Nashville April 2023 Refresh

DAY ONE | DAY TWO | DAY THREE | DAY FOUR | Where to Stay

Nashville

Germantown, East Nashville & Music Valley

Don't let the honky-tonks fool you, as rightfully beloved as they are. Music City is quietly going world-class, with the kinds of restaurants, hotels, shops and VIP experiences you'd expect in metropolises many times its size. Between the offerings that have debuted already and those that are coming soon, Nashville's most fabled neighborhoods have a whole new appeal. Here, our guide on what to eat, see and do in each over a long, luxurious weekend or a midweek stay when the crowds are thinner.

Two Nashville restaurants made The New York Times 2022 Restaurant List—the 50 places across America the publication is "most excited about right now." One of them, Audrey, is a highlight of this part of town. Named for chef Sean Brock's maternal grandmother and informed by his Appalachian roots, the restaurant is a celebration of both regional ingredients and the power of possibility in the kitchen, where the extracted essence of a dried snap bean can morph into, say, the perfect demiglace for succotash—and the grits come with sorghum cured egg yolk. Another neighborhood standout is Rolf and Daughters, where Phillip Krajeck became a 2022 James Beard finalist nominee for Best Chef: Southeast for such stunners as his campanelle with lobster mushrooms and Pernod and trout with brown butter, cucamelon and ginger.

A true aficionado's experience, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum immerses you in the untold stories and little-known histories of some of the nation's favorite recordings. Among the mind-blowing memorabilia is a famed studio where both Elvis and Neil Diamond recorded; a Stratocaster that belonged to Jimi Hendrix (along with a Nashville stage he performed on); and various other instruments played by Johnny Cash, Elton John and many more.

Eat

See

You can't come to Nashville without catching a show at the Grand Ole Opry—a night that will go from iconic to epic when you book the VIP Experience. The special touches include but aren't limited to your golf cart escort to the Opry House artist entrance; your pre-show private tour of the Opry backstage area; your access to the Family Room just offstage, where you're immersed in the excitement the Opry before showtime; your access to a backstage dressing room that's stocked with hors d'oeuvres and champagne; your visit to the artists' dressing room, where you'll be welcomed by whomever you're about to see on stage—and your premium lounge access to the circle room for still more hors d'oeuvres and beverages through the end of intermission. Oh, and naturally, there are pro keepsake photos.

Downtown

How to hit the high notes in

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Wedgewood-Houston, Gulch & surrounds

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12South, West Nashville & Green Hills

At the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, you can catch performances by not only the Grammy Award-winning Nashville Symphony, but also visiting Latin, chamber, jazz and genre-bending musicians. The upcoming season includes everything from classical works by Mozart and Brahms to a pop-inspired series that includes Patti LaBelle, the Beach Boys, Boyz II Men and Joss Stone. Then there are the cinematically-inspired series: Black Panther, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Home Alone and Hocus Pocus In Concert (for anyone who's traveling with kids in tow).

See

With its singular mission to preserve and celebrate every musical genre that's been created, influenced or inspired by African-Americans, the recently opened National Museum of African American Music is a must. Exploring 50+ genres and styles—spirituals, blues, jazz, gospel, R&B and hip hop, for starters—the six onsite galleries are packed with commemorative clothing, instruments and other memorabilia, as well as cutting-edge technology to help provide context for what you're seeing.

Eat

Having appeared everywhere from CNN to Condé Nast Traveler, chef Deb Paquette has been a beloved Nashville fixture for decades. At her downtown eatery Etch, she serves up her favorite flavors from around the globe—and the American South is no exception, so don't be surprised to find the likes of fried cornmeal catfish with sweet potato beignet alongside, say, bulgogi pulled pork sandwiches with kimchi and caramel soy aioli or charred broccolini with za’atar spiced chickpea ragout and creamy tahini lemon drizzle. A newer celebrity chef addition to the neighborhood, the stunning Drusie & Darr by Jean-Georges Vongerichten opened in 2021 at The Hermitage Hotel, where the oven-fired pizzas and craft cocktails are legend. Rounding out the Hermitage's Jean-Georges offerings was the 2022 addition of a café called Pink Hermit, where the craft cocktail theme continues, but the locally roasted coffee and house-made baked treats are as much of a draw.

With Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Saint Laurent in the house, The Mall at Green Hills could easily occupy the better part of a fashionista's day—particularly if you factor in some accessorizing at the resident Tiffany & Co. and leisurely, chandelier-lit lunch at the RH Courtyard Restaurant, an extension of Restoration Hardware's Nashville outpost. If it's indie boutique shopping you prefer, head to 12South for the likes of Judith Bright's locally-crafted artisanal jewelry, imogene + willie's Nashville-made denim offerings; and Emerson Grace for a beautifully curated collection of women's clothing and jewelry.

Locust | photo courtesy of Andrew Thomas Lee

See

Considered a classic example of an American Country Place Era estate, Cheekwood Estate & Gardens was built in 1929 as private home and was converted into a museum and botanic garden three decades later. Visit this lush 55-acre spread where you can be at peace in the Blevins Japanese Garden or admire the hues at the Bradford Robertson Color Garden, among other places. Stop to look at a fascinating array of exhibits, from the permanant collection of paintings and sculptures to the current show, The Agrarian Spirit: Cultivating Ruralism and Regionalism in American Art (through May 14). Linger and lounge in the garden during the Under the Stars Concert Series (July 21 - Sept. 8).

