Nashville

History

Nashville was founded in 1779 and it grew rapidly because of its excellent location on the Cumberland River. It was incorporated in 1806 and became the county seat of Davidson County. Nashville was named the capital of Tennessee in 1843.
Like many Southern cities, Nashville was not immune to the economic woes of the post-Civil War South but it quickly rebounded. It only took a few years for the city to reclaim its important shipping and trading position and to develop a solid manufacturing base. The post-Civil War years of the late 19th century brought a new-found prosperity to Nashville. These healthy economic times left the city with a legacy of grand classical-style buildings, which can still be seen around the downtown area.
Since the 1970s, the city has experienced tremendous growth, particularly during the economic boom of the 1990s under the leadership of Mayor (former Tennessee Governor) Phil Bredesen, who made urban renewal a priority, and fostered the construction or renovation of several city landmarks, including the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Nashville Public Library downtown, Bridgestone Arena, and Nissan Stadium.

Tourism office

• Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau

  phone: +1 615 259-4730
  address: 150 Fourth Avenue North

Climate

Nashville sits in the middle of a geographic region known as the Nashville Basin. It is surrounded by the Cumberland Highlands and is bordered by the Cumberland Plateau to the east. The Nashville Basin is characterized by rich, fertile farm country and high natural wildlife diversity.
Nashville has cool, relatively short winters and hot, humid summers, with long spells of spring and autumn in between. Winter temperatures commonly hover slightly above freezing, and a fair amount of light snow generally falls throughout the months of December to February, though large storms of 6-plus inches in a day do occur every few years. Nashville can be prone to severe thunderstorms and tornadoes during the spring and fall months. Summers are hot, but no more than the rest of the southeastern U.S. with temperatures around 90°F (32°C) during the day.

By plane

• Nashville International Airport

  phone: +1 615 275-1675
  The most inexpensive way to travel to and from the Nashville International Airport and downtown Nashville is to ride the Nashville MTA's Route 18 Airport/Elm Hill bus, which serves the airport and downtown on an hourly basis, from about 7AM to about 10PM, seven days a week. Schedules are located at the Welcome Center located on the baggage claim level of the airport. BNA was the first major US airport to authorize ridesharing services with dedicated pickup and drop off areas. Passengers utilizing these services may wait in a specially designated area located on Level 1 outside of the main terminal. BNA is a hub for Southwest Airlines and serves numerous domestic destinations, as well as international service to Toronto Canada, Calgary, Cancún, Punta Cana, Freeport Bahamas, Montego Bay Jamaica, Cozumel, London-Heathrow and Frankfurt.

• John C. Tune Airport

  phone: +1 615 350-5000
  address: 110 Tune Airport Dr
  General aviation airport just eight miles from downtown Nashville.

• Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport

  phone: +1 615 459-2651
  address: 278 Doug Warpoole Rd, Smyrna
  A reliever airport for BNA, located 12 nautical miles (22 km) south of it.

By car

Nashville is a nexus of several interstate highways, including I-65 (north-south), I-40 (east-west), and I-24 (northwest-southeast). The various highways sometimes merge and split without the typical exit-offramp design, so travellers should consult maps before attempting to navigate the area. There is easy access to/from Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis and Louisville, among others.

By bus

• Greyhound

  phone: +1 615 255-3556
  address: 709 5th Ave South

• MegabusService from Atlanta, Chattanooga, Louisville, Indianapolis, and Chicago. Buses stop on the east side of 5th Avenue North between Gay Street and Charlotte Avenue, outside the Musicians Hall of Fame.

By shuttle

• Gray Line Shuttle, +1 615 275-1180. Tours and charter buses.

By bus

• Nashville MTA

  phone: +1 615 862-5969
  Operates routes throughout downtown and the surrounding area. $2 for an adult local fare, with no transfers allowed. An all-day pass for an adult is $4. Nashville's bus system is designed around a central station. The schedule accommodates a 9AM-5PM schedule with limited late night service. Route maps and schedules are subject to change but are available from the Nashville MTA website.

By train

• The Music City Star

  phone: +1 615 862-8833
  Commuter train runs Monday - Friday. The train runs from Lebanon to Downtown's . One-Way tickets purchased at the platform are $5 each. There are two shuttle services that transport people for no extra charge, passengers use their Music City Star ticket to board. Shuttle 93 goes up Broadway, West End, and around the Vanderbilt area. Shuttle 94 loops through Downtown. If you wish to go to any other place in the city, you can catch the Downtown Shuttle at the Riverfront Station and exit at the downtown bus mall then catch the bus that is going to your destination.

By car

Car is always your best bet. The average speed on highways ranges from 55-70 mph, while city streets are generally 35 mph unless otherwise posted.
I-40, I-65, and I-24 are the major interstate highways that run through Nashville.
All major national car rental agencies operate in Nashville.
Taxis are also very prevalent in Nashville, especially Downtown. Taxi companies that operate in Nashville are:

• Allied Cab, +1 615 885-1499.
• Music City Taxi, +1 615 262-0451.
• Checker Cab, +1 615 256-7000.
• Metro Cab, +1 615 365-3434.

Transportation network companies Uber and Lyft operate in Nashville.
For executive transportation, sedan or limousine services are available; these often work like black cars in New York City, and offer executive sedans, SUVs, or even full limo transports to and from downtown or the airport.

Parking

If you are looking to park Downtown in a lot or garage, be sure to have a good idea of where to park. The Metro Owned Facilities managed by the Nashville Downtown Partnership (branded as ParkIt Downtown) seem to be the best deal. For example, the Metro Courthouse/Public Square Garage is $3 after 5PM and on weekends. This is much cheaper than nearby private lots.

