwiches and loaded Disco fries. The Dive Swim Club consists of a 60’ pool and a mix of lounge chairs and semi-private cabanas, giving you and your crew the perfect spot to bum away the day.

The Dive sits on the far west side of East Nashville, about 10 minutes north of downtown. Of all the boutique hotels in Nashville, the Dive Motel sits at the top of our list for our next Nashville trip.

Bonus: Southall Farm & Inn

OK, not exactly in Nashville, but too good not to share. Southall Farm & Inn offers a grandiose, immersive farmland escape to reconnect with the outdoors and pamper yourself with lush amenities. Rooms are styled with rustic luxury and many come with a fireplace and views of creeks and meadows. You can also rent private cottages nestled in the trees on an elevated ridge with gorgeous sunrise views, which include spa-like bathrooms, wrap-around decks and swing beds.

Southall’s farm is designed to give guests an understanding of the connection between the land and the food we eat through tours of its orchard, garden, greenhouse and apiary. Guest can book experiences like a beeswax candle-making class that lets you get up close and personal with the fruits of their work.

Get out in the action with fly fishing, mountain biking, axe-throwing, or even falconry experiences or find your zen with yoga, painting and sound bath meditation classes.

As you might imagine, the eating is good at Southall. With two signature restaurants — Sojourner and January — there’s no shortage of elevated southern seasonal favorites to choose from. Of course, a hand-crafted cocktail is never far away, especially at Southall’s pool, which overlooks the stunning Lake Mishkin.

Located in the hidden gem of Franklin, TN, Southall is just a quick 40 minutes south of Nashville.

This is hardly an exhaustive list of boutique hotels in Nashville, but these picks reflect the uniqueness of the city and they’re tried and true regarding quality. Whether you bed down Don Draper-style in the Fairlane or get weird in the shag of the Dive Motel, you’ll make your Nashville adventure one for the books.