The Best of Nashville Tennessee
This year The Forsha’s decided to swap the Thanksgiving turkey for some fried chicken in Music City. It had been over 4 years since all six of us had been together on a vacation which was why the idea of meeting in Nashville for Thanksgiving was right up our alley. (By the way, still working on my parents to make this an annual Thanksgiving tradition - will report back). This was my second time staying in Nashville, the first being last summer with friends thanks to an awesome hotel partnership - peep that blog here - so I feel like I have learned some tips + tricks to share with all of you!! Let’s break this down:
Your Guide to Nashville, TN
Where to stay in nashville
In general, Broadway is where you will most likely be hanging out, especially if this is your first time to Music City. It’s honky tonk central full of good music and bustling bars that even youngsters can enjoy.
Bode Nashville - This hotel is, to this day, one of my all-time favs. Its apartment-style layout serves large groups perfectly, with a large kitchen and living space for hanging out. It also has a private courtyard with bonfires, lawn games for guests & a free parking lot. Plus, it’s a quick walk to all the fun stuff!
Airbnb - This is the exact airbnb that we stayed in this trip. It was GREAT for families or again, groups of 4-6. It’s a couple blocks from Broadway and was a great central spot for everything we did. Do keep in mind that you will have to pay for parking in a garage or lot for $30-$50/night.
Good eats in Music city
Hattie B’s: I’m sure this is already on your radar, but if not, you have to go! It’s arguably the most iconic fried chicken in Nashville, and for good reason. Just be careful when choosing your spice level. My brother, a spice king, ordered the hot chicken and was sweating profusely. I thought the no-spice was spicy so there’s that.
Bonus: If you do go, I recommend driving to the Nash West location - there is no line + lots of seating!! (I waited for an hour at the Melrose one last time).
Biscuit Love: This is another one you probably found on your Yelp quest, but it’s a great place to check out for breakfast. Biscuit Love serves up all the carby goodness that is southern biscuits in their cafe-style restaurant. It’s not too fancy but not grab-and-go either.
Merchants: I’ll be honest, this wasn’t an earth-shattering restaurant, but I do mention it because if you are looking for food on Broadway other than that greasy bar food from honky tonks, I think Merchants is a great option to keep in mind!
Jack’s BBQ or Martin’s BBQ: These are the spots to grab some BBQ in Music City. There’s a bit of a rivalry between the two, but both are awesome!
Other honorable mentions: The Stillery, The Pharmacy, Grilled Cheeserie
Where to drink
Bode Nashville: Even if you don’t opt to stay at this hotel, it is still a great spot to grab a drink and relax by a fire pit! The front of the hotel has an adorable cafe/bar house where you can snag your happy hour wine as a pre-game to the honky tonk scene.
Nudies: Here’s the thing about Broadway: it’s all pretty similar. All the bars have awesome artists blasting music and some sort of slightly different decor than the rest. But, for us, we found Nudies to be a great hangout spot. My mom, sister and I wandered in for an afternoon drink and ended up staying for 4 hours, eventually moving to the rooftop for a more low-key band.
Printer’s Alley: Although I haven’t tried all the spots in this alleyway, I do sense that it’s a great night time hang that still has the fun music of Broadway, just with fewer crowds. There’s a handful of bars on this street that are definitely worth checking out!
Where to hear good music
If there’s anything you take from this, please highlight, star + post-it note this section.
There will be a surplus of good singers on Broadway doing covers of songs you love, BUT if you are looking for real good music, like the kind where you sit and listen to their pitch and vibrato rather than the bass, then these are for you.
Jane’s Hideaway: Located in Printers Alley, this is the perfect spot for dinner and some music. We ordered some apps/drinks while we listened to a bluegrass band play all night. I’m talkin’ violin, chello, guitar, like really talented musicians playing what felt like a private session with Mumford & Sons.
The Listening Room: If you do one thing in Nashville, this should be it!!! This place sounds exactly like what it’s called. It’s a show where you are expected to sit and listen. It’s magic. The show changes every night, but what we saw was 3 individual song writers who came up on stage and took turns playing and singing songs that they wrote. Not songs that live on a notepad in their living room, but songs that have graced the lips of singers like Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Lauren Alaina, Blake Shelton… You get to hear the behind the scenes of the song writing and the meaning behind words that you sing nonchalantly in the car.
You have to make reservations and pay for tickets in advance, which I know right now someone out there is thinking ‘Why would I pay for music when there’s music all over the city for free?’, to which I say, because it’s the most incredible show you will ever see. A hefty statement? Not at all. Should I be on their marketing team? Most definitely.
Touristy things to check out
Country Music Hall of Fame: If you have more than a couple days in the city + happen to love country music, I recommend checking this out! Located in the heart of downtown, this museum houses some iconic outfits from musical legends, props from music videos and lots of history. I would say it’s great for an older crowd or those who like more old-school country as there is only a small portion of the museum with current country stars.
12 South: This neighborhood is a must-see if you have a good chunk of time in the city. 12 South is home to lots of restaurants, cafes and shops that make for a perfect day out. I recommend popping by Frothy Monkey for some coffee before heading into Draper James (Reese Witherspoon’s store!).
The Gulch: This part of town is home to high-end shopping and restaurants, and located outside of downtown Nashville. While it is a bit of a walk, I recommend coming to check out the stores - Kittenish by Jessie James Decker was my fav. This is also where Biscuit Love is!
The Pedestrian Bridge
Amelia’s Flower Truck | The Gulch
Photo Spots
Pedestrian Bridge: If you are looking for a perfect backdrop for a holiday card or classic IG, the pedestrian bridge is a great spot! You can easily walk across the bridge from downtown or drive over to The Bridge Building a snap a pic over there!
Amelia’s Flower Truck: It might sound odd, but this flower truck has become a signature spot for Nashville visitors. Being that it is a moving vehicle, it does move around the city, but I have found it outside Biscuit Love in the Gulch.
Butterfly wings: You’ve probably seen this all over IG, so why not join the fun? If you want a pic with angel wings, make your way towards Kittenish at the Gulch. You’ll almost certainly be greeted by a short line of tourists waiting on the sidewalk.
Printers alley: This street has some amazing neon signs that make for a fun backdrop!
I hope you found this guide helpful! Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions on things I should add to this list of Music City favs!
Cheers!
xoxo - Katie