How to Spend a Stellar Weekend in Downtown Nashville
If there’s ever a reason to leave the countryside, it’s for good music and good food, and that’s just what a weekend in the Music City itself will give you.
There’s plenty to do all over Nashville—from live music at the Grand Ole Opry or Bluebird Café, to visiting Radnor Lake State Park or the Parthenon in Centennial Park, to checking out neighborhoods and shopping areas like 12South or East Nashville—but you can also explore many of Nashville’s best spots downtown without getting in a car, from honky tonks to great restaurants to more music museums than you can fit into a couple of days.
And in our book, a weekend exploring on foot is sure a nice change up from driving and parking (and an extra convenient one if you are flying in), so that’s just what we recommend for a downtown Nashville itinerary. Below are our suggestions for creating your own, whether it's for CMA Fest June 5-8, 2025, or any dates you choose. Don’t forget to pack your cowboy boots!
Where to Stay
Make your home base for your trip a hotel that's close to everywhere you'll want to walk but also just far enough from the hustle and bustle from it that it's nice and quiet. The historic The Noelle hotel fills that bill perfectly.
Its rooms are cozy with dark walls and a luxe bathroom and bed, but we felt most at home in the Trade Room on the main floor (pictured above), with its living room-like seating areas amid large arched windows, original Tennessee marble on the floors and walls, detailed Art Deco-style brass railings, and a bar too boot. It's just steps from Drug Store Coffee, a name that's an homage to its past life as a drug store, and you're a quick elevator ride away from the Rare Bird, a rooftop bar with tropical-flavored cocktails and views over the Cumberland River. On the lower level you can try a speakeasy, Hidden Bar, that takes on a different theme each Halloween and holiday season and a modern take on Mexican cuisine at Lona restaurant by Chef Richard Sandoval.
Extra perks: On each floor of The Noelle you'll find pieces of art the hotel commissioned of notable Nashvillians created by local artists along with a water station with both still and sparkling water to fill up water bottles in each hotel room.
Where to Eat
Start your day off with a quick breakfast in the hotel's coffee shop, and come midday, grab a Nashville favorite for lunch. If you're up for some spice, try the hot chicken at Hattie B’s Hot Chicken right near Broadway or Prince’s Hot Chicken right on Broadway, or Martin’s Bar-B-Que on 4thAvenue South is known for its Western Tennessee-style whole hog barbecue (and its spare ribs too!), with a beer garden with a live music stage too.
For dinner one night, take a longer walk (or Uber) to the quaint Germantown neighborhood to feast on Pelato's rich but elevated assortment of small plates in a lively atmosphere with big city vibes. The Fresh House Made Mozzarella, Burnt Broccolini, Creamy Polenta & Bolognese Sauce, and any of the house-made pasta dishes an are must-orders, and their take on doughnuts, San Gennaro Zeppoles served in a traditional bag, complete any meal with a decadent bang.
For a second night out, make a reservation at Chauhan Ale and Masala House not far off Broadway for Indian-American fusion cuisine by Chef Maneet Chauhan. The waiter will guide any first timers through what to order, but for a chef-selected assortment try the Tournament of Champions Tiffin. The night we tried it the spice of the goan curry on the scallops and flavor of the short ribs were the stars of the meal, all served with naan and a yogurt-based sauced to balance the heat.
What to Do by Day
It's easy to fill a day exploring the area around Broadway with all its music museums and more, so do some research ahead of time to figure out which ones top your list.
At the top of our list was touring The Ryman Auditorium, the "mother church" of country music, especially if you aren't planning to catch a show there on your trip. The 1892 building is open for self-guided or guided tours every day that will give you a glimpse at its storied history that has welcomed everyone from Elvis to Johnny Cash to today's top music talent.
If you have any interest in print design, taking a tour of iconic letterpress shop Hatch Show Print, located inside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, will engage you with the convergence of poster design history and Nashville music history. You will also get to watch their printing presses in action, and with or without the tour, you can peruse their gift shop.
Depending on what part of country music you connect with the most, you might also look into touring the National Museum of African American Music, Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum, The Johnny Cash Museum, and The Patsy Cline Museum.
Aside from the sites themselves, just walking around downtown Nashville is an experience of its own. Be sure to trek across the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, which offers great views of the river and back over to the heart of downtown Nashville, and to explore part of the 11-acre Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, including a giant 200-foot granite map of Tennessee and a World War II Memorial. It's also adjacent to the Nashville Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings!
What to Do by Night
No trip to downtown Nashville is complete without a walk down honky tonk highway on Lower Broadway with iconic spots like Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and The Second Fiddle. You’ll hear a live band in every bar you pass—and you can catch plenty of music from the street to help you decide where to stop in. You can also get your cowboy hat and boot shopping in on the street even after dark.
You’ll find even more live music off-Broadway at a smaller set of bars on Printer’s Alley on the same block as The Noelle, making it a perfect area to end a very Nashville night out.
You Might Also Like