By foot

The center of Nashville is not too big for an able-bodied person to traverse on foot in decent weather, and walking downtown can be quite pleasant.

Nashville is a very historic town and as such, many of its attractions are restorations or museums.

General

• AT&T BuildingAn instantly recognizable downtown Nashville landmark, the AT&T Building, built in 1994 at 333 Commerce Street, is the tallest building in the state of Tennessee and can be seen from quite some distance if the hills aren't in your way. Its two tall spires on the building have earned it the nickname, "The Batman Building."

• Midtown NashvilleLocated in the Vanderbilt University/West End area, midtown Nashville is replete with restaurants, art galleries, and landmark buildings such as the Parthenon in Centennial Park.

• Shelby Street Pedestrian BridgeBuilt between 1907 and 1909, the bridge was used for automobile traffic between East Nashville and Downtown. The bridge has been converted to a pedestrian bridge, and offers a spectacular view of the riverfront and downtown skyline. It is a very popular and convenient route to the Titans' football stadium.

• Nashville's Second AvenueProvides entertainment for many different styles of people. The street includes bars such as Hooters and the famous Wildhorse Saloon, dining destinations including the Old Spaghetti Factory, the Melting Pot and B.B. King's Restaurant and Blues Club, and locations for family-friendly fun such as Laser Quest.

Country music

• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

  address: 222 Fifth Ave S
  Regularly changing exhibits and live performances make this Nashville landmark someplace to visit often. The Hall of Fame moved here in 2000. Ticket packages for guided or audio tours also available, and can be combined with a tour with the RCA Studio B and the Ryman Auditorium.

• MusicaRevealed in 2003, Musica is a tall sculpture featuring 9 nude dancing figures created by Alan Lequire and is in a roundabout in the heart of Music Row.

History and government

• Belle Meade Plantation

  phone: +1 615 356-0501
  address: 5025 Harding Rd
  Featuring the mansion built in 1853 and restored, as well as the carriage house from 1890 and one of the oldest log cabins in Tennessee, built in 1790. There is a great deal of history associated with the plantation starting from before the American Civil War. Excellent, highly interesting guided tours of the plantation mansion are offered by the local heritage society.

• Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park

  phone: +1 615 741-5280
  address: 600 James Robertson Pkwy
  A fascinating state park stretched out in front of the state capital building. Features a giant map of the state, monuments recounting the history of the state since prehistoric times, a carillon, and more. In the summer, the fountains are often filled with splashing kids. The park is located right next to the farmers market, which includes a food court, fish market, nursery, as well as the expected vendors hawking fruits and vegetables. The Nashville Business Journal's Book of Lists ranks Bicentennial Capital Mall State Park as Nashville's #1 Tourist Attraction.

• Belmont Mansion

  phone: +1 615 460-5459
  address: 1900 Belmont Blvd
  An approximately​ one-hour guided tour of 16 rooms in the mansion. Also walk the grounds to examine the marble statues and cast iron ornaments in the gardens.

• Fort NegleyA Civil War-era fort partially reconstructed by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s. Taken by Union forces early in the war, Nashville quickly became the second most fortified city in the U.S. during the Civil War because it was seen as crucial to supplying troops engaged on the war's western front. The 1864 Battle of Nashville — a failed attempt by the Confederate army to retake the city — raged throughout what are now the residential and commercial districts on the fringes of the city. Much of the work on the fort was done by slaves and freed blacks who were rounded up and forced to work on the structure. The fort was closed for years (allegedly because it reminded many Nashvillians of the Union occupation), but reopened in 2004 with new boardwalks and interpretive signs.

• The Hermitage

  phone: +1 615 889-2941
  address: 4580 Rachel's Ln
  The former home of U.S. President Andrew Jackson is full of his family's personal possessions, and is adorned with much of the furniture that they personally purchased. It was one of the first historic preservation projects in the state of Tennessee. This was accomplished by the Ladies' Hermitage Association which was modeled after the Mount Vernon Ladies Association that had restored George Washington's home. Plan for a two hour tour with a moderate amount of walking. No cameras, video cameras, food, or drink are allowed within the Hermitage or the exhibit gallery. Security precautions are taken and the Hermitage asks that all backpacks or large bags be left in your vehicle.

• Tennessee State Capitol

  Kaldari

• Tennessee State Museum

  phone: +1 615 741-2692
  address: 505 Deadrick St
  With over 70,000 square feet (6500 m²) of exhibit space, this is one of the nation's largest state museums. Its permanent exhibits are split into several categories, including: Prehistoric, Frontier, Age of Jackson, Antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruction.

• Vanderbilt University

  phone: +1 615 322-7311
  address: 2201 West End Ave.
  Some ways from downtown, Vanderbilt is a historically important institution that's well-respected in the region and beyond. It is also one of the more beautiful campuses in the country, and well worth visiting just to look at the 19th-century buildings and soak up the atmosphere.

• Lane Motor Museum

  phone: +1 615 742-7445
  address: 702 Murfreesboro Pike
  150 cars and motorcycles from the 1920s all the way up to modern day.

General

• Yazoo Brewery

  phone: +1 615 891-4649
  address: 910 Division St
  Yazoo Brewing Company is brewed and bottled in downtown Nashville. The Brewery offers tours only on Saturdays, when they're not brewing. You'll get to walk through all parts of the brewery and learn how the beers are made. With your admission you'll also receive a Yazoo pint glass and samples of beers during the tour.

