A Local’s Guide to Nashville

Get ready to dive into the culture, food, and vibe of Music City!

If you're looking for a city that has history, incredible food, and loads of attractions, then look no further than Nashville, Tennessee - more commonly known as the "Athens of the South" or “Music City.” When you think of Nashville, neon lights, guitar riffs, country music, great food, and unforgettable attractions are the first things that pop up in your mind. Nashville's food scene alone is worth a whole trip, whether it's the infamous Nashville hot chicken, delicious barbecue, rooftop bars, or local gems - the city has it all!

Pair it with the legendary music venues, informative museums, and unique cultural places, and you will leave Nashville with unforgettable memories.

So, whether you came for the music, the food, or the attractions in Nashville, this guide will lead you to the best places and help you explore like a local.

Originally a simple radio broadcast program established in 1925, the Grand Ole Opry has evolved into a world-renowned entity for its country music, helping Nashville become recognized as the "Country Music Capital." It has played host to many stages, most famously as Ryman Auditorium.

The Opry has featured unforgettable voices like Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton, as well as current stars like Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Brad Paisley. The daytime tour shares stories of country music's biggest icons, features historic photographs that include visits to the remarkable Opry stage. The post-show tour invites exposure to themed dressing rooms that are home to profound artists, as well as entering Studio A (the set of everybody's favorite show, Hee Haw).

Centennial Park, a lively 132-acre urban park just west of downtown Nashville, is a mixture of history, culture, and recreation. The site is centered on the replica of the Greek Parthenon, which has been rebuilt to be an art museum with a stunning 42-foot Athena statue inside. Visitors to the park can enjoy a stroll around the lake, sunken gardens, volleyball courts, a dog park, and festivals all year round, including Musicians Corner. Originally the site of the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition, the park opened in 1903 and provides knowledge about the ancient foundation while being the primary place for community activity in Nashville.

Located in the heart of the Gulch, the Frist Art Museum features an ever-changing selection of traveling exhibitions. The building also serves as a work of art and is designed in Art Deco style, and used to be Nashville's main Post Office. A highlight for families is Martin ArtQuest on the second level of the museum. This space features dozens of art stations that allow visitors of all ages to engage in hands-on art activities. Every station has a unique activity connected to themes from the exhibitions and serves as a fun way to learn art in a space that stimulates creativity.

Nestled right in the middle of downtown Nashville, directly across from the state capitol building, lies Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, one of the best places to go in Nashville. This park differs from the more rugged state parks sprinkled with waterfalls and forests throughout Tennessee; it is a lush 11-acre green space that combines history and relaxation. A paved, 0.9-mile-long walking trail offers visitors important moments in Tennessee history. The paved trail is scenic and educational; the amphitheater offers live music and public meetings, and the park itself features several monuments. The park's location is also a benefit - you're a stone's throw from the Tennessee State Museum and the Nashville Farmers' Market.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Nashville, Tennessee, is Nashville’s ultimate tribute to the legacy of country music. The Hall of Fame was established in 1961, and the first museum building opened on Music Row in 1967. Currently, the Hall of Fame is housed in a modern downtown facility (opened in 2001) showcasing America’s unique music genre. The hall's exhibits and interpretive programs will take you to see Hank Williams and contemporary stars like John Anderson, Toby Keith, and James Burton. The hall's rotating exhibits and archival materials are a cultural treasure and an engaging glimpse into the inspiring history of country music.

In Nashville, the Johnny Cash Museum  was opened in 2013 in tribute to the legendary "Man in Black." His estate officially licenses the museum and has the largest collection of Johnny Cash memorabilia in the world, with items including stage costumes, handwritten letters, his US Air Force uniform, and even the stone wall from his old house. The interactive exhibits fill in the gaps of his story and take guests through the evolution of Cash's music now across all genres. Located in the SoBro district of downtown Nashville, the museum is a wonderful tribute to one of America's most treasured musicians.

