Last week I got to spend a couple of days in Nashville after a press trip with The Feed Feed and Handsome Brook Farms. I ended up traveling around solo and I totally forgot how nice it is to eat and do whatever you want without having to think of toddler sleep schedules and what everyone else wants to do. Don’t get me wrong, I love traveling with my family, but sometimes it’s nice to do your own thing!
I ended up only having 2 days to roam around Nashville so my itinerary is quite small. Nashville is a super walkable city so I ended up walking around everywhere and took an electric scooter when it got a little too hot to walk. (Lime, Spin, and Jump all have scooters in Nashville!)
Where to Stay:
The folks at The Feed Feed and Handsome Brook Farms put us up at the Dream Hotel in downtown Nashville. It was in the perfect place to explore the city from and there are tons of nightlife and good food within walking distance from the area. It’s right next to the famous Printer’s Alley and even has a speakeasy called the Snatch thats in the hotel itself! The hotels runs from $200-$300 a night which is quite expensive if you’re traveling alone but if you’re splurging – this is the place to stay! The whole hotel is made for Instagram. There are cool tiles, neon signs, and overall cool decor that is perfect for your Instagram! My favorite was their bathroom which had black and white tiles all over the place!
The last two days I was in Nashville I was on my own so I booked a night at Downtown Nashville Hostel. The only room available was a 4 person female shared room which I got for $49! They provide towels, sheets, blankets, and a pillow. The bathrooms are shared, however, you can book a private room with a private bathroom. The shared bathroom was super clean and the people staying there were respectful and super chill! I felt way too old to be there, it was mostly young 20-something-year-old musicians and college students. BUt if you’re looking for a cheap plade to sleep thats clean, safe and you’re looking to meet some cool people- this is the perfect spot. It’s in downtown, right on the river and super cheap!
What to Do:
I’m a huge history buff so I was excited to go to the Tennesee State museum (p.s its FREE!) and walk around at my own pace (yes, I’m that person who reads every single exhibit #sorrynotsorry). It’s free and had an AMAZING exhibit on Tennesee state food and the origins of soul food and other state dishes like Nashville Hot Chicken. It was so interesting to learn how much immigrants and slavery affected the food culture of Tennesee today. They also havea massive exhibit where you can walk through the history of the state from the beginning of the first paleo-Indians to now. I spent 4 hours at the museum so definitely set aside some time for this place. Check it out in the morning and then walk over to the Nashville Farmer’s Market for lunch afterward. The farmers market has an outside portion that is a traditional market and a building that is filled with various little restaurants and shops similar to the Ferry Building in SF.
Beyond the museum, I didn’t really check out too much, because I ate my way through the city!
What to Eat:
My first stop on my self-guided food tour was Chauhan Ale and Masala House where I had gol guppa and their gulab jamun cheesecake for lunch. The gol guppa was delicious! The pani (mint water) was so good I ended up drinking half of it straight from the bottle. I do wish the puri was traditional puri but I can overlook it since it the filling and pani was so good! Halfway through my meal I was surprised by Maneet Chauhan herself which totally made my day. I fan-girled over her and she was so gracious and kind. If you go here- I suggest getting the cheesecake. It was so good and the perfect amount of sweetness! If you have more time than I do, check out 12th street- there are little shops and restaurants along that area which are pretty cool.
On my last day in Nashville, I ended up hitting up Makeready for brunch! They had invited me to check out their brunch menu and I’m so glad they did! The restaurant is in downtown in the Noelle hotel. There are tons of large tables, so this place is perfect for large groups. I ended up ordering their biscuits and avocado toast and the chef was nice enough to send out their waffles and printer’s plate for me as well! The biscuits were by and far my most favorite thing on their menu. They’re served with their housemade cherry and peach compote (which they really should bottle and sell- so good!) and sorghum butter.
The biscuits were super fluffy and flaky – and it might just be one of the best biscuits I’ve ever had! The avocado toast was huge and plated super pretty- THIS is what you call Instagrammable avocado toast! I really enjoyed their crispy potatoes and eggs as well. After brunch, I ended up walking around 4th Ave since I was super stuffed and needed to walk it off.
When I saw a Gujarati chef in Nashville get recognized as the owner of one of the top 10 hottest restaurants in the US by Bon Appetit I knew I had to eat there! It’s reservation only (ticketed) and is a prix fixe seasonal menu that can be adapted to suit your dietary needs. The dinner service is unique in that every single dish is accompanied by a story from the chef about the inspiration behind the dish. There were some traditional Gujarati items on the menu like handvo and mugaj, and some not so traditional items like the kohlrabi salad with their housemade yogurt and Meyer lemon chhundo. The dishes were unapologetically spicy and full of flavor. I ended up chatting with the chef, Vivek Surti, after dinner and found out I know a few of his cousins (it’s a small brown world!) and swapped recipes! If you’re looking to splurge or havea unique dinner experience- definitely check out Tailor.
Overall Nashville is a city full of good food and fun people! I would suggest 3-4 days to fully take in the city, but if you’ve only got 2 days- the places I mentioned are a must!
