Nashville, with its year-round calendar of marquee events and booming music scene, shines brightly this week with the 58th annual Country Music Association Awards. The city's skyline is a testament to its growth, with tower cranes dotting the downtown sky. Since 2012, the TV series Nashville sparked a renaissance, and the Tennessee capital's continuous growth, with approximately 66 people moving here daily in 2023, reflects the evolution of music as an economic driver.

Discover Nashville's Cultural Tapestry

Music and Entertainment

Nashville's music scene is truly ubiquitous. As soon as you step off the plane at Nashville International Airport, you're greeted by the sound of live music. The revival of the Honky Tonk Highway has seen some of the biggest names in country music lend their names to branded multi-story clubs and restaurants on Lower Broadway. Luke Combs recently joined the lineup, Jon Bon Jovi opened JBJ's, and Garth Brooks's Friends in Low Places honky-tonk kicked off. Old school spots like Robert's Western World and Tootsie's Orchid Lounge still cater to locals and tourists alike.Intimate venues such as the bluegrass-centric Station Inn, the multifunctional Eastside Bowl, the Blue Room at Jack White's Third Man Records, and the legendary Bluebird Cafe are where emerging acts are discovered. A live show at the Ryman Auditorium, the Mother Church of Country Music since 1892, is a must-do. The post-1974 home of the Grand Ole Opry fully merits the trip, with the likelihood of surprise appearances.The Country Music Hall of Fame's many galleries offer an encyclopedic experience, with the outstanding "Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock" installation through May 2025 exploring the Nashville-Southern California connection. The National Museum of African American Music deftly balances interactive multimedia exhibitions with physical memorabilia, celebrating the influence of Black musicians on American country music.

Dining and Drinks

Adventurous diners in Nashville face a plethora of choices. At Henrietta Red in Germantown, the raw bar and chef Julia Sullivan's menu offer a down-home yet elevated atmosphere. Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Keith Urban, and Nicole Kidman have all met here, as well as Kacey Musgraves, Jon Hamm, Laura Dern, and Brandi Carlisle.Pinewood combines vintage bowling lanes with a seamless food and beverage program that transitions from a morning coffee bar to nighttime cocktails. Arnold's Country Kitchen, a beloved James Beard Foundation-recognized meat-and-three, is back in action. Silver Sands Cafe is a classic that has been going strong for over 70 years under Sophia Vaughn's dedication.At the Butter Milk Ranch in 12 South, diners face intense savory vs. sweet dilemmas. It's best to order both, pairing hearty fare with Alyssa Gangeri's unforgettable biscuits and expertly laminated croissants.In East Nashville, Bad Idea is a shining example of architectural adaptive reuse and culinary inventiveness. Local firm Design Object transformed a former church sanctuary into a dramatic yet comfortable setting for Lao-inspired cooking that integrates Tennessean heritage and ingredients.Kisser in the Highland Yards development is where James Beard Award-winning chefs Leina Horii and Brian Lea share their spin on Japanese comfort foods at lunch only. The Frankies complex in East Nashville is the restaurant group's first presence outside Brooklyn, with Frankies 925 Sputino, a casual Pizzeria, and a Bottega marketplace.Visitors line up for the iconic Prince's Hot Chicken and Hattie B's, both with multiple locations. For barbecue lovers, Peg Leg Porker and sister restaurant Bringle's Smoking Oasis, and Martin's are hard to beat.

Accommodation

The Hermitage has been a Nashville hotel landmark since 1910. Its vaulted subterranean restaurant, Drusie & Darr, is helmed by Jean-Georges Vongerichten. The Art Deco-style men's room remains an intact landmark.The Joseph appears to be a downtown flashy hotel tower from the outside, but inside, it tells a more nuanced story with over 1,100 pieces of artwork. Carpets evoke Florentine marbling, drawer pulls are inspired by stereo equipment knobs, and embroidered throw pillows pay homage to the owners' Italian roots. The Four Walls speakeasy takes Nashville decor inspiration to new levels.The Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences offers quiet luxury and top-tier service. Instrument loans and Gibson Garage tours can be arranged, and performances by Nashville's leading songwriters bring the hotel to life. The sleek lounge and restaurant Mimo is perfect for a cocktail break or a modern Italian feast.In the Wedgewood Houston neighborhood, Soho House Nashville is a buzzing hub with an expansive pool, landscaped outdoor areas, a cozy theater, and a natural light-filled gym. The Malin nearby offers stylish co-working space.East Nashville boasts more novel lodging options. The Dive Motel and Swim Club and Urban Cowboy Nashville offer a groovy and rustic experience. The Drift brings its quiet, earthy aesthetic to a mid-1960s building. Southall Farm & Inn, just over a half-hour away, provides an eco-luxe immersion with its 325 acres and local art.

Things to Do

In a dispersed auto-dependent city, 12 South is a pedestrian-friendly zone. Witherspoon's Draper James flagship is near where Holly Williams turned a former gas station into her lifestyle boutique. Ranger Station stocks apothecary goods and collaborates with musician friends. Imogene + Willie jeans have their origins here.The Nashville Symphony performing at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center downtown is a local essential, as is watching a Nashville SC soccer game at GEODIS Park, where Reese Witherspoon is a team minority owner.