Eat

Another notable that made 2022's The New York Times Restaurant List and Food & Wine's Restaurant of the Year is the intimately scaled Locust, where NOMA alum Trevor Moran defies convention and expectations with an ever-shifting menu that—in broad terms—focuses on classical cooking. If pairings are your thing, consider Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery's Chef-Inspired Food & Wine Pairing includes four small plates of seasonal specialties—flat breads, mini steaks and chocolate desserts tend to figure prominently—each paired with a renowned house wine.

An assuming stone building among towering new developments, Station Inn should not be missed. A longstanding icon of the bluegrass, Americana and roots music scene, this stage hosts local and global legends alike, and any given night here is guaranteed to be rousing. For exhilaration of a different kind, catch a Major League Soccer game at the newly opened GEODIS Park, the state-of-the-art home to Nashville SC and the largest soccer-specific stadium in the US.

Smoked beet salad at Dutch | photo courtesy of Noah Fecks

See

At the Frist Art Museum, the widely varied exhibits range from Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature (through Sept. 17) to Storied Strings: The Guitar in American Art (May 26-Aug. 13). Even the elevators currently feature stunning artwork now thanks to the museum's first micro-exhibit, Elise Kendrick: Salon Noir, an homage to the beauty of African American women, their hair and the Black salon experience. If you're in town on the first Saturday of the month, another art experience not to be missed is the WeHo Art Crawl—though you can explore the neighborhood's famed art scene on your own schedule if you happen to miss the organized crawl.

Eat

For elevated new interpretations of beloved classics, head to chef Matt Bolus's celebrated 404 Kitchen, where you'll find the likes of pork belly with farro verde, cashew and garam vinaigrette and catfish bites with black garlic gribiche. For particularly thoughtful drink pairings, check out a spot that prides itself on them— as well as its ever-changing six-course dinners: Bastion, where you're as likely to find Chrysanthemum Tears ginjo with your raw scallop and huckleberry as you are a Höpler Grüner Veltliner with your halibut, apple and urfa. Here is also where you'll find Chef Josh Habiger, Nashville's only finalist for a 2023 James Beard Award.

Where to stay

Between exciting renovations and new arrivals, the luxe lodging scene in Nashville has never looked better. W Hotel: Just over a year old, this hotel became a fast favorite in the Gulch neighborhood—not least, for introducing the area's largest hotel pool as well as the adjacent WET Deck, luxe cabanas and poolside bar. The hotel is also home to two of the above-mentioned must-try restaurants: Carne Mare and The Dutch. Four Seasons: In a part of downtown called SoBro (South of Broadway), this brand new light-filled stunner offers not just haute lodgings, but also bespoke experiences, from a makers-meeting tour of the city to an insider's glimpse at a local songwriter-storytelling session. 1 Hotel:Another downtown newcomer, this hotel previews its ethos through a vibrant, carbon-capturing ivy façade. From the reclaimed wood paneled walls to the Electric Vehicle Experience with the house Audi e-tron, 1 Hotel is very much about sustainable luxury. Editor's Note: Given that the Hyatt, the Joseph and the Hermitage are all also downtown, we worry that the hotel section is getting too downtown-heavy. Are there top priorities among these 3? We could write up only the Joseph given that we call out the Hyatt and Hermitage in the food sections above.

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Nashville Symphony

Audrey

Proof at W Nashville

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Etch

Audrey

Rolf and Daughters

Drusie & Darr

Pink Hermit

Locust | photo courtesy of Andrew Thomas Lee

Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery

Carne Mare

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1 Hotel Nashville

Four Seasons Hotel Nashville

With a number of new arrivals, the luxe lodging scene in Nashville has never looked better. Click through to learn about the properties and start planning your trip today.

Just over a year old, this hotel became a fast favorite in the Gulch neighborhood—not least, for introducing the area's largest hotel pool as well as the adjacent WET Deck, luxe cabanas and poolside bar. The hotel is also home to two must-try restaurants. The first is The Dutch, which—despite the name—is a celebration of elevated American fare, from steaks to burgers to house-made pies. The second is Carne Mare, an Italian chophouse offering prime cuts, fine seafood and Italian specialties.

W Hotel Nashville

In a part of downtown called SoBro (South of Broadway), this brand new light-filled stunner offers not just haute lodgings, but also bespoke experiences, from a makers-meeting tour of the city to an insider's glimpse at a local songwriter-storytelling session.

W Hotel

Four Seasons

A downtown newcomer, this hotel previews its ethos through a vibrant, carbon-capturing ivy façade. From the reclaimed wood paneled walls to the Electric Vehicle Experience with the house Audi e-tron, 1 Hotel is very much about sustainable luxury.

1 Hotel

Conrad Nashville

Conrad Nashville is home to some of the most impressive panoramas in Midtown, whether from the generously proportioned suites or the rooftop pool terrace. A different sort of view that may inspire you: the sight of an amped-up instructor on a Peloton screen or Echelon fitness mirror, both of which you'll find—along with a yoga mat, free weights and aromatherapeutic bath products—in the hotel's five Wellness Rooms.

Conrad

Downtown

Germantown

East Nashville

BNA Airport

The Gulch

DAY ONE | DAY TWO | DAY THREE | DAY FOUR | Where to Stay

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