• Adventure Science Center

  phone: +1 615 862-5160
  It has been remodeled. You should be able to get in for under $10, and they have a lot of interesting exhibits which change every few weeks.

• General Jackson Showboat

  phone: +1 615 458-3900
  address: 2800 Opryland Dr
  Get a meal and a show on this classically styled long paddlewheel boat. Midday cruises, including buffet and show.

• Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

  phone: +1 615 833-1534
  address: 3777 Nolensville Rd
  Displaying many animals and hosting activities for the family, including a large playground with two-story netting that you can swing onto (off a rope), or just jump and roll around on. The zoo is getting bigger and better every day. There is an aviary where you can feed lorikeets nectar by hand, and an amazing hand-carved wooden carousel.

• Helistar Aviation

  phone: +1 615 350-1222
  address: 210 Tune Airport Dr
  Providing helicopter tours, charter services, and flight instruction in Nashville and the surrounding area.

• The Escape Game Nashville

  phone: +1 615 647-8229
  address: 162 3rd Ave. North
  The Escape Game offers several rooms with the same main objective - to escape within an hour! - but each game has a unique, immersive theme with different surprise elements and game components.

Music

• Grand Ole Opry

  phone: +1 615 889-9490
  address: 2812 Opryland Dr
  The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music radio program and concert broadcast live on WSM radio in Nashville every Friday and Saturday night, and Tuesdays from March through December. It is the oldest continuous radio program in the United States, having been broadcast on WSM since 5 October 1925. The Opry has been located in the Grand Ole Opry House in eastern Nashville since 1974. From 1974 to 1997 the Opry House was part of a theme park called Opryland USA, which closed due to low attendance and was subsequently torn down and replaced with a mega-shopping mall called Opry Mills. Rumors that the Opry is haunted persist as more than 35 people closely associated with the Opry have been met with untimely deaths. These country stars have been burned to death, beaten, robbed, and shot, have been victims of car and plane crashes and have perished from alcohol and drugs.

• Ryman Auditorium

  phone: +1 615 889-3060
  address: 116 5th Ave N
  Completed in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle as commissioned by riverboat Captain Thomas Green Ryman, a newly converted southern evangelist. The Ryman has earned its mark in history by hosting the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974 and is now a fantastically intimate setting for concerts of all genres. It was named Pollstar's "America's Theatre of the Year" for two years in a row, and one of CitySearch's top ten "Best Places to Hear Live Music."

• Bluebird Cafe

  phone: +1 615 383-1461
  address: 4104 Hillsboro Pike
  With its unlikely location in a strip mall in Green Hills, has long been the destination of choice for local and national songwriters, fans of songwriters, and label scouts. Expect schmoozing, sets in-the-round, and lines around the block. Keep in mind, though, that quiet is requested at all times during a performance. This is where Taylor Swift first performed and got discovered by Scott Borchetta and Big Machine Records.

• Nashville Symphony

  phone: +1 615 687-6500
  address: One Symphony Pl
  The Nashville Symphony is in the and offers a variety of concerts throughout the year. For those on a budget be sure to visit the Free Day of Music offered by the center in early October.

Outdoors

• Parks and RecreationNashville offers 113 different park properties on over , and seven municipal golf courses. These parks offer something for everyone, including both passive and active recreation. Activities include: senior programs, special population programs, cultural arts classes, dog parks, a variety of trails, nature programs, sports leagues, and art galleries.

• Centennial Park

  address: West End Ave at 25th Ave
  Features a nice duck pond, where you can get up close with the ducks and feed them, as well as a real steam engine train, dating to the 1800s and a fighter jet on a large, metal stand, to give the appearance of flight.

• Nashville GolfMetro Parks offers seven golf courses. All courses are open seven days a week through Labor Day: 7AM-dark on week ends, and 8AM-dark on week days. After Labor Day new hours will go into effect. Check courses for details. The seven golf courses are:

Radnor Lake

phone: +1 615 373-3467

address: Otter Creek Rd

Often called "Nashville's Walden," Radnor Lake was formed when the railroad companies dammed up a small stream to provide a reliable water source for their railroad yards. Although it is in the heart of a residential suburb south of town, hikers on the miles of trails around the pond feel like they are in the heart of the wilderness.

Sports

• Centennial Sportsplex

  phone: +1 615 862-8480
  address: 222 25th Ave N
  Located in Centennial Park. Featuring two indoor ice skating rinks, two pools, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and a fitness room. Call or check online for the schedules, as they vary from month to month. The Sportsplex is also a practice location for the Nashville Predators professional hockey team.

• Nashville PredatorsThe local NHL hockey team plays their home games at (previously Gaylord Entertainment Center and Sommet Center), which is on Broadway in the heart of downtown.

• Nashville Sounds

  phone: +1 615 690-4487
  address: 19 Junior Gilliam Way
  The local Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team plays at .

• Tennessee TitansThe local NFL football team plays their home games at (formerly Adelphia Coliseum and LP Field), which is located across the river from downtown (it's big). Once the Houston Oilers, the team was relocated as the Tennessee Titans in 1999.

• Nashville SC

  phone: +1 615 457-8200
  address: 650 Rundle Ave. (offices)
  The local soccer team plays in the second-level USL Championship, sharing First Tennessee Park with the Sounds. The 2019 season is the last for the current version of Nashville SC—the name will be assumed by a new Major League Soccer team that will start play in 2020 at Nissan Stadium. NSC will then move to its own new stadium at the former Tennessee state fairgrounds near downtown in 2022.

