You should need absolutely no convincing to book a trip to the one and only Music City of Nashville, Tennessee. But if you do, look no further. As country artist Luke Combs quotes in his song Beer Never Broke My Heart, “it just dawned on me, that bars and this guitar and longneck ice cold beer never broke my heart.” Well guess what Nashville has? A row of bars and nightlife, guitar strings strumming’ daily, and many ice cold bevs (among many other great sights, of course). But after months of endless challenges and trying times for many of us, don’t we deserve to plan a fun getaway for when travel is in the clear? A place where we can have a fat biscuit topped with eggs and hot sauce in the morning, head to the boutique shops during the day, and then sing the night away at Jason Aldeen’s bar cuddling an ice cold beer. Are you ready to book your trip yet? That’s what I thought. Here are some fun things to do while visiting Nashville!
Food
We’ll start with the good eats because if you’re like me, you’re almost always hungry and looking for the next snack. Here are a few well-known restaurants to check out and some of my favorites from when I visited:
Biscuit Love - it’s rare for this spot not to have a long line out the door, so be sure to get there early for a breakfast biscuit!
Party Fowl - very good weekend brunch and Nashville’s famous hot chicken (I ordered the Loaded Hot Chicken Biscuit and cleaned the plate completely)
Milk and Honey
Barcelona Wine Bar (perfect for small plates and cocktails)
Husk
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken - I cannot say better things about this restaurant and its hot chicken...you have to try the Pimento Mac n’ Cheese as a side to your Hot Chicken Sandwich or Tenders.
Christie Cookie Co - I know a lot of cafes and bakers advertise that their treats will melt in your mouth, but the fresh baked chocolate chip cookie I bought at Christie’s truly did. If you have even the smallest sweet tooth, be sure to pay this a visit in the 12 South neighborhood.
Bars
Thomas Rhett once said, “ain’t nothing that a beer can’t fix.” Big facts, TR. Broadway has tons of fun bars for you to enjoy, many named after country artists or their songs. Whether you’re sitting at the counter talking with a fellow traveler, dancing on the floor to the hits of the live band, or hopping bars to change the vibe, you will have a grand ol’ time. Be sure to check out the following:
Tootsies Orchid Lounge - my favorite bar when we were down there! The live music is unreal and you’ll feel like you’re at a concert rather than the upstairs level of a bar. It also has a ton of pictures of performers from the past lining the staircases on your way up each level.
Jason Aldeen’s Kitchen & Rooftop Bar - has a great view of the city from it’s very open rooftop patio. The atmosphere is nothing shy of fantastic.
Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row - such a fun atmosphere with great bands performing right in front of the guests’ tables. We had a hearty meal here while listening to live country steps away from our table...nothing better!
Ole Red (hint: it’s the bar named after one of the famous Blake Shelton’s tunes)
Luke Bryan’s 32 Bridge - Huntin’ fishin’ and lovin’ every minute I spent here! The rooftop patio is expansive, yet packed with a crowd of young country fans screamin’ along to some of Bryan’s best.
FGL House - the first bar I visited in Nashville and I found myself dancing and singing with strangers only minutes after I walked in. Everyone’s so friendly and ready to party!
*Just want to mention that these bars don’t solely play country music! At Luke’s we danced to some pop hits on the rooftop as well as at FGL. Genres for all and fun for all!
Shops
Not interested in the party crowd? No worries! Maybe the shops and boutique apparel stores are just what you need. From bold jewelry designs and patterned purses to great denim and genuine cowboy hats, Nashville’s shops will have everything you want and need.
Blush - I bought the cutest faux cowhide cross body bag here that I wear actually every single day (ask anyone that knows me, this is no joke)
Draper James - owned by Reese Witherspoon
Posh
Kittenish - owned by Jessie James Decker, need I say more? Well, I will anyways. Such cute rompers and jumpsuits here!
Uncommon James - owned by Kristin Cavallari
Elle Gray
Judith Bright - beautiful jewelry
Lucchese Boot Company - handmade cowboy boots, you already know what to do
Murals
Looking for a colorful backdrop for your next Instagram post? Nashville’s murals will be the perfect addition to your grid. Within the city’s center there are countless walls of artwork for you to admire. Journalist and blogger, Kristin Luna, covered this category perfectly on her blog Camels & Chocolate. I actually read this post when I planned my trip to Nashville so I knew exactly which piece of art I’d cross paths with each day. Check out the list of murals you should visit in Nashville at her website: https://www.camelsandchocolate.com/nashville-murals/
Tourism
If none of the above interest you, there’s always the typical sightseeing tours and buildings worth checking out. Below are some historical sights, famous buildings, and neighborhoods you can look into!
Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum
Grand Ole Opry
Walk the neighborhoods - there are so many different pockets of the city that are worth walking through. To name a few, there is 12South, The Gulch, Germantown, and East and West Nashville.
Like you M-O-V-E to Luke Bryan’s classic hits, shake it on down to Music City and see what the hype is all about for yourself. You may leave with less cash in your pockets (whether it be from the biscuit consumption or shopping hauls), but I promise you’ll leave with a boatload of memories. See y’all down in Tennessee!