Our second visit to Nashville quickly drew us into the city’s charm. We came for our childhood friend’s wedding, which was filled with weekend celebrations and reunions with old pals, and whenever we had a free moment, we explored the area. The city was bustling, restaurants were packed, music permeated each square foot of Broadway, and the locals were warm and friendly. Southwest Airlines has a direct flight from San Diego to Nashville, making for an easy commute. You’ll find yourself laughing at yourself saying “honky tonk” throughout your visit, which is gauranteed to bring an overall great time!
Nashville’s only Forbes Five Star Award-winning hotel, The Joseph Hotel, delivers warm, Italian hospitality with an exceptional eye for detail and a down-to-earth sophistication that constantly draws you in. With a rooftop pool and bar, full-service spa, artful touches throughout, an award-winning restaurant, and excellent location, you can’t go wrong.
Broadway is the main hub in Downtown Nashville, packed with music venues after music venue and tune-permeated streets. No visit to the Music City is complete without a stroll along this famous stretch and a visit to one of the bars to catch a live show. You’ll also immerse yourself in the Tudor Revival period architecture juxtaposed with more contemporary buildings and striking art installations.
3) Lunch at a Local Favorite
See for yourselves why The Finch is rated one of Nashville’s best restaurants. From a lively, modern ambience to attentive service, and fantastic food and cocktails, you’ll leave here very satisfied. We especially loved the Brussels sprouts, spicy queso dip, and short ribs dish with creamy mashed potatoes. Delicious!
4) Enjoy Hotel Amenities:
If late afternoon brings some heavy thunderstorms, retreat to The Joseph Hotel and unwind in one of its many delightful nooks to relax with a well-crafted cocktail in hand, as you catch up with family and good friends.
5) Wrap up the Day at Yolan:
Located inside The Joseph Hotel, you’ll find Yolan, voted the number one restaurant in the U.S. by Food + Wine readers. Each and every bite was outstanding, but the stars of the show were the homemade, freshly baked focaccia served with a whipped ricotta mixed with garlic, honey, and the gnocchi topped with a generous serving of shaved truffles. You must order these two dishes, they will go down in history as two of the best you’ve ever had.
1) Begin Your Day with a Healthy Breakfast
1 Kitchen serves a farm-to-table breakfast like no other. Using only the freshest ingredients to prepare unique, healthy outcomes, the kitchen takes pride in ensuring you are well-fed to start your day. I loved my freshly-squeezed carrot juice and fried eggs served with labneh, toasted chickpeas, and chili paste.
2) Linger at Vandy’s Campus
Tucked away from the city’s buzz, walk off those breakfast calories on Vanderbilt University’s stunning campus. Offering a mix of historical and contemporary buildings, bridges, endless grassy lawns, and massive magnolia trees, you’ll find a stroll through the campus to be a wonderful retreat.
The Frist Museum is housed in a striking former post office, giving it an art deco flair. The central ceiling soars multiple levels, bringing an openness to the lined halls of paintings covering all modalities. During our visit, we enjoyed a creative exhibit that focused on food waste in our country. The upstairs interactive studio was fun for all ages- we painted with watercolors and made coasters as souvenirs.
4) Mexican Lunch with Margaritas
Even though we’re from San Diego, we can never get enough of Mexican food! Fonda in the 12 South District is a must! Its colorful interior sets the stage for mean margaritas and a delicious spread of salsas, beans, and street corn, to make your own tacos with homemade tortillas.
You’ll enjoy walking through this hip neighborhood lined with restaurants and upscale shops housed in charming buildings.
6) Indulge in Decadent Donuts
It’s ok to splurge on donuts as a treat for all the walking you’ll be doing! Five Daughters Bakery is famous for its hundred-layer donuts, which come in several flavors. Our favorites were the malted peanut butter cup and the mini cream cheese sticky bun. SO good!
7) Delicious Family Style Dinner
Ok, so you’ll eat a lot in Nashville, but you’ll be on vacation, right? Pelato is a city favorite, bringing Brooklyn family-style Italian cuisine to the table in small, shareable plates. We enjoyed our meal during a rehearsal dinner for the wedding. The menu served some of the restaurant’s highlights like the street-style arancini, burnt broccolini, creamy polenta in bolognese sauce, and radiatori vodka that were all delicious.
Monells is a Nashville institution and is a must-try breakfast experience with strangers at a communal table. Housed in a former home, you’ll literally be eating in a dining room, seated at a large table with an overflow of food served, for just $20 per person. This isn’t normally my favorite type of breakfast menu- a bit too heavy, and homogenous in the ingredients’ color, but it was fun to chat with other diners and enjoy the homey atmosphere.
This walkable part of Nashville was my favorite neighborhood. You’ll find stunning architecture featuring many abandoned buildings turned into public spaces, a pathway along the river, a strong art scene, and bustling restaurants. You absolutely need to weave this area into your itinerary.
3) Walk Across John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
If you want to keep eating in Nashville, you’ll need to keep walking off those calories. Luckily, the city offers endless walking opportunities, including a pedestrian bridge that connects downtown Nashville to its burbs. Perched over the Cumberland River, the bridge offers beautiful views and performers singing live country music.
You’ll want to rest your tired feet and replenish the calories burned off from all the walking; Sixty Vines is a perfect spot to unwind. Boasting a variety of sixty wines and a versatile menu, lunch in this open-air industrial eatery is an ideal spot to linger with a glass of wine while people-watching. The cauliflower-crusted vegan pizza is outstanding!
5) Hit the Nightlife at Harriet’s Rooftop
Harriet’s Rooftop on the 19th floor of the 1 Hotel is open until 2:00 am, a great option for a nightcap. Enjoy an upbeat vibe with great music, stunning views, and well-crafted cocktails.
1) Caffeine Fix and Catch Up
Coffee Cart solved my caffeine needs to start the day after a late night. The barista made my latte just the way I love it- not too strong and well balanced. We enjoyed a beautiful brunch spread at our friend’s home, celebrating their wedding the day before. Catching up with old friends was the highlight of our weekend!
2) Final Bite Before the Flight
bartaco is the ultimate way to end your visit to Nashville. If you can snatch a seat, grab it! This festive Mexican eatery is filled with the crowd’s chatter, tunes from an upbeat playlist, bartenders busy pressing limes for the freshest margaritas, and outstanding tacos.
We were sad to have our trip come to an end. Celebrating our friend’s gorgeous wedding, spending time with friends we have known since our early twenties, getting to know the city, and eating our way through it, made for a perfect long-weekend escape. If you haven’t been to Nashville yet, head on over. Three nights is the right amount of time you will need there to soak in its charm. Music City, keep on singing!