• Vanderbilt CommodoresThe Vanderbilt Commodores represent Vanderbilt University, one of Nashville's larger sports attractions. As members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), they compete against many colleges and universities throughout the southeastern United States. Vanderbilt is the SEC's only private school and the conference's smallest school by enrollment. The best-known Vanderbilt sports venues are , home to the football team, and , home to the men's and women's basketball teams and one of the most unique settings in the sport. The men's baseball team has had recent success and won the College World Series in 2014 and 2019.

• Nashville boasts three other NCAA Division I programs, although not at the profile of Vanderbilt:

• Belmont BruinsThe Bruins, representing Belmont University, are one of several less expensive alternatives to Vanderbilt for those wanting a college sports experience. The Bruins compete mostly in the Ohio Valley Conference, but do not have a football program. The most popular sport by far is men's basketball, which has become a frequent NCAA tournament participant. Their rivalry with Lipscomb (below) is one of the most intense (and under-the-radar) rivalries in the ranks of the so-called "mid-majors".

• Lipscomb BisonsLipscomb University is a private school that competes in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

• Tennessee State TigersThose interested in African American culture may also be drawn to the Tigers (and Lady Tigers), representing Tennessee State University, the city's largest historically black school. They are members of the OVC alongside Belmont, but unlike the Bruins play football in the second-level Division I FCS. Most venues are on campus, but the football team plays at Nissan Stadium.

The Visual and Performing Arts

• Frist Center for the Visual Arts

  address: 919 Broadway
  Featuring 24,000 sq. feet (6500 m²) of gallery space with exhibits from local through to regional and all the way to international artists. The Frist strives to be a family friendly museum and as such has created ArtQuest, a colorful space with 30 interactive stations.

• Tennessee Performing Arts Center

  phone: +1 615 782-4000
  address: 505 Deaderick St
  TPAC is home to HCA/TriStar Broadway at TPAC, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, Tennessee Repertory Theatre, and other special engagements.

• Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art

  phone: +1 615-356-800
  address: 1200 Forrest Park Dr
  A estate built by the founders of Maxwell House coffee on the fringes of the city featuring an art museum and a beautiful botanical garden. The art museum features American and Europeans exhibits.

• Hatch Show Print

  phone: +1 615 577-7710
  address: 224 5th Ave. South
  Visit this traditional printing shop that uses letterpresses to create posters for entertainment events to see them prepare some posters. As the Hatch brothers allegedly put it, "Advertising without posters is like fishing without worms."

• Tennessee Foreign Language Institute

  phone: +1 615 741-7579
  address: 220 French Landing Drive
  State-supported language institute offering classes on site and in the workplace in up to 141 languages, including ESL, and interpretation and translation services to government, business and the community at large.

Popular tourist souvenirs include cowboy paraphernalia (boots, hats, etc.) as well as any and all music themed items. Expect to find many local shops selling these items. Some downtown shops offer "buy 1, get 2 free" deals. Be sure to shop around.
Major shopping malls include:

• Mall at Green HillsThis mall contains several high-end vendors. Dillards and Macy's are the anchor department stores. Other stores include Betsy Johnson, Apple, Gap, Burberry, Sephora, BCBG Max Azria, bebe, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Tiffany, Benetton, and Swarovski.

• Opry MillsFormer location of the Opryland USA Theme Park, includes mostly outlet stores, specialized clothes shops like Brooks Brother, Coach, Michael Kors, Vera Bradley and Forever 21, and a Regal Cinemas and IMAX.

• 100 Oaks MallFormerly a mall, 100 Oaks's shopping options are the street level vendors. The building now houses new clinic facilities for Vanderbilt Medical Center, but shops remain open, too.

For a more local shopping experience:

• 12 South DistrictSeveral fun (though pricey) vintage stores, including Katy K's Ranch Dressing (awesome country-western outfits), Savant, and Local Honey (on a side street, also has clothing by local designers). Also home to the Art House gallery.

• East Nashville/5 PointsHead to Hip Zipper for vintage clothing, The Turnip Truck for health food, or Art and Invention Gallery for fine art and handmade jewelry.

• Hillsboro VillageShort section of 21st Ave. just south of Vanderbilt. Home of A Thousand Faces (jewelry and local art), Pangaea (quirky gifts), and a well-stocked kitchen goods and coffee store.

• Peabody Shoe Repair

  phone: +1 615-292-5214
  address: 718 Thompson Ln, #105
  Located in quaint Hillsboro Village, this shoe repair shop offers great deals on secondhand cowboy boots. Great place to find a bargain.

• Grimey's

  phone: +1 615-254-4801
  address: 1604 8th Ave., South Nashville
  The best independent record store in town. Cramped, but has a good selection of vinyl, while its sister store Grimey's Too, at 1702 8th Ave., features "pre-loved" music, books, and even a small coffee shop. Hosts free in-store performances by both local and nationally-known bands, usually in the afternoon or early evening.

Budget

• The ArcadeAn open-air 2-level arcade that runs between 4th Avenue North and 5th Avenue North. The Arcade primarily caters to the local downtown workers during the work week, but many great lunch restaurants can be found here, including Manny's House of Pizza, Phillip's Deli, and others. There are also several hairstylists, jewelers, florists, and other businesses. Be sure to visit the historic Peanut Shop.

• Bobbie's Dairy Dip

  phone: +1 615-292-2112
  address: 5301 Charlotte Ave
  An endearingly dingy 50s ice cream stand on Charlotte Ave., that has been revived into a popular summer mainstay that's popular with every demographic. Their hamburgers, hot dogs, and fries are some of Nashville's favorites, and the strawberry shortcake's great.

