Overview
Nashville is the capital of the American state of Tennessee. With 716,000 residents in 2022, it is the state's largest city. Nashville is sometimes called the "Country Music Capital of the World" or more often "Music City, USA"; however, Nashville has done much to escape its country music image and become a regional center of culture and commerce. In fact, Dell, Nissan, and Amazon have all moved some operations to or near the city. The music is various; major rap artists and rock bands (Jelly Roll, Young Buck, Haystak, Kings of Leon, Paramore, and Ben Folds) claim Nashville as their hometown, and the city is also the epicenter of the contemporary Christian music industry. Nashville has been the home of the world-famous Grand Ole Opry since 1925. Nashville also has a great bar scene. If you like to drink, you can go "Honky-tonking," also known as bar-hopping. This is the act of visiting and drinking at multiple bars in one evening or day.
19 sights · 34 things to do · 24 places to eat · 20 bars & cafés · 33 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Nashville
AT&T Building
An instantly recognizable downtown Nashville landmark, the AT&T Building, built in 1994 at 333 Commerce Street, is the tallest building in the state of Tennessee and can be seen from quite some distance if the hills …
John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
Built between 1907 and 1909, the bridge was used for automobile traffic between East Nashville and Downtown. The bridge has been converted to a pedestrian bridge, and offers a spectacular view of the riverfront and downt…
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Regularly changing exhibits and live performances make this Nashville landmark someplace to visit often. The Hall of Fame moved here in 2000. Ticket packages for guided or audio tours also available, and can be combined …
Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum
National Museum of African American Music
The Johnny Cash Museum & Cafe
A museum featuring pictures and memorabilia of icon Johnny Cash.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–May, Sep–Oct. Summer highs reach about 91°F; winter lows dip to about 30°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: May and Apr.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BNA Nashville International Airport, Nashville — 6 mi away (major hub). Directions
- HSV Huntsville International Airport, Huntsville — 105 mi away. Directions
Nashville is a nexus of several interstate highways, including I-65 (north-south), I-40 (east-west), and I-24 (northwest-southeast). The various highways sometimes merge and split without the typical exit-offramp design, so travellers should consult maps before attempting to navigate the area. There is easy access to/from Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis and Louisville, among others.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $58–$200 a night (typical $110), from 26 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $10 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$90, mid-range ~$160, comfortable ~$320.
Options are grouped as Hostels, Budget, Mid-range, Splurge in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning AT&T Building, The Escape Game - Berry Hill, Nashville's Second Avenue
- Lunch Acme Feed & Seed
- Afternoon The Johnny Cash Museum & Cafe, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
- Dinner The Arcade
- Evening Category 10 (formerly Wild Horse Saloon)
Day 2
- Morning Belmont Mansion, Vanderbilt University, Parthenon
- Lunch Maggiano's Little Italy
- Afternoon Belle Meade Plantation, Nashville Symphony
- Dinner Pancake Pantry
- Evening Springwater
Day 3
- Morning Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center
- Lunch Rosepepper Grille and Cantina
- Afternoon The Hermitage
- Dinner Margot Café & Bar
- Evening Ugly Mugs Coffee & Tea
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
The dominant local grocery chains in Nashville are Kroger, Publix, and Aldi. The city is also dotted with dozens of ethnic groceries, especially Hispanic, Kurdish, Indian and Vietnamese, around Nolensville Pike. For organic and/or specialty grocery stores, Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's, and Fresh Market also have locations throughout the city.
Downtown
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
History
Nashville was founded in 1779 and it grew rapidly because of its excellent location on the Cumberland River. It was incorporated in 1806 and became the county seat of Davidson County. Nashville was named the capital of Tennessee in 1843.
Like many Southern cities, Nashville was not immune to the economic woes of the post-Civil War South but it quickly rebounded. It only took a few years for the city to reclaim its important shipping and trading position and to develop a solid manufacturing base. The post-Civil War years of the late 19th century brought a new-found prosperity to Nashville. These healthy economic times left the city with a legacy of grand classical-style buildings, which can still be seen around the downtown area.
