Nashville

Nashville Travel Guide

• About Nashville

It’s impossible to spend any time in Nashville without getting your groove back: music made this city, music runs this city, music is this city. A friendly Southern metropolis that beats to its own drum, line dances to its own fiddle and wigs out to its own steel guitar, Nashville has thrown up or welcomed in everyone from the Kings of Leon and Miley Cyrus to Little Richard and Johnny Cash. Despite a reputation for country music, Nashville (or Nash Vegas as locals have taken to calling it) is far from rural. It’s a stylish cityscape with skyscrapers, architecturally attractive civic spaces, high-end hotels and on-trend dining options. Located in the centre of Tennessee, with Memphis to the west and Chattanooga to the south, Nashville is the boom city of the southern states, attracting visitors from across the USA with its easy-going lifestyle, great BBQ and sweet treats like momma used to make. Since becoming the state capital in 1843, Nashville has transformed itself from wild hunting outpost to the nation’s music heartlands. The Grand Ole Opry started its weekly radio broadcast here in 1925 and the city hasn’t looked back since. It is now a cornerstone of country music. On any night of the week, the state-of-the-art music venues in Downtown Nashville attract devoted live music fans in their thousands. It doesn’t matter if it’s an international superstar stopping off on their stadium tour, or an unknown songwriter trying their luck in the dark bars of Honky Tonk Alley, Nashville lives up to its nickname as the Music City. These days, it’s got more strings to its banjo than just the music though. Its restaurants are first class, its art scene is blossoming and it even has a replica of Greece’s Parthenon as an art museum. So what are you waiting for? Let the unofficial mayor and mayoress of Nashville, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton, sweep you off your feet for a feet-stompin’, hand-clappin’, bottom-wigglin’ adventure of a lifetime.

• Nashville History

Prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century, the area that is now occupied by Nashville was home to a succession of Native American tribes, among them the Cherokee, Chickasaw and Shawnee, who were drawn to the region by its fertile land and plentiful wildlife. But their reign was came to an abrupt end when Hernando de Soto explored the area in the 16th century, paving the way for an influx of French fur traders. Nevertheless, it took a pair of Britons to construct the first permanent settlement, Bluff Station, which was put up in 1780. By 1800, Nashville had begun to establish itself as a centre for cotton growing, getting its city charter in 1806 and expanding to become capital of Tennessee in 1843. Its first setback came in 1861, when Tennessee became the last state to join the Confederacy – a move that immediately made Nashville a primary target for Union forces. In 1862, it became the first state capital to fall to the Union Army during the American Civil War and was the scene of a bloody battle in 1864. In the years that followed, Nashville expanded rapidly, becoming a hub for trade, in particular for cotton and coffee. In 1918, its trading prowess led to a disaster remembered as the Great Train Wreck, which saw an inbound passenger train collide with an outbound express, killing 101 people in the process. The incident remains one of the deadliest in US history. As the early 20th century wore on, Nashville’s growth remained steady and was barely interrupted by WWI and WWII. Nashville’s music industry was born during the same period, starting with the Grand Ole Opry which arrived in 1920. By the 1940s, the Opry had moved downtown and recording labels were flocking to the city. The Country Music Association was founded soon after, ensuring the city’s future success. The Opry moved to the Gaylord complex in 1974, and as country music went global, the city’s stock rose even further and it became the iconic destination it is today.

• Did you know?

Elvis Presley recorded more than 200 of his songs on Nashville’s famous Music Row. The city also became the first in the US to get a radio broadcasting license, attaining its credentials in 1941. Nashville’s 42m-high (138ft)Athena Parthenos is the largest free-standing statue in the Western hemisphere.

• Weather in Nashville

Summer is the peak tourist season in Nashville, so unless you’re specifically visiting the city for the Country Music Fan Fair (CMA Music Festival) in June, you might want to avoid summer’s hot weather and high hotel prices. Spring and autumn are both pleasant, not to mention much cheaper to boot. Winters can get cold enough for snow, while short bursts of heavy rain happen almost year-round, but are rarely a problem in the summer.

