Nashville, Tennessee

I’ve been to Nashville a number of times now, between hanging out with my good friend Meghan Maydel, Maddox and I’s 2018 birthday trip, Kara & Nate’s 100 Country Party, visiting for work, and many other things. With that in mind, I knew it was time to start sharing my favorite places to go (as well as all of the places I’ve been recommended to visit).

My first suggestion is to orient yourself to the neighborhoods of Nashville. Every neighborhood has different vibes and different things to offer.

Selfishly (and because Meghan lives there), East Nashville has become one of my favorite spots to hang out. If you’re a fan of the TV show “Nashville” (RIP!), much of the show was filmed in East Nashville too. In fact, you can do a tour (either pay for tickets or DIY) to see many of the filming locations.

I almost always stay at the Kimpton Aertson, however I will say that the new Virgin Hotel location opening this spring (basically right next to the Kimpton, give or take) has caught my eye and the Nashville Downtown Hostel is really cute and clean too.

For everything else I (and Meghan!) recommend in Nashville, check out the list below.

FOOD: 

• THE GRILLED CHEESERIE - Like the name suggests, amazing grilled cheese. Food truck OR restaurant option depending on where you’re at in Nashville. 

• HATTIE B’S HOT CHICKEN - Again, like the name suggests. No reservations, will be a wait, but the chicken is worth it, I promise! (Note: Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack is the original Nashville chicken.) 

• PINEWOOD SOCIAL - coffee shop/restaurant/bowling alley! 

• FAT BOTTOM BREWERY - more drinks than food but a really great vibe, even for non beer drinkers

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM MEGHAN MAYDEL: 

• “Honky-Tonk Night Out:'' The Stillery (great flatbread pizzas and whiskey cocktails), Downtown Sporting Club (hatchet throwing!), House of Cards (reservations and dress code required)

• Printers Alley: Skulls Rainbow Room, Bobby’s garage, The Bobby Hotel (themed rooftop)

• 12 South: Draper James (Reese Witherspoon’s store), 5 Daughters Bakery (donuts!), Urban Grub, Josephines, Burger Up for food. Lots of murals.

• East Nashville: Known for all the weird creative shit. Chopper or Pearl Diver for cocktails. Rosepepper for Mexican / the best margaritas. Shoppes on Fatherland for non chain/local shopping. 5 points for fun dive bars. Retrograde for coffee. Smith and Lentz brewery. Lots of murals everywhere. 

• Germantown: has lots of great coffee shops (Barista Parlor!), Monells for brunch/lunch, Rolf and Daughters or Butchertown Hall for dinner.

• West Nashville: Tailgate Brewery’s headquarters, L&L shoppes (Living with Landyn’s new shop)

• Wedgewood Houston area: Diskin Cidery (has games and finger foods), Jackalope brewery, The loading dock for a light breakfast/coffee/murals.

• The Gulch: Sambuca, Superica, Uncommon James (if you’re a fan of Kristen Cavallari)

• For brunch: Sinema or The Sutler (both reservations suggested)

• Areas to avoid:

  • By where the Grand Ole Opry/Opry Mills mall is really worn down with gross tourist trap hotels and restaurants. It’s also 20 minutes away from everything.

  • Bluebird cafe - it’s in a strip mall in a part of town that’s super commercial and full of traffic all day every day. Nothing that great.

  • Biscuit love - NOT worth waiting in the long ass line for. You’ll have better luck with the Berties Biscuit cart that sits on Broadway behind Legends downtown starting at 9pm.