Since the 1970s, the city has experienced tremendous growth, particularly during the economic boom of the 1990s under the leadership of Mayor (former Tennessee Governor) Phil Bredesen, who made urban renewal a priority, and fostered the construction or renovation of several city landmarks, including the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Nashville Public Library downtown, Bridgestone Arena, and Nissan Stadium.
Tourism office
Climate
Nashville sits in the middle of a geographic region known as the Nashville Basin. It is surrounded by the Cumberland Highlands and is bordered by the Cumberland Plateau to the east. The Nashville Basin is characterized by rich, fertile farm country and high natural wildlife diversity.
Nashville has cool, relatively short winters and hot, humid summers, with long spells of spring and autumn in between. Winter temperatures commonly hover slightly above freezing, and a fair amount of light snow generally falls throughout the months of December to February, though large storms of 6-plus inches in a day do occur every few years. Nashville can be prone to severe thunderstorms and tornadoes during the spring and fall months. Summers are hot and humid, but no more than the rest of the southeastern U.S. with temperatures around 90°F (32°C) during the day. The typical average heat index factoring in humidity in the summer months range between 94°F during the day and 72°F at night, but it's not unheard of to have a heat index above 105°F and not go below 78°F at night on some particularly sweltering days.
Get in
By plane
Go Nashville International Airport (BNA)
The most inexpensive way to travel between Nashville International Airport and downtown Nashville is to ride the Nashville MTA's Route 18 Airport/Elm Hill bus, which serves the airport and downtown on an hourly basis, from about 7AM to about 10PM, seven days a week. Schedules are located at the Welcome Center located on the baggage claim level of the airport. Nashville International Airport was the first major US airport to authorize ridesharing services with dedicated pickup and drop off areas. Passengers using these services may wait in a designated area on Level 1 outside of the main terminal. Nashville International Airport is a hub for Southwest Airlines. There are nonstop flights to numerous domestic destinations, as well as international service to six Canadian cities, four Latin American, Dublin, Reykjavik, and London–Heathrow. MTA bus service runs every 45 minutes and takes around 35 minutes to/from downtown.
By car
Nashville is a nexus of several interstate highways, including I-65 (north-south), I-40 (east-west), and I-24 (northwest-southeast). The various highways sometimes merge and split without the typical exit-offramp design, so travellers should consult maps before attempting to navigate the area. There is easy access to/from Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis and Louisville, among others.
By bus
By shuttle
- Gray Line Shuttle, +1 615 275-1180. Tours and charter buses.
Get around
By bus
Place Nashville MTA (WeGo Public Transit)
Operates routes throughout downtown and the surrounding area. $2 for an adult 2-hour pass. An all-day pass for an adult is $4. Nashville's bus system is designed around a central station. The schedule accommodates a 9AM-5PM schedule with limited late night service. Route maps and schedules are subject to change but are available from the Nashville MTA website.
By train
Go WeGo Star (formerly Music City Star)
Commuter train runs Monday - Friday. The train runs from Lebanon to Downtown's Riverfront Station. One-Way tickets purchased at the platform are $5 each. There are two shuttle services that transport people for no extra charge, passengers use their Music City Star ticket to board. Shuttle 93 goes up Broadway, West End, and around the Vanderbilt area. Shuttle 94 loops through Downtown. If you wish to go to any other place in the city, you can catch the Downtown Shuttle at the Riverfront Station and exit at the downtown bus mall then catch the bus that is going to your destination.
By car
The primary mode of transportation is by private car in Nashville. The average speed on highways ranges from 55 to 70 mph, but are usually much slower due to traffic congestion. City streets are generally 25-45 mph unless otherwise posted.
I-40, I-65, and I-24 are the major interstate highways that run through Nashville.
All major national car rental agencies operate in Nashville.
