48 Hours of Delicious Experiences in Nashville

Nashville is a city whose reputation stretches well beyond its borders. Just the mention of its name evokes images of Loretta, Patsy, and Dolly, along with hot fried chicken and southern hospitality. Yet, like all great cities, it offers so much more than its popular associations.

With a wealth of bars and music museums, first-time visitors should definitely dedicate a night or two hopping from one venue to another on Lower Broadway. However, Nashville boasts numerous distinct neighborhoods, diverse dining options, and plenty of outdoor spaces for a breather. While the main strip is lively for a few hours, you won’t want to spend your entire visit at Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk Steakhouse. Here are some recommendations for a weekend—or even a full week.

Immerse Yourself in the Live Music Scene

Music fills the air in Nashville. You’ll likely encounter a band as soon as you land, with countless artists keeping the rhythm alive with an array of covers along the famed Honky Tonk Highway. Yet, the true heart of the city lies just a bit further away. The Listening Room Cafe, a short 10-minute walk, is an excellent venue to catch both emerging singer-songwriters and established musicians performing in a cozy setting. The artists share their stories while seated on stools on stage, and the bar offers food that surpasses typical concert fare—think smoked barbecue platters, shrimp and grits, and other elevated comfort dishes. Don’t miss the Bluebird Cafe, a few miles south of downtown, which is another gem worth visiting.

The city has become a key destination for national tours, hosting major acts in its arenas. As of this writing, upcoming performances include Louis Tomlinson and Arctic Monkeys at the Ascend Amphitheater, Janet Jackson at the Bridgestone Arena, and Billy Joel with Stevie Nicks at the Nissan Stadium. Additionally, events like CMA Fest and Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in nearby Manchester, Tennessee, are just two of the significant annual festivals held here.

How to Visit

For the latest information on who’s performing at any of Nashville's 180+ live music venues, download the Nashville Live Music Guide app and check the Visit Music City events page for seasonal events. If you have a Songkick account, be sure to add Nashville to it before your trip.

Tickets for shows at The Listening Room can be purchased online. Your ticket doubles as a dinner reservation, with a minimum spend of $15 on food and drinks required. The café is located at 618 Fourth Avenue South.

Explore Nashville’s Musical Legacy

Nashville boasts a variety of music museums that celebrate its cultural history, including dedicated spaces for Patsy Cline, Glen Campbell, and Johnny Cash. Country and bluegrass dominate the scene, so a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a must. Currently, the museum is featuring a special exhibition titled Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock, which runs until May 2025, honoring legends like the Byrds and the Eagles.

The Ryman Auditorium, located in the city center, is an iconic venue with a rich history, famously known for hosting the Grand Ole Opry radio show for many years. Legends such as Elvis, Johnny Cash, and B.B. King have performed here, and live shows continue today with artists like Smokey Robinson. The Grand Ole Opry is now recorded just a short taxi ride away at the Opry House, offering two hours of music and stories from at least six performers, and is broadcast on various radio stations.

Nashville’s latest gem is the National Museum of African American Music, which opened in 2021 directly across from the Ryman. I spent hours here in winter 2022, captivated by headphones linked to numerous screens showcasing Black artists and their influence on each other. The museum is filled with exhibits, interactive displays, and engaging booths that let you mix your own tracks and participate in a gospel choir; it highlights the vibrant legacy of African American music, from sharecropper blues to contemporary hip-hop.

How to Experience Nashville

The National Museum of African American Music operates from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday (noon on Sundays), with an admission fee of $25 for adults. The Country Music Hall of Fame is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., charging $28 for adults. The Opry show kicks off at 7 p.m. sharp, with tickets starting at around $40.

Discover Nashville’s Unique Neighborhoods

While Downtown and Lower Broadway feature many major attractions, Nashville is home to a variety of vibrant neighborhoods near the city center. Head south to explore SoBro (south of Broadway) and the Gulch; the former hosts Jack White’s Third Man Records and Goo Goo Chocolate Co. for vinyl records and sweet treats, respectively. The Gulch offers a captivating blend of upscale hotels, chic boutiques, and some classic Nashville eateries. A short drive south from downtown, 12South presents a charming stretch filled with vintage shops and delightful restaurants, alongside quiet residential streets. Spend an hour or two here discovering local artisans' creations and appreciating the street art. Don’t miss out on delicious desserts; try to sync your visit with the Tennessee Cobbler Co. truck's operating hours.

