Nashville isn’t just a thriving music city anymore — it’s a dynamic Southern hub. Already known for its legendary nightlife, vibrant restaurants and unique boutiques, the city is experiencing yet another transformative boom with the development of Nashville Yards. The 19-acre mixed-use space features residences, shops and everything in between, including a second location of Culaccino Italian Restaurant and Bar, a beloved area trattoria specializing in authentic, housemade pasta.
If that’s not tempting enough, keep reading for a host of other dining, resting and sightseeing recommendations for the next time you’re in Nashville.
Where to Stay
Blackberry Farm may be a longtime favorite, but there’s a new Tennessee farm everyone is talking about: Southall Farm & Inn. Opened in 2022, the Forbes Travel Guide Recommended property sitting on more than 425 acres of rolling hills and lush landscapes is a 40-minute drive from Nashville’s city center. Southall has a main building with 62 guest rooms and 16 cottages, offering so much privacy that the resort is a destination for celebrities. On a recent stay, Kourtney Kardashian and her husband, Travis Barker, were spotted enjoying green drinks in the lobby with their toddler.
Family-friendly Southall boasts something for everyone, from its soothing spa to its inviting pool to the challenging ropes course. Every day, there is a robust schedule of activities, many of which are farm-related. Discover everything there is to know about honey production. Feed the chickens. Tour the working greenhouses or experience an incredible falconry program in partnership with David Hudson, a licensed master falconer and owner of Turnbull Creek Falconry.
If you prefer cultivating your well-being instead, try Southall’s wellness offerings. There are Pilates sessions, yoga classes and daily sound baths. The spa has a sprawling soaking tub and superb deep tissue massages.
After partaking in the resort’s amenities, you’ll be hungry. January, Southall’s signature restaurant, serves quintessential Southern cuisine featuring many ingredients grown onsite. Enjoy piping-hot Parker House rolls with honey butter, green beans simmered to tender perfection in a fresh tomato and chorizo sauce, and dry-aged steaks with au poivre and Béarnaise sauces so good the restaurant could sell them in mason jars.
Day One
After a delightful breakfast at Sojourner, Southall’s all-day café, venture into town for a tour of one of the city’s top musical attractions. Both the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium offer daily tours, with tiered ticketing options that include a backstage pass to the sounds and stories behind country music’s biggest venues.
For lunch, head to the up-and-coming Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood. Check out the recently opened Hermès boutique and Pastis, a buzzy French bistro and bar that bustles no matter the day or time. Devour oysters on the half shell, delectable escargots or a bowl of cheesy French onion soup.
After a bite, wander over to Broadway, Nashville’s Vegas-like strip that’s filled with bars and bachelorette parties. The crowded thoroughfare, also known as “Honky Tonk Highway,” is home to countless musician-owned venues, each with multiple floors of food, drink, music and mayhem. There’s Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa, Jelly Roll’s Goodnight Nashville and many others.
One of the original honky-tonks is the purple-hued Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. Here you’ll find adults of all ages mingling, drinking and listening to upcoming musical acts. Opened since 1960, Tootsie’s early customers and performers include Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline.
At The Detroit Cowboy, a recently opened restaurant from singer Kid Rock, the cocktails are potent, the vibe is celebratory and the dinner is decadent. Crab cakes are meaty and fresh. The lobster bisque is rich and infused with sherry cream. The steaks come with six different sauce options, including chimichurri and blue cheese butter brûlée.
Day Two
After another spread of brisket hash and Hamery Country ham at Sojourner, return downtown to the Capitol View area. The Capitol Building, which opened in 1859, sits atop a scenic hill surrounded by important sculptures and pretty flora. This is a perfect spot for your Music City photo moment.
When it’s time for some shopping, walk along 11th Avenue and explore boutiques like SVM, a women’s clothing store with cozy sweaters and sophisticated denim. At Sercy & Co., peruse unique local gifts, like spice blends to make the city’s famed hot fried chicken and sweatshirts that say “Southern.” It also has a trucker hat bar where shoppers can customize a hat with patches, embellishments and embroidery.
Up at The Gulch, there are more shops like Carter Vintage Guitars, an incredible instrument emporium, and Lucchese, the famed cowboy boot purveyors. Over in Music Row, Headline by MM is a treasure trove of vintage clothing, cowboy boots and sparkling jewelry. Owner McKenzie Mitchell is a fourth-generation family jeweler who also makes and sells custom pieces, so if you want a special keepsake, you can create it here.
If you’re in the mood for brunch, make your way to Geist, an eatery with a gorgeous patio and welcoming staff in a building that dates back to 1886. Grab a table outside and enjoy fizzy cocktails, a wonderful club sandwich with herb aioli, shrimp and grits with bacon, and avocado toast with everything bagel spice.
Next, make the eight-minute ride over to Frist Art Museum, which is dedicated to high-quality exhibitions. Since 2001, it has presented 12 to 15 shows per year from some of the most prestigious collections in the world. New showings include “Paul McCartney Photographs”(through January 26, 2026), a set of recently discovered images taken by the rock star between December 1963 and February 1964, and “The Impressionist Revolution”(February 27 to May 31, 2026), with pieces by Monet and Matisse that illustrate the story of impressionism.
For your last dinner in Nashville, try Fancypants, one of the city’s trendy new eateries. The playful fine-dining destination serves a unique mashup of Asian-Italian cuisine. When you check in, the host offers a cocktail as if you were dining at someone’s home. The walls are painted a dark, moody burgundy, and shiny red tinsel hangs from the ceiling, creating an environment akin to a birthday dinner party.
The food, which ranges from housemade giant fish-shaped cheese crackers to braised short ribs that come with crispy ramen you crackle onto the dish, is comforting yet inventive. Toast to your wonderful Nashville getaway with something from an excellent wine list that features pours from co-owner Jake Mogelson’s native Sonoma.