• La Hacienda Taqueria

  phone: +1 615 256-6142
  address: 2615 Nolensville Pike
  Established in 1993, La Hacienda Taqueria has continually been making statements and catching the notoriety as Nashville's finest authentic Mexican restaurant.

• Hermitage Cafe

  phone: +1 615 254-8871
  address: 71 Hermitage Ave
  This diner-coffeeshop is divey, friendly, cheap, greasy, and as southern as white gravy on fried chicken. Perfect if you're drunk or a night owl, which most of the other customers here are (except at breakfast, which draws a mix of polite older couples and hungover kids). An ancient cigarette machine and a well-stocked jukebox.

• Monell's

  phone: +1 615 248-4747
  address: 1235 6th Ave N
  Located in historic Germantown, Monell's is a Nashville tradition. They serve different meals every day and the good ol' home cookin' is sure not to disappoint! Seating and serving are done family style, 13-14 per table. More than likely you will sit with people you don't know. It is expected that you enjoy the company and meet new friends. First come, first serve. No reservations and no cell phones allowed.

• Las Palmas Mexican RestauranteA pretty good local chain of Mexican restaurants. You can get a nice filling meal here for under ten bucks. There are five Nashville locations, listed below, and several more in the suburbs:

• Las Palmas - Charlotte Pike

  phone: +1 615 352-0313
  address: 5821 Charlotte Pike

• Las Palmas - Franklin Pike

  phone: +1 615 292-1902
  address: 2617 Franklin Pike, Ste 111

• Las Palmas - Hayes Street

  phone: +1 615 322-9588
  address: 1905 Hayes St.

• Las Palmas - Highway 100

  phone: +1 615 673-1213
  address: 8167 Hwy 100

• Las Palmas - Nippers Corner

  phone: +1 615 831-0432
  address: 15560 Old Hickory Blvd

Las Paletas

phone: +1 615 386-2101

address: 2907 12th Ave S

Save room after your Mexican meal for Las Paletas' homemade popsicles in exotic flavors! The Paz sisters ate them often when growing up in Mexico and have now brought us their own take on the treats. Hibiscus, basil, chocolate jalapeno, and rose petal are all delicious; so are the tamer versions, like mango, raspberry, chai tea, chocolate chip cookie, and Mexican caramel.

Pizza Perfect

phone: +1 615 329-2757 (21st Ave) and +1 615 646-7877 (Bellevue)

Fabulous pizza, quite simply. Nashville isn't much of a town for pizza, but this place more than makes up for it. The plain slices are great, but even the fancier ones (like the Fantasy) don't gild the lily. Free live jazz Thursday nights at the 21st Ave. location (between Vandy and Hillsboro Village).

Rotier's

phone: +1 615 327-9892

address: 2413 Elliston Pl

An old, friendly neighborhood joint whose hamburger and milkshake are consistently voted the best in Nashville. Get the grilled version of the cheeseburger basically a grilled cheese with a hamburger in it.

Swagruha

phone: +1 615 736-7001

address: 900 Rosa L Parks Ave

They have a basic menu that would satisfy almost any Indian food craving and at $7.50 for a plate full of food, you won't go wrong.

Loveless Cafe

phone: +1 615-646-9700

address: 8400 TN-100

Known for its Southern cooking: biscuits, fruit preserves, country ham, and red-eye gravy.

Prince's Hot Chicken Shack

phone: +1 615 226-9442

address: 123 Ewing Dr

Home of the original "hot chicken", a Nashville classic that adds cayenne pepper to fried chicken.

Mid-range

• BB King's Blues Club - Nashville

  phone: +1 615-256-2727
  address: 152 2nd Ave N
  live music

• Cafe Nonna

  phone: +1 615 463-0133
  address: 4427 Murphy Rd
  Another well-liked Italian restaurant, this intimate neighborhood place keeps its menu small and its dishes impeccably prepared. With the fresh ingredients and simple preparation, you might as easily be in some Tuscan hill town. Located in Sylvan Park.

• Demos

  phone: +1 615 256-4655
  address: 300 Commerce St
  Located in Downtown Nashville, this steakhouse is named the best in Nashville by Reader's Choice. A 6-ounce with any side or a bowl of a special spaghetti is around $10, and 10 & under meals are around $4. Drinks $1.80. Comes with unlimited bread refills. No special dress code.

• Jack's Bar-B-Que

  phone: +1 615 254-5715
  address: 415 Broadway
  Don't miss this authentic Tennessee barbecue joint right beside the Ryman Auditorium. Located on Lower Broadway -- just look for the neon sign featuring flying pigs! Also at 334 West Trinity Lane, +1 615 228-9888.

• Maggiano's Little Italy

  phone: +1 615 514-0270
  address: 3106 West End Ave
  A busy Italian restaurant, serving Southern Italian meals, most famously in "family style", portions that are more than large enough to share. Reservations recommended for parties of any size. Open for lunch and dinner, seven days.

• Pancake Pantry

  phone: +1 615 383-9333
  address: 1796 21st Ave S
  A Nashville landmark and basically the best place in town for breakfast, anytime before 3PM. The frosted haired waitresses will call you "honey," and the pancakes will be better than you'd ever realized pancakes could be. Don't be daunted by the line snaking around the block on weekends; it moves quickly, and you get free coffee while you wait.

• Rosepepper Grille and Cantina

  phone: +1 615 227-4777
  address: 1907 Eastland Ave
  A neighborhood favorite for several years now, this popular and upbeat nouveau Mexican place is in East Nashville, a bit off the tourist's beaten path.