Taxis are also very prevalent in Nashville, especially Downtown. Taxi companies that operate in Nashville are:
- Music City Taxi, +1 615-262-0451.
- Checker Cab, +1 615-256-7000.
- Metro Cab, +1 615-365-3434.
Transportation network companies Uber and Lyft operate in Nashville.
For executive transportation, sedan or limousine services are available; these often work like black cars in New York City, and offer executive sedans, SUVs, or even full limo transports to and from downtown or the airport.
Parking
If you are looking to park Downtown in a lot or garage, be sure to have a good idea of where to park. The Metro Owned Facilities managed by the Nashville Downtown Partnership (branded as ParkIt Downtown) seem to be the best deal. For example, the Metro Courthouse/Public Square Garage is $3 after 5PM and on weekends. This is much cheaper than nearby private lots.
By foot
The center of Nashville is not too big for an able-bodied person to traverse on foot in decent weather, and walking downtown can be quite pleasant. Outside downtown, Nashville is sprawling and lacks sidewalks.
See
Nashville is a very historic town and as such, many of its attractions are restorations or museums. Most attractions of interest to tourists are in the Downtown, Midtown, and Music Valley neighborhoods.
Downtown
General
See AT&T Building
An instantly recognizable downtown Nashville landmark, the AT&T Building, built in 1994 at 333 Commerce Street, is the tallest building in the state of Tennessee and can be seen from quite some distance if the hills aren't in your way. Its two tall spires on the building have earned it the nickname, "The Batman Building."
See John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
Built between 1907 and 1909, the bridge was used for automobile traffic between East Nashville and Downtown. The bridge has been converted to a pedestrian bridge, and offers a spectacular view of the riverfront and downtown skyline. It is a very popular and convenient route to the Titans' football stadium.
See Nashville's Second Avenue
Provides entertainment for many different styles of people. The street includes bars such as Hooters and the famous Wildhorse Saloon, dining destinations including the Old Spaghetti Factory, the Melting Pot and B.B. King's Restaurant and Blues Club, and locations for family-friendly fun such as Laser Quest.
Music
See Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Regularly changing exhibits and live performances make this Nashville landmark someplace to visit often. The Hall of Fame moved here in 2000. Ticket packages for guided or audio tours also available, and can be combined with a tour with the RCA Studio B and the Ryman Auditorium.
History and government
See Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
A fascinating state park stretched out in front of the state capital building. Features a giant map of the state, monuments recounting the history of the state since prehistoric times, a carillon, and more. In the summer, the fountains are often filled with splashing kids. The park is next to the farmers market, which includes a food court, fish market, nursery, as well as the expected vendors hawking fruits and vegetables. The Nashville Business Journal's Book of Lists ranks Bicentennial Capital Mall State Park as Nashville's #1 Tourist Attraction.
See Fort Negley
A Civil War-era fort partially reconstructed by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s. Taken by Union forces early in the war, Nashville quickly became the second most fortified city in the U.S. during the Civil War because it was seen as crucial to supplying troops engaged on the war's western front. The 1864 Battle of Nashville — a failed attempt by the Confederate army to retake the city — raged throughout what are now the residential and commercial districts on the fringes of the city. Much of the work on the fort was done by slaves and freed blacks who were rounded up and forced to work on the structure. The fort was closed for years (allegedly because it reminded many Nashvillians of the Union occupation), but reopened in 2004 with new boardwalks and interpretive signs.
Midtown
See Vanderbilt University
Commonly referred to as the "Harvard of the South", Vanderbilt is one of the country's most prestigious universities. It is widely regarded as one of the most selective universities in the world, which means it is next to impossible to get admitted into Vanderbilt.
