Just a five-hour drive or one-hour flight from St. Louis, Nashville has become a hot spot for weekend getaways, bachelorette parties, and weddings. If you’ve visited before, you’re familiar with the beloved locales and know which bar plays your favorite songs—but let us introduce you to some other staples and worthy newcomers.
Eat
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Nashville is quickly becoming known as a “foodie” town. And for good reason, some of its best restaurants include The Frothy Monkey for breakfast (please arrive early), Marsh House located in The Thompson Hotel (it’s a great rooftop bar), Etch (known for eclectic fare), Kayne Prime (a classic steakhouse in The Gulch), Hattie B’s for Hot Chicken, and The Southern. East Nashville is home to unique restaurants such as The Optimist, The Pharmacy Burger Parlor and Beer Garden, Lockeland Table, and Folk. Guests often use East Nashville as a home base (it has plenty of cozy and affordable Airbnb options) and Uber throughout the city the rest of the time. If you’re looking for something new and Instagrammable, consider stopping in at Graduate Nashville’s White Limozeen, named after and inspired by Dolly Parton and her album of the same name. The indoor-outdoor bar has a pool, small bites and cocktails, and is frankly just pretty.
Play
Be sure to visit NashVegas on Broadway to hear some of the best local talent. Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse is a well-known favorite and the locale plays more rock music than country. Honky Tonk Central and Tootsies Orchid Lounge are excellent choices as well. Stroll down Printer’s Alley, take a two-hour tour of the Ryman (The Mother Church), take a walk on 12 South (Urban Grub and BarTaco are great restaurants here), and grab an Uber to the Grand Ole Opry. If you need a break from the city, head out to Cheekwood (botanical gardens) or Radnor Lake State Park for a nice hike.
Stay
The Tennessee city has a range of hotel options, including boutique properties like The Bobby (you can party in an Igloo on the rooftop), JW Marriott (there’s a beautiful view of the city from Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina), Renaissance at Fifth + Broadway (it’s a brand-new development that includes shopping, eating, and entertainment), and The Hermitage (at least enjoy a beverage at The Oak Bar). If you’re looking for something different and a tad swanky, consider one of East Nashville’s newest boutique hotels—Vandyke Bed and Beverage—which is actually a bed and beverage, as opposed to your standard bed and breakfast. What does that mean, exactly? In its ground-floor bar, this honky-tonk stay mixes craft cocktails and pours a select list of wines and drafts. Don’t worry, breakfast lovers: In addition to offering Sicilian dishes for dinner on some weekdays, in-house restaurant St. Vito Focacciaria whips up brunch on Sundays (paired with mimosas or Bloody Marys, of course). The atmosphere: is country hipster; the best photo opp is underneath the lobby’s “No Vacancy” sign, or in front of the lobby bar’s line-drawn mural. (The latter of which is filled with some familiar famous faces.)
