Nashville Recs
 I lived in Nashville for the Summer of 2022 on my first travel contract & to me, Nashville is a city that will pleasantly surprise you over and over again! No shade to Broadway, because it is iconic & a blast, but Nashville is so much more than the Honky Tonk experience. There are so many unique neighborhoods, offering different vibes for everyone, all within this magnetic city! If you know where you’re going, you can experience some of the best food, drink & atmospheres right in Nash– so here are my recs for both locals & visitors! 🙂Â
Activities/ Places to go
Pinewood Social: Highly recommend this especially if you have a big group! We came here to bowl & brunch and it was a freaking blast!! The ambiance, food, and drinks are all 10/10. Also, you do not have to bowl to eat/drink here, but if you do plan to bowl make a reservation weeks in advance!
12 South: I recommend making an afternoon out of 12 South—a sweet little neighborhood of Nashville. There are a number of places to eat, drink, shop, & take the cutest photos. You can see the whole strip in a few hours. Go to Frothy Monkey for brunch—put your name down for the outdoor patio & walk around while you wait. Honestly, walk straight to 5 Daughters Bakery and get yourself the best doughnut on planet earth!!! Please, for me—or wait for after brunch, either way GO!
Broadway: This doesn’t need any explanation, but I do highly recommend going during the day (at least one day you’re in town) because although it’s still going to be populated, you’re able to see everything without insane crowds– and naturally the vibes are higher during the day. My favorite is Jason Aldean’s, but specifically the rooftop!!
The pedestrian bridge: Off the direct path of Broadway, go to the pedestrian bridge to see the iconic Nashville skyline & get a fire pic while you’re there sis!
Go to a Predator’s or Titans game! Both stadiums have amazing locations on/ walking distance to Broadway.
Food
Brunch
I mentioned Frothy Monkey, but I stand by it. When I had people from out of town, I always brought them here (to the 12 South location.) They have a variety of meal options that are all great & consistent. The best thing I ordered here was their grits bowl. They serve yummy barista drinks as well as alcoholic brunch cocktails. I always ordered the matcha latte with macadamia milk or their blood mary’s! 🙂
Adele’s: Located in the Gulch, Adele’s serves an all you can eat gourmet brunch buffet on the weekends—emphasis on gourmet—just check the menu linked & book a reservation while you’re at it!
Pinewood Social: As mentioned above, highly recommend this especially if you have a big group! We came here to bowl & brunch and it was a freaking blast. The ambiance, food, and drinks are all 10/10.
Casual lunch/ dinner spots:
We ate a lot of our casual meals in East Nashville—a neighborhood that offers a quirky & relaxed vibe outside the hustle and bustle of downtown. If I was going to live in Nashville full time, I think I would reside in East. On that note—you can really make a night/afternoon drinking and eating around East, if you want a break from Broadway.
Greko Greek Street Food: Holy Moly this is the best Greek food I’ve eaten in the states. Super lax, reasonable prices, fire food.
Smith & Lentz: A small craft brewery also serving delicious wood-fired pizza—I would be a regular here if I stayed in Nashville—it is bomb y’all!!
Redheaded Stranger: Funky little joint serving up high-quality tacos, burgers, loaded tots, & drinks.
The Pharmacy: This is a crowd pleaser for burger & beer lovers. Grab a das boot, order your craft burger & sit on the patio covered in pretty greenery. Prost!
Hawkers: Okay this is a small chain located in a few big cities, but omg it’s goooood! They serve Asian street food that’s so flavorful and comforting. Of course, they also have a great vibe & cocktails.
Outside of East Nashville:
5th and Broadway– a huge food court right on Broadway with so many yummy options including some local favorites like Prince’s Hot Chicken & Velvet Taco. Great for a quick bite when you’re with a crowd!
Martin’s BBQ (downtown location): This is a MUST in my opinion!! This was another staple we always brought our out of town guests to. Just walk in, place your order at the counter, get a number & make sure you go upstairs!! They always have live music on the weekends & they open up the ceiling. My signature was the brisket plate with mac & cheese, fries & a Bearded Iris Homestyle IPA. Chef’s kiss!