Eastern Nashville
Southeastern Nashville
See The Hermitage
The former home of U.S. President Andrew Jackson is full of his family's personal possessions, and is adorned with much of the furniture that they personally purchased. It was one of the first historic preservation projects in the state of Tennessee. This was accomplished by the Ladies' Hermitage Association which was modeled after the Mount Vernon Ladies Association that had restored George Washington's home. Plan for a two-hour tour with a moderate amount of walking. No cameras, video cameras, food, or drink are allowed within the Hermitage or the exhibit gallery. Security precautions are taken and the Hermitage asks that all backpacks or large bags be left in your vehicle.
Western Nashville
See Belle Meade Plantation
Featuring the mansion built in 1853 and restored, as well as the carriage house from 1890 and one of the oldest log cabins in Tennessee, built in 1790. There is a great deal of history associated with the plantation starting from before the American Civil War. Excellent, highly interesting guided tours of the plantation mansion are offered by the local heritage society.
See Parthenon
Created for Tennessee's Centennial Exposition, this monument was such a well-received attraction that a permanent form was constructed. It maintains the dimensions of the original Athens Parthenon to within a quarter of an inch (at 2/3 the scale), though constructed mainly of concrete as opposed to marble. Inside stands a replica of the statue of the goddess Athena thought to have existed in the original Parthenon.
Do
Downtown
General
Do Yazoo Brewery
Yazoo Brewing Company is brewed and bottled in downtown Nashville. The Brewery offers tours only on Saturdays, when they're not brewing. You'll get to walk through all parts of the brewery and learn how the beers are made. With your admission you'll also receive a Yazoo pint glass and samples of beers during the tour.
Do The Escape Game - Berry Hill
The Escape Game offers nine rooms in three locations with the same main objective - to escape within an hour! - but each game has a unique, immersive theme with different surprise elements and game components. Note that games are not private unless the maximum number of players are purchased by your group.
Music
Do Ryman Auditorium
Completed in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle as commissioned by riverboat Captain Thomas Green Ryman, a newly converted southern evangelist. The Ryman has earned its mark in history by hosting the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974 and is now a fantastically intimate setting for concerts of all genres. It was named Pollstar's "America's Theatre of the Year" for two years in a row, and one of CitySearch's top ten "Best Places to Hear Live Music.".
Sports
Do Tennessee Titans
The local NFL football team plays their home games at Nissan Stadium (formerly Adelphia Coliseum and LP Field), which is across the river from downtown. Once the Houston Oilers, the team was relocated as the Tennessee Titans in 1999. A new Nissan Stadium is being built across the street and is scheduled to open in 2027.
Visual and performing arts
Do Frist Art Museum (formerly Frist Center for the Visual Arts)
Featuring 24,000 sq. feet (6500 m²) of gallery space with exhibits from local through to regional and all the way to international artists. The Frist strives to be a family friendly museum and as such has created ArtQuest, a colorful space with 30 interactive stations.
Midtown
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Do Centennial Sportsplex
Located in Centennial Park. Featuring two indoor ice skating rinks, two pools, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and a fitness room. Call or check online for the schedules, as they vary from month to month. The Sportsplex is also a practice location for the Nashville Predators professional hockey team.
Do Vanderbilt Commodores
The Vanderbilt Commodores represent Vanderbilt University, one of Nashville's larger sports attractions. As members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), they compete against many colleges and universities throughout the southeastern United States. Vanderbilt is the SEC's only private school and the conference's smallest school by enrollment. The best-known Vanderbilt sports venues are FirstBank Stadium, home to the football team, and Memorial Gymnasium, home to the men's and women's basketball teams and one of the most unique settings in the sport. The baseball team won the Men's College World Series in 2014 and 2019.
Do Belmont Bruins
The Bruins, representing Belmont University, are one of several less expensive alternatives to Vanderbilt for those wanting a college sports experience. The Bruins, which do not have a football team, compete mostly in the Missouri Valley Conference. The most popular sport by far is men's basketball, which has become a frequent NCAA tournament participant. Their rivalry with Lipscomb, a couple of miles down the road and outside the scope of this section, is one of the most intense (and under-the-radar) rivalries in the ranks of the so-called "mid-majors".
