Nashville Travel Guide: Where To Eat, Stay & Play The Ultimate Nashville, TN Travel Guide
Welcome to honky tonk town! Nashville, Tennessee is without a doubt one of my favorite cities to visit. Whether you’recraving a good night, want to indulge in some southern comfort food, or simply want to hear some good live music, Nashville has got it all. It’s one of the fastest growing cities in the United States so there’s always something new to check out.
Although it’s most commonly known as the Bachelorette capital, it’s also a great destination for a birthday celebration or road trip pit stop. I know I’ve shared travel guides from trips past but I wanted to share an updated list of recommendations from my most recent 2024 trip!
Breaking down all the best restaurants, bars, and places to shop along with a few packing must-haves.
Where To Eat
The first time I went to Nashville I was so disappointed with the food… it turns out I was going to all the wrong places. You can’t expect a good meal at any of the dive bars but there are hundreds of amazing restaurants in the surrounding areas worth checking out. Sharing a few favorites from this trip!
Hampton Social
✈ menu | directions
Hampton Social is one of the chicest, most Instagramable restaurants in all of Nashville. It’s a popular spot to visit during a bachelorette/birthday trip as it’s full of fun photo ops, a rose room, and a bumping rooftop. It’s definitely a vibe at night for fun pregame drinks but not before getting in a meal first!
You must try the bang bang chicken. The mix of sauces gives a sweet yet slightly spicy explosion of flavor in your mouth. The lobster roll is MP but worth the splurge for a hot, buttery taste of goodness. Don’t skip out on dessert— their donut bites are like little fried pastries ready to be dipped into hot fudge. So sweet but so good.
Ophelia’s
✈ menu | directions
This is the cutest Italian spot you’ve ever seen. Nestled downtown this is a great spot for weekend brunch or a chic dinner with girlfriends. Not only do they have the cutest decor but the food is to die for. I highly suggest getting a round of mimosas and their brunch board— it’s large enough to feed a crowd on its own with Italian meats, cheeses, french toast bread (amazing), jams, olives, fruit, fresh focaccia bread, and croissants! ‘
We did indulge in a few of their lunch options too— the shrimp and grits were a great choice but, of course, we had to try their pizza as it’s what they’re known for. Get the four cheeses if you want a hint of sweetness with the honey truffle oil.
Harriet’s Rooftop
✈ menu | directions
A swanky rooftop bar with Asian fusion cousins and foo-foo cocktails located atop the 1 Hotel. This place is as chic as it gets! Don’t skip out on the rock shrimp or the tempura lobster— both will make your mouth water! They’ve got a hugesushi menu as well so this is a great spot to start your night out with friends!
Sadie’s
✈ menu | directions
Skip the standard sandwich and fries and go Greek instead! This spot is perfect if you want something light or if you’rewith a group as they have a lot of family-style sharing options. Their whipped feta comes with fresh honey and edible flowers— not only is it gorgeous but it’s delicious too. My personal favorite was the chicken souvlaki skewers and the pretty cocktails.
Church and Union
✈ menu | directions
One of my favorite Charleston restaurants now has a Nashville location so of course I had to come check it out. Although more casual at lunchtime, dinner here is a 5-star dining experience. Everything from the meatballs to the Caesar salad is incredible to start. If you’re looking to treat yourself to a mouth-watering steak, this is the place to do it!
They’ve never failed me here. Our waiter spoiled us rotten with every dessert on the menu— the chocolate hot fudge lava cake was by far the best!
Assembly Food Hall
✈ menu | directions
Assembly Food Hall is essentially a huge food hall with over 30 order-at-the-counter restaurants and bars. This is a great spot to come if you need something quick. It’s also a little quieter than your average Downtown Nashville scene so if you want to meet up with a friend to grab a drink and catch up, this is a good place to do it!
They’ve got everything from sushi to Mexican. I highly suggest checking out The Pharmacy for one of the best burgers in Nash!
A few other favorite spots include Velvet Taco, Bar Taco, and The Pharmacy.
Where To Drink
You can’t come to Nashville without having a drink (or three!). There are hundreds of bars to choose from, each with its own live music and unique vibe. I truly believe you can make any spot fun here but these are a few of my favorites!
Losers
Head to the Losers rooftop if you want a more intimate bar scene. There are usually only a few groups up here and there tends to be one musician rather than a band so it’s not as loud as most Nashville bars. You can usually request and hear any song for free (Nashville standard is $20 per song) and it’s always a good time.
Lucky Bastard
There’s a similar rooftop scene here but their ground floor is always bumping. This is a great spot to come if you have parents with you as they usually house bands that play older songs/more rock.
Jason Aldenes
This five-story bar offers a little bit of everything. A great indoor/outdoor spot to spend a few hours dancing and listening to good music. The rooftop turns into a club scene at night!
This Bar
Morgan Wallen just opened up his first bar in Nashville so of course we had to check it out. It’s like most Nashville spots and has different bands playing on each level so every floor has a different vibe.
Where To Play
Nashville is a very spread-out city with several different areas. If you’re visiting as a tourist you’ll likely be sticking to Broadway, 12 South, The Gulch, and Midtown. Although locals love and recommend East Nashville and Germantown for a casual, less touristy scene.
Broadway
Broadway is where all the action is. It’s the main strip of bars that are busy no matter the time of day/year. There’s live music from both emerging artists and famous ones happening at every bar. While many artists own their bars, the unaffiliated ones are just as fun. It’s touristy here and loud but it’s so much fun, especially if you’re with your people.
Definitely overpriced though— expect to pay $10 for a seltzer and $15 for a mixed drink at most places.
12 South
This is my favorite area in Nashville. It’s got that southern charm with lots of high-end stores, a few local boutiques, fun pop-ups, pretty murals, and several restaurants in the area.
This area is growing by the day, they are truly always adding something new! Great place to throw on a cute outfit and walk around for a few hours. Don’t forget to stop in Christie Cookie for a famous sweet treat.
The Gulch
The Gulch is a similar district to 12 South with restaurants and local boutiques lining the area. You’ll find a good mix of locals and tourists here as there are several apartments and hotels within walking distance. They also have a fun spot called Paddy Wax where you can make your own candles which was a super fun rainy day activity!
Do a Pedal Tour
If you’re coming here with a group or celebrating something fun I highly suggest booking a pedal tour. If you’ve never heard of one a pedal tour is essential a bike with ten-ish seats. You all pedal your way around town drinking and playing music. You have a guide that keeps you on track and will point out some must-visit attractions! It gets super rowdy but is so fun!
What To Wear + Packing List
Not sure what to wear on your trip to Nashville this summer? I’ve got you covered with seven outfit ideas to wear in Nashville. Check out my outfit guide for links to everything + directions to all of these Instagrammable photo spots!
Want even more Nashville outfits? I’ve visited several times and have tons more Western-inspired outfits ready for you to browse here. Plus here are a handful of things you won’t want to forget when packing your suitcase!
Where To Stay
I’ve stayed in large Airbnbs in years past when visiting Nashville but this time around it was just my sister, mom, and I sowe opted for a hotel! We stayed at The Hayes Street Hotel which is a small boutique hotel located in Midtown.
Their King Suite was the perfect room for our week of fun— comfy, spacious, and extremely soundproof: I had no complaints here. Great value for the price and just a 5-10 minute drive to all the action.
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What are you waiting for?! Start planning your dream trip to Nashville. Regardless of your vibe, you’ll surely have a blast in Music City! There is so much to do and see + the food is truly some of the best. Don’t forget your cowboy boots and favorite hangover cure— you’ll need it after a rowdy night out along Broadway! xx
