Things to Do in Nashville, TN

Nashville has everything you need for a fun vacation and more! There is fantastic food, shopping, music, and our hotel had the most relaxing rooftop pool. It’s a medium-sized city that offers so much! It should honestly be on everyone’s MUST-VISIT list. We visited Nashville in May 2022 and had a blast! I already can’t wait to plan my next visit.

Here are my recommendations!

Food

Nashville is so much more than their famous Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich made famous by Hattie B’s. So many restaurants offer a delectable culinary experience for a very reasonable price tag. Before traveling, I went ahead and made reservations, all based on a quick Google search, and we were not disappointed!

Pro Tip: Make at least 1 daily reservation for the duration of your stay in Nashville to avoid the very long wait times & becoming HANGRY (lols)

The Hampton Social Nashville

For our first night, we had late reservations at The Hampton Social rooftop. We shared small plates of truffle Parmesan fries, fried calamari, lobster, and brie dip, and their fabulous Caesar salad (this is coming from someone that doesn’t like salads very much.) Unfortunately I do not have any food pictures because we gobbled it down! The atmosphere of The Hampton Social is definitely different than the rest of Nashville. It honestly felt more like I was in Miami or a New York City rooftop and not Tennessee. But I am not complaining in the slightest! This restaurant/bar is absolutely INSTAGRAM-WORTHY from the moment you walk in. Unlike the rest of Broadway, this spot had a DJ and was more of a club atmosphere. It’s a place you can dance the night away to the latest tunes, all while enjoying some Frosé.

Merchants- Broadway

Feel like going back in time and enjoying some delicious food? Look no further than Merchants on Broadway. Established in 1892, the beautiful architecture of the building, along with the traditional black and white flooring will take you back in time and it’s nestled right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Broadway. We had early reservations here (the only thing available) so we ate light but it was delicious nonetheless. Fun Fact: The first floor and the second floor of Merchants have different menus! So make sure to reserve the one you want online OR make two reservations on different days and enjoy both menus!

We started our meal with their famous Duck Fat Tator Tots and Dry-rubbed Wings. HOLY COW! They may be the best wings I’ve ever eaten in my life. They were perfectly fried, tender, fall-off-the-bone wings. If these were located in Raleigh, NC, I’d be in serious trouble.

Adele’s Nashville

Of all the restaurants we visited, Adele’s was an authentic culinary experience. The open kitchen design and free-flowing establishment make you feel you take part in the cooking as well as nature. We started off our evening with freshly baked Foccacia bread and marinated olives and some of their delicious meatballs in polenta. BEST MEATBALL I’VE EVER HAD! It was sooooo delicious! We each tried a different entree in order to get a good taste of the menu. I had the pork loin in polenta, my husband had the salmon and my sister had the roasted chicken with salsa verde. I felt like a judge on a cooking show that got to eat the winning chef’s creations. It was absolutely phenomenal. We finished the evening with their famous sourdough bread pudding which topped off an overall amazing dining experience. I recommend this place if you are able to go out of your comfort zone with food and trust they know what they are pairing together. This is not your establishment if you enjoy large plates of bland food. They serve perfectly portioned scrumptious, one-bit flavor explosion meals. Trust me… you want to make reservations here!

Time for Shopping Recommendations

We shopped till we dropped! There is something about visiting Nashville that makes you feel compelled to purchase yet another pair of cowboy boots. There are so many places to buy boots, and many of them are $500+ (yikes!) It was so refreshing when we found Tecovas at Fifth and Broadway. They have boots for a more affordable price tag. We all got a pair and have since used them back at home!

Another great shop at Fifth and Broadway is The Nash Collection. They have super cute Nashville-printed tees, hats and more. The styles are more trendy and less souvenir/tacky looking. I snagged a matching mommy and baby tee!

Another popular shopping area is The Gulch. A short ride from our hotel, the gulch offered a more upscale shopping experience. It houses lots of shops including the very popular Kittenish boutique and Uncommon James, as well as places like Urban Outfitters and Lululemon. There are many other shops and restaurants nestled in there. It’s worth a few hours to roam, shop, and enjoy.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the Cambria Downtown Nashville. I highly recommend this hotel and it’s my second time staying there. It’s located a 5 minute walk from the party on Broadway but still far away enough to enjoy some quiet time. This hotel has a beautiful rooftop pool that we enjoyed while cooling off after a long day. They also host their own performers in the bar so you can enjoy the evening right inside your hotel and get the true Nashville experience! This is the only place I will say when visiting Nashville. The staff and my overall experience have been amazing every time!

Final Tips When Visiting Nashville

1. Bring Cash! This is a tipping city so bring lots of cash. When you go out on Broadway, you can tip the performers and they will sing whatever song you want. You want to make sure you are supporting the local live music as well.
2. Make reservations before your trip. Nashville is constantly busy. Be sure to have at least one lunch or dinner reservation a day to ensure you have somewhere to eat.
3. Bring a variety of shoes! You do lots of walking and those boots weren’t always made for walking. Those blisters don’t lie. On Broadway, you’ll see people in all different types of outfits so don’t worry about not being dressed country enough. One day I wore boots, the next I wore sneakers.
4. Beat the crowds, stay mid-week in Nashville. We stayed Sunday through Wednesday and it was still full but definitely less crowded than when I stayed Thursday through Sunday. Nashville parties all day, every day so you will not miss a beat by booking your stay in the middle of the week versus the weekend. Instead, you’ll have more space to boogie on the dance floor!

I hope you enjoyed my post about my visit to Nashville. If you have any questions or places you recommend I visit next time, please let a comment below!

XO,

Desiree