If you’re looking for the PERFECT destination for your next weekend getaway, look no further. Still trying to figure out a bachelorette party location? Nashville. Best spot for live music? Nashville. Wanna eat good food? Nashville. Need a good dose of southern hospitality? NASHVILLE. Kendall grew up in a suburb of Nashville, and we also lived there for a couple of years after I graduated college. We got married in this city, and for that reason it’s so near and dear to our hearts. Nashville has it all – from great food/drinks to killer entertainment to big sporting events and the BEST people – it’s truly the ULTIMATE weekend destination. So for any of you people thinking about planning your next weekend getaway, check out all my top recommendations below for my full Weekend Guide to Nashville, TN.
WHERE TO STAY
Before I give any recommendations, let me start by saying that expectation is the root of all evil. While Nashville definitely isn’t the cheapest place to visit, what it lacks in affordability – it makes up for in entertainment. Before you plan your trip, have a reasonable budget in mind. I promise, it will be worth it! My recommendations for lodging are:
- AirBnB – Hotels can get pricey in Nashville so this is the option we went with for our most recent trip, and it was SO convenient. If you’re traveling with a group, I’d definitely recommend going this route. My college roommate and her hubs just recently bought a home in the East Nashville area, and now they’re renting it out for visitors! As you can see from the photos, it was BEAUTIFUL and exactly what we needed. Brooke was super responsive and accommodating, and I’d recommend this place 10x over (even if I didn’t know her!). If you’re interested in booking, let me know and I can give you her contact information.
- Hotels – As I mentioned, Nashville hotels are pricey. The closer you get to Broadway, the closer you’ll be to bankruptcy. If you’re interested in being close to all that Nashville has to offer (bars, restaurants, shopping), I’d recommend staying in the West End area. For our wedding, we booked the Holiday Inn on West End Avenue for our guests, and it was by far the most conveniently located for all of our downtown Nashville events!
WHERE to eat/drink
Whiskey Kitchen // This has been mine and Kendall’s favorite date night spot for almost a decade. It’s an M Street restaurant and provides the best of all things “Nashville” – great location, better drinks, and the BEST food. We always start out with a plate of Nachos Nirvana (chicken instead of pork). Our favorite entrees include any the brick oven pizzas and the WK hot chicken (with a side of mac n’ cheese, of course!).
Tavern // Alright, this is another M Street restaurant. I promise we don’t own stock in the company, they just do the best job at bottling up the full Nashville vibe. This is the BEST spot for both brunch and dinner. They have a maple syrup fondue plate on their brunch menu with red velvet waffles and deep fried french toast. Need I say more? As for their dinner menu, the Tavern Burger and Tavern Fries are nothing short of mouth-watering.
Bakersfield // If you’re interested in street-tacos, this is your spot! They have incredible margaritas, the best guacamole I’ve ever tasted, and their tacos are insanely good. My favorite tacos are the Baja Shrimp and the Pollo Asado, but Kendall tried the Milanesa Torta (pictured above) and it was UNREAL good! This is a boujier spot than I’m used to, so if you’re looking for a more laid back taco spot, head on over to Taco Mamacita in Edgehill! It’s one of my favorite Nashville spots for tacos and margs!
Rosepepper // Kendall would kill me if I didn’t mention our favorite spot for pre-dinner drinks. They have the most killer margaritas in town. Oh and check your expectations at the door. They’ll come out looking like water, but they taste like heaven!
The Pharmacy // This place is simple. The menu is small. They only serve beer at the bar. You get your burger. You get your french fry. You leave SO SATISFIED. This is the all-time greatest Sunday food spot Nashville has to offer.
Bar Louie // To be completely transparent, Nashville doesn’t have a standout brunch winner in my opinion. But that’s not to say that you’re limited in options. Bar Louie has always had subpar service, but they provide a great atmosphere with a killer plate of spicy biscuits and gravy. Unlimited mimosas help break the tie and put this place over the top!
