Lisa Diederich Photography
Even though New York City is nicknamed “The City That Never Sleeps,” it might be time to turn that title over to Nashville, Tennessee because there’s no shortage of good times at any time of the night and it will be a challenge to pick where to eat, as you’ll see in this Nashville travel guide.
When most people think of Nashville, they tend to immediately think of country music and honky tonks. And, the aptly named Music City is home to ICONIC music venues such as the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium, Music Row, a section of downtown dedicated to the music industry, and, of course, Broadway, a strip of bars, and yes, honky tonks, where those hoping to break into the music industry get their start by playing into wee hours of the morning.
However, over the years, the world is beginning to realize that there’s a lot more to Nashville; much more, which we cover in this Nashville travel guide. From where to eat and what to do, read on to get the most out of your stay in Nashville.
In addition to being a country music mecca, Nashville is an eclectic city with a small-town feel in which you can find an emerging art scene, some of the best restaurants in the world and top-notch entertainment with a bit of history mixed in.
WHERE TO STAY
In addition to being a country music mecca, Nashville is an eclectic city with a small-town feel in which you can find an emerging art scene, some of the best restaurants in the world and top-notch entertainment with a bit of history mixed in.
Lisa Diederich Photography
If some of the non-negotiables on your Nashville travel guide include the Country Music Hall of Fame, visiting bars opened by some of the biggest country stars or seeing a show at the Mother Church of Country Music–The Ryman Auditorium, the Bobby Hotel should be your top choice. The Bobby Hotel is just steps away from all of the magic Lower Broadway has to offer while also providing its own kind of magic to its guests and visitors.
From the moment you walk through the glass doors of the lobby, you will find yourself wondering if you even need to venture out to the streets of Music City at all. The welcoming leather sofas near the fireplace provide a cozy place to sit and take in all of the subtle details that surround you like vintage typewriters and bicycle-inspired barstools, and some not-so-subtle ones like the extravagant hubcap chandelier that hangs above the staircase. Once you’re ready to find where to eat and enjoy a cocktail (or two), you can check out one of the four on-site restaurants and bars: Bobby’s Garage Bar, Union Tavern, Café at Bobby’s and Rooftop Lounge.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: GORGEOUS GETAWAYS | LUXURY HOTELS THAT WE’RE LOVING RIGHT NOW
Lisa Diederich Photography
Speaking of the rooftop…
As you walk through the elevator doors of the tenth floor, you won’t know what to check out first. From the pool and cabanas to yard games and the retrofitted 1956 Scenicruiser (the perfect spot for a photo opp), you’ll want to grab a specialty cocktail and enjoy each area throughout your stay.
Lisa Diederich Photography
Once your rooftop rendezvous comes to an end, your eclectic yet cozy hotel room awaits. No matter which room you get, you’ll “discover unexpected treasures and trinkets collected throughout years of travel” and get a taste of amenities you already love, such as high-quality bedding, in-room safes and smart TVs for when you need to unwind. The room’s moody, black-tiled bathrooms feature glass pane sliding doors, rainfall showerheads and William Roam bath products for an extra taste of luxury.
And did we mention that the Bobby Hotel is dog friendly? Not only that, but this might just be one of the only hotels to have a Dog-In-Residence! Bobby partners with the Nashville Humane Association for their Dog-In-Residence Pet Program. They will select a dog to adopt from Nashville Humane and train them to become an emotional support animal, then after one year of living a life of luxury in the Bobby Hotel lobby and meeting guests from all over the world, the dog is then donated to a U.S. Veteran in need. Currently, Hairy resides at the Bobby Hotel, but he only works banker’s hours, so if you want to meet him, be sure to head down during his shift!
Lisa Diederich Photography
As if there wasn’t enough to do during your stay, The Collection at Bobby proudly presents Tyler Shields: INDULGENT, an exhibition curated by Tinney Contemporary. Tyler Shields is a Los Angeles-based photographer, best known for capturing shots of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars such as Demi Lovato, Kathy Griffin and Lindsay Lohan. His work shares a common visual syntax with the worlds of fashion and luxury advertising while creating lush and often-erotic images that easily traverse an overly saturated media landscape. The exhibit is free to visit and will be open through the rest of the year.
WHERE TO EAT
For a taste of something new with something for everyone on our Nashville travel guide, visit Layer Cake on 3rd Avenue in Downtown Nashville. The choose-your-own adventure experience takes you through four floors, or layers, of dining and new experiences. Start on the ground floor for a laid back vibe, a refined dining experience on level two, a rooftop where the party goes until the early morning and an intimate, underground lounge down below. Depending on which adventure you opt for (or try all four!), you will get a different menu where you can order anything from Peppered Bacon Mac & Cheese and Cowboy Crack Dip to Bourbon Sriracha Glazed Salmon and West Creek Double Cut Pork Chops. Don’t forget to grab a cocktail during your visit–the Broadway Girl or Mixed Feelings might do the trick!
If you’re still feeling thirsty and possibly want to find where to eat Tex-Mex, head over to Casa Rosa, country star Miranda Lambert’s four-level entertainment complex that features a Tex-Mex restaurant, numerous bars and multiple stages to hear live music. And like any good bar in Nashville, Casa Rosa offers plenty of places for a good photo opp, including the yellow flower wall adorned with a neon sign that says Nashville. If you’re stopping in for a bite to eat, you’ll get to experience “a little taste of Texas in Tennessee!” Grab some Smoked Brisket Nachos or a Tacodilla and wash it down with a crafted cocktail named after one of Lambert’s top hits.
WHAT TO DO
Shutterstock
If you’re ready to venture outside of the Downtown Nashville area, follow this Nashville travel guide and consider visiting the Parthenon, and no, we don’t mean the one in Greece. This one stands in Centennial Park, but is a full-scale replica of the Athenian original. Inside, you will also find a 42-foot statue of Athena, dressed from head to toe in gold.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: ICONIC CITY | OUR GUIDE TO THINGS TO DO IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
Shutterstock
And of course, what is a trip to Nashville without a visit to the Grand Ole Opry? Grab tickets to a show and see some of the best country stars take the famous stage. There are oftentimes surprises, so you never know which big-time star will join the lineup and put on a show to remember! If a show doesn’t fit into your schedule, you can still visit and take a backstage tour of the venue where you can “walk in the footsteps of country music’s superstars and get an exclusive look at what happens behind the scenes.”
©2023 ICONIC - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