Eastern Nashville
Do Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music radio program and concert broadcast live on WSM radio in Nashville every Friday and Saturday night, and Tuesdays from March through December. It is the oldest continuous radio program in the United States, having been broadcast on WSM since 5 October 1925. The Opry has been located in the Grand Ole Opry House in eastern Nashville since 1974. From 1974 to 1997 the Opry House was part of a theme park called Opryland USA, which closed due to low attendance and was torn down and replaced by a mega-shopping mall called Opry Mills. Rumors that the Opry is haunted persist as more than 35 people closely associated with the Opry have been met with untimely deaths. These country stars have been burned to death, beaten, robbed, and shot, have been victims of car and plane crashes and have perished from alcohol and drugs.
Do Nashville Golf
Metro Parks offers seven golf courses. All courses are open seven days a week through Labor Day: 7AM-dark on week ends, and 8AM-dark on week days. After Labor Day, autumn hours go into effect. Check courses for details. Three of the seven golf courses are in eastern Nashville:
Do VinnyLinks
Southeastern Nashville
Do Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
Displaying many animals and hosting activities for the family, including a large playground with two-story netting that you can swing onto (off a rope), or just jump and roll around on. The zoo is getting bigger and better every day. There is an aviary where you can feed lorikeets nectar by hand, and an amazing hand-carved wooden carousel.
Do Nashville SC
The 2020 season began a new era for soccer in Nashville with the arrival of Nashville SC in Major League Soccer. The MLS team took over the name of a side that played the 2018 and 2019 seasons in the second-level USL Championship. The MLS team, which played its first two seasons at Nissan Stadium, opened the new Geodis Park in May 2022 at the former state fairgrounds just south of downtown. (It started that season on a long road trip to accommodate construction.)
Western Nashville
Do Bluebird Cafe
With its unlikely location in a strip mall in Green Hills, has long been the destination of choice for local and national songwriters, fans of songwriters, and label scouts. Expect schmoozing, sets in-the-round, and lines around the block. Keep in mind, though, that quiet is requested at all times during a performance. This is where Taylor Swift first performed and got discovered by Scott Borchetta and Big Machine Records.
Do Nashville Golf
Metro Parks offers seven golf courses. All courses are open seven days a week through Labor Day: 7AM-dark on week ends, and 8AM-dark on week days. After Labor Day, autumn hours go into effect. Check courses for details. The golf courses within western Nashville are:
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Do Radnor Lake
Often called "Nashville's Walden," Radnor Lake was formed when the railroad companies dammed up a small stream to provide a reliable water source for their railroad yards. Although it is in the heart of a residential suburb south of town, hikers on the miles of trails around the pond feel like they are in the heart of the wilderness.
Do Lipscomb Bisons
Lipscomb University is a private school that competes in the ASUN Conference. Best known for its longstanding rivalry with nearby Belmont; despite being in different conferences, the men's and women's basketball teams play twice each season (most nonconference basketball rivalries are played only once a year).
Do Tennessee State Tigers
Those interested in African-American culture may also be drawn to the Tigers (and Lady Tigers), representing Tennessee State University, the city's largest historically black school. Unlike most historically black schools, which compete in conferences that consist mostly or entirely of such schools, TSU is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (and has been since 1986). Most venues are on campus; the football team has an on-campus stadium, but plays at Nissan Stadium for almost all of its home games.
Learn
Buy
Popular tourist souvenirs include cowboy paraphernalia (boots, hats, etc.) as well as any and all music themed items. Expect to find many local shops selling these items. Some downtown shops offer "buy 1, get 2 free" deals. Be sure to shop around.
Midtown
Shop Hillsboro Village
Short section of 21st Ave. just south of Vanderbilt. Home of a well-stocked kitchen goods and coffee store.
Eastern Nashville
Shop East Nashville/5 Points
Head to Hip Zipper for vintage clothing, The Turnip Truck for health food, or Art and Invention Gallery for fine art and handmade jewelry.
