Nashville is an amazing place to visit, whether you are going for an overnight trip or a week-long stay. We have spent plenty of time up and down Broadway – and don’t get us wrong, it is a blast!!! … but there is so much more to Nashville. We spent some time exploring some off-the beaten path things to do. See some of our favorites below, and as always, reach out for any other recommendations!
Sixty Vines
Okay we know this one is basically on Broadway, but it still feels like a hidden gem and it was one of our favorite spots in Nash. Sixty Vines is an amazing wine and food experience on the top floor of Fifth and B food hall. They have a wide selection of wines – 60 on tap, and you can choose wine flights, by the glass, or carafe. The space has an amazing ambiance – floor to ceiling windows giving a ton of natural light, is strung with string lights, and is decorated everywhere with plants. Walk outside to the rooftop bar and seating overlooking Ryman Auditorium. It’s magical. The food is AMAZING. We had the Braised Pork Pappardelle and Atlantic Salmon – I still dream about that meal and cannot wait to get back. We highly recommend whether you are in town for a bachelorette party or having date night!
Pinewood Social
Finding cool placed to work remote can be challenging, but Pinewood Social was a breath of fresh air. It is a restaurant, social hall, coffee shop, bowling alley, cocktail bar – all combined into one fabulous place to hang out. We grabbed a booth on a weekday morning, ordered coffees & brunch and got to work. An hour or two later, we causally sipped on some brunch cocktails while playing games. In warmer season, they have a pool, lounge chairs, and outdoor bar on their patio. There is literally no bad time to show up at Pinewood Social, just be prepared to stay the whole day.
The Parthenon
As we ate and drank our way though Nashville, we decided we needed a break and found ourselves strolling through Centennial Park. On the north-west side of the park sits The Parthenon – a full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Inside is a 42-foot statue of Athena, just as it was in Ancient Greece. The building is so beautiful to walk around and explore, hosts different art exhibits throughout the year, and can even be rented for weddings and parties. We hung out on the steps overlooking the rest of Centennial Park – it was a gorgeous way to spend the afternoon
Graduate Nashville
What a cool, luxe, and funky place to stop. Graduate Nashville is a fun hotel in midtown that’s worth the trip, even if you are not staying there. When you first walk in, you experience the lobby – adorned in shades of pink, fun accents, and other high-spirited décor. Poindexter Coffee sits in the lobby – they make a great latte and have a gorgeous seating area to sip and relax. On the rooftop, White Limozeen is the place to see and be seen. It’s a rooftop bar, restaurant, and pool – also decked out in bright colors. Lastly, Cross-eyed Critters is a karaoke bar with an animatronic band as backup – think Chuck E Cheese… but for adults, way cooler, and really not like Chuck E Cheese at all.
Whiskey Jam
Whiskey Jam is hands down our favorite thing to do when visiting Nash. The hard part is you have to time it jussssst right. Whiskey Jam is usually held weekly on Mondays and Thursdays at Winners Bar, so plan to be there then. What is Whiskey Jam, you ask? Whiskey Jam is a live music event that showcases up and coming talent. Each artist plays about 3 original songs, and they use the audience to gauge feedback. Some fun stats – 300+ #1 songs have been written or performed by Whiskey Jam artists, and some notable Whiskey Jam guests include Brett Eldredge, The Fray, Kip Moore, One Republic, & more. Each time we have attended the music has been so good, we’ve gotten free shots of whiskey, and we had the best night. This event is very rarely on out-of-towners list of things to do, but we are telling you… it should be on yours.
5th & Taylor
Our best friends had told us that 5th and Taylor is a must visit, and they were not wrong. We made reservations for a Saturday night dinner, and really let our amazing waitress guide us through ordering. She suggested the Duck Wings – apparently, they sell out regularly – and we also split a salad to start. For entrees, we the Halibut dish and a Filet , which came with the best mashed potatoes we have ever had. Everything was amazing from start to finish, including the cocktails!
Stroll Around The Gulch
The Gulch is well known for its mural artwork. I am sure you have seen photos of the #whatliftsyou, candy hearts, #acousticskyline, I believe in Nashville, and Jason Woodside murals. They are beautiful and they are everywhere on social. Walking around The Gulch to check out the artwork is a pretty great way to spend the afternoon. The Gulch is also home to some amazing food spots – Peg Leg Porker, Biscuit Love, and Arnold’s Country Kitchen to name a few. Round out the day with a stop at LA Jackson – an awesome rooftop bar at the top of the Thompson Hotel.
Live Music in Music Row / Demonbreun Street
Music Row is home to many record label offices and recording studios. It is usually confused with Broadway, but they are not the same… We wanted some local, authentic, live music while visiting Nash, and our waitress from Sixty Vines let us in on her secret – Demonbreun Street. She was a local artist and told us that the locals all go to the bars here to hang out and here good music– its super casual, there are no bachelorette parties, flashy outfits or flashy drinks – just good beer and good music. We grabbed two barstools at Live Oak and settled in to hear some really great music. The bar was not crowded, but it was high energy, and the talent was amazing. Most of the songs were original, and James even recognized one of the artists that was playing. Some other bars to check out on the strip that we liked – Tailgate Brewery, DawgHouse Saloon, & Tin Roof.
We hope you enjoy your time away and outside in Nashville TN!!
