Nashville, TN

I'm going to Nashville this weekend and would love recommendations on places to go, places to eat, etc. We're headed down on Friday afternoon and we've already got plans for Saturday night. I'm really clueless as to what to do the rest of the weekend. We had planned to wander but I would love to hear what anyone has enjoyed and discovered.

We're staying kind of downtown (Hotel Indigo - Broadway and 17th it looks like from the map) and we would prefer places that we could walk to, but we're definitely willing to drive as well. I think we're about a mile from the hub, so I' guessing that some driving may be in order after dark. Maybe not? Again, I'm clueless as to this point as well.




(I'm sorry if I've already posted this inquiry. I searched to see if I had and could not find a thread.)

Check out http://www.flytenashville.com The forums' Blake Kollker moved there this year and I hear they are doing some cool stuff.

Pancake Pantry for Breakfast is a MUST........expect a wait, but it's well worth it.

Green Hills Grill is one of my fav places in Nashville. It' s in the Mall complex off Hillsboro, and is very tasty and very reasonable.

They have a 5 and Diner out by Cool Springs, with is an Honest to God Diner.....Good burgers, and fun atmosphere.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.......they were some of my favs when I lived there.

If you are in the Cool Springs area for the diner (which is cool) you might want to try Calypso Cafe. Whenever I drive through Nashville Itry to stop there because of they have the best jamacian rotisserie chicken. The website gives all their locations. (http://www.calypsocafe.com)

In the Midtown area there is Noshville which lists itself as an authentic NY deli. I can't speak to that, but I do know I had one of the best, if not biggest, pieces of cheesecake I've ever had there. (http://www.noshville.com)

Not far from Noshville is Bosco's Brewery, which started in Memphis. It is a little more upscale than most microbreweries and has some really good beer, including the Famous Flaming Stone Beer. The food can be pretty good also. (http://www.boscosbeer.com)

Finally, also out of Memphis, is Neely's Bar-b-que. There is only two things you need to know about Neely's: Bar-b-que Nachos and Bar-b-que Spaghetti. Enough said. (http://www.neelysbbq.com)

Christopher Pizza http://www.christopherpizza.com is a fun place to go. Afterward, you can walk down to the Tin Roof for drinks and (sometimes) live music.

The sunset grill is fairly close to your hotel. They have a shuttle bus so no need to drink & drive. They have many summer specials on wine & food and is fabulous.
South street is a funky crab shack with good & cheap eats. It is on 20th Ave S, also very near.

Calypso cafe on Elliston pl ,also close is good too.

We have been to Tayst restaurant a couple of times and plan on returning next time we're in town. They aren't downtown but its probably less than 15 minutes away.

http://www.taystrestaurant.com/

If you're a wine geek Midtown wines is a wine shop downtown with a pretty good selection.

http://www.midtownwine.net/Default.htm

Hope you have fun.

2nd and Broadway is the place to go. (The District)
http://www.thedistrictnashville.org/

From there you can walk to over 20 bars and restaurants.

My favorites are:

The Flying Saucer
http://www.beerknurd.com/

Jack's BBQ
http://www.jacksbarbque.com/

Mulligan's Pub

Pancake Pantry for Breakfast is a MUST........expect a wait, but it's well worth it.

Green Hills Grill is one of my fav places in Nashville. It' s in the Mall complex off Hillsboro, and is very tasty and very reasonable .......they were some of my favs when I lived there.

Bill ... you nailed two of my favorites. Years ago when I made monthly trips to Nashville for work, Green Hills Grill was our go to spot. I need to make another trip!

Try the "Loveless Cafe" off Highway 100, near the Natchez Trace Parkway.....great country cooking in a '50's motor court setting.....if you're in the mood for Italian, "Maggiano's" (Chicago-based chain) has a location near Vandy -- very good!!

Bill & Rebecca - I hate to disappoint you, but Green Hills Grille recently closed - at least the one in Cool Springs did. Not sure about the one in Green Hills, but it may have gone under also.

To the original poster: Broadway runs from the Cumberland River all the way through the heart of the city. It changes to West End Avenue at 16th avenue, I believe, so your hotel is in a really good spot. As for dining, Rotier's on Elliston Place (about 9 blocks West of your hotel) has had the best burger in the City 50 years running. The patties are always fresh and are hand-formed. I also recommend that you order it grilled (comes as a patty melt) or on french bread. They have great milkshakes also, and the Hershey's Chocolate Cake is to die for - try it heated with vanilla ice cream. YUM!

Pizza Perfect is on 21st Avenue next to Vanderbilt- also close to your hotel - and has excellent pizza by the slice. A great place to hang out on the deck & drink a few cold ones, as well. Speaking of which, try San Antonio Taco Company (SATCO, according to the locals), which is a stone's throw from Pizza Perfect and offers some of the best short-order TexMex in town, along with buckets of 20-30 different beers. Usually have live music on the deck during the summer, as well. The entire 21st Avenue/West End Avenue area around Vandy is always hopping.

For finer dining, I'd recommend Mere Bulles in the heart of Brentwood (about 15 minutes south of downtown), or any one of the many establishments along West End/21st and even in the heart of downtown around 2nd Avenue. Basically, you can't go wrong as long as you stay on Broadway/West End/21st Avenue - and they all intersect. I second Pancake Pantry for breakfast, and it's also on 21st. Loveless Cafe is also world-reknowned for it's early morning fare, but it's a little further out Highway 100 (which is directly off of West End Avenue the further out you go).

Swett's is off of Charlotte Avenue and offers the best soul food experience in town. Many good places to eat in Nashville, and a great deal of them are within a short drive of one another.

Every time I go to Nashville I end up going to Cabana. http://www.cabananashville.com/ I LOVE the Tennessee Sliders & the lobster mac & cheese.

Last time we were in Nashville we had an outstanding meal at The Capital Grille in the Hermitage Hotel. Located right downtown just a couple of blocks from the state capital.

http://www.thehermitagehotel.com/site/d ... rille.aspx

Bill & Rebecca - I hate to disappoint you, but Green Hills Grille recently closed - at least the one in Cool Springs did. Not sure about the one in Green Hills, but it may have gone under also.

Tom......the one at the Mall is alive and well. Yes, Cool Springs closed. But according to their website, they have one in Nashville and Knoxville.

The Pancake Pantry is a must. There's no doubt about it. There was a 20 minute wait when I went at 10am on a Friday though, so I can't imagine how long the line is on weekends.

There are a number of new restaurants in an area called "The Gulch" which isn't far from where you are staying. I had some good upscale seafood at a place called Watermark. Nevertheless, the feel of these places is rather generic. I'd go for some barbecue instead.