TENNESSEE / 48 HOURS IN NASHVILLE
Nashville is America's new ‘IT’ city with flourishing hip restaurants, vibrant art scenes and a new crop of gleaming hotels that have brought with them stage spaces and rooftop bars. Nashville is well known for it’s established country music scene but don’t miss the city’s creative spin on classic Southern cooking, a refreshing take on coffee shops and bakeries, as well as a host of contemporary places to stay with a welcoming atmosphere.
STAY
21c Museum Hotel Nashville 221 2nd Ave N, Nashville, TN
An uber cool contemporary downtown hotel with its own gallery! Slick rooms with a cosy bar and restaurant next to Speakers Alley & the famous Broadway strip. A perfect sight seeing location.
Noelle Hotel Nashville 200 4th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219
A beautiful upscale hotel which was once a hotel called Noel in 1929. The Noelle boasts impressive architecture, brass detailed interiors, restored flooring and interior decoration from local Nashville designers. Don’t miss the cool ground level coffee shop called Drug Store (see below) where can pick up a pastry.
Thompson Hotel Nashville 401 11th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
This boutique hotel is in the hip & trendy Gulch area of Nashville with a great rooftop bar providing unique scenic views over the city. Shopping boutiques are within walking distance and a stone’s throw away from popular brunch spot Love Biscuit and Milk & Honey.
SHOP
Imogene & Willie is one of the best shopping boutiques to visit in Nashville, which caters for for both men & women. The store is full of simple and timeless denim styles that are thoughtfully designed and carefully crafted. Jeans are made from American Cone Denim in raw, washed & stretch fits. Don’t miss the perfect fitting vintage look t-shirts, indigo dyed sweaters and timeless chore jackets.
Whites Mercentile on 12th Ave South is known as a modern day General Store which is filled with a curated collection of items that represent modern-day chic. You’ll find everything from coffee table books to candles, Tennessee chocolate, clothing and beauty products. Owner Holly Williams is the daughter of Hank Jr and she has successfully filled the shop with her favourite finds from around the country (whilst touring as an accomplished songwriter herself). Find additional outposts in Franklin, Tennessee & Wilson and Arkansas. Whites is great for gifts!
BRUNCH
Love Biscuit is probably the most instagrammed brunch spot in Nashville. Serving up Biscuits ( thats scones to us British folk ) for breakfast, with eggs, smoked ham and sausage. Prepare to queue as this is a popular place, but well worth the wait.
Milk & Honey is situated in the Gulch area and is a great spot for weekend brunch, craft coffee, gelato or wood fired pizzas.
Roze Cafe in hip East Nashville is a beautiful modern cafe complete with a rose gold, pink and marble interior. A great spot for breakfast, lunch & dinner, it is a neighbourhood favourite. Try the Egg bowl; a mix of poached egg, avocado, bulgur wheat, and grilled tomato with spinach.
DINE
Little Octopus, is one of Nashville’s modern dining fares located in the Gulch area. The menu serves up a selection of small dishes to share plus a protein, meat or fish option. The interior is modern and slick, with super helpful and friendly staff. The manager even made a point of visiting every table to introduce himself! It’s a refreshing experience with a delightful atmosphere and welcoming environment.
Peg Leg porker BBQ is truly something else. A quintessential Nashville experience which I wont forget any time soon! Situated in the Gulch, it serves amazing Southern BBQ food which is cooked with famous Peg Leg Porkers sauce. A traditional environment which is full of locals and tourists alike, the price was very inexpensive and they serve up a great cocktail too.
Martins Bar-B-Que Joint, is another must-visit BBQ spot. If you thought visiting just one BBQ joint in Nashville was enough, you were mistaken! Martins Bar-B-Que serves up West Tennessee style whole roasted hog with slaw & fries. Traditional casual dining, be warned that the tables will be full and don’t be surprised to queue.
Five Points Pizza is situated within the Five Points area in East Nashville which is full of hip bars, restaurants and vintage shops. The New York style pizza parlor serves the best pizza in the city, and you can even grab a to-go slice bar if you are in a hurry!
The Soda Parlor. Remember when you used to drink cola and ice cream soda when you where a kid? Well this place ticks all those nostalgic boxes. Try the cookie ice cream sandwich or a Moonshake. Bonus points awarded for the vintage arcade games you can actually play on!
COFFEE
Barista Parlor, is probably the coolest cafe I’ve visited, and I’ve been to a lot! There are 3 locations in Nashville; German Town, East Nashville and the Gulch. All 3 are set in old auto garages which provide huge airy environments and interesting backdrops to sit and enjoy a perfectly made coffee. You should also grab a Five Daughters Bakery Croughnut or some Nashville Biscuits. I’d highly recommend the egg & sausage biscuit or the sausage biscuit with apple chutney! Music plays from old vinyl records and vintage motorcycles decorate the interior. A truly great place to relax or work, I wish all coffee shops were this good!
Five Daughters Bakery was thought up by husband and wife team Isaac & Stephanie in Franklin, Tennessee; a small historic village just outside Nashville. With many stores located around Nashville, I visited the location of 12 South. Fed up with corporate life, and run-of-the-mill chain coffee shop bakeries, they set up Five Daughters Bakery as an ode to their five daughters. Choose between 100 layer Croughnut (a doughnut croissant) or a maple glaze! I’m usually a straight up purist myself, but Five Daughters has an inspiring and creative offering of beautiful doughnuts!
Frothy Monkey is located on 12th South and has become somewhat of an institution, serving up outstanding locally roasted coffee and house made tea since 2005! As well as coffee they serve breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. They even have a bakery! I’d recommend sitting on the quaint porch outside amongst the fairy lights at dusk!
Drug Store Coffee is situated in downtown Nashville inside the beautiful Noelle Hotel, perfect for a coffee and pastry on the go. A little cousin of Barista Parlour.
Franklin Juice Co uses all organic ingredients to make its organic cold pressed juices. A perfect stop for healthy açaí bowls, smoothies and salads. Located on 12 South Nashville.
CULTURE
Hatch Show Print is a fantastic letterpress exhibition and shop inside The Country Music Hall of Fame. Hatch Show Print have been designing and creating show posters for some of Nashville’s biggest venues for the past 140 years! You can buy archival posters and sign up for tours and workshops.
The Country Music Hall of Fame is an ever evolving exhibition which explores the history and traditions of country music. See priceless artifacts from Elvis’ gold plated car to Nudie Cohn rhinestone suits. A fantastic exhibition even if you are not a lover of country music.
The Johnny Cash Museum is situated off Broadway and features the world's largest collection of Johnny Cash memorabilia. I’m a fan of Johnny Cash and this exhibition doesn’t disappoint!Nashville is America’s new ‘IT’ city with flourishing hip restaurants, new art scenes and a new crop of gleaming hotels that have brought with them stage spaces and rooftop bars. Obviously Nashville is well known for it’s established country music scene but don’t miss Nashville’s creative spin on classic Southern cooking with Martins BBQ, Hattie B’s hot chicken and Rolf and Daughters.