Hot Chicken // Practically every restaurant in Nashville is going to provide their own twist on a Nashville Hot Chicken dish. But there are really only a few places that truly specialize in the BEST hot chicken! My top three recs are 1) Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack – a little out of the way, but it’s so worth the trip! So good. So spicy. 5 stars. 2) Edley’s BBQ – I know what you’re thinking. How could a BBQ place have good hot chicken?? Just trust me on this one. And if you’re not a hot chicken lover, try ANYTHING on their menu. You’ll be pleased! 3) Party Fowl – They have SO many different hot chicken dishes, and they have the best location tucked into the Gulch! *Sidenote – if you’re wondering where Hattie B’s is on my list, you must not have ever tried their ranch. It’s a no from me, sis.*
Five Daughters // I hadn’t tried this donut spot until the last time I was in Nashville. To be honest, I was super apprehensive to try the “cronut” style donut, but these DID NOT disappoint! The vanilla cream was so dang good, and Kendall says the maple bacon was his #1! Ugh, now I’m craving a donut.
The Stillery // We’ve been to this spot twice for dinner, and it’s no doubt some of the best food Nashville has to offer! The jalapeno bacon rangoon appetizer was SO unique but beyond delicious. Their pizzas take up some serious square footage on both the table and your belly. And the hot chicken mac n cheese is simple, salty, spicy, and perfect. This place is a Nashville staple!
What to do
Rooftop Bars/Broadway Bars // Kendall and I love a good skyline view, and Nashville has some of the best there is to offer! Our favorite spots line lower Broadway: ACME Feed & Seed, Downtown Sporting Club, and CrazyTown. All in all – the Broadway bar scene is something like I’ve never witnessed. You just can’t beat it!
Shopping // Green Hills Mall and the surrounding area have so much to offer! My favorite stops include Nordstrom, Lululemon, The Container Store, Pottery Barn, Molly Green, and so many more. Nashville’s mall scene is pretty widespread – you can virtually go to ANY mall (Cool Springs, Opry Mills, etc.) and find some great spots to spend some cash! They recently opened a Vici, and I can’t wait to stop in on our next trip! I also love all things Kristin Cavallari, so naturally I always stop at Uncommon James when I’m in the Nashville area. 12 South and 21st Avenue also have some of my favorite places to shop (Impeccable Pig, White’s Mercantile, Dress Up, etc!).
Pins Mechanical // I was first introduced to this daytime/nighttime social club when we were in Charlotte a few weeks ago. When Kendall told me Nashville also had a location, I knew we needed to add it to our weekend itinerary. This place has a little bit of everything: bowling, pinball, arcade games, video games, and multiple massive bars. It was packed with people, and we can’t wait to go back! 100% recommend!
Predators Hockey Game // Kendall’s family introduced me to the Nashville hockey scene soon after we started dating. I’d never been to a hockey game, so naturally I was super skeptical. Turns out I’m a huge hockey fan and hockey is one of the coolest and most enjoyable sports to watch. Who knew?! Bridgestone is dead in the heart of Nashville which makes it so easy to barhop pre and post Preds game.
Pinewood Social // This is the best chill hangout spot for a weekend with friends. It’s super similar to Pins Mechanical, but it has a more private and cozy vibe. The view of Nashville from this spot is unmatched! They have great food and drinks, and the atmosphere is so fun! Highly recommend spending a few hours here on a Saturday, especially in the spring/summer!
Quick Stops // Nashville has SO many spots that are perfect for a quick drink or bite to eat. I could never name them all, but some of our recent favorites are Hampton Social, the Bobby Hotel Rooftop Lounge, and LA Jackson.
*All outfits from my most recent Nashville trip can be shopped through my LIKEtoKNOW.it – linked here!* Or you can click on the exact item of clothing in the photos below and it’ll take you straight to the website!