Located about 25 miles south of Nashville in Arrington, Arrington Vineyards covers 95 acres, with 16 acres planted with grapevines. Co-founded by Country Music Hall of Fame member Kix Brooks, winemaker Kip Summers, and entrepreneur John Russell, the vineyard produces more than 20 award-winning wines. Guests are provided with five different tasting experiences, a picnic area with magnificent rolling hills, and cheese and charcuterie pairing selections. Plus, Arrington provides free live music on weekends in the warmer months.

This modern museum, which opened in 2021 at the doorstep of Nashville’s Broadway, takes a deep dive into the unheard history of Black music in America. The permanent and rotating galleries showcase how African American artists became a foundational force behind genres such as jazz, blues, gospel, and R&B. You can see artifacts related to icons like Louis Armstrong and Michael Jackson, and the museum even has a sound booth for visitors to compose their own R&B song. It is situated downtown inside the Assembly Food Hall complex- just a stone’s throw away from the Ryman, Bridgestone, and Country Music Hall of Fame. This museum combines history and technology. Each patron receives RFID help in organizing their favorite songs along the way, which can be downloaded later into their personalized Spotify or Apple Music playlist.

Blue Aster, located in the Conrad Hotel, is known for its fresh seafood menu with seasonal ingredients and flavors. It has been praised for its golden crispy fish and chips, which are a must-try on the menu. In addition to the fish and chips, guests also enjoy dishes like fresh oysters, seared scallops, and crab cakes with a Southern flair, all with a stylish presentation. If you’re not interested in seafood, you can find roasted chicken and seasonal vegetable plates.

Address: 1620 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203, United States

Peninsula in Nashville features cuisine inspired by the Iberian Peninsula, offering dishes like charred octopus with saffron aioli and crispy potatoes, lamb meatballs with smoked tomato sauce and tzatziki, and the most impressively, seafood paella with shrimp, mussels, and chorizo. The vegetable plates are also well done, such as the roasted carrots with romesco. The Spanish wine list and gin-tonic variations complete the wonderful experience.

Address: 1035 W Eastland Ave, Nashville, TN 37206, United States

Hearts in Nashville is famous for its Australian-inspired menu, with popular plates that include the ricotta hotcakes served with seasonal fruit and honeycomb butter, and the substantial chicken schnitzel served with slaw. Other hits include the smoked salmon toast topped with dill crème fraîche and pickled onions, the miso mushroom bowl, and their signature brekkie roll jammed with bacon, egg, and chili jam.

Address: 914 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206, United States

Pancake Pantry, located in Nashville, is famous for its sweet potato pancakes with cinnamon cream syrup and its other favorites, including Caribbean pancakes, which include shredded coconut, pecans, and pineapple. They also include peach and apricot pancakes, cornmeal hoecakes, and several varieties of omelets, both sweet and savory.

Address: 220 Molloy St, Nashville, TN 37201, United States

Five Points Pizza is renowned for its New York–style slices, but the garlic knots and vodka sauce pie stand out as crowd favorites. The meatball pie, topped with house-made meatballs and fresh ricotta, steals the show. Classics like the pepperoni, supreme, and white pie also ensured the menu was stocked with options. The Sicilian slices feature a thicker, airy crust, providing variety for anybody looking for something not traditionally thin.

Address: 1012 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206, United States

Geist in Nashville offers elevated comfort food, including wood-fired duck breast with charred cabbage and blackberry jus, and a unique Wagyu smash burger with American cheese, pickles, and delish sauce. The menu also includes oysters on the half shell, truffle fries, and a large schnitzel with mustard spaetzle.

Address: 311 Jefferson St, Nashville, TN 37208, United States

The Listening Room, located in Nashville’s SoBro district, is a space that combines the restaurant atmosphere with a small live music venue. Tables and chairs are arranged facing the stage so that patrons can order their food and drinks and settle in, while servers make various rounds for drinks and refills. What makes this venue unique is the commitment to Nashville's songwriters with their signature "Songwriter's Round." This format consists of several songwriters sitting at the same time, sharing a stage, and taking turns telling the story behind a song they wrote, and then performing it, usually with just the songwriter's voice and their acoustic guitar.

