Every music fan needs to plan a trip to Nashville, TN. Wondering what to do first? From the electric night life in downtown Nashville to historic buildings, there’s no shortage of things to do in music city. Top Country’s Lindsay Hyslop has been living in Nashville for over a year now. While there may be a new restaurant or bar opening up every week, these tried and true favourites from Lindsay are a must-have for your Nashville itinerary.
RESTAURANTS
Downtown:
The Southern – Really good, higher scale food
Martin’s BBQ – Best BBQ in Nashville, walking distance to Broadway
Bakersfield – Really yummy tacos and margaritas
Geist Germantown – Super delicious, higher-end food and cocktails!
Pinewood Social – Large, trendy space overlooking the city with great food, games and vibes! A Nashville favourite at any hour of the day. Perfect spot for meetings, brunch or weekend pool hangs/ bowling/ ping pong with your friends!
12 South:
Bar Taco – Nashville’s best margaritas! Great patio, expect to wait about 30 minutes for a table but you can walk around and shop and take photos with the murals while you wait! Reese Witherspoon’s store, Draper James is right beside bar taco. Go in for some sweet tea and a truly southern, shopping experience!
Urban Grub – a bit higher end but really cool atmosphere with great food
Flipside – owned by a Canadian so they serve caesars!!
The Gulch:
Sunda – My fave sushi in Nashville! Great happy hour specials from 4-6pm
Milk and Honey – One of the best brunch spots in Nashville
East Nashville:
Two Ten Jacks – One of my favourite restaurants in Nashville! They have incredibly delicious garlic noodles and ramen. Asian fusion!
Five Points Pizza – Best pizza in East Nashville
Dinos – Cheap, cheerful, and VERY busy at 3am!
Café Roze – My favourite brunch place in Nashville. Their egg/ quinoa bowls are the best!
BARS
Monday/ Thursday night Whiskey Jam:
Winners/ Losers Midtown:. Really great up and coming artists perform every Monday and Thursday night. Super popular with the locals!
Red Door: Music industry hangout spot!
Broadway:
FGL House – Florida Georgia Line’s Bar
Whiskey Row – Dierks Bentley’s Bar
Tootsies – An old classic! Great rooftop, super fun atmosphere. Good for day time, Broadway fun!
LA Jacksons:
Rooftop at The Thompson Hotel. Great DJ on Friday and Saturday nights. Also beautiful patio with a view/ pretty lights that make for great Instagram shots!
Santa’s Pub:
A hidden gem in Nashville, dollar beers, an owner named Santa (who looks like Santa) and karaoke. Not classy, yet amazing! A favourite for Ed Sheeran, Kacey Musgraves, Halsey etc when they come to town!
Urban Cowboy:
Hip, rustic bar in East Nashville. Sip delicious cocktails while sitting beside a bonfire!
Pearl Diver:
You feel like you are sitting under the sea. Really great lo mein if you are hungry! Great outdoor patio as well! Really trendy with the locals!
EXPERIENCES
The Bluebird Cafe:
More recently gaining fame from the show Nashville, The Bluebird Cafe has been one of the most iconic venues in the music community for nearly 30 years. With only seating for 90 guests, you will often see a two hour line-up to get in to the evening shows. It’s always worth it as you get to see the world’s best songwriters in an extremely intimate setting. Lindsay recently got to see Tim Hicks perform his #1 single ‘What A Song Should Do’ there while Andrew Farriss from INXS sang along beside him. You never know what wonderful surprises The Bluebird Cafe will present you with!
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Top Golf:
A really fun activity in Germantown. One bay fits up to 6 people and there is a great selection of food and drinks. There is a bar to hangout if there is a wait for your bay. You can also put your name down and come back when they send you a text.
Pedal Taverns:
Super popular bachelor/bachelorette thing to do (or if you’ve just got a big group of people). These go up and down Broadway & midtown and are massive bikes They fit around 10-12 people and are approx. $35 a person.
Arrington Vinyards:
A beautiful vineyard, 25 minutes south of Nashville. You can bring your own picnic basked and/or wine. Live music and great atmosphere!
The Listening Room:
One of my favourite music venues in Nashville. Every night, there is a 6pm and 8pm show featuring Nashville’s best songwriters. On Mondays at 6:15pm they host the Song Suffragettes, which features all the incredible female artists and writers in country music. If Phil Barton is playing, go!
Grand Ole Opry:
A stunning music venue where they have someone big play every weekend, its cool to see, I wouldn’t recommend the tour but if there’s someone big playing its a cool show!
SHOPPING
Draper James:
Reese Witherspoon’s store in 12 south. Go in for some sweat tea and southern… everything. Really cute baby book called ‘Sleep Tight Nashville’ that makes for a perfect shower gift from the south!
Uncommon James:
Kristin Cavalari’s store in The Gulch! Beautiful jewellery and adorable baby clothes.
White’s Mercantile:
Pricey, but amazing gifts and cards! Located in 12 South.
Hillsboro Village:
Great clothing stores, a favourite amongst Belmont Students!
Green Hills:
Street full of stores and restaurants including Whole Foods. Kendra Scott is a great jewellery store that gives you one item at 50% off if it’s your birthday month!
UAL:
Various locations around the city. Designer clothing for 60-75% off!
Opry Mills Mall:
If you have time, you can find everything you need at great prices at Opry Mills Mall! You can make it a day trip and go see a show at the Grand Ol’ Opry afterwards
Let the Top Country Songs be the soundtrack for your visit…