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Things to see in Nashville

Attractions

• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Boasting a large musical collection, this museum provides self-guided tours that take visitors on a chronological journey through the history of country music, from its humble beginnings to the modern days. The Studio B tour also takes you to Elvis’s favourite studio, the heart of Music Row and the birthplace of the Nashville Sound. Address: 222 Fifth Avenue South, Tennessee. Telephone: +1 615 416 2001 Opening times: Daily 09:00-17:00. Website: www.countrymusichalloffame.org Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Grand Ole Opry

Grand Ole Opry began radio broadcast on 5 October 1925, making it the oldest continuous radio program in the United States. Apart from tuning in to Opry broadcast today, or streaming via its mobile app, you can also see live shows at the venue. Several tour packages are available, including backstage tour and tour that includes the Ryman Auditorium. Address: 600 Opry Mills Dr, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 871 6779 Opening times: February to October. Website: www.opry.com Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Ryman Auditorium

One of downtown Nashville’s prime attractions is the original home of the Grand Ole Opry country music event from 1943 to 1974. By day, visitors can tour the auditorium, stand on the stage and hear anecdotes from the tour guides about the country stars who played here. In the evening the venue hosts a series of concerts. Memorabilia is also on display, with some stage outfits and guitars. Address: 116 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville. Telephone: +1 800 733 6779 Opening times: Daily 09:00-16:00. Website: www.ryman.com Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Parthenon

This full-scale replica of Greece’s most famous building was erected in 1897 to house the international art exhibition for the Centennial Exposition. It now serves as Nashville’s art museum, but the real focus of the Parthenon is the gilded 13m (42ft) re-created statue of the goddess Athena. The statue took eight years to build, and while walking or driving around the Parthenon at night, you may be fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of her through rarely opened doors as an event gathers under the stunning golden sculpture. Address: 2500 West End Ave, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 862 8431 Opening times: Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00, Sun 12:30-16:30. Website: www.nashvilleparthenon.com Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Adventure Science Center

Need a break from country music? Adventure Science Center is an excellent alternative. There is a range of exhibitions here, all center around biology, physcis, earth and space. The venue includes a 75-foot-tall adventure tower and the Sudekum Planetarium. Address: 800 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 862 5160 Opening times: Thurs-Mon 09:00-15:00. Website: www.adventuresci.org Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Gaylord Opryland Resort

decadent hotel complex houses a collection on Nashville’s biggest draws. Aside from the hotel, it boasts the Grand Ole Opry music venue and the so-cheesy-it’s-cool Willie Nelson and Friends Showcase Museum ( Website: www.willienelsongeneralstore.com ) It’s also the spot to see the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree  ( Website: www.ernesttubb.com ) a long-running, midnight country radio show that records in front of a live audience from the hotel. It is a place of pilgrimage for music fans of all persuasions, and though a little out of town, it still attracts visitors in their hordes. Address: 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 889 1000 Opening times: Daily 08:30-21:00. Website: www.marriott.com Admission Fees: Yes (Willie Nelson and Friends Showcase Museum), No (Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree). Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Belle Meade Plantation

The Belle Meade Plantation contains one of the oldest houses in Tennessee – a log cabin from 1790. The star attraction, however, is the 1853 Greek Revival Mansion, which has been lovingly restored to its original elegance. Other original outbuildings survive on the 12-hectare (30-acre) site, including the stables and a carriage house from the 1890s. Guides dressed in period costume give tours. There is also a visitor centre, tearoom and gift shop. Address: 5025 Harding Pike, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 356 0501 Opening times: Daily 09:00-17:00. Website: www.bellemeadeplantation.com Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Belmont Mansion

This Italianate mansion was built in 1853 by Adelicia Acklen, who at the time was one of the wealthiest women in America – thanks in part to her cotton trading with both sides during the Civil War. There are 16 rooms that are open to the public, with guided tours showing the original furniture and artworks. The grounds, now part of Belmont University, also contain a gazebo and statuary. Address: 1900 Belmont Boulevard, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 460 5459 Opening times: Daily 10:00-15:30. Website: www.belmontmansion.com Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: No UNESCO: No

• Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park

This large park covers an area of 8 hectares (19 acres) to the north of the Tennessee State Capitol. The grounds contain 31 fountains (corresponding to the main rivers of Tennessee) and a vast granite map of the state. The park also has walks, a Wall of History, an amphitheatre and good views, especially leading up to the Capitol itself. Address: 600 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville. Telephone: +1 888 867 2757 Opening times: Daily 07:00-22:00. Website: www.tnstateparks.com Admission Fees: No Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum

One of the Music City’s newest attractions, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, has now found a new home at the Historic Nashville Municipal Auditorium. Owned and created by former singer/songwriter Joe Chambers, the museum honours the studio musician and features artefacts and instruments used during legendary recording sessions. It also has a 465 sq m (5,000 sq ft) performance hall, functioning recording studio and a music school, which offers lessons to students of all ages. Address: 401 Gay Street, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 244 3263 Opening times: Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00. Website: www.countrymusichalloffame.org Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• The Hermitage

The Hermitage was home to America’s seventh president, Andrew Jackson, and it remains Nashville’s national treasure, attracting 250,000 visitors every year. Jackson first bought the property in 1804 and some of its original log cabins still survive. Rather grander is the Greek revival mansion he built in 1837, which has been fully restored, containing almost all original period furnishings. The gardens are impressive too and there is a museum on the site, as well as a restaurant and gift shop. Address: Hermitage, 4580 Rachel’s Lane, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 889 2941 Opening times: Daily 09:00-18:00. Website: www.thehermitage.com Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Cheekwood

Known as Nashville’s ‘Home of Art and Gardens’ and also the Museum of Art, Cheekwood covers a site of 22 hectares (55 acres). The three-storey Georgian-style Cheek Mansion was built in the 1930s, by a successful local businessman, Leslie Cheek, and his wife Mabel. The art collection concentrates on local artists, such as the sculptor William Edmondson, who was the first African-American to have work displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York back in 1937. The gardens of the estate are magnificent and include a botanic hall and woodland sculpture trail. Address: 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 356 8000 Opening times: Tues-Sun 09:00-17:00. Website: www.cheekwood.org  Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

Tourist Offices

• Visitor Information Centre

Address: 501 Broadway, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 259 4700 Opening times: Daily 09:00-17:00. Website: www.visitmusiccity.com More than just a tourist office, the hub of Nashville’s visitor information also works as a great spot for people watching and the best place to shop for music-themed items. Local guides speak English and Spanish, and offer a plethora of maps, advice and leaflets in a beautiful glass building. The Visitor Information Centre also displays work by local artists.

Tourist passes

• Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau

Telephone: +1 615 259 4700 Website: www.visitmusiccity.com offers a variety of passes that give discounted entry to attractions. The Music City Total Access Pass offers free entry to four of 20 participating attractions, plus admission to The Parthenon. All are available from the Visitor Information Centre, or can be purchased online or by calling Telephone: +1 800 657 6910

Things to do in Nashville

• Brave Tennessee’s quantum leap

Whoosh your way through Tennessee with Adventureworks Telephone: +1 615 297 2250 Website: www.adventureworks.com a zip-wiring company providing airy thrills for the brave at heart. Zoom over through stunning forest, feet dangling over treetops, or try aerial trekking, an obstacle course in the sky, whilst only the courageous will take the quantum leap, a 9m (30ft) jump.

• Discover lost underground caves by boat

Float your way through a grand natural entrance and into an awe-inspiring cave system at: Lost River Cave Telephone: +1 270 393 0077 Website: www.lostrivercave.com just an hour from Nashville. Boat tours glide the peaceful green waters as centuries of natural history arches overhead, including impressive red limestone domes. Visitors can paddle themselves on a kayak tour.

• Go caving in the Cumberland Caverns

Tennessee’s largest show cave, the Cumberland Caverns Telephone: +1 931 668 4396 Website: www.cumberlandcaverns.com features some 43km (27 miles) of mapped underground passages and several routes to choose from. Daily walking tours can only reveal so much. Instead, if you’re brave enough, wait for nightfall and pump up the adrenaline gauge by camping in the caves overnight.