Address: 618 4th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37210, United States

All People Coffee is a Nashville showplace for remarkable specialties, including the horchata latte, lavender oat milk latte, and golden turmeric latte, in addition to its classic brews. The menu also includes pastries, such as vegan muffins, flaky croissants, and rotating seasonal pastries, all made by local bakers, each of which complements the shop’s drinks immensely.

Address: 347 Douglas Ave #101, Nashville, TN 37207, United

In addition to its Italian-style coffee, Americano Lounge in Nashville features a menu that features craft drinks paired with indulgent bites like duck confit flatbread, roasted bone marrow with chimichurri, and ricotta-stuffed agnolotti. People also frequent the braised short rib with truffle risotto, while others enjoy lighter bites like charcuterie boards and a seasonal salad to balance the menu.

Address: 434 Houston St Suite 120, Nashville, TN 37203, United States

Poindexter in Nashville has always been known for their opulent breakfast sandwiches, such as the Southern-inspired biscuit with fried chicken, pimento cheese, and hot honey, as well as their savory avocado toast topped with radish and chili flakes. The menu includes staples like buttermilk pancakes, smoked bacon, and breakfast burritos, all served alongside locally roasted coffee drinks and seasonal lattes.

Address: 101 20th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203, United States

Little Gourmand in Nashville features French favorites like buttery croissants, pain au chocolat, and flaky almond pastries, in addition to savory quiche, including options like ham and Swiss or spinach and goat cheese. The shop offers baguette sandwiches such as Jambon Beurre with French ham and salted butter, along with raspberry tarts, éclairs, and macarons, all available in rotating flavors.

Address: 2209 Bandywood Dr ste d, Nashville, TN 37215, United States

The impressive East Park Donuts in Nashville highlights funky flavors like the crème brulee donut with caramelized sugar topping and the pistachio rose donut with floral sweetness. East Park's brioche donuts yield exquisite ingredients and local favorites, including maple bacon and the matcha-glazed donuts. If you want something more savory, check out their kolaches with sausage and cheese!

Address: 700 Main St, Nashville, TN 37206, United States

Fox's Donut Den in Nashville is famous for its enormous apple fritters, maple bacon bars, and glazed donuts that draw both long-time Green Hills residents and first-time guests. In addition to the specialty fritters, bars, and glazed donuts, Fox's also has powdered donuts, chocolate-filled ones, and a variety of old-fashioned cake donuts, which fill the display case from morning until night.

Address: 3900 Hillsboro Pike #2, Nashville, TN 37215, United States

In Nashville, Cupcake Collection serves a sweet potato cupcake, a favorite for locals that has the rich, spiced flavor of sweet potatoes and a creamy frosting. Other favorites include a red velvet cupcake with smooth cream cheese icing, a strawberry cupcake with fruity and moist crumb, and a classic vanilla and a classic chocolate cupcake that are simple but very well executed. Specialty flavors like wedding cake and lemon burst cupcakes are also noteworthy, thanks to their light sweetness that is well-balanced.

Address: 1213 6th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208, United States

Final Note

From legendary stages like the Grand Ole Opry to hidden food gems, cozy coffee shops, and modern cultural landmarks, Nashville is a city that blends history, flavor, and soul. Whether you’re here for the music, the food, or the experiences that make this city shine, Nashville will capture your heart and keep you coming back.

Some of the top hotels to stay in Nashville:

9.1 Superb

Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville Downtown Capitol Vi

530 11th Avenue North Nashville, us

8.9 Very good

Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville Downtown Capitol Vi

530 11th Avenue North Nashville, us

8.8 Very good

TownePlace Suites by Marriott Nashville Midtown

1500 Charlotte Avenue Nashville, us