Southeastern Nashville
Shop 100 Oaks Mall
Formerly a mall, 100 Oaks's shopping options are the street level vendors. The building houses clinic facilities for Vanderbilt Medical Center, but shops remain open, too.
Shop Peabody Shoe Repair
Located in quaint Hillsboro Village, this shoe repair shop offers great deals on secondhand cowboy boots. Great place to find a bargain.
Western Nashville
Eat
The dominant local grocery chains in Nashville are Kroger, Publix, and Aldi. The city is also dotted with dozens of ethnic groceries, especially Hispanic, Kurdish, Indian and Vietnamese, around Nolensville Pike. For organic and/or specialty grocery stores, Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's, and Fresh Market also have locations throughout the city.
Budget
Downtown
Eat The Arcade
An open-air 2-level arcade that runs between 4th Avenue North and 5th Avenue North. The Arcade primarily caters to the local downtown workers during the work week, but many great lunch restaurants can be found here. There are also several hairstylists, jewelers, florists, and other businesses. Be sure to visit the historic Peanut Shop.
Eat Monell's
Located in historic Germantown, Monell's is a Nashville tradition. They serve different meals every day and the good ol' home cookin' is sure not to disappoint! Seating and serving are done family style, 13-14 per table. More than likely you will sit with people you don't know. First come, first serve. No reservations and no cell phones allowed.
Eat Swagruha
They have a basic menu that would satisfy almost any Indian food craving and at $7.50 for a plate full of food, you won't go wrong.
Midtown
Eat Las Palmas Mexican Restaurante
A pretty good local chain of Mexican restaurants. You can get a nice filling meal here for under ten bucks. There are five Nashville locations, listed below, and several more in the suburbs:
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Eat Pizza Perfect
Fabulous pizza. Nashville isn't much of a town for pizza, but this place more than makes up for it. The plain slices are great, but even the fancier ones (like the Fantasy) don't gild the lily. Free live jazz Thursday nights at the 21st Ave. location (between Vandy and Hillsboro Village).
Eastern
Eat Prince's Hot Chicken Shack
Home of the original "hot chicken", a Nashville classic that adds cayenne pepper to fried chicken.
Southeastern
Western
Eat Bobbie's Dairy Dip
An endearingly dingy 1950s ice cream stand on Charlotte Ave., that has been revived into a popular summer mainstay that's popular with every demographic. Their hamburgers, hot dogs, and fries are some of Nashville's favorites, and the strawberry shortcake's great.
Eat Loveless Cafe
Known for its Southern cooking: biscuits, fruit preserves, country ham, and red-eye gravy.
Eat Las Palmas Mexican Restaurante
The western Nashville locations are:
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Mid-range
Eat Cafe Nonna
Another well-liked Italian restaurant, this intimate neighborhood place keeps its menu small and its dishes impeccably prepared. With the fresh ingredients and simple preparation, you might as easily be in some Tuscan hill town. Located in Sylvan Park.
Eat Rosepepper Grille and Cantina
A neighborhood favorite for several years now, this popular and upbeat nouveau Mexican place is in East Nashville, a bit off the tourist's beaten path.
Downtown
Eat Jack's Bar-B-Que
Don't miss this authentic Tennessee barbecue joint right beside the Ryman Auditorium. Located on Lower Broadway -- just look for the neon sign featuring flying pigs! +1 615-228-9888.
Eat Acme Feed & Seed (Acme Farm Supply Building)
food and live music
Midtown
Eat Maggiano's Little Italy
A busy national chain restaurant, serving Southern Italian meals "family style", portions that are more than large enough to share. Reservations recommended for parties of any size. Open for lunch and dinner, seven days.
Eat Pancake Pantry
A Nashville landmark and a great place for breakfast, anytime before 3PM. The frosted haired waitresses will call you "honey," and the pancakes will be better than you'd ever realized pancakes could be. Don't be daunted by the line snaking around the block on weekends; it moves quickly, and you get free coffee while you wait.
