Located in the north of Tennessee, Nashville is known as the hometown of country music thanks to its thriving scene. With Taylor Swift moving to the city as a youngster to kick start her career and with Dolly Parton calling the area her home, it’s clear that Music City has the A-list stamp of approval. But despite its roots, Nashville is far more than a music hub for songwriters and fans alike. Step away from the recording studios and jam-packed shows and you’ll find bustling bars, boutique hotels and mouth-watering restaurants – as we found out on a recent visit. From where to buy your very own cowboy boots to the dining hotspots serving the juiciest chicken wings (it’s what the city is famous for), OK! rounds up what you should see and do during a visit to the Athens of the South.
Nashville, aka Music City, has helped musicians like Taylor Swift kick start their music careers
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Let the good times roll Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley and Taylor Swift are just three of the country music stars who honed their talents in Nashville. But the magic of Tennessee’s capital isn’t reserved purely for the vocally blessed. Anyone can pull on a pair of cowboy boots and have the time of their lives. (Reader tip: I bought mine at Boot Country – buy one pair, get two free!) That said, the musical roots run deep in Nashville and every bar, restaurant, hotel and food court features talented folk enthralling the crowds. Country classics are even blasted through speakers on the streets. You’ll come to this US gem for the tunes, but stay for the vibes.
Nashville is ideal for music fans
Handy hotels If you like to stroll everywhere, like me and my travelling “pardner” [aka my dad], then 1 Hotel in downtown Nashville is for you. From there, it’s easy to mosey on down to Honky Tonk Highway for buzzing live music bars, head over to the Johnny Cash Museum or catch a Nashville Predators ice hockey game at Bridgestone Arena. The carbon-neutral hotel offers spacious rooms filled with lush greenery. You soon forget you’re in a city, until you see the rooftop bar views. We also stayed at W Nashville, which celebrates local artists in its modern decor, and has a swimming pool. It’s in The Gulch area, where cool eateries like STK and Milk & Honey mix with old-world charm. Visit the nearby Station Inn, a revered country music bar, and shop for vintage goods in the neighbouring stores.
Nashville is full of modern hotels including 1 Hotel and W Nashville
Some of Nashville’s hotels ooze old-world charm
Turn up the volume The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has three floors packed with country memorabilia, from Elvis’s Cadillac to the leopard-print outfit Shania Twain wore in her video for That Don’t Impress Me Much. You can even record your own country cover – I chose Taylor’s We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, while my mortified dad joked, “I don’t think the recording booth is soundproof!” Head to Studio B to stand in the spot where Elvis and Dolly recorded some of their hits, and tour the iconic Ryman Auditorium – the former home of the weekly music show Grand Ole Opry, now based across town. In the Broadway honky-tonk bars, potential stars of the future sing for a few dimes in the tip jar. We loved being directed by the music, before pulling up bar stools to order Bud Light Limes. If you feel shy on the dance floor, try a free line-dance class at the Wildhorse Saloon.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is filled with music memorabilia
Slow it down The Broadway strip is pretty wild after dark, especially at the weekend, so for a calmer vibe The Listening Room Cafe, off the beaten track, is ideal. Visitors are asked not to talk as local musicians perform acoustic versions of their songs, describing their creative process. I’d never heard of Micah Carpenter who, in his song 4×4 Ever, compares his romantic love to his fondness for his jeep! But that’s the beauty of Nashville – discovering amazing talent round every corner. Take an Uber out of the city to Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery and learn about the rise and fall of a local family while touring their Southern plantation house, before enjoying a free wine tasting.
Broadway Street can get pretty wild after dark thanks to its honky-tonk bars
(Image: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
Tuck in Tennessee native Justin Timberlake has invested in The Twelve Thirty Club, which dominates Upper Broadway. The ground level offers a casual experience, while the first-floor Supper Club is more high-end. As a singer softly crooned, I tucked into a sublime 7oz Petit Filet bachelorette-cut steak. We then headed underground to the Pushing Daisies margarita bar, where the eight-page menu, listing variations of just the one tipple, was magnificent. The city is synonymous with hot chicken wings and we loved Edley’s Bar-B-Que and Hattie B’s Hot Chicken. I also discovered that mac and cheese as a side is just as common as fries back home. For slightly lighter meals, Two Hands is a cute brunch spot. Try the lemon poppy seed waffle – divine. How to book Rooms at 1 Hotel start at £210 a night. Visit 1hotels.com. A stay at W Nashville starts from £299 per night. Visit wnashville.com. For more information on visiting Nashville, go to visitmusiccity.com. Fly to Nashville direct with British Airways. Returns from London Heathrow start at £668. Visit britishairways.com for details. READ MORE: Click here for today’s top showbiz news ‘I’m a travel agent – these are the top hotspots to escape the cold UK weather’ UK’s best luxury spas – from Kylie Minogue’s favourite to infinity pools ‘I went to Italy’s Bologna for an olive oil massage and tasted bolognese I’ll never forget’ Get exclusive celebrity stories and shoots straight to your inbox with OK!’s daily newsletter Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterMore OnTravel