• San Antonio Taco Company

  phone: +1 615 327-4322
  address: 416 21st Ave S
  This place is always a favorite with Vandy kids, offering reliably so-so Tex-Mex food (very little meat on the tacos, and the guacamole has tons of pepper) and cheap buckets of beer. Right off the Vanderbilt campus. Stop by Ben & Jerry's next door for dessert. Caveat: towing in this area can be ruthless. Check the signs wherever you park. If you go, get the queso and chips for around $3. It's the best thing on the menu and is enough for 2.

• Sole Mio

  phone: +1 615 256-4013
  address: 311 3rd Ave S
  Long considered one of Nashville's best Italian restaurants, this place excels even in its new, viewless location on 3rd Ave - and, impressively, manages to keep its prices low. Subtle variations on traditional dishes keep things interesting, and the service is great. Seafood dishes and homemade ravioli are great.

• Acme Feed & Seed

  phone: +1 615-915-0888
  address: 101 Broadway
  food and live music

Splurge

• Catbird Seat

  address: 1711 Division Street
  32 seats surround a U-shaped kitchen, where chefs Josh Habiger and Erik Anderson prepare a multi-course tasting menu ($100 per person) with drink pairings ($20, $40, or $75 per person). Discussions with the chefs are encouraged as part of the experience. Reservations required, available one month in advance on the restaurant's website.

• Margot Café & Bar

  phone: +1 615 227-4668
  address: 1017 Woodland Street
  This quirky local restaurant at Five Points in East Nashville is considered by many to be Nashville best local chef-owned restaurant. It features a seasonal menu that is changed daily. Don't miss the seasonal hot chocolate topped with a homemade marshmallow for an after-dinner treat.

Coffee and tea

• CREMA

  phone: +1 615-824-3855
  address: 15 Hermitage Ave
  Popular coffee shop about a mile south of downtown. Known for its hand-crafted coffee creations and their selection of baked goods. Wifi friendly.

• Bongo Java

  phone: +1 615-385-JAVA and +1 615-777-EAST
  address: 2007 Belmont Blvd and 107 S 11th St
  The first and most relaxed in a very successful local mini-chain of quirky coffeehouses, Bongo Java is a meeting place for the young, the arty, and the students at Belmont University just across the street. Linger for hours on the huge porch over several cups of their incredibly strong, flavorful coffee, and take advantage of the free computer, Wi-Fi, and chess set use.

• Fido

  phone: +1 615-777-FIDO
  address: 1812 21st Avenue South
  A sister-cafe to Bongo Java, Fido offers the same brew as the other Bongo Java locations while also offering an array of breakfast/brunch options. You may even be able to snag discounted day-old bagels to pair with your espresso.

• Ugly Mugs Coffee & Tea

  phone: +1 615-915-0675
  address: 1886 Eastland Ave
  A locally-owned coffee house residing in historic East Nashville, Ugly Mugs brews the local roast Drew's Brews and displays artwork by local artists as well as live music on Saturday nights. Known for serving coffee in a vast collection of quirky and non-cosmetic coffee mugs. Toys available for children. Wifi friendly.

• Barista Parlor

  phone: +1 615-712-9766
  address: 519 Gallatin Ave
  The first in a chain of serious-minded coffee shops, the original is based in East Nashville, Barista Parlor is already a staple for local coffee lovers and has attained a reputation of style and quality.

• Roast, Inc.

  phone: +1 615 730-8074
  address: 2108 8th Ave S
  Service is very courteous, coffee is delicious, and baristas are very knowledgeable.

Alcohol

• The Big Bang

  phone: +1 615 242-9131
  address: 701 Broadway # B20
  Decent piano bar, but can be very rowdy at times.

• 3 Crow Bar

  phone: +1 615-262-3345
  address: 1024 Woodland St
  Located in the Five Points area of East Nashville is the linchpin in a cluster of bars all within a stone's throw of one another: Red Door Saloon, which also has an outpost in midtown; The 5 Spot, a pleasant nonsmoking spot that often books local bands; Beyond the Edge, a large sports bar; the Alley Cat, a popular neighborhood hangout with good food selection; and more.

• 3rd and Lindsley

  phone: +1 615-259-9891
  address: 818 3rd Avenue South
  3rd and Lindsley offers loud country- and blues-rock from local and touring performers.

• Cafe Coco

  phone: +1 615-321-2626
  address: 210 Louise Ave
  Isn't a bar, per se, but it does serve beer and remains open 24 hours every day. Expect to find studious Vandy kids, scene-making hipsters, and drunk everybody at night. Located just off Elliston behind the Exit/In.

• Douglas Corner Cafe

  phone: +1 615-298-1688
  address: 2106 8th Avenue South
  Another major venue for songwriters hoping to be discovered as well as established songwriters revisiting their old haunts. Open mic nights every week.

• Exit/In

  phone: +1 615-321-3340
  address: 2208 Elliston Pl
  A standby for mid-level touring bands of all varieties for decades. Check out the names of past performers over the bar.

• Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

  phone: +1 615-259-7468
  address: 1010 Demonbreun St
  Huge assortment of beers available here.

• Lipstick Lounge

  phone: +1 615-226-6343
  address: 1400 Woodland St
  Opened as a lesbian bar, the lipstick lounge now considers itself "a bar for humans."

• Mercy Lounge

  phone: +1 615-251-3020
  address: 1 Cannery Row # 100
  Its many red pool tables, large deck, friendly vibe, and live band karaoke nights add to its charm. Often hosts nationally-known indie bands.

