NEON GUITARS GLOWING ABOVE BROADWAY, COUNTRY LEGENDS HEADLINING HISTORIC VENUES, AND A DIZZYING ARTS AND CULINARY SCENE GAINING GLOBAL PRESTIGE, NASHVILLE IS A HEADY STEW OF MUSIC, FLAVOR, AND CREATIVE ENERGY ALL PLAYING IN PERFECT HARMONY

By Amanda McCoy

Founded in 1779 as a frontier trading post, Nashville has grown into one of the country’s most electric cultural capitals. With more than 250 live music venues scattered across the riverside metropolis, it’s known worldwide as Music City, the launchpad for countless country legends like Garth Brooks, Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, and a young blue-eyed songwriter who would eventually become the biggest artist of the modern era (Taylor Swift was 14 when she moved to Nashville to pursue music). But the city’s musical landscape stretches far beyond country, from Americana and rock to hip-hop and bluegrass. Beyond the stage lights, Nashville has become a serious culinary contender, famed for its fiery hot chicken and scratch Southern fare alongside an ever-expanding fine-dining presence. (The city made its Michelin Guide debut in late 2025, with three restaurants earning a hallowed star.)

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

The city experiences four distinct seasons, with spring and fall considered the most pleasant for visitors thanks to mild temperatures and colorful blooms and foliage. Summers can be hot and lively, often accompanied by outdoor concerts and festivals, while the holiday season dresses the city in spectacular light displays, and landmark venues like the Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium, and Schermerhorn Symphony Center host festive live performances dripping in tinsel and twinkling lights. Downtown Nashville is compact and walkable, especially around Broadway, the Gulch, and SoBro, but it’s worth exploring the city’s many distinct neighborhoods outside of the central entertainment district, from the art galleries and industrial-chic breweries of WeHo to the buzzy bohemia of East Nashville. There are more than 35 museums to explore, including the exalted Country Music Hall of Fame, considered the globe’s largest repository of country music history. Leafy Centennial Park offers a quieter break from the neon-fueled fervor, with a full-size replica of the Parthenon anchored by a 42-foot statue of the Greek goddess Athena.

ATTRACTIONS

GRAND OLE OPRY

Few stages in America carry the cultural weight of the Grand Ole Opry. Founded in 1925 as a humble radio broadcast on Nashville’s WSM station, the show quickly grew into country music’s most legendary platform, launching and sustaining the careers of icons from Hank Williams and Patsy Cline to Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks. Today, the Opry remains the longest-running live radio show in the world, blending history and modern star power in nightly performances that feature a mix of country superstars, rising artists, and surprise guests. The current Opry House — just outside downtown Nashville — offers visitors the chance to experience the magic firsthand, whether through a live show, behind-the-scenes backstage tour, or by stepping into the famous wooden circle cut from the stage of the historic Ryman Auditorium.
opry.com

BROADWAY

If Nashville has a beating heart, it’s Broadway. The neon-drenched stretch through downtown (often called the city’s Honky Tonk Highway) buzzes day and night with live music spilling from nearly every doorway. There’s no cover charge, and musicians strum and riff to a boisterous, boot-stomping crowd until 3 a.m. Historic venues like Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and the Bluebird Café have hosted country superstars like Luke Bryan, Jelly Roll, and Miranda Lambert.
visitmusiccity.com

LIQUOR LAB 

For a hands-on twist on Music City’s booming cocktail scene, Liquor Lab Nashville turns mixology into an interactive night out. Located in the heart of downtown, the lively venue hosts instructor-led cocktail classes where talented mixologists share the secrets behind shaking, stirring, and garnishing like a pro. Each session walks participants through several classic and contemporary drinks while breaking down the techniques and spirits behind them, from flavor pairings and balancing citrus to mastering the art of a proper shake. It’s a perfect pick for date nights, group outings, or anyone curious about the craft behind a great drink.
liquorlab.com/nashville

WHERE TO STAY

FAIRLANE HOTEL NASHVILLE

Set inside a beautifully restored mid-century bank building just steps from the flash and frenzy of Broadway, the Fairlane Hotel blends retro glamour with contemporary comforts. The boutique property channels a sleek mid-century aesthetic — think groovy geometric patterns, warm wood tones, leafy botanicals, and brass accents. Guestrooms and suites are spacious and sumptuous, filled with velvet headboards, marble bathrooms, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing sweeping city views. The hotel’s signature restaurant, Modern Love, is a must, serving New American stunners like mascarpone-filled fried French toast for breakfast and dry-aged, honey-spiced duck breast for dinner.
fairlanehotel.com

GAYLORD OPRYLAND RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER

As the largest non-gaming hotel in the country, this sprawling 2,888-room resort and convention center is a destination in its own right. Located adjacent to the Grand Ole Opry theater, the resort’s nine-acre glass atriums shelter cascading waterfalls, winding waterways dotted with boats, and a lush indoor forest with more than 50,000 plants. Guests can stroll through tropical conservatories, dine at more than a dozen restaurants, catch waves at the indoor-outdoor waterpark SoundWaves, tee up at the resort’s Scottish links-style golf course, or unwind in the upscale spa before catching a show next door.

DINE AND DRINK

THE CATBIRD SEAT

One of Nashville’s most coveted reservations, this immersive eatery perched atop the Bill Voorhees Building flips the traditional restaurant format on its head. Guests gather around a small chef’s counter overlooking the open kitchen, where the culinary team prepares an ever-evolving tasting menu just inches away. The experience is equal parts dinner and performance, with a parade of inventive courses that shift with the seasons, from hay-smoked oysters with fennel and apple to tender pork belly seasoned with spruce and spicebush. Long a darling of Nashville’s dining scene, the restaurant recently earned even greater distinction as one of only three establishments awarded a holy star in the inaugural Nashville edition of the Michelin Guide.
thecatbirdseatrestaurant.com

LUOGO

From superstar chef Anthony Scotto, this swanky Italian standout in the Gulch brings a refined yet relaxed approach to classic cucina. The menu celebrates handmade pastas, seasonal ingredients, and bold Mediterranean flavors. A delicate pan-seared salmon is dressed with parsnip puree, pappardelle is cloaked in slow-braised duck confit, and a juicy double-cut pork chop is paired with roasted Gala apples and butternut squash. A thoughtfully curated wine list ties the meal together, highlighting Italian producers alongside global favorites.
luogo-nashville.com

CAFÉ ROZE

This stylish all-day café and bistro in East Nashville has quietly become one of the trendy enclave’s shining stars. The airy, minimalist space, marked by soft pink tones, blonde wood, and a marble bar, sets the stage for a menu that balances comfort with creativity. Daytime favorites range from fluffy pancakes and turmeric-laced breakfast bowls to stacked sandwiches and seasonal salads, while evenings bring plates of paprika chicken, lamb presse, and steak frites. Happy hour is a local institution, with stellar deals on the café’s signature craft cocktails and bubbly wines, plus $2 oysters with Roze’s house Bloody Mary mignonette.
caferoze.com

Poppy & Peep Chocolate

Tucked in a quiet corner of the creative Wedgewood-Houston district, Poppy & Peep is a playful micro-factory that blends artisan techniques with whimsy aplenty. The father-daughter–run shop specializes in handcrafted bonbons, chocolate bars, and imaginative confections that feel as artful as they are appetizing. Expect glossy, hand-painted bonbons in rotating seasonal flavors, silky bean-to-bar creations, and quirky Nashville-inspired treats, including a dark chocolate bar infused with the city’s famous hot chicken spices. There are even chocolate-themed Airbnbs on site.
poppyandpeep.com