Our latest itinerary for the Music City

Over the past decade we’ve seen Nashville go from a buzzy, up-and-coming city, to a full-fledged mini-metropolis with a skyline that continues to expand. A number of public parks, open air museums and urban reclamation projects are underway in the downtown core, not to mention the many neighborhoods that continue to take on their own distinct character. With so many highly anticipated places opening it can be intimidating to put together an itinerary for the Music City, but by tapping into local knowledge we’ve found a mix of enduring favorites and newly minted standouts. With the temperatures cooling and plenty to explore in town, as well as the surrounding areas, there’s no better time to plan a trip to Nashville.

The Hermitage Hotel

Having undergone a massive property-wide renovation in 2022, The Hermitage Hotel offers an attractive blend of contemporary style with 114 years of charm. From Theodore Roosevelt to Mick Jagger, The Hermitage has played host to larger-than-life figures and the history of the building is ever-present. Happily there’s no air of stuffiness accompanying all that heritage, just excellent service and top notch hospitality. Whether you’re staying on property or not, The Pink Hermit is a must visit while in town as they offer a great coffee and breakfast program in the morning, as well as an Italian-cafe-inspired menu during aperitivo. Venture to the subterranean level of The Hermitage Hotel to discover the beautifully remodeled basement bar and enjoy an aperitif before an unforgettable dinner at Jean-Georges’ Drusie & Darr, where the atmosphere, service and menu are unmatched. In a city full of great steakhouses, it’s Drusie & Darr’s prime beef tenderloin that we’d point to as being consistently the best steak. Other highlights include the egg toast with caviar that fools your brain into thinking you’re eating a piece of the world’s best grilled cheese sandwich and the maitake crusted salmon with spring peas and miso mustard emulsion. Whatever the purpose of your visit, make sure to ask about seeing both downstairs bathrooms for an unexpected pop of mid-century design and color.

Folk

The dining scene in Nashville continues to boom, but even with all the new places, we’re happy to return to Folk in East Nashville again and again. Some people call it a pizza place, others a natural wine bar, others one of the best happy hours in town. The reality is that Folk is all those things and more. We’d just as soon go in for one of their fresh-from-the-farm salads and a glass of chilled Chenin Blanc, as we would for the generously portioned chicken milanese and one of their signature cocktails, like the “Finch” which mixes Ford’s Sloe Gin, St. George Reposado Gin, Amaricano and Charente Blanc.

The Iberian Pig

Atlanta-based Castellucci Hospitality Group opened their third Iberian Pig restaurant, this time in The Gulch district of Nashville last year. It quickly became a favorite among locals and tourists alike. One visit to either of the tastefully decorated levels of the two-story building and you’ll understand why. It’s one of those restaurants you just want to linger in because the space transports you elsewhere from the moment you walk in. Swing by for Jamon Happy Hour all week between 4-6PM to enjoy tasty house-made Sangria for just $5. Chef’s rotating selection of quesos and charcuteria are available for $24 and the marinated Spanish olives are a must. Aim to grab a seat at the bar upstairs if you’re rolling solo or with one guest. Otherwise we recommend making a reservation for a table to enjoy the full tapas menu with as many friends as you can round up. For parties of six or more and $95 a head, you can even get a suckling pig, provided that you give them 72 hours notice.

Coral Club

We weren’t sure we were in the right place the first time we went to Coral Club, but now that we’ve been we’ll not soon forget it. Located upstairs in a strip mall off of Gallatin Pike, the moody, minimalist bar is the latest project from brothers Aaron and Matthew Izaguirre, and local hospitality veterans Brice Hoffman and Kristopher Esqueda. The cocktail menu is one of the strongest in town and the open-air rooftop is an unexpected bonus alongside the cool, dimly lit interior. 

Urban Cowboy Public House

Located outback of the Victorian home where Urban Cowboy’s rooms are sits Public House, the open-air bar concept that’s a local favorite in addition to being a tourist destination in its own right. From 4PM onward you can pull up a bar stool and enjoy seasonal house cocktails or take your drink and sit out on the beautiful patio. Roberta’s offers their signature woodfired pizzas and a selection of small bites in case you don’t feel like going anywhere else for dinner. We wouldn’t blame you, once you get a good spot here, like in the courtyard by the standalone wood burning fireplace, it’s hard to leave.

Dozen Bakery

What started as a pop-up experiment in 2009 became such a hit that a permanent space was needed and since 2015 Dozen Bakery has been the spot for bread and pastries in Nashville. A great coffee program accompanies a menu that features equally delicious savory and sweet options as well as seasonal specialties that can change monthly. Ever present highlights include the focaccia egg sandwich and a must-try cinnamon roll, both of which tend to sell out fast, especially on weekends.

Dose Coffee

We visited the first Dose location almost a decade ago and were equally impressed by the coffee program as we were the biscuit breakfast sandwich. There are places that solely focus on biscuits in Nashville that don’t come anywhere close to what Dose offers. Serving Counter Culture Coffee year round, Dose has also served coffee from guest roasters around the US so it’s always possible that you’ll get something unexpected when you visit.

STAG

Since opening their first store in Austin on South Congress in December 2009 STAG Provisions has cultivated a loyal following and been named one of the top menswear stores in America. For those familiar with STAG, the opening of their first Nashville location is long overdue and for those just introduced to the apparel and lifestyle store, it’s a destination worth navigating toward just to take in the store itself. The new 2000-square-foot space was designed by STAG in partnership with Dryden Architecture and features a mix of industrial, modern and mid-century elements meant to highlight an exciting assortment of designers and makers from around the world. These include heavy-hitters like Ralph Lauren RRL, BEAMS+, Alex Mill and Red Wing Heritage, as well as niche favorites like Kapital, Universal Works, Rogue Territory, Levi’s Premium and Portuguese Flannel. For its opening, STAG teamed up with a select group of small-batch makers and designers including Ft Lonesome and Gitman Vintage to develop limited-edition collections for the Nashville store. With Buck Mason and Imogene + Willie just down the street, and Sid Mashburn soon to open in Germantown, Nashville’s menswear scene is quickly becoming elite.

Weiss Watch Company

Founded in 2013 in Southern California and currently based in Nashville, Tennessee, Weiss Watch Company is the largest mechanical watchmaking company in the United States. Founder Cameron Weiss, a Swiss-trained, certified master watchmaker, designs and builds every watch by hand from start to finish, a rarity in US watchmaking. Existing and potential customers can now visit the newly opened Weiss Studio or book a VIP experience which includes a one-on-one consultation with Cameron to discuss the design and manufacture of a personalized CAL 1003 Executive Issue Field Watch. Guests will also get a first look at limited edition timepieces and have the chance to purchase them before they’re available to the public.