The best things to do in Nashville—the ultimate fun-filled destination for a girls’ trip. Hip hotels, uber-cool neighborhoods, and fabulous food. Bingo y’all!
The Best things to do in Nashville
“Hey y’aaaall”.
I’ve spent most of my life in the Northeast. Hearing so many chirpy ‘y’all’s’ in Nashville feels like I’ve dropped into a 1990s Reese Witherspoon film. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of Reese and her films. But it was interesting how one word could carry such, well, enthusiasm.
Fast forward a few hours. I hear conversations over cocktails with locals and old-timers humming tunes in the streets. I tilt my ears toward honky tonk bars. And hear guitar chords trickle from the open doors. I hear the soft hush at Husk and the intoxicating cheers of fans after a Titans win. Sounds like these would become the soundtrack of our trip.
In just a few short days in Nashville, I learned to listen in a way I hadn’t before.
Welcome to big/small city life in Nashville
Nashville is big—bigger than I anticipated. A network of neighborhoods covering about 530 square miles and a population of almost 700,000. The Ubers, however, are inexpensive and plentiful, so we crisscross the city with ease. In hindsight, a map would have been a good idea, as crisscrossing wasn’t the best use of our short 72 hours in Nashville.
We start at the famous wall mural ‘What Lifts You,’ and then on to the colorful Hatch Print Show. Later, we visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Gulch, 12 South, Germantown, and back. We find out that every Uber driver has a story to tell in Nashville.
The Best Things to Do in Nashville: Biscuit Love Breakfast
The first food stop on what becomes a weekend of non-stop eating is Biscuit Love. Located in the trendy Gulch neighborhood, it’s a true stand-out in a city that knows biscuits. We wait in a fast-moving line, where a perky hostess hands out menus before we reach the door.
In no time, we have a plate heaped with biscuit French toast, topped with blueberry compote, lemon mascarpone, and house syrup. It’s lovingly called ‘The Lily’, and it is a bold start to our southern culinary adventure. It‘s crystal clear that any more than 72 hours in Nashville will be a real issue for my thighs.
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The Best Things to Do in Nashville: Head To Nash-Vegas
Nashville appeals to the artist, the musician, the storyteller, the sports fanatic, and the foodie alike. I wasn’t raised on country music, but I’ve had an appreciation for the genre ever since Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” was released in 2005.
Broadway‘s neon lights flash and beckon us inside the endless array of bars. We hear traditional country, modern country, and cheesy cover bands. We catch a burlesque show in Printer’s Alley, as well as an intimate performance of new and talented musicians at The Listening Room.
At each turn, we glimpse folks (see how easily I slot into Nashville, y’all?) of all ages, and in all phases of sobriety. It’s a party on every corner in Nash-Vegas. Each venue competes for our attention, but in an oh-so-polite southern way.
The best things to do in Nashville: Go bar-hoppin’
Located on Lower Broadway, Robert’s Western World boasts live music seven days a week and is popular with tourists and locals. It’s the week before Christmas, and a country rendition of Feliz Navidad gets the crowd on their feet. It seems the whole of Nashville is here, shoulder to shoulder, singing along.
I love watching older couples dance. Their bodies fit together as they’ve likely done for decades. I meet men who can identify the brand of whiskey from the sound of the bartender’s pour. Boys twirl their partners around with ease, all the while holding a beer cozy as tightly as a running back with a football.
The best things to do in Nashville: The Listening Room
We reserve tickets for a performance at The Listening Room—a small venue in downtown ‘SoBro’. That evening, a trio of talent takes the stage. Trannie Anderson, Lena Stone, and Jake Duke take turns on the mic, each one playing up the other’s talent, or taking a self-deprecating tone when one outperforms the other. Young artists on the rise, each hoping to catch a break or end up on Sirius XM’s The Highway Channel. We leave awed and impressed.
It’s a glimpse into the world of country music. Songs about love, heartbreak, and beer; repeat. The show is made more festive by a nearby table of Santas. Santas in cowboy hats; Santas in cowboy boots; Santas with bourbon. The exclamation point on a memorable pre-holiday night.
The best things to do in Nashville: Stay in The Gulch
We opt to spend the weekend at the Thompson Hotel in the Gulch neighborhood. Trendy shops, high-end restaurants, and central access to the city’s main sights make it an easy choice.
The rooms are modern rustic chic. Oversized and unusually tall pine headboards, soft Sferra linens, mixed textures and textiles, and distinctive lighting create a cozy southern feel. The Muzen wireless speaker is a fitting musical touch for Nashville.
Opting for a suite with a connecting room, we have plenty of space to lounge and relax between our daytime and nighttime events. The large living space features floor-to-ceiling windows, comfy couches, a stocked Nespresso bar, and a wide selection of teas and snacks.
