Things to eat & do in Nashville
Food scene
We have some pretty great international food ( our area is actually know for its international cuisine) near our place. Nashville, I have discovered, has a lot of good burger places. Of course we are famous for our hot chicken! So, give some local eateries a try on your visit, & give those chains a vacation too.
This is a great, reasonably priced, Caribbean food restaurant. It's less than a mile away. They have great take out or eat in. My fave is the black bean salad! Currently only open for lunch until 4pm & closed on Sundays.
33 locals recommend
Calypso Cafe
700 Thompson LnThis is a great, reasonably priced, Caribbean food restaurant. It's less than a mile away. They have great take out or eat in. My fave is the black bean salad! Currently only open for lunch until 4pm & closed on Sundays.
Great spot for pizza & ice cream! Locally owned & operated. It's not big, but the food is good. Eat in or take out. We love it! They have a special on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, but they are closed on Sunday & Monday.
Yogi's Pizzeria
4825 Trousdale DrGreat spot for pizza & ice cream! Locally owned & operated. It's not big, but the food is good. Eat in or take out. We love it! They have a special on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, but they are closed on Sunday & Monday.
If you want a quick burger, but not chain fast food, this is your place! Great food & quick. Everything on the menu is delicious.
13 locals recommend
Hugh-Baby's
718 Thompson LnIf you want a quick burger, but not chain fast food, this is your place! Great food & quick. Everything on the menu is delicious.
This is a brick & mortar version of a local popular food truck. It also happens to be about 2 blocks from our place. So if you like Thai food, it’s really handy & good quality food.
10 locals recommend
Degthai
This is a brick & mortar version of a local popular food truck. It also happens to be about 2 blocks from our place. So if you like Thai food, it’s really handy & good quality food.
Our favorite local build-your-own-burrito place! It’s delicious & serve as much local ingredients as possible. They also have tacos & salads. The guacamole is incredible!
109 locals recommend
Baja Burrito
722 Thompson LnOur favorite local build-your-own-burrito place! It’s delicious & serve as much local ingredients as possible. They also have tacos & salads. The guacamole is incredible!
Everything is great here! Mostly burgers(locally sourced grass fed beef), yes, but they also have a great homemade veggie burger! Their chicken sandwich is good as well. They have amazing fries, sweet potato fries (honestly, the best I’ve ever had), pasta salad, dessert bars…Everything is made in house & fresh! They have a wasabi Mayo that is incredible. Open for lunch Mon- Sat. & Friday for an earlyish dinner.
83 locals recommend
Gabby's Burgers & Fries
493 Humphreys StEverything is great here! Mostly burgers(locally sourced grass fed beef), yes, but they also have a great homemade veggie burger! Their chicken sandwich is good as well. They have amazing fries, sweet potato fries (honestly, the best I’ve ever had), pasta salad, dessert bars…Everything is made in house & fresh! They have a wasabi Mayo that is incredible. Open for lunch Mon- Sat. & Friday for an earlyish dinner.
Prince's. The. Original. Nashville Hot Chicken. If you want the original, this is the only place to go! You don't have to get it hot, though. If your taste buds can't take the heat but you want to see what all the hype is about, they have no heat, & several degrees of heat beyond before you reach the hottest variety. A heat level for all taste buds.
69 locals recommend
Prince's Hot Chicken Shack South
5814 Nolensville PikePrince's. The. Original. Nashville Hot Chicken. If you want the original, this is the only place to go! You don't have to get it hot, though. If your taste buds can't take the heat but you want to see what all the hype is about, they have no heat, & several degrees of heat beyond before you reach the hottest variety. A heat level for all taste buds.
Probably the 2nd oldest hot chicken joint in Nashville, Bolton's was featured on the YouTube show "Worth It". If you're Hot chickening your way through Nashville, this definitely needs to be on your list to try.
151 locals recommend
Bolton's Spicy Chicken & Fish
624 Main StProbably the 2nd oldest hot chicken joint in Nashville, Bolton's was featured on the YouTube show "Worth It". If you're Hot chickening your way through Nashville, this definitely needs to be on your list to try.
While there are several locations of this Nashville "Hot" spot, this is the closest location to our house. Probably the most "touristy" hot chicken shop in Nashville, it's also pretty tasty! Make sure you try the pimento mac & cheese. It's my favorite.
128 locals recommend
Hattie B's Hot Chicken - Melrose Nashville, TN
2222 8th Ave SWhile there are several locations of this Nashville "Hot" spot, this is the closest location to our house. Probably the most "touristy" hot chicken shop in Nashville, it's also pretty tasty! Make sure you try the pimento mac & cheese. It's my favorite.
