Food scene
Nashville has such a rapidly growing and diversifying food scene that some publications have crowned it the new Food City of the South. I have a number of restaurant and bar suggestions in my house manual (the digital copy of which you should now have access to) but those are more limited to the area near Yellowwood. If you're looking for eateries that are most specific to Nashville, here are some special places to check out.
This classic, family-owned, soul-food restaurant is consistently ranked among Nashville’s best meat-and-three options.
39 locals recommend
Big Al's Deli
1828 4th Ave NThis classic, family-owned, soul-food restaurant is consistently ranked among Nashville’s best meat-and-three options.
If you're looking for something more than a meat-and-three but still traditional to Nashville, this buffet, family-style restaurant is the place to go. Among several mains and a plethora of sides, they serve fried chicken--maybe the best in the city--every day. They also recently added late-night hours.
303 locals recommend
Monell's
1235 6th Ave NIf you're looking for something more than a meat-and-three but still traditional to Nashville, this buffet, family-style restaurant is the place to go. Among several mains and a plethora of sides, they serve fried chicken--maybe the best in the city--every day. They also recently added late-night hours.
Hot chicken is Nashville's signature dish, and Prince's is its originator.
69 locals recommend
Prince's Hot Chicken Shack South
5814 Nolensville PikeHot chicken is Nashville's signature dish, and Prince's is its originator.
Anthony Bourdain's pick of Nashville's hot chicken when he filmed here (the chicken proved so spicy for him, he had to take a day off!).
151 locals recommend
Bolton's Spicy Chicken & Fish
624 Main StAnthony Bourdain's pick of Nashville's hot chicken when he filmed here (the chicken proved so spicy for him, he had to take a day off!).
One of several locations of Nashville's mainstream hot chicken chain.
465 locals recommend
Hattie B's Hot Chicken - Midtown Nashville, TN
112 19th Ave SOne of several locations of Nashville's mainstream hot chicken chain.
A speak-easy style bar serving Prohibition-era cocktails, often named one of the best bars in the country.
368 locals recommend
The Patterson House
1711 Division StA speak-easy style bar serving Prohibition-era cocktails, often named one of the best bars in the country.
Fun and lively bar downtown with a rooftop bar offering wonderful views of the city. Most popular among the younger, hipper set.
578 locals recommend
Acme Feed & Seed
101 BroadwayFun and lively bar downtown with a rooftop bar offering wonderful views of the city. Most popular among the younger, hipper set.
The perfect place to meet or eat whether for coffee, cocktails, breakfast, lunch, dinner, or--yes--a game of bowling.
571 locals recommend
Pinewood Social
33 Peabody StThe perfect place to meet or eat whether for coffee, cocktails, breakfast, lunch, dinner, or--yes--a game of bowling.
Sightseeing
A to-scale replica of the Parthenon of Ancient Greece, this structure is perhaps most famous for its appearance in the climax of Robert Altman's film, NASHVILLE. The admission fee to go inside is well worth the sight of the Athena Parthenos, the largest indoor sculpture in the Western hemisphere. Centennial Park, too, in which the Parthenon is situated, is the perfect space to read, run, play Frisbee, or picnic on a warm, sunny day.
699 locals recommend
The Parthenon
2500 West End AveA to-scale replica of the Parthenon of Ancient Greece, this structure is perhaps most famous for its appearance in the climax of Robert Altman's film, NASHVILLE. The admission fee to go inside is well worth the sight of the Athena Parthenos, the largest indoor sculpture in the Western hemisphere. Centennial Park, too, in which the Parthenon is situated, is the perfect space to read, run, play Frisbee, or picnic on a warm, sunny day.
Even if you're not a country music fan, this is a fun experience and a top-notch museum. My historian friend, who is not at all a fan of country music herself, loves this place. While you're there, stop inside Hatch Show Print, and old-school and world-famous letterpress that's been around since 1880-something (used to be located on Broadway, until just four or five years ago) and continues to make the posters for all the shows at the Ryman, among other events. Hatch is one of my very favorite spots in town, and a great place to get a super-cool souvenir.
1208 locals recommend
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
222 Rep. John Lewis Way SEven if you're not a country music fan, this is a fun experience and a top-notch museum. My historian friend, who is not at all a fan of country music herself, loves this place. While you're there, stop inside Hatch Show Print, and old-school and world-famous letterpress that's been around since 1880-something (used to be located on Broadway, until just four or five years ago) and continues to make the posters for all the shows at the Ryman, among other events. Hatch is one of my very favorite spots in town, and a great place to get a super-cool souvenir.
One of my favorite things about Nashville is all our parks (there's actually a book in the suite titled SIXTY HIKES WITHIN SIXTY MILES OF NASHVILLE). Radnor Lake is my very favorite.
435 locals recommend
Radnor Lake State Park
1160 Otter Creek RdOne of my favorite things about Nashville is all our parks (there's actually a book in the suite titled SIXTY HIKES WITHIN SIXTY MILES OF NASHVILLE). Radnor Lake is my very favorite.
Even if you don't get a chance to see a concert here--which I recommend, highly, even if to see an act you're not super passionate about (the space itself is pure magic)--a tour of the Roman, the Mother Church of Country Music, is well worth your time and money.
1292 locals recommend
Ryman Auditorium
116 5th Ave NEven if you don't get a chance to see a concert here--which I recommend, highly, even if to see an act you're not super passionate about (the space itself is pure magic)--a tour of the Roman, the Mother Church of Country Music, is well worth your time and money.
There's live music to be seen and heard in nearly every nook and cranny of the city, but this place is my favorite--and I think the most authentic. If there's a ticketed show on the night you two want to go, make sure you buy your tickets in advance, if possible.
245 locals recommend
The Station Inn
402 12th Ave SThere's live music to be seen and heard in nearly every nook and cranny of the city, but this place is my favorite--and I think the most authentic. If there's a ticketed show on the night you two want to go, make sure you buy your tickets in advance, if possible.
One of the best--if not the best--of Downtown's honky-tonks.
601 locals recommend
Robert's Western World
416 BroadwayOne of the best--if not the best--of Downtown's honky-tonks.