Known as Music City, Nashville is famous as the US epicentre of country music, something that permeates everywhere from the Country Music Hall of Fame, the bars that line the streets of Broadway, to the music blasting out of every shop, restaurant, and pickup truck in the city. Even if you aren't a fan of country though, there's plenty of that quintessential Southern charm that makes the region so welcoming. There's also a burgeoning food scene, a lively party and nightlife culture, plenty of colourful street art, and great weather year round.
Of course, if you are a country fan, or even just country-curious (having binged the TV show Nashville I was firmly in the latter), you're absolutely spoilt for choice. It's easy to find everywhere from local bands at dive bars to established venues like the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium. Aficionados should book in-demand shows ahead of visiting, but if you're just looking for a good time and a bit of local flavour head to Broadway or the less flashy Printers Alley.
I only passed through Nashville for a couple of nights on my deep South road trip so I hadn't initially planned on writing a guide, however I fell for the city so completely that it seemed a shame not to feature it in some way. And so this (mini) guide was born, featuring a few of the things I ticked off during my stay. If you're looking for sights and tourist attractions this probably isn't the guide for you - I was visiting with my parents who'd done most of them before, so we mainly spent our time eating, drinking, and exploring the neighbourhoods.
Things to Know
Currency: USD United States Dollar
Weather: Relatively mild year round, hot in Summer
Getting There: We road tripped from New Orleans, but if you're coming from the UK BA flies directly into Nashville's international airport 5 times a week.
Culture and Etiquette: People are friendly, so leave your European stranger danger preconceptions at the door and get to know them! Tipping is common practice - except to tip anywhere between 15-25%.
Go for: The music (obviously). Food wise, fried chicken, BBQ and craft beer, or try Southern speciality grits. They're weird, but maybe you'll like em! Discover one of the cities many murals and street art for the quintessential Nashville gram snap.
Breakfast and Brunch in Nashville
Pinewood Social
Part co-working space, part bar, part restaurant and part bowling alley (phew, that's a lot of parts!), Pinewood Social is a little slice of paradise for the hip young digital native type (basically me, and probably you too). I popped by for breakfast (served till 11, replaced by brunch on weekends), served up from a brief but nonetheless comprehensive breakfast menu. There's enough choice for vegetarians (a rarity in the South), including plenty of pastries, a build your own breakfast option, and various egg themed dishes.
I went for the breakfast tacos while my parents chose the mushroom omelette and eggs and grits. There was no bad dish - the hen of the wood foraged mushrooms were a standout, so juicy they tasted almost meaty, garnished with rocket and shavings of parmesan. The tacos were served with pulled pork and green chilli, which was tangy without being spicy, oozing with egg yolk over traditional Mexican soft tacos. The grits were the first we'd tried that were actually edible (I will never understand grits..)!
Pinewood Social is the kind of space you could easily while away the day in - start with breakfast, do a few hours of work, then meet friends for bowling and drinks at the bar. It's versatile, unpretentious, and just a whole lotta fun.
Pinewood Social
33 Peabody St
Nashville
TN 37210
Sky Blue Cafe
On first glance, it doesn't look like much, but the clipboard sat outside with a filled waitlist tells a different story. Cosy no frills neighbourhood joint Sky Blue Cafe in East Nashville boasts an extensive all day breakfast menu (also with plenty of veggie options) and by all appearances has a loyal following of regulars (heck, you can even buy t-shirts). I only waited about 10-15 minutes before being served - there aren't a huge number of tables so be prepared to wait.
The menu is, for lack of a better word, special. There's all sorts, eggs every which way, various incarnations of french toast, pancakes and omelettes, so much so that you'll be struggling to pick just one dish. Go with friends, so you can try a bit of everything!
I kept it simple with the eggs benedict, served with thick cut Canadian bacon (aka the best kind of bacon). My dad gorged on the Tuscan 2.0, a mammoth pile of eggs on french bread with pesto, tomato, garlic, chillis and melted parmesan. But best yet was the brie french toast, stuffed full of molten cheese - I don't really need to justify it further, do it?
It might not be pretty or Instagrammable, but Sky Blue Cafe sure does know how to make a mean breakfast.
Sky Blue Cafe
700 Fatherland St
Nashville
TN 37206
Things to Do in Nashville
Explore 12 South
One thing that distinguishes Nashville compared to some of the other major cities in the States is that it feels distinctly lived in. This is not a city trading off a constructed image for the sake of tourists dollars, but rather real local life going full steam ahead. As such I wanted to discover some of the neighbourhoods, in particular 12 South, a residential neighbourhood known for great dining, shopping, street art and plenty more.