This is a bar. It is not downtown. It is near the house, & they have great burgers! They also have some salads, brunch on the weekends, & a nice beer list. This is the original location (thus the wordplay with the name), but they have a couple of other locations if you find yourself in another part of town & want to try it out.
154 locals recommend
M.L.Rose Craft Beer & Burgers - Melrose
2535 8th Ave SThis is a bar. It is not downtown. It is near the house, & they have great burgers! They also have some salads, brunch on the weekends, & a nice beer list. This is the original location (thus the wordplay with the name), but they have a couple of other locations if you find yourself in another part of town & want to try it out.
There are many places to get good BBQ in Nashville. This is the best in my opinion. They have several locations, but (I think) this is the original, and my favorite location. The pulled pork, & ribs are good. All the sides are good, but the fried okra is pretty killer. They have nice crushed ice ( that's important), good iced tea, & if you really want to be bad try the nachos with pulled pork. SO good. I also love the BBQ bread & Carolina (yellow) sauce. I'm sure everything is good, but those are some of the favorites in my family.
Bar-B-Cutie
5221 Nolensville PikeThere are many places to get good BBQ in Nashville. This is the best in my opinion. They have several locations, but (I think) this is the original, and my favorite location. The pulled pork, & ribs are good. All the sides are good, but the fried okra is pretty killer. They have nice crushed ice ( that's important), good iced tea, & if you really want to be bad try the nachos with pulled pork. SO good. I also love the BBQ bread & Carolina (yellow) sauce. I'm sure everything is good, but those are some of the favorites in my family.
Sightseeing
If you want something to do besides eat & general sightseeing here are some ideas for you!
If you want a little culture in your trip, this is the place for you. There are always great exhibits that change periodically & the historical original Nashville Post office is beautiful to look at inside & out.
1024 locals recommend
Frist Art Museum
919 BroadwayIf you want a little culture in your trip, this is the place for you. There are always great exhibits that change periodically & the historical original Nashville Post office is beautiful to look at inside & out.
This is a beautiful & historic location in Nashville, with gardens to explore, seasonal exhibits, & a mansion & museum. Sometimes there are special events too.
593 locals recommend
Cheekwood Estate and Gardens
1200 Forrest Park DrThis is a beautiful & historic location in Nashville, with gardens to explore, seasonal exhibits, & a mansion & museum. Sometimes there are special events too.
This is a great distillery to tour. This is where they make Pickers Vodka as well as Davidson Reserve bourbon, Whisper Creek sipping cream, & other adult beverages. The staff is knowledgeable & friendly.
33 locals recommend
Pennington Distilling Co.
900 44th Ave NThis is a great distillery to tour. This is where they make Pickers Vodka as well as Davidson Reserve bourbon, Whisper Creek sipping cream, & other adult beverages. The staff is knowledgeable & friendly.
This distillery has 2 locations. If your looking for a party visit the marathon village location. If you want a more chill vibe visit the other closer(to our place) location. Be careful though, there are many spirits to taste while you are there, & they really pack a punch. From gin to a special pink absinthe, they have a variety of spirits for whatever suits you. The staff is knowledgeable & friendly, & the facility is really nice.
60 locals recommend
Corsair Distillery & Taproom
1200 Clinton StThis distillery has 2 locations. If your looking for a party visit the marathon village location. If you want a more chill vibe visit the other closer(to our place) location. Be careful though, there are many spirits to taste while you are there, & they really pack a punch. From gin to a special pink absinthe, they have a variety of spirits for whatever suits you. The staff is knowledgeable & friendly, & the facility is really nice.
If the weather isn't great for the outdoor activities, but you want to see gardens & feel like you are outside, this is your place! It is beautiful with lots of walking. There are places to shop & eat there as well. It is free to go in & walk around, but parking will cost you upwards of $35. Several hours of beautiful, peaceful fun, unless you go to one of the clubs or bars that are located in there too. ;)
316 locals recommend
Gaylord Opryland Resort
2800 Opryland DrIf the weather isn't great for the outdoor activities, but you want to see gardens & feel like you are outside, this is your place! It is beautiful with lots of walking. There are places to shop & eat there as well. It is free to go in & walk around, but parking will cost you upwards of $35. Several hours of beautiful, peaceful fun, unless you go to one of the clubs or bars that are located in there too. ;)
This is a truly beautiful zoo, with amazing natural habitats for the animals that call it home. Our zoo has built up over a long period of time & prides itself on taking the best care of & creating the best home for their animals. There are many activities throughout the year, some for families & children, some for grown ups in the evenings. Its a beautiful way to spend a beautiful day in Nashville.