The lobby was equally cool, with lounge-y living spaces that echo the rooms. A wooden, geometric library is filled with design and music books, as well as a turntable with shelves of vinyl records. Textural, local artwork adorns the walls, and the attached Killebrew Coffee bar makes it a true hangout, whether you are a guest of the hotel or not.
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The best things to do in Nashville: Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Food is an inherent draw to Nashville, and we take full advantage of experimenting with southern cuisine. After an hour or so wait in the rain at Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, I secretly wonder if it would be worth it (it is, phew!).
We try everything from ‘mild’ to ’damn hot’, scorching our taste buds for the love of hot chicken—a cuisine I didn’t even know existed until earlier that day. We are told the rain kept many at bay, and that an hour’s wait is considered a gift by Hattie B’s standards.
The best things to do in Nashville: Feast
We tried every southern specialty we could find. Fried chicken biscuits at Milk & Honey, hearth cornbread at Husk, lamb loin with ginger grits at Etch, and stracciatella with turnip and black truffle at Rolf & Daughters.
Etch’s Deb Paquette earned her spot as the first woman to qualify as an executive chef in the state of Tennessee. Her open kitchen contributes to the convivial vibe, and a low buzz makes the atmosphere warm and inviting. We order as many dishes as we can and opt to share everything to avoid any chance of food envy.
Before dinner, we cozy up to the small, pretty bar, have a cocktail, and let the locals tell us where to go. It’s there that we learn about Robert’s Western World, the burlesque show in Printer’s Alley, and the famous karaoke van, which, alas, will have to wait for another day.
Nashville’s Husk
Husk is the culinary highlight of our weekend. I‘d been to the sister restaurant in Charleston a few years back, so I knew we were in for a unique experience. Like the Husk in Charleston, the restaurant is in a residential neighborhood and in a beautiful, historic 19th-century mansion.
The lighted pathway to the front door creates the mood. The dining room’s high ceilings make us feel like guests at an intimate dinner party. Windows are framed in delicate white lights as a nod to the season.
We discover that the tableware is created especially for Husk by a local ceramicist named Caroline Cercone. As a sentimental touch, they are fired with ashes from Husk’s fireplace. One of many thoughtful touches in this jewel box setting on Rutledge Hill.
We eat our way through the seasonal menu, tempted by the warm skillet cornbread and spaghetti squash johnny cakes, as well as shrimp and grits, and Bear Creek Farm pork. The meal exceeds expectations, which are already high. It’s a nice contrast to trendy, open Etch and the local, rustic Rolf & Daughters. Three distinctive dinners in a city of distinctive food.
The best things to do in Nashville: Sip and shop
A girl’s trip wouldn’t be complete without a little window shopping. We pick a few neighborhoods and wander aimlessly. The weather is bleak and cold, but it refuses to dampen our spirits.
We drop in and out of local boutiques, cupcake shops, coffee shops, and Reese Witherspoon’s retail venture, Draper James, which is located in the 12 South neighborhood.
Later, we head towards Germantown for a coffee snob’s dream brew at The Barista Parlor. We lose ourselves there for over an hour, chatting and relaxing. The cavernous warehouse setting makes it a great spot to wait out the rain.
At Alexis + Bolt, we oooh and aaahh over the mix of home decor and clothing. However, the real showstopper is the actual space that the owner designed. Dramatically colored walls, funky wallpaper, and a bathroom make a bold statement.
There are couches and coffee tables that double as retail displays, piled high with thoughtfully curated merchandise. The owner is all too happy to chat with us about her design aesthetic, favorite paint colors (Sherwin-Williams, Black Fox), and her sweet doodle, who roams the boutique
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The best things to do in Nashville: Visit Marathon Village
Once the rain really sets in, we decide to head indoors. Marathon Motor Works, which originally manufactured cars back in the early 1900s, has been converted into over 130,000 square feet of multi-use space. A comedy club, distilleries, shops, and restaurants only begin to scratch the surface of this unique building. It’s since been renamed Marathon Village, and we spend time weaving in and out of the shops.
Heavy on TN souvenirs, we also discovered a few art galleries and jewelry shops that celebrate local artists. The building’s interior is interestingly designed and has a museum-quality feel, displaying various auto parts from the past 100 years.
Bye Y’all
We make friends at every turn, Uber drivers, locals, bartenders, and shop owners alike. Maybe this is just the way it’s always been in Nashville. Regardless, it was love at first bite, sight, and note. I now have The Highway pre-programmed into Sirius XM.
But most importantly, I learned to say y’all with genuine enthusiasm.
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