• Hike the trails around Fontanel Mansion

For hikers itching to stretch their legs, the trails at Fontanel Mansion Telephone: +1 615 876 4618 Website: www.fontanelmansion.com wind for 4km (2.5 miles) under gorgeous canopies of native trees. Local creatures, including raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks and deer, will offer company. Dogs on leashes are warmly welcomed too and the paths are well maintained but unpaved.

• Try some wild swimming

Escape your hotel swimming pool and splash around in some wonderful wild swimming holes instead. Percy Priest Lake Website: www.percypriestlake.org is a lovely spot – a man-made reservoir not far from the city with safe, designated swimming areas. There’s an information centre on shore with maps showing the best areas for a plunge.

Nashville tours and excursions

Nashville tours

• Walking tours

For a good – and not too strenuous – overview of the city, the City Walk is a marked trail of 3km (2 miles), which begins at Fort Nashborough and ends at the Hatch Show Print Shop on Broadway. Visitors should either follow the blue line or obtain a leaflet from the Visitor Information Centre, Gaylord Entertainment Centre, 501 Broadway, corner of Fifth Avenue. Telephone: +1 615 259 4747 Website: www.visitmusiccity.com

• Bus tours

Numerous companies offer tours, invariably focusing on the country music scene and often including a drive past the homes of Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. Grand Ole Opry Tours offers a variety, one including a backstage tour of the Grand Ole Opry. Other companies include the very irreverent NashTrash Tours. Telephone: +1 615 889 9490 , +1 615 226 7300 , +1 800 342 2132 Website: www.nashtrash.com 

• Boat tours

General Jackson Showboat takes you back to a bygone era aboard the 91m (300ft), four-deck paddlewheel showboat. Named after the first steamboat to operate on the Cumberland River, and namesake of the Tennessean-born US President, the General Jackson offers a variety of cruise packages, which navigate the Cumberland River from Opry Mills to Riverfront Park in Downtown Nashville. Wanderin’ Star Yacht Charters offers three-hour sailing cruises on Old Hickory Lake on a Catalina 25. Gourmet cocktail cruises or evening sunset cruises are the most romantic. Sailing lessons also available. Cruises and lessons run between April and October. Telephone: +1 615 458 3900 , +1 615 851 4274 Website: www.generaljackson.com

Nashville excursions

• Nashville Zoo

Over 1,350 animals from 255 different species are on display in this innovative zoo, 3777 Nolensville Road, Grassmere, which covers 81 hectares (200 acres) not far from the centre of the city. There are Bengal tigers, cheetahs, an ‘African Elephant Savannah’, the USA’s largest community-built playground for the children, the aptly named Gibbon Islands exhibit, an ‘Unseen New World’ exhibit (with over 200 reptiles, insects, amphibians and fish) and the old Croft House. This was built in 1810 and now houses a working farm exhibit and a young children’s petting zoo. Newest exhibits feature ocelots, giraffes and alligators. Telephone: +1 615 833 1534 Website: www.nashvillezoo.org

• Gaylord Opryland

One of Nashville’s major attractions, located about 10km (6 miles) from downtown Nashville. Allow at least half a day to see everything. Opryland is a collective term for the whole area, also known as Music Valley, which contains the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Opry Mills and the Grand Ole Opry (temporarily closed due to floods at the time of writing, and rehoused in the Ryman). Other attractions include the Music Valley Wax Museum, the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree, and the Willie Nelson and Friends Showcase Museum. From Downtown, the area is easily accessed by the Opry Mills Express (bus 34). Website: www.gaylordhotels.com

• Natchez Trace Parkway

No one should visit Nashville without sampling at least a short stretch of this unique drive, which begins about 24km (15 miles) southwest of the city centre. The whole parkway, one of the country’s first interstate highways, runs for 715km (444 miles) to Natchez, Mississippi and was an ancient trading route for early European settlers and American Indians. Today, with a leisurely 80kph (50mph) speed limit and only recreational traffic, it makes a wonderfully peaceful drive through unspoilt scenery. Telephone: +1 800 305 7417 Website: www.nps.gov

Shopping in Nashville

The best buys in Nashville are all about listening right and looking good. So whether its rare CDs and second-hand vinyl you’re after, or a Stetson hat and cowboy boots, the city has it covered.