353 locals recommend
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
3777 Nolensville PikeThis is a truly beautiful zoo, with amazing natural habitats for the animals that call it home. Our zoo has built up over a long period of time & prides itself on taking the best care of & creating the best home for their animals. There are many activities throughout the year, some for families & children, some for grown ups in the evenings. Its a beautiful way to spend a beautiful day in Nashville.
This local brewery located right next door to Pennington distillery has some pretty great beer. If you like beer I highly recommend checking them out. You can also try out some of their beers around town at local restaurants or pick up a pack at the grocery or liquor store.
152 locals recommend
Fat Bottom Brewing Co.
800 44th Ave NThis local brewery located right next door to Pennington distillery has some pretty great beer. If you like beer I highly recommend checking them out. You can also try out some of their beers around town at local restaurants or pick up a pack at the grocery or liquor store.
Black Abbey has some really nice beers & is located only a mile or so from our little place. They have a wide variety for whatever type of beer you like. You can also try these local gems of amazing brewing at several local restaurants or pick up a 4 pack of your favorite variety at most local groceries & liquor stores.
58 locals recommend
The Black Abbey Brewing Company, LLC
2952 Sidco DrBlack Abbey has some really nice beers & is located only a mile or so from our little place. They have a wide variety for whatever type of beer you like. You can also try these local gems of amazing brewing at several local restaurants or pick up a 4 pack of your favorite variety at most local groceries & liquor stores.
If you are keen to know the history behind country music & your favorite country artists this is your place! It is a beautiful facility. There is information, memorabilia, & costumes from any country, bluegrass, & folk artist you can think of in this comprehensive museum. If you knew nothing about it before you go, you will be an expert by the time you leave. You will definitely have a new appreciation & respect for this old standard of music in this country. The acoustic room alone is worth the trip.
1208 locals recommend
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
222 Rep. John Lewis Way SIf you are keen to know the history behind country music & your favorite country artists this is your place! It is a beautiful facility. There is information, memorabilia, & costumes from any country, bluegrass, & folk artist you can think of in this comprehensive museum. If you knew nothing about it before you go, you will be an expert by the time you leave. You will definitely have a new appreciation & respect for this old standard of music in this country. The acoustic room alone is worth the trip.
While I don't get downtown much, all my local friends say this is a downtown must visit! So, if you plan to go downtown, make your way to this place. You won't be sorry, & it wouldn't be a true Nashville vacation without it.
601 locals recommend
Robert's Western World
416 BroadwayWhile I don't get downtown much, all my local friends say this is a downtown must visit! So, if you plan to go downtown, make your way to this place. You won't be sorry, & it wouldn't be a true Nashville vacation without it.
This is a another great distillery to try. They have both a Tennessee whiskey and a bourbon. You can try both & find out which you truly prefer. They also have events on the weekends sometimes where you never know who you might find plucking on a guitar. ( maybe even Chris Stapleton or Carrie Underwood). The community of Leiper’s fork also has a few great places to eat for whatever time of day you plan to visit, and a few unique shops and an art gallery to check out as well.
28 locals recommend
Leiper's Fork Distillery
3381 Southall RdThis is a another great distillery to try. They have both a Tennessee whiskey and a bourbon. You can try both & find out which you truly prefer. They also have events on the weekends sometimes where you never know who you might find plucking on a guitar. ( maybe even Chris Stapleton or Carrie Underwood). The community of Leiper’s fork also has a few great places to eat for whatever time of day you plan to visit, and a few unique shops and an art gallery to check out as well.
Neighborhoods
Here are some areas of Nashville you might find interesting to visit while here.
This is a cool area to check out. There are some interesting local shops( Draper James, Reese Witherspoon’s clothing store), food (Maffiozza’s is a great local eatery over there), & treats(Jenni’s ice cream). There is also a great park there (Sevier Park)!
353 locals recommend
12 South
This is a cool area to check out. There are some interesting local shops( Draper James, Reese Witherspoon’s clothing store), food (Maffiozza’s is a great local eatery over there), & treats(Jenni’s ice cream). There is also a great park there (Sevier Park)!
Historic East Nashville is pretty well known these days. There are a ton of small local shops with all sorts of things to peruse. There are also so many places to eat, drink, & be merry! Most all within a few block, area.
221 locals recommend
East Nashville
Historic East Nashville is pretty well known these days. There are a ton of small local shops with all sorts of things to peruse. There are also so many places to eat, drink, & be merry! Most all within a few block, area.
The Gulch
There are several popular murals for photo ops in this area, as well as shops & eateries. After visiting the 12th south area just keep going north on 12th Avenue & in the Gulch you will land! Easy-peasey!
455 locals recommend
The Gulch
The Gulch
There are several popular murals for photo ops in this area, as well as shops & eateries. After visiting the 12th south area just keep going north on 12th Avenue & in the Gulch you will land! Easy-peasey!