• Springwater

  phone: +1 615-320-0345
  address: 115 27th Avenue North
  Located next to Centennial Park, this is one of Nashville's most reliable dive bars and often hosts underground and noisy local and touring bands. Once a speakeasy, later a hangout for Jimmy Hoffa, now host to a strange mix of local drunks, slumming Vandy kids, and musicians. Pool table, arcade games, good jukebox, good booker, a cheap beer-only bar, and a large screened-in cement block porch. Don't miss its regular Working Stiffs Jamboree.

• Station Inn

  phone: +1 615-255-3307
  address: 402 12th Avenue South
  A bit of a time warp, especially located in the middle of the now trendy Gulch area of 12th Ave. Its excellent bluegrass and old-time Americana shows have drawn loyal patrons for decades.

• The Basement

  phone: +1 615-254-8006
  address: 1604 8th Avenue South
  Intimate (read: cramped); owner and man-around-town Mike Grimes books everything from country singer-songwriters to young noise bands. Above the venue is Grimey's, his record store that consistently is voted best independent record store in Nashville. A non-smoking, 21+ club.

• The End

  phone: +1 615-321-4457
  address: 2219 Elliston Pl
  Located just across from Exit/In, it regularly books reliable indie rock bands, both local and nationally known.

• The Stage

  phone: +1 615 726-0504
  address: 412 Broadway
  Good music nightly on the stage at this spacious two-floor honky tonk in the center of downtown Nashville.

• Tootsie's Orchid Lounge

  phone: +1 615-726-0463
  address: 422 Broadway
  Tootsie's is one of the few denizens of lower Broad that looks like it's been there for half a century - and it has. An old honkytonk where many major country stars got their starts.

• Wild Horse Saloon

  phone: +1 615-902-8200
  address: 120 2nd Avenue North
  Located downtown, it offers line-dancing lessons during the day. It is conveniently located near quite a few other bars and clubs aimed at country music fans and tourists downtown, most of which tend to be bustling on weekends.

Hostels

• Music City Hostel

  phone: +1 615 692-1277
  address: 1809 Patterson St

• Nashville Downtown Hostel

  phone: +1 615 497-1208
  address: 177 1st Ave N
  Single-sex and co-ed dorms available, along with private rooms. Shared bathrooms in hallways. The hostel also features a kitchen, common area, and pay laundry facilities. Free wireless internet offered; internet terminals also available for a small fee.

• Scarritt-Bennett Center

  phone: +1 615 340-7500
  address: 1008 19th Ave S
  Bath is shared with one other room. Locks off. Near Vanderbilt and Music Row.

Budget

• Alexis Inn & Suites Nashville Airport-Opryland

  phone: +1 615 889-4466
  address: 600 Ermac Dr
  Free hot breakfast, free high-speed Internet, airport shuttle. All non-smoking hotel.

• Best Western - Music Row

  phone: +1 615 242-1631
  address: 1407 Division St
  Located in the heart of "Music Row." Pet friendly, free breakfast.

• Club-Hotel Nashville Inn & Suites

  phone: +1 615 883-0500
  address: 2435 Atrium Way
  Hot breakfast, free high-speed Internet, airport shuttle, fitness center, great outdoor pool and evening manager's cocktail reception. Meeting rooms available for meetings and training. Fully smoke-free hotel and facility.

• Holiday Inn Express Nashville Airport

  phone: +1 615 883-1366
  address: 1111 Airport Center Dr
  Great amenities, including an outdoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, free 24-hour shuttle service to the BNA Airport. You can start the day with the free, hot Express Start Breakfast Bar.

• Clarion Hotel Nashville Downtown – Stadium

  phone: +1 615 254-1551
  address: 211 N 1st St

• Days Inn - Opryland

  phone: +1 615 228-3421
  address: 3312 Dickerson Rd

• Suburban Hotel - South

  phone: +1 615 871-0678
  address: 3910 Central Pike

Mid-range

• Best Western Suites - Opryland

  phone: +1 615 902-9940
  address: 201 Music City Cir
  All-suite hotel with refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker in rooms. Free breakfast, pool, sauna and fitness center.

• Comfort Inn Downtown Nashville

  address: 1501 Demonbreun St
  Pet-friendly hotel with microwaves, refrigerators, coffeemakers, and free wireless high-speed internet in all rooms.

• Country Inns & Suites - East Nashville

  phone: +1 615 277-1099
  address: 3423 Percy Priest Dr
  Clean and quiet hotel 10 mins from almost everything. Across the road from Percy Priest lake. Free breakfast, pool, fitness center.

• Courtyard by Marriott - Airport

  phone: +1 615 883-9500
  address: 2508 Elm Hill Pike

• Hayes Street Hotel

  phone: +1 615 320-0110
  address: 1909 Hayes St
  111 rooms and suites.

• Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville Downtown

  phone: +1 615 277-5000
  address: 310 4th Avenue South
  Complimentary breakfast, high-speed Internet, 154 rooms and suites.

• Holiday Inn Express - Downtown

  address: 920 Broadway
  Complimentary breakfast, high-speed internet.

• Holiday Inn Select - Vanderbilt

  phone: +1 615 327-4707
  address: 2613 West End Ave
  300 rooms, pet friendly, outdoor pool and high-speed internet.

• Homewood Suites Nashville Downtown

  phone: +1 615 742-5550
  address: 706 Church St
  Located in the historic Doctor's Building in downtown Nashville. An all-suite property with full functioning kitchens, free high speed internet, and complimentary hot breakfast bar. Beautifully restored in 2007 and only upscale extended stay in downtown area.