Mother’s Ruin: They actually have locations in NYC and Chicago, which I didn’t realize until I went to NYC & our friend brought us to that location (which just confirms it’s great). Located in Germantown, this place has a great atmosphere with a prohibition type feel. They serve craft cocktails and high-quality pub food. When I went out with the boys, we all got smash burgers, which they’re known for, and they lived up to their hype. Also looks like they do a popular brunch.
Nicer dinner spots
Honestly, I didn’t make it to as many nice dinner spots as I would have liked to, but I have high praise for:
Sunda: Top rated sushi restaurant in the Gulch. Went here for my birthday dinner and it did not disappoint! Best pork belly bao buns we’ve ever had!
Butchertown Hall: Love classic BBQ and a hip dining experience? Go here! We loved this place and went a few times! I always got their tacos & killer margaritas.
Bars
L.A. Jackson: Personally, my favorite bar in Nash! It’s an indoor/outdoor rooftop bar on the Thompson Hotel, located in the Gulch region. It’s an upscale bar with bangin’ cocktails, premium DJ’s, and an incredible view of Nash. Also a *must do* imo.Â
Virgin Hotel Rooftop: When we went, we just got cocktails & walked around the rooftop, but If you go in the summer & have a big group, you can rent a cabana at the pool- it’s really gorgeous. The hotel in general has great reviews, so I’d recommend staying here too!
Rosemary & Beauty Queen: Okay go here—it’s a vibe!! This bar is located in East Nash in a cute little yellow house, but also offers a huge backyard/patio decorated in disco balls, where they often have DJ’s. A few well-known musicians (from The Strokes and Cherub) have invested in this space and it shows. The food is insanely good & fresh—the server told us they overnight their seafood from the Gulf coast daily. I had a mezcal cocktail (of course) & a few small bites… yum!
Greenhouse Bar: This place is adorable, but quite a bit outside the city, so I recommend this if you’re here for a longer stay. Go to the Greenhills mall (a mall I dream about) & then grab drinks at the Greenhouse.
Hampton Social: I’m sure you’ve seen people post pictures here, because it is very pink, floral, & Instagram-able. It’s a bit pricey in my opinion, but anywhere close to Broadway is going to be that way. If you have a group, get the cocktails served in the huge seashell to share—so cute! There is also a rooftop level with a good view. This is right by the pedestrian bridge, so make sure you walk the bridge for your pic of the skyline while you’re in the area.
Noble’s: This place in East Nash is a bit of a dive, which I love personally. They serve beer steins for 50% off on Saturday afternoons, so we wound up here a few weekends lol.
The Bottle Cap: A cute local’s joint, located in 12 South, with great daily specials & happy hours & sports on (if you’re in that area & looking for something casual).
Breweries
Monday Night Brewing: Okay I drank their Dr. Robot blackberry lemon sour all summer & I miss it dearly—it’s the perfect sour. Also, their location is sick—in Germantown, an urban area that’s in the process of gentrification with hip bars, restaurants, coffee shops, & the Sounds stadium.
Yee Haw Brewing: We watched a University of Tennessee football playoff game here and it was a blast! It’s a completely packed brewery & moonshine bar with sports, close to Broadway– a place for tourists and locals alike!
Tailgate Brewing: Multiple locations around Nashville, we loved Tailgate! They have great beer & food & they’re always packed with locals (that’s when you know it’s good.) My favorite location is the one right by the Sounds Stadium.
Bearded Iris: Okay if you’re an IPA fan—it doesn’t get much better than the Homestyle IPA! I am a big IPA gal, and this would make my top 3. It’s a flagship beer served in most of Nashville bars, but the brewery is also located in the Germantown region, where you could walk to Tailgate, Monday Night breweries, & Butchertown Hall or Mother’s Ruin for dinner 🙂
OKAY below is my ultimate 3-day Nashville Itinerary. If you’re like me, you’re a person who likes to feel like you’ve accomplished a big city in a short amount of time. My favorite trips consist of visiting both local and touristy locations, so below is the perfect balance of the two, but definitely rest well before, because it’s packed! Also, it’ll take a lot of self control, but don’t go too hard the first day/night! Party on!