Eat San Antonio Taco Company (SATCO)
This place is always a favorite with Vandy kids, offering reliably so-so Tex-Mex food (very little meat on the tacos, and the guacamole has tons of pepper) and cheap buckets of beer. Right off the Vanderbilt campus. Stop by Ben & Jerry's next door for dessert. Caveat: towing in this area can be ruthless. Check the signs wherever you park. If you go, get the queso and chips for around $3. It's the best thing on the menu and is enough for 2.
Southeastern
Eat Stay Golden
Southern-style breakfast with a shorter line on weekends than most of the places in the city center. Okay coffee, good brunch options, great biscuits.
Splurge
Eat Catbird Seat
32 seats surround a U-shaped kitchen, where chefs Josh Habiger and Erik Anderson prepare a multi-course tasting menu ($100 per person) with drink pairings ($20, $40, or $75 per person). Discussions with the chefs are encouraged as part of the experience. Reservations required, available one month in advance on the restaurant's website.
Eat Margot Café & Bar
This quirky local restaurant at Five Points in East Nashville is considered by many to be Nashville best local chef-owned restaurant. It features a seasonal menu that is changed daily. Don't miss the seasonal hot chocolate topped with a homemade marshmallow for an after-dinner treat.
Drink
Coffee and tea
Drink Ugly Mugs Coffee & Tea
A locally-owned coffee house residing in historic East Nashville, Ugly Mugs brews the local roast Drew's Brews and displays artwork by local artists as well as live music on Saturday nights. Known for serving coffee in a vast collection of quirky and non-cosmetic coffee mugs. Toys available for children. Wifi friendly.
Drink Barista Parlor
The first in a chain of serious-minded coffee shops, the original is based in East Nashville, Barista Parlor is already a staple for local coffee lovers and has attained a reputation of style and quality.
Drink CREMA
Popular coffee shop about a mile south of downtown. Known for its hand-crafted coffee creations and their selection of baked goods. Wifi friendly.
Drink Bongo Java
The first and most relaxed in a very successful local mini-chain of quirky coffeehouses, Bongo Java is a meeting place for the young, the arty, and the students at Belmont University just across the street. Linger for hours on the huge porch over several cups of their incredibly strong, flavorful coffee, and take advantage of the free computer, Wi-Fi, and chess set use.
Drink Fido
A sister-cafe to Bongo Java, Fido offers the same brew as the other Bongo Java locations while also offering an array of breakfast/brunch options. You may even be able to snag discounted day-old bagels to pair with your espresso.
Drink Roast, Inc. (8th and Roast)
Service is very courteous, coffee is delicious, and baristas are very knowledgeable.
Alcohol
The Five Points area of East Nashville is the hub of a cluster of bars all within a stone's throw of one another: Red Door Saloon, which also has an outpost in midtown; The 5 Spot, a pleasant nonsmoking spot that often books local bands; Beyond the Edge, a large sports bar; and more.
Drink Lipstick Lounge
Opened as a lesbian bar, the lipstick lounge now considers itself "a bar for humans."
Drink Verna Café & Bar (formerly Cafe Coco)
It isn't a bar, per se, but it does serve beer and remains open 24 hours every day. Expect to find studious Vandy kids, scene-making hipsters, and drunk everybody at night. Located just off Elliston behind the Exit/In.
Drink Exit/In
A standby for mid-level touring bands of all varieties for decades. Check out the names of past performers over the bar.
Drink Springwater
Located next to Centennial Park, this is one of Nashville's most reliable dive bars and often hosts underground and noisy local and touring bands. Once a speakeasy, later a hangout for Jimmy Hoffa, now host to a strange mix of local drunks, slumming Vandy kids, and musicians. Pool table, arcade games, good jukebox, good booker, a cheap beer-only bar, and a large screened-in cement block porch. Don't miss its regular Working Stiffs Jamboree.