• Key areas

Downtown is a good place to start for boutiques for fashionable Western wear and souvenir shops hawking country and western memorabilia. There are also several antique districts. Prime areas are Nashville’s Eighth Avenue South, Franklin (south of town), Goodlettsville (on the north side) and Lebanon (30 minutes to the east).

• Markets

The fourth weekend of every month, the Flea Market at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds draws huge crowds for the two-day bargain bonanza. Meanwhile, Nashville’s Farmer’s Market, which is open seven days a week, is the place to go for fresh produce and a tasty range of ethnic foods.

• Shopping centres

The best malls are out of town. The biggest and newest is Opry Mills, 433 Opry Mills Drive, with 200 stores and an IMAX theatre. Slightly smaller is the Cool Springs Galleria, 1800 Galleria Boulevard, Franklin, off I-65. The main shopping mall on the north side of town is RiverGate Mall, located on 1000 Rivergate Parkway, Goodlettsville, just off I-65.

• Opening hours

Opening hours of retail stores tend to be Monday to Saturday 10:00-18:00 Downtown and Monday to Saturday 10:00-21:00 and Sunday 13:00-18:00 in the suburbs.

• Souvenirs

You can’t strut your way home after a holiday in Nashville without a pair of genuine cowboy boots. Lucchese, located at 503 12th Avenue South, is where the locals buy theirs and the shop carries over 200 styles of boots for men and women. For music-related treasures, head to Music City where rare CDs and second-hand vinyl are easy to find, or visit Ernest Tubb’s Record Shop No 1 at 417 Broadway. Nashville has a plethora of hot stores for looking good while rocking out – many with musical connections. Hank Williams, Jr.’s granddaughter has just opened high-end hot spot, H. Audrey, at 4027 Hillsboro Pike.

• Tax information

In Nashville, the sales tax is 9.25%, which is non-refundable.

Restaurants in Nashville

Nashville has an extensive range of restaurants from roadside diners and BBQ joints to high-end eateries and more unique choices. Individually owned, trendy and many with a pan-Pacific influence, the city’s burgeoning foodie scene serves up grub in a delightful range of settings. The restaurants below have been hand-picked by our guide author and are grouped into three pricing categories: Expensive (over $100) Moderate ($50 to $100) Cheap (up to $50) These prices include three courses and a bottle of house wine. A sales tax of 9.25% is not included. Sometimes a gratuity (usually 18%) is added to the bill. If not, a tip of 10 to 15% for service is customary.

Expensive

• Pinewood

Cuisine: American Open from early morning to late night, Pinewood is a community hangout with a coffee shop and a bar, a bowling alley, two small outdoor pools, a co-working area with lots of outlets and—oh, yeah—a restaurant, all inside a converted trolley barn space with access to free parking. It sounds like a hodgepodge of things that don’t go together but, instead, Pinewood is the go-to for locals, visitors and even music celebs, with delicious cocktails and a menu that satisfies but doesn’t overwhelm. Don’t skip the fried broccoli. Address: 33 Peabody St, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 751 8111 Website: www.pinewoodsocial.com

• Bastion

Cuisine: American Bastion has two sides to enjoy: A casual cocktail bar that is open to the public, and a 24-seat restaurant requiring reservations located in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood of Nashville, TN. The restaurant operates Wednesday thru Saturday with reservations available from 5:30pm to 9:00pm for parties of 1 to 6. Reservations open on the first of each month for the entire following month. Address: 434 Houston St STE 110, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 490 8434 Website: www.bastionnashville.com

• Lyra

Cuisine: Middle Eastern Lyra is a blend of old world flavors and spices infused with modern techniques. At the heart of Lyra is our wood burning oven where freshly baked pita is ready to be dipped in to our famous hummus. Enjoy a seasonal menu full of flavors and dishes for everyone to enjoy. Address: 935 W Eastland Ave, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 928 8040 Website: www.lyranashville.com

