Nashville, Tennessee
About
Ronnie and I are big music fans. We mainly bond over live music, live comedy, and never having lost the art of f*cking around. It’s what makes us work. We’ve been to Nashville a few times together, but I never made it a point to write up an article about it. That was until recently when I was trying to figure out how to recreate the best biscuit I’ve ever had in my life, which, was served to me hot and ready in Nashville, Tennessee.
From Chicago, it’s best to fly, but years ago when I was a young wart hog, was broke, and ran marathons and stuff, I took a greyhound bus there from Chicago with a friend. Hehehe, that was a trip!
Broadway (the main road downtown Nash) is where all the action is for tourists, like me, who are headed to Nashville for live music. And I am a tourist every time I go to Nashville, so this is a very touristy tour of my favorite spots. If you’re looking for something less touristy, don’t read this post.
Where to Eat
Brunch — Go to bed late, wake up late. Skip “coffee” or smoothies in Nashville and just succumb to brunching. Sit at the bar at the Marsh House inside the Thompson Hotel and order the Biscuits and Gravy, this is the best biscuit I’ve ever had in my entire life. I only wish I took a picture. Note: Milk & Honey always has a huge line, but if you can get in, I hear the food is good. Drugstore Coffee is so effing cute, and next door to the Bobby Hotel if you decide to stay there. Crema coffee if you’re in the Gulch. If you want to try and make biscuits that are almost as good at home, here’s a recipe.
Dinner — Dinner at Camp Bobby, the roof at the Bobby Hotel will not disappoint, Great views, and a cool old tour bus is literally parked on the roof.
Drinks — Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa is my favorite place in all of Nashville, I had one of the best nights of my life there. I hear that Miranda’s team prioritizes female artists on each of their stages, so you see hella incredible vocal talent and dancing when you go here at night. I mean, go during the day too though, you can’t go wrong. Be extra touristy and get one of their pink drinks for you and everyone in your party. Skull’s Rainbow Room has great cocktails and a really cool, small, jazzy-vibe.
Late Night food — Daddy’s Dogs in Printer’s Alley or
Where to Stay
The Bobby — Right in the action, steps from the Skull Room, which was hands down one of my favorite bars to hang out in. There’s a cute coffee shop in the lobby which is nice. The rooftop bar / restaurant is cool too. The rooms remind me of Virgin Hotels… they’re fun.
The Thompson — In the Gulch, great shopping nearby, including the custom hat place I reference below. Ronnie and I got married at the Thompson in Playa Del Carmen, and I’ve personally stayed at almost every single one of their properties. Guaranteed great vibes, excellent service, comfortable beds, stunning bathrooms, and most importantly a lobby that smells so good you’re going to want to bring home the scent in a bottle.
The Marriott — Technically, it’s on Broadway, but it’s not in the middle of the action, so you can actually get some sleep, last time we stayed here we thought the lobby was really nice (live music, duh!), the restaurant had really good food, and there was a cute rooftop bar and pool too.
Where I like to Play
Party Bus — If you’re in town for a Bachelorette Party or a Birthday or whatever they have some really fun party bus options.
Shop — Get a custom cowgirl hat made in the Gulch at Rustler. You can even do like Hat-Making parties here and get tipsy with your best friends while customizing the sh*t out of a cowgirl hat.
Dance — Miranda Lambert’s is by far my favorite bar on Broadway, the team there brings in some really incredible female acts and they have an indoor/outdoor rooftop that lets you choose your adventure — be basically front row at an insanely awesome concert, or chill outside while casually listening to live music.
I mean… really the move is to just get yourself to Broadway and walk around, people watch, and go in and out of every bar you want to try until you find the music and vibes you’re looking for. You will find them.