Drink The Basement
Intimate (read: cramped); owner and man-around-town Mike Grimes books everything from country singer-songwriters to young noise bands. Above the venue is Grimey's, his record store that consistently is voted best independent record store in Nashville. A non-smoking, 21+ club.
Drink The End
Located just across from Exit/In, it regularly books reliable indie rock bands, both local and nationally known.
Downtown
Many bars can be found in Printer's Alley in Lower Broadway.
Drink Pete's Dueling Piano Bar
Decent piano bar, but can be very rowdy at times.
Drink 3rd and Lindsley
3rd and Lindsley offers loud country- and blues-rock from local and touring performers.
Drink The Finch
Dining and cocktails.
Drink Mercy Lounge
Its many red pool tables, large deck, friendly vibe, and live band karaoke nights add to its charm. Often hosts nationally-known indie bands.
Drink The Stage
Good music nightly on the stage at this spacious two-floor honky tonk in the center of downtown Nashville.
Drink Tootsie's Orchid Lounge
Tootsie's is one of the few denizens of lower Broad that looks like it's been there for half a century - and it has. An old honkytonk where many major country stars got their starts.
Drink Station Inn
A bit of a time warp, especially located in the middle of the now trendy Gulch area of 12th Ave. Its excellent bluegrass and old-time Americana shows have drawn loyal patrons for decades.
Drink Category 10 (formerly Wild Horse Saloon)
Located downtown, it offers line-dancing lessons during the day. A multi-level bar with rooftop deck, it is near quite a few other bars and clubs aimed at country music fans and tourists downtown, most of which tend to be bustling on weekends. Luke Combs' honky-tonk with a reference to a category 10 hurricane.
Sleep
Hostels
Budget
Mid-range
Stay Homewood Suites Nashville Downtown
Located in the historic Doctor's Building in downtown Nashville. An all-suite property with full functioning kitchens, free high speed internet, and complimentary hot breakfast bar. Beautifully restored in 2007 and only upscale extended stay in downtown area.
Splurge
Stay safe
Avoid walking in North Nashville, especially the Bordeaux and MetroCenter districts, and use caution when driving through the district at night.
Use caution when walking around Downtown Nashville at night, especially along the avenues south of Broadway. Use designated parking and avoid leaving valuables in your vehicle. Panhandlers do exist around these areas as well.
Go next
- Fall Creek Falls. A spectacular waterfall located on the rim of the Cumberland Plateau, several hours outside of Nashville.
- Franklin. Fifteen miles south of Nashville. A historic Civil War town.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an International Biosphere Reserve that straddles the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. The park is about a 3⅓-hour drive east of Nashville, so it would be more than you could do in a day, but certainly worth a weekend trip!
- Lynchburg Located 1½ hour's drive to the southeast, this small town is home to the Jack Daniels Distillery.
- Natchez Trace Parkway. The 444 mi long parkway follows the same path used by travelers from Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi during the early 19th century. It begins in the southwest part of Nashville along Highway 100 about 10 miles outside of the city. 8 mi south from the parkway entrance in Williamson County is the nation's first segmentally constructed concrete arch bridge. The parkway provides spectacular views of the rolling hills in Tennessee.
- Tullahoma Located about an hour southeast of Nashville, this town is home to the George A. Dickel distillery and a thriving aerospace industry based around Arnold Air Force Base.
Nearby
Antioch
City / town · 2 listings · 9 mi away
Hermitage
City / town · 3 listings · 10 mi away
Brentwood
City / town · 4 listings · 11 mi away
Hendersonville
City / town · 20 listings · 13 mi away
Mount Juliet
City / town · 15 mi away
Franklin
City / town · 17 listings · 17 mi away
Ashland City
City / town · 23 listings · 18 mi away
Smyrna
City / town · 1 listings · 19 mi away
My experience
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