Moderate

• Chef’s Market Cafe & Take Away

Cuisine: Mediterranean This Californian/Mediterranean style restaurant is a combination of popular business meeting spot, restaurant and gourmet grocery. Take your pick from foodie servings of seafood, pasta, chicken and exotic vegetable dishes, or 21 salad combinations. The signature Club Med Salad is an all-time favourite and California-style wraps are prepared to order. The pastry case and gourmet coffees are reason enough to stop at Chef’s. Friday and Saturday nights feature weekly-themed all-you-can-eat buffets. Address: 900 Conference Dr #9, Goodlettsville. Telephone: +1 615 851 2433 Website: www.chefsmarket.com

• City House Restaurant

Cuisine: Italian This good-looking spot, located in the quaint residential neighbourhood of Germantown, delivers a menu of house-cured meats, fresh pastas and other rustic Italian recipes alongside a roster of intriguing desserts. The gorgeous architectural design melds perfectly with the old-world charm of Germantown’s brick sidewalks and historic homes. In its decor, layout and cuisine, City House celebrates simple, beautiful ingredients. Address: 1222 4th Ave N, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 736 5838 Website: www.cityhousenashville.com

• Rolf and Daughters

Cuisine: New American Rolf and Daughters is where the country stars come to dine. The inventive menu by chef Philip Krajeck is the result of his Belgian roots, his Italian instructors and his American base, all mixed with sublime fresh ingredients. The rustic sauces and homemade dough are comfortingly good, but don’t miss the mushroom, kale and parmesan pasta – it’s food so good you won’t notice the Grammy Award winner on the table next to you. Address: 700 Taylor St, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 866 9897 Website: www.rolfanddaughters.com

Cheap

• Jack’s Bar-B-Que

Cuisine: Barbecue Heralded by the neon flying pigs sign, Jack’s is the favourite barbecue spot for those visiting Downtown. The casual, cosy dining room fills quickly for lunch, while the fragrance of slow-smoked barbecue cooked over hickory wood awakens the taste buds. The best deal is the BBQ Combo, giving a selection of pork shoulder, beef brisket, turkey breast, smoked sausage, ribs or smoked chicken with two vegetables and cornbread. The choice of six award-winning barbecue sauces adds to the flavour of Nashville’s best grill. Address: 416 Broadway, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 254 5715 Website: www.jacksbarbque.com

• Pancake Pantry

Cuisine: Pancake The Pantry is something of a Nashville institution. The place to eat your way through a hangover, break-up or bad day, their fluffy, sweet or savoury stacks are known to solve any issue. A long-standing family business, the owners make a couple of runs a year to the hills of East Tennessee to retrieve their specialty ground flours. Their syrups are freshly prepared each day from top secret recipes too. The only downside to this place is the line – expect to queue for anything up to two hours at weekends. It is worth the wait, though. Address: 1796 21st Ave S, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 383 9333 Website: www.thepancakepantry.com

• The Frothy Monkey Coffeehouse

Cuisine: American The Frothy Monkey Coffeehouse is a sophisticated coffee shop serving a range of fresh and organic gourmet soups, salads, sandwiches and muffins. The outdoor patio is a great spot for people-watching in this hip neighbourhood of restored houses and health-conscious walkers and cyclists. Exposed brick, natural light, local artworks and a relaxed ambiance make sure the crowd is an interesting one. Address:  Rep. John Lewis Way N, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 600 4756 Website: www.frothymonkey.com

Nashville Nightlife

Music is the focus of Nashville’s nightlife. Acts play throughout the day and into the night. Nashville also attracts rock, swing, blues and jazz musicians. Downtown is the hub, with the liveliest places along Broadway or in Printer’s Alley. The legal drinking age in Tennessee is 21 years and bars are licensed until 0300, but most tend to close earlier on Sundays. Dress code is ‘anything goes’ in the honky-tonks and ‘smart-casual’ elsewhere. The Tennessean ( Website: www.thetennessean.com ) website offers live music, cultural and sport event listings and the free weekly paper Nashville Scene ( Website: www.nashvillescene.com ) also provides social listings. The dominance of country music tends to overshadow the fact that Nashville is also a hotbed of many other types of art and culture.