• Loews - Vanderbilt

  phone: +1 615 320-1700
  address: 2100 West End Ave
  One of 16 in this luxury hotel chain.

• Millennium Maxwell House

  phone: +1 615 259-4343
  address: 2025 Rosa L Parks Blvd
  Make sure to get your "Goo Goo" cluster candy bar, a Nashville production, at check in so you can thoroughly enjoy this Country Music themed hotel!

• Hotel Preston

  phone: +1 615 361-5900
  address: 733 Briley Pkwy
  Attractive hotel with outdoor pool, pet friendly, high-speed wireless internet.

• Quality Inn Nashville Downtown - Stadium

  phone: +1 615 244-6690
  address: 303 Interstate Dr
  Located right next to the football stadium. Guitar-shaped indoor pool.

• Sheraton Music City

  phone: +1 615 885-2200
  address: 777 McGavok Pike

Splurge

• Courtyard by Marriott - Vanderbilt/West End

  phone: +1 615 327-9900
  address: 1901 West End Ave
  Free high-speed internet and complimentary shuttle service.

• Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center

  phone: +1 615 889-1000
  address: 2800 Opryland Dr
  The largest non-casino hotel in the world. In 2014, Marriott was fined $600,000 by the US Federal Communications Commission for willful interference with cellular Wi-Fi hotspots used by clients at events in this hotel.

• The Hermitage Hotel

  address: 231 Sixth Ave N
  Beautiful lobby and rooms, fantastic dining. Be sure to check out the famous men's room near the lobby.

• Hilton Nashville Downtown

  phone: +1 615 620-1000
  address: 121 4th Avenue South
  A relatively new AAA Four-Diamond hotel 1 block off Broadway. An all-suite hotel with a restaurant that has great American cuisine.

• The Hutton Hotel

  phone: +1 615 340-9333
  address: 1808 West End Ave
  A relatively new 4-star hotel in the West End district. The on-site restaurant serves new American cuisine with an emphasis on sustainable seafood entrees and farm fresh produce from local growers, and an expansive wine list.

• Marriott - Vanderbilt

  phone: +1 615 321-1300
  address: 2555 West End Ave
  Overlooking Vanderbilt University. High-speed internet available.

• Renaissance Nashville Hotel

  phone: +1 615 255-8400
  address: 611 Commerce St
  Renovated, located in the business district, and connected to the Convention Center.

• Union Station Hotel, Autograph Collection

  phone: +1 615-726-1001
  address: 1001 Broadway

• Fairlane Hotel

  phone: +1-615-988-8511
  address: 401 Union Street
  In the style and personality of the 1960s and 70s. Retro-modern rooms complete with era-appropriate décor and details.

Avoid walking in North Nashville, especially the Bordeaux and MetroCenter districts, and use caution when driving through the district at night.
Use caution when walking around Downtown Nashville at night, especially along the avenues south of Broadway. Use designated parking and avoid leaving valuables in your vehicle. Panhandlers do exist around these areas as well.

By phone

Most telephone numbers in Nashville consist of +1 615 plus a seven-digit number, but the region is now served by an overlay complex of two area codes, with +1 629 being the second. A local or in-state telephone call now requires all 10 digits of the local number be dialed (omitting just the leading +1 from a local landline call).
Signage on many established businesses may still display the original seven-digit numbers; dial 615 before these if no area code is indicated.

Unlike the more conservative suburbs surrounding it, the city of Nashville is more accepting of alternative sexualities and lifestyles.
In Nashville there is a growing gay entertainment district featuring a number of gay clubs, dance halls, lounges, restaurants and sex clubs on Church Street between 12th and 22nd Avenues with very chic spots offering lively, classy entertainment. LGBT individuals are mostly accepted in the areas of Downtown, West Nashville, Hillsboro, and East Nashville, with South Nashville and North Nashville being less friendly.

Newspapers

• The Tennessean. The main daily newspaper.
• Nashville Scene. Nashville's oldest and largest weekly, now run by the Village Voice. Excellent entertainment news and reliable features, plus useful special issues (Annual Manual, Dining Guide, You're So Nashville If..., College Guide, Best of Nashville, etc.)

Consulates

• Denmark (Honorary)

  phone: +1 615 936-4952
  address: Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, 2200 Children's Way Rm 1424

• Germany (Honorary)

  phone: +1 615 251-5447
  address: 201 Fourth Ave N Ste 1420

• Italy (Honorary)

  phone: +1 615 725-1669
  address: 113 Wynthrope Way, Franklin

• Japan

  phone: +1 615 340-4300
  address: 1801 W End Ave Ste 900

• Fall Creek Falls. A spectacular waterfall located on the rim of the Cumberland Plateau, several hours outside of Nashville.
• Franklin. Fifteen miles south of Nashville. A historic Civil War town.
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an International Biosphere Reserve that straddles the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. The park is about a 3⅓-hour drive east of Nashville, so it would be more than you could do in a day, but certainly worth a weekend trip!
• Lynchburg Located 1½ hour's drive to the southeast, this small town is home to the Jack Daniels Distillery.
• Natchez Trace Parkway. The long parkway follows the same path used by travelers from Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi during the early 19th century. It begins in the southwest part of Nashville along Highway 100 about 10 miles outside of the city. south from the parkway entrance in Williamson County is the nation's first segmentally constructed concrete arch bridge. The parkway provides spectacular views of the rolling hills in Tennessee.
• Tullahoma Located about an hour southeast of Nashville, this town is home to the George A. Dickel distillery and a thriving aerospace industry based around Arnold Air Force Base.