How to Experience Nashville

Explore Delicious Local Cuisine

In Nashville, it’s a must to indulge in hot chicken and barbecue before you leave. Visit Party Fowl for a playful atmosphere, but stay for the chicken, which ranges from “southern fried” (no spice) to “poultrygeist” (a fiery challenge). The latter features a blend of cayenne, habañero, ghost, scorpion, and Carolina peppers. Pair it with gravy, collard greens to balance the heat, and bourbon-glazed beignets. For barbecue, Edley’s is a favorite, boasting five locations across the city, including one in 12South. Whether it's hot links, burnt ends, ribs, or wings, you can’t go wrong. Don’t miss their sweet and tangy beans.

Nashville is always adding new dining options; even Eater notes it’s tough to keep track (though their list is a solid starting point). Exciting new spots include Spanish eatery Lola, South Asian American restaurant Tailor in Germantown, and Carne Mare at the W Hotel in the Gulch. In February, the month-long Dine Nashville: The Music City Way event showcases the city's culinary scene with chef collaborations, special offers, and many participating restaurants. A portion of the proceeds benefits The Giving Kitchen, which supports food service workers.

How to Experience Nashville

All the mentioned venues have websites with their hours and menus. If you’re looking for a food-themed event, check out the Music City Hot Chicken Festival in July or other food festivals happening throughout the year.

Experience the Beautiful Tennessee Outdoors

You don't need to hop on one of those beer bikes for exercise or fresh air in Nashville (though they are popular); the city's bikeshare program makes exploring on two wheels easy. Enjoy expansive parks like the 132-acre Centennial Park, home to a replica of the Parthenon, and Cumberland Park, which features splash pads during summer. There are plenty more parks to discover. In spring 2023, Nashville Zoo will unveil a new Komodo Dragon habitat, set to be the largest in the Americas, housing two adults, three females, and several younger dragons. Family adventures abound nearby, including ziplines and rope bridges at The Adventure Park at Nashville, Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage (and its gardens), and the expansive caves of Cumberland Caverns.

Visiting Information

The full name is Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, and it operates daily except on major holidays. From October to March, hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., extending to 6 p.m. for the rest of the year. Adult ticket prices range from $16 to $24 based on the day. The Adventure Park at Nashville opens each March; adult general admission is $57 at the gate and $52 if purchased in advance. Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to Tuesday, with mansion tours priced at $26. Cumberland Caverns features 26 miles of passageways with varying experiences from “easy” to “extreme,” including an overnight option, with prices that differ based on the tour selected.

Book a Stay at a New Hotel

Four Seasons Nashville

The Nashville skyline has been bustling with cranes and the rise of new skyscrapers, as several hotels are currently under construction. The newest among them is the Four Seasons Nashville, which welcomed guests in November 2022, featuring 235 rooms and suites, a pool deck, and Mimo, a restaurant that beautifully blends southern Italian cuisine with southern hospitality, located right in the vibrant SoBro neighborhood.

Conrad Nashville

During my recent visit to Nashville, I stayed at the newly opened Conrad Nashville, located a 15-minute stroll from Music Row and downtown's core. The design pays homage to the city's musical roots, featuring an elegant spiral staircase and brass balustrade reminiscent of piano curves, complemented by warm accents of mahogany, leather, and bronze, with walls adorned by local art—a project by Champalimaud Design, known for their work at Raffles in Singapore.

The rooms provide a cozy, no-fuss experience with Frette linens and Byredo amenities, and some even include a Peloton or Echelon Fitness Mirror. The Blue Aster restaurant specializes in steaks and seafood, while the cocktails at Thistle & Rye on the third floor are a must-try, even for non-guests. Each cocktail is organized by era—like the Golden Age and Post-War Tiki—and features a special presentation, often smoked with a live flame or served from a glass water pipe.

Additional options in the city include the boutique Holston House, housed in the former 1920s James Robertson hotel, the only art deco hotel in Nashville. The historic Hermitage Hotel, a National Historic Landmark over 110 years old, was fully renovated in 2022 and now features two restaurants by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten: the seasonal new-American Drusie & Darr and the casual café, the Pink Hermit. A Ritz-Carlton is also slated to open by 2025.