I started off my exploration at Reese Witherspoon's lifestyle store, Draper James. It feels a bit like an Anthropologie, but with a distinctly Deep South flavour. The curation is very Southern Belle - think elegant tea dresses, monogrammed totes, homeware, and books recommended from Reese's book club. It's on the pricier side, but for a glimpse into the Southern lifestyle (or at least, a premium version of it), it makes for fun window-shopping.
Draper James isn't the only lifestyle store in the area, in fact you're spoilt for choice. White's Mercantile, owned by singer-songwriter Holly Williams, sells unique gifts, homeware and clothing. Admittedly some of the prices are eye-watering, but considering that most of the brands are local or independent, it's somewhat justified. Or visit Serendipity, a cute local boutique with plenty of gifts and clothes that make it very hard to leave empty handed.
If you're more into shopping second hand, Savant is a must-stop. A veritable treasure trove of vintage and second hand pieces with a distinctly bohemian feel, head here for fringing, cowboy boots, and navajo prints galore.
When you're all shopped out, pop into Five Daughter Bakery for aesthetically pleasing doughnuts and cronuts, or head to The Filling Station for craft beer on tap and a vast selection to buy.
If you're looking to snap the perfect Gram, the walls around 12 South are lined with a variety of fun murals and street art, including the famous "I believe in Nashville" mural, just opposite Draper James.
12 South
Nashville
Marathon Village
Housed in what was formally an automobile factory, Marathon Village is formed of a community of shops, food outlets, business and entertainment spaces, as well as a museum featuring original vehicles manufactured by Marathon Motorworks. It's an interesting space filled with quirky gift shops, art galleries, as well as alcohol tasting - even Tennessee stalwart Jack Daniels have a shop here, although you can't purchase the whiskey on the premises. My pick is Tennesse Legend, a distillery stocking bourbons, moonshines and liqueurs with unlimited tasting. The hard part is picking which flavour to take home - with salted caramel, peanut butter cup and creme brûlée amongst others, you're spoilt for choice!
Marathon Village
1305 Clinton St #100
Nashville
TN 37203
Catch a Live Country Show
You can't come to Nashville and not see a live act, however country music averse you may be (though that prompts the question, why are you here?). Having binged the TV show Nashville I was desperate to go the The Bluebird Cafe, a cosy space that features regularly on the show, which has seen all the greats including Garth Brooks, LeAnn Rimes and Taylor Swift perform, as both up and coming and established names. They do an early and late show 7 days a week, which I'd recommend booking for in advance. Otherwise there are a small number of seats reserved for walk-ins, though you may need to queue early to get a seat.
We were lucky enough as we came out of season not to have to queue particularly long to get into the early show. This comprised of 4 singer-songwriters playing their music and telling us the stories behind them. It was a really intimate experience, and it was so nice to hear the stories of heartbreak and struggles that had informed their works.
Other notable venues include the Ryman Auditorium, Gran Ole Opry and The Listening Room, or just wander up Broadway or Printers Alley to catch a show at one of the many honky tonk bars.
The Bluebird Cafe
4104 Hillsboro Pike
Nashville
TN 37215
Restaurants in Nashville
Liberty Common
I didn't have many meals in Nashville (too busy at live music shows!), but one spot I stumbled upon for a light lunch was the extremely aesthetic Liberty Common, a French brasserie inspired restaurant with soaring ceilings and chic blue booths paired with marble tables for that perfect gram snap. They offer brunch, lunch and dinner with a menu of French and Southern staples as well as a few international twists.
The lunch menu I experienced listed a few brunch dishes alongside soups, salads and sandwiches. The food is simple, homely cooking, with a focus on meats (it is French inspired after all!), paired with a solid cocktail menu. Although the lunch was good I'd recommend going for brunch or dinner as the menus looked more interesting.
Liberty Common
207 1st Ave S
Nashville
TN 37201
I fully plan on revisiting Nashville at some point in the near future so I can pad this guide out, and visit all the places on my list that I missed out on this time around. In the mean time, let me know in the comments if you have any Nashville recommendations! Also make sure to save this to Pinterest for future reference!
Happy New Year!
I love this post and the photos looks amazing. I’m definitely adding Nashville to my US travel wish list. I’ve actually really got into country music a few months ago and I’ve been listening to it during my morning commute.
I’m also really impressed how you managed to get such amazing photos while holidaying with your family. I’d love to see a post on how you schedule and plan trips to combine content creation and actual holidays.
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Yess I didn’t think I liked Country until I started watching Nashville, but it’s so catchy! Ooh that’s such an interesting topic, I’ll definitely try and put something together. Thanks so much for the suggestion!