WeWent...To Nashville (48 Hours)

I can’t really imagine a better city to spend a weekend in.  Nashville is one of the up and coming cities of the south--Think ‘Austin’ but less hipsters and more bachelorette parties

Let's start with the arrival. Lauren and I decided to fly economy on American Airlines (really American Eagle). Our experience with this American flight was sub part, but we mostly knew that going into it. Nashville International (BNA) is a relatively small but very welcoming and easily accessible airport. BNA offers a few lounges, a Delta Sky Club, American Airlines Admirals Club, and a USO location, as well as two Greycliff Cigar (Smoking) Lounges. There were several bars with live music that got you quickly into the Music City vibe. We grabbed a quick UberVIP ride to our AirBNB across town.

A quick note on UberVIP. UberVIP is a prefered rider variant of Uber offering the “highest rated and most experienced drivers” and better cars. Having the American Express Platinum Card gave me access to this membership level. We used uber 8 times while in Nashville, all using this VIP level, and basically every ride was excellent. Several of the cars were nicer (Mercedes-Benz E class and Chevrolet Suburban) and all of the drivers offered great customer service. Unfortunately, UberVIP is only available in select cities so not everyone is able to take advantage of this product.

This was our first attempt with AirBNB. My one word, first time review? Passable. We paid about $500 for two nights in a waterfront condo. The convenience is obvious but if you're like me, the pricing and relatively average experience leads me to believe you might be better off ponying up for a hotel. I can however see the obvious benefits for longer stays or larger groups. We have two more AirBNBs on the books this year, so I will withhold judgment until we complete all three stays.

Now to the juicy stuff...

Nashville may be ‘Music City,’ but for us it was ‘Food City.’  Every meal we had here was memorable if not on the top of our personal lists.  First stop, Martin’s Barbeque.  Nashville is NOT technically known for barbecue, true purists will tell you to go to Memphis when looking for Barbecue in the Volunteer State.  Martins has brought solid Barbecue to downtown Nashville, a few blocks off Broadway, this counter-serve joint offers a full bar in addition to out-of-this-world sweet tea.  Martin’s has one choice of sauce, a combination of classic Memphis flavor with Carolina Vinegar.  The portions are large but the price is directly correlated.  We recommend:  2lbs of Ribs, or a The Kid Sampler.

The first night...
We decided to take a shot in the dark and just hit a few bars that looked like fun.  First stop was Honky Tonk Central.  Not a true honky tonk, a fun three story party bar with plenty of seating and corner balconies that overlook the debauchery on Broadway.  Next stop, Tequila Cowboy.  My out-of-state drivers license actually got us kicked out of this bar, unusual in a tourist town.  We finally found ourselves at home at a location recommended by one of our uber drivers, Famous Saloon.  We went straight to the rooftop (there's an elevator we found after making the 4 level trek), where we found a cool atmosphere with a great view of the Cumberland River and Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans.  A must do for the quintessential stop in Nashville is a drop into Coyote Ugly, home of dancing on the bar.  Although a chain, the Nashville location is quite fitting, and there is a constant parade of female patrons dancing up on the main bar.  Our last stop was Acme Feed and Seed.  A much more populated bar with a $10 cover for the rooftop.  It was a great place to end the night.

Day two...
For Breakfast the next morning we tried out Another Broken Egg Cafe - Nashville.  Another Broken Egg Cafe is a southern chain offering southern inspired takes on breakfast items. We recommend:  Biscuit Beignets.

We spent the afternoon at the Country Music Hall of Fame.  Lauren is a huge country music fan, me?  Not so much.  However, did you really go to Nashville if you didn't didn't see Elvis’ gold plated Cadillac limo?  I don't think so.  The museum is reasonably priced and offers a great narrative of the history of country music, from it’s start as folk tales through the separation with rock, to the modern mega stars we know today.

After the Hall of Fame we stopped by the Swinging Doors Saloon for an afternoon drink.  There was a pretty comical (read: the singer was drunk) country duo performing upstairs but it gave the place a fun vibe and we loved it.  This place is also conventionally located next to the drop off location for those pedal tavern trips, resulting in several groups of heat exhausted bridesmaids and Bachelor parties gulping down way too fruity drinks.

For dinner we decided to wing it and walk into one of the most highly recommended establishments downtown, Merchants. Situated directly on broadway, merchants is a 3 story restaurant that occupies a building dating back to 1892.  Merchants offers two totally different dining concepts on their two main floors.  The ground floor is a southern bistro offering fine takes on traditional southern fare.  The second floor, where we were able to get a table with no wait at 7:30pm on a Saturday, is a more traditional upscale all American fare with a larger selection.  The service, contains, sides, and main course were absolutely on point.  We ordered entrees and shared sides.  The Lamb was fall off the bone, no knife needed, and the steak was unique and flavorful.  We recommend:  Mac and Cheese and Sriracha Carrots.

​

Our first stop this evening was The Stage.  A large music venue with a great cover band playing.  Thanks to Lauren we discovered a new drink.  She was craving jack Daniels Tennessee Honey, I mean we were in Tennessee so I get it.  She asked the bartender for something with Jack Honey and she delivered.  Tennessee Honey and Ginger Ale with a lemon.  We drank nothing else the rest of the night.  We moved on to another Uber driver recommendation, Nudie’s Honky Tonk.  Again we went straight for the roof and enjoyed the typical medley of bar/club music with a few odd ones mixed in.  Nothing particularly Nashville about the roof, but it was a good time.  After a return trip to Famous Saloon we called it a night.

The Last Few Hours...


Checking out of our AirBNB was painless, just walk out and pull the door behind you.

The ultimate highlight of the trip...Hattie B’s Hot Chicken.  This is a staple of the south, hands down the best hour long line we’ve ever waited in.  With 4.5 stars on yelp, this place is a must go to spot when in Tennessee.  The menu is simple, chicken and hotter chicken.  On Sundays they serve Chicken and Waffles, go on a Sunday.  We recommend:  Chicken and Waffles (Sunday Only).

Nashville is a vibrant town, constantly changing, and certainly is owed another post on this blog.

​

---

Dan

Co Founder