Bars in Nashville

• Patterson House Bar & Restaurant

Located in the trendy Gulch area, Patterson offers an elaborate selection of authentic cocktails poured over eight types of twice-filtered ice that are uniquely mixed with homemade syrups and bitters. The joint also offers a 15-item menu with everything priced under $11. Weekends are busy, so visit on a week night. Sit at the bar for the full experience. Address: 1711 Division Street, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 636 7724 Website: www.thepattersonnashville.com

• Losers Bar

Despite essentially being a small drinking hole in a trailer, Losers Bar is the current favourite among the Nashville trendsetters. Selling itself on the simple premise of live music and cold beer, it’s open every night until 0300 and is a fabulous place for people watching. With fun tunes and kitsch decor, Losers has quickly acquired itself celebrity regulars, so look out for a well-known country singer or one of the guys from Kings of Leon playing shuffleboard in the back. Address: 1911 Division Street, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 327 3115 Website: www.losersbarnashville.com

• Broadway Brewhouse Downtown

One of the most respected brew houses in the South, this downtown branch has around 75 beers on tap at any one time and an 18m (60ft) bar to accommodate those seeking out the perfect pint. To accompany the ales, they serve up original pizza recipes, including Cajun and brisket. The bar is especially busy whenever there’s a local sports fixture, but it’s worth the crush for the choice of drinks. Address: 317 Broadway, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 271 2838 Website: www.broadwaybrewhousedowntown.com

Clubs in Nashville

• Santa’s Pub

Santa’s Pub has quickly become a Nashville nighttime institution. This unique drinking den has to be experienced to be believed: the owner is a Santa lookalike who decided to open the doors of his double-wide trailer and offer karaoke and cheap beer (prices start at an unbeatable $2) every night to the city’s party animals. A house band plays each Sunday evening and the only rule here is ‘be nice.’ Cash only. Address: 2225 Bransford Avenue, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 593 1872 Website: www.santaspub.com

• Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge

Close to the stage door of the church-like Ryman Auditorium, musicians used to nip into Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge for a drink between shows. Famous visitors have included Hank Williams, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristoffersen and there are lines of new bands and singers that play on the tiny Tootsie stage who are trying to emulate them. Adorned with old photos and homemade brews, this rough and ready boozer makes outsiders feel like locals, and locals feel like kings. No wonder it’s been around for over 50 years. Address: 422 Broadway, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 726 0463 Website: www.tootsies.net

• Pinewood Social

If you want a bit of glamour mixed into your country, Pinewood Social is the place to be seen. More a cool community concept than just a bar, locals hang out all day at this former trolley barn where they pick between fab tiki cocktails or amazing Mexican food, a vintage bowling alley and karaoke. There are swimming pools and bocce ball courts as well as a drinks patio and an Airstream trailer bar. Address: 33 Peabody Street, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 751 8111 Website: www.pinewoodsocial.com

Live music in Nashville

• The Bluebird Cafe

This live music venue is the place for budding singers and songwriters to get noticed. Many musicians, including Garth Brooks, played here as virtual unknowns, and have gone on to fame and fortune as top recording artists. Around 100 people can fit into the performance room, so you could be rubbing shoulders with some high-flying music industry executives – but don’t let that put you off. Address: 4104 Hillsboro Road, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 383 1461 Website: www.bluebirdcafe.com

Classical music in Nashville

• Schermerhorn Symphony Center

Designed to emulate the perfect acoustics of European concert halls, this is the permanent home of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. The neoclassical building is a work of art in itself, featuring a custom-built pipe organ and versatile show space that can convert from raked to cabaret seating, or transform into a spectacular ballroom for world class performances. Address: 1 Symphony Place, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 687 6500 Website: www.nashvillesymphony.org

Theatres in Nashville

• Tennessee Repertory Theatre Company

While national touring companies fill the main stage, this locally respected troupe performs a wide range of material at either the James K Polk Theatre or the Andrew Johnson Theatre, in the same venue. The company prides itself on high standards and locally produced plays that utilise Nashville talent wherever possible. Address: 161 Rains Avenue, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 244 4878 Website: www.nashvillerep.org

Culture in Nashville

• Tennessee Performing Arts Centre

One of the city’s larger music venues, the Tennessee Performing Arts Centre hosts everything from big names through to honest-to-God legends of the country music scene and beyond. It occupies an entire city block and has four performance theatres, the biggest of which houses 2,400 people. The venue also hosts touring Broadway shows, plays, contemporary dance and just about any show big enough to pass through town. Address: 505 Deaderick Street, Nashville. Telephone: +1 615 782 4000 Website: www.tpac.org

