Nashville Getaway Guide 2025
L.A. Jackson at Thompson Nashville
In the words of country singer George Straight, if you’re looking for a good time—even it’s not for a long time—you’ll find that in Nashville, the songwriting capital of the world.
Known at “Music City”, Nashville offers visitors a vibrant nightlife, amazing museums, chef-driven dining and a continuous lineup of live shows providing an unforgettable getaway. If you do it right, every minute in Nashville promises to be a harmonious blend of music, Southern cuisine, and down-home charm.
Nashville has a laid-back attitude that has attracted celebrities of all sorts. Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Reese Witherspoon, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, and Kristen Cavallari all call Nashville home, so keep your eyes open – you never know who you might run into!
I stayed in a King Corner Room at Thompson Nashville. What a view! (Credit Thompson Nashville)
WHERE TO STAY
Downtown Nashville is the energetic heartbeat of the city and it’s where you’ll spend most of your time listening to live music, shopping, and dining. Just a 10-minute walk away, you’ll find The Gulch, a trendy neighborhood that provides an atmosphere that’s a bit quieter and relaxed so you can unwind at the end of a rowdy day. Conveniently located on the southwest border of Nashville’s Central Business District just two blocks from Music City Center, the vibrant urban development and redevelopment is home to the very best in urban living, office, retail, restaurant, entertainment venues and hospitality.
It is in The Gulch that you will find the 12-story Thompson Nashville offering travelers and locals alike a luxury boutique hotel experience that begins the minute you walk in the doors. As you enter the lobby, you’ll encounter a stunning inlay of a wooden compass rose, created by local craftsman Patrick Hayes of the 1767 creative collective, comprised of locally salvaged materials that includes a brass detailing of the hotel’s global coordinates. The lobby is filled with custom-designed light fixtures and furniture and embodies a vintage charm with a uniquely modern, creative slant.
Inspired by the locale, this luxury hotel melds classic country soul with urban sophistication allowing you to take in the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows in each of the hotel’s 224 guest rooms and suites, where sliding barn doors, chic mid-century-inspired furnishings and rainfall showers ensure your stay is everything you need it to be. Rooms offer luxury 400-thread count Sferra linens, hardwood floors, a refreshing rainfall shower, D.S. & Durga bath toiletries, plush robes, a Nespresso coffee maker, and more.
WHAT TO EAT
Located on the 12th floor of the Thompson Nashville you’ll find L.A. Jackson, an indoor-outdoor rooftop bar and restaurant offering incredible views of downtown Nashville’s skyline, as well as a daily full- service dinner; a curated beer and cocktail list; a late-night menu of small plates and shareable snacks; and weekend brunch.
From slow-smoked BBQ, and delicious Southern foods ranging from pimento cheese bites, to fried chicken, to fruit cobblers, you’ll find all your country favorites at Puckett’s. Located at 500 Church St. in Downtown Nashville, the restaurant serves as a sought-after destination for live music, down-home cookin’ and the quintessential Southern experience. Puckett's has been named one of Tennessee’s Top 5 Local Restaurants in Southern Living’s The South’s Best Awards and one of the 10 Best Barbecue Restaurants in the U.S. in TravelAwaits Best Of Travel Awards.
Located in East Nashville at 800 Meridian St, Turkey and the Wolf Icehouse is the second location of Turkey and the Wolf for chef Mason Hereford. The first, located in New Orleans, had Bon Appetit naming it Best New Restaurant for 2017 – for a sandwich! If that doesn’t tell you a place is worth the drive, I don’t know what will. There is a small indoor space for dining, but the majority of the seating is outdoors, making this a great place to visit on a pretty day. This is a restaurant that doesn’t take itself too seriously. You may be handed a tiger or an elephant on a stick instead of a number to mark your table. Your cocktail may arrive in a Star Wars tumbler, and your sandwich on a collectible McDonald's plate from the 80’s. And while its charm is infectious, it’s the food that will have you swooning. Start with the Wedge Salad, which comes absolutely smothered with garlicky everything bagel seasoning, blue cheese dressing, fresh dill and crunchy bits of bacon over perfectly chilled iceberg lettuce. My personal favorite is the Fried Bologna sandwich served on slabs of buttery toasted white bread. It's texturally fantastic with its shredded iceberg lettuce, crisp house-made potato chips and fried bologna, and the sweet-hot mustard will have your taste buds dancing.
Located on the ground floor of the Thompson Nashville hotel, Marsh House serves responsibly sourced and sustainable seafood, alongside inventive Southern-infused cuisine. The menu highlights the best elements of each season, with a raw bar never disappoints, and the restaurant features an extensive curated wine list with over 200 labels. Conde Nash Traveler said of Marsh House, “(It’s) where the famous and the fancy come to use brunch as a verb. Worth the splurge, the crowd is refined, the drinks are well edited, the food is Southern and tasty, and the service is unparalleled.” Marsh House serves brunch seven days a week and offers bottomless champagne brunch on the weekend. The weekday happy hour includes options like oyster specials, select drinks and small bites.
Classic Country music is what you’ll find at Robert’s Western World (Credit Robert’s Western World Facebook)
WHAT TO DO
Nashville is known as “Music City” due to its long and rich history intertwined with music, particularly country music, and its status as a major hub for the music industry. This nickname stems from various factors, including early music traditions, the rise of the Grand Ole Opry, and the city's continued role as a center for music publishing, recording, and performance. From the minute a bar or restaurant opens its doors, till the time they close - you’ll be hard-pressed to find a bar or restaurant in the city not offering live music in some form. When you are ready for a cold beer and some boot scootin’ music, head to Broadway Street. This is where ALL of the best live music can be found.
If you want an old-school, classic Country vibe, head to Robert’s Western World at 416 Broadway, the undisputed home of traditional country music. Not only do they specialize in classic Country sounds, the place looks like it hasn’t been touched since the 70’s. With its wood paneled walls and Formica bar, it's a vibe. Nashville Scene readers have consistently voted Robert’s as the Best Honky Tonk in Nashville. The music was so good and the vibe was so fun that we ended up spending an entire afternoon bellied up to the bar belting out one classic song after another along with the band.
Tootsies World Famous Orchid Lounge at 422 Broadway has been a hub for many Country Music legends such as Faron Young, Patsy Cline, Kris Kristofferson, and Loretta Lynn. The honky tonk is packed every night of the week with live bands playing on the first, second, and the recently added third floor patio.
On the flip side, there’s a new slew of bars that are spacious, flashier, and celebrity-owned to experience. Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Jellyroll, and even Kid Rock and Bon Jovi all have namesake bars in Downtown either on, or right off, Broadway. The most popular of this new genre is Ole Red at 300 Broadway. Inspired by Opry member Blake Shelton’s No. 1 hit, “Ol’ Red,” this concept is always looking to have a little fun with food, drink and music that raises the bar on Broadway. Weekend brunch is served in The Lookout rooftop from 10 am to 2 pm, Saturday and Sunday.
You can’t leave town without a stop to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Located in Downtown at 222 Rep. John Lewis Way S, its massive collection of memorabilia, including instruments, costumes, handwritten lyrics, and even Elvis’ gold Cadillac, showcases the different eras, artists, and movements within country music. Interactive displays allow you to listen to old recordings, watch performances, and even try your hand at songwriting. Other attractions include the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium.
If you're heading to the Tennessee capital for a celebration or a getaway, Nashville is an amazing city to create memories you'll want to hold onto long after the last drop of sweet tea is savored.