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Nashville’s Renaissance

by Olivia Liveng

W hen one thinks of Nashville, they likely picture the always buzzing Broadway district brimming with honky-tonks, bachelor parties in matching cowgirl hats, and a surplus of “meat n’ three” (Southern speak for meat and three rotating sides) establishments. And while Music City is undoubtedly renowned for its perpetual tunes and vigor, my husband, Jonathan, and I also experienced its renaissance on a recent trip to Tennessee.

A Variety of Accommodations

Admittedly, on previous excursions to Nashville, my friend group would cram in the least expensive hotel on Broadway, intending to minimize sleep time and cost and conversely maximize party time. However, Jonathan and I decided to experience more local areas on this trip and enjoy pampering ourselves at upscale accommodations.

Our first boutique hotel, The Kimpton Aertson Hotel, was a welcome haven following a long flight. Our corner-room suite overlooked Midtown, a less traditionally touristic neighborhood that weaves local spirit and academia. In fact, with such proximity to Vanderbilt University, I enjoyed chatting with college students by the hotel’s rooftop pool about their favorite local bars in town (and we tried many, they sure know their secret spots!)

After a few days living more locally, Jonathan and I relocated to the JW Marriott Nashville, an iconic architectural glass wonder and Music City’s first proper luxury accommodations. We enjoyed escaping the Nashville heat with a cocktail and a dip in the hotel’s pool. The proximity to Broadway was ideal for walking to the honky-tonks and museums. But what we adored most about the JW Marriott was the elevated service (and elevated views!). We enjoyed dining at their 34th-floor restaurant, Bourbon Steak, a gastronomic institution that fuses traditional steakhouse with Nashville institutional stables. Plus, their varied and artfully-concocted deconstructed cocktails are perfect for sampling before a night out on Broadway.

Nashville is More Than Hot Chicken

Speaking of food and drink, there is much more than just fried chicken and beer to consume when visiting Nashville (though, rest assured, a visit to Hattie B’s or Prince’s Hot Chicken for their hot chicken is a staple for all Nashville itineraries.) But with such a vast array of choices—from takeaway to Michelin starred—-, it’s necessary to come hungry to Nashville. Following a busy morning exploring the city on foot, we ate a multi-course lunch at Etch, where the award-winning head chef treated us to an array of global flavors, inspired by her many world galivants. Another eccentric and delicious restaurant we tried was the speakeasy-style Fable Lounge, tucked near the Centennial Park in Nashville’s West End neighborhood. We enjoyed various flavors, including artisanal cheeses, summer vegetables, and Southern stables, such as grit cakes and braised short ribs.

Nashville’s Renaissance Pays Tribute to History

Though Nashville is fastly becoming a metropolis and world-class travel destination, it continues to amplify its history as it modernizes. In fact, Music City opened The National Museum of African American Music in 2021, which showcases the musical genres inspired, created, or influenced by African-Americans. My husband and I could have spent an entire day exploring this museum and participating in a variety of interactive exhibits (including a virtual reality gospel singing experience!) Of course, The Country Music Hall of Fame is a staple for any Nashville itinerary, as it is recognized globally as the definitive home of American country music, with over 2.5 million artifacts, costumes, and instruments through the ages. After the museum, we enjoyed touring RCA Studio B, where Elvis often recorded and which provided us a glimpse into the production of Nashville Sound,

Following our intense immersion into the history, we had to experience the Nashville of today, and no better way to authentically do that than by visiting some of Broadway’s stable institutions: Robert’s Western World and Layla’s. The walls of these honky-tonks share the stories of Music City and have resisted conforming, keeping their authentic spirit despite many of neighboring bars shifting through the years. Sipping a beer and singing along to country music favorites at Layla’s the last night of our trip, I smile to my husband: Nashville has undoubtedly experienced a renaissance in the last few years, but some things will never change.

www.visitmusiccity.com