• The Ryman Auditorium

Best known as the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium first opened in 1892. The Opry was based here from 1934 until 1974, when it moved to its current home at Opryland Drive. The list of past performers here reads like a who’s who of country music: essentially everyone from Elvis down. The venue seats 2,300 people and its church-like appearance serves it well as a place to worship country heroes. Address: 116 Fifth Avenue, Nashville. Telephone: +1 800 733 6779 Website: www.ryman.com

Nashville Food And Drink

Food In Nashville

• Meat-and – Three Diners

The meat can be anything from fried chicken to meatloaf to pork roast, while the sides are theoretically vegetables like collard greens and green beans to round out the meal, though fried items and non-vegetables like black-eyed peas and mac and cheese are at least as common.

• Fiery Fried Chicken – Nashville hot chicken 

Nashville hot chicken is quite spicy. Not only is the chicken marinated in hot sauce, but it’s also coated in a cayenne pepper sauce. However, the cayenne pepper sauce includes other ingredients like brown sugar and butter that tame the heat a bit.

• Fluffy Biscuits

An American biscuit is most closely related to a savory scone. Flour, butter, dairy and some form of leavening. Some of the variations might use buttermilk and baking soda, or milk and baking powder, in order to provide some leavening.

• Hot chicken Sandwich

Hot chicken might be the first thing that comes to mind, but there’s an emerging farm-to-table scene that is sweeping the city, plus you’re in the South so you’re bound to stumble upon some incredible BBQ.

• Stack Cake

Drink In Nashville

• Tennessee Whiskey

There are two major producers of Tennessee whiskey, Jack Daniel’s based in Lynchburg (owned by the Louisville, Kentucky-based Brown-Forman) and George Dickel based in Cascade Hollow near Tullahoma (owned by the London-based Diageo), as well as numerous locally based producers throughout the state.

• Potent Moonshine

The traditional ingredients for moonshine are corn and sugar, and during fermentation, the sugar produces ethanol, which makes hooch or moonshine. During distillation, alcohol separates from the mash. One of our very favorite hot coffee drinks! Made with Amaretto, Jack Daniels whiskey, and hot coffee.”

• Nashville Sweet Tea

Nashville Sweet Tea Co! makes family recipe craft sweet tea in small batches, with organic black-leaf tea, packaged in environmentally -friendly, recyclable containers. Each batch is brewed and packaged right here in beautiful Nashville, Tennessee.

Nashville Hotels

Dubbed ‘Music City’, Tennessee’s state capital of Nashville has acquired legendary status. For country music fans, this is a must-visit hub, brimming with venues and museums dedicated to the making of the iconic sounds of the South. It’s also a lively, vibrant city with a cool cultural and foodie scene, ideal for friends or families to explore. Accommodation options range from cosy B&Bs to swish city hotels, fit for a whole range of tastes and budgets. Many of the best places to stay in Nashville are close to the city’s top attractions, and it’s a wonderful metropolis to discover on foot or by bicycle, too. You’ll find heaps of live music venues, bars and restaurants clustered around Music Row, a buzzing evening strip. Music lovers will also adore the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, the Ryman Auditorium, Grand Old Opry House and the Johnny Cash Museum. The 38-ft high Musica sculpture is certainly impressive! Take the time to pop into art galleries, independent shops, coffeehouses, micro-breweries and hip Southern eateries whilst you’re in the city. Nashville boasts some beautiful green spaces, including the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park — surrounding the State Capitol and an excellent farmers’ market — and the Centennial Park. Venture beyond the city limits to see Civil War-era Fort Negley, The Hermitage — home of former president Andrew Jackson — and to delve into Tennessee history at the Belle Meade Plantation. You can expect country music, cowboy boots and honky tonk galore in this bright, bustling city — but there’s far more to Nashville than the stereotypes. Bag a room at one of the best places to stay in Nashville and take the time to unravel the city’s multitude of charms. Book well in advance if you’re in the city for a particular gig or festival!