This past June, I go to go to Nashville and if you know me, you know that my kryptonite is country music. Let me just say Nashville did not disappoint. In this post, I'll give you a little bit of a rundown of the top places to see, eat, and obviously the bars to go to.
BARS Well, when in Nashville, obviously the bars are the most important part of the experience. Broadway is the main strip with all the bars across it, but you will find a couple other less famous ones on the side streets. Fun fact, a lot of famous singers have bars in Nashville, including Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert (which is all pink by the way) and even Kid Rock. I'll talk about three of the several there, but honestly, when you get there, there is no cover, so you can easily bar hop. And, since everything is on the same road its perfect!
1) Ole Red (aka Blake Shelton's bar) was my absolute favourite. While the dancefloor is small, there are two levels of table and bar seating to enjoy the live band. Ole Red most certainly had the best music and bands. In fact, I went there twice on my four day trip. The food there is also fabulous. I had a fancy salad and was pleasantly surprised that the bar food was top notch and pretty reasonably priced. I will warn you that the drink prices in all of the bars are very steep (thank goodness I don't drink). Ole Red is a must see if you want upbeat country music, good food, and friendly staff.
2) Whisky Row (aka Dierks Bentley's bar) was my second favourite bar. There are multiple levels, all of which have different live bands and even different music genres. For those of you who got dragged to Nashville by your country-loving friends, this is the bar for you.
3) Tootsie's Orchid Lounge was not a win for me! This was the only bar I did not enjoy, most likely because it is the most famous and therefore, the most crowded. Not only were they not playing country music, the dance floor was small, and there was no where to move at all. I literally walked into the bar and immediately out of the bar. This is one you can skip in my opinion.
FOOD Clearly, Nashville is known for their hot chicken and I must say, it did not disappoint. Fair warning though, if you think you can handle spice, maybe put your ego aside and get a lower spice level. It is HOT! I tried two different hot chicken places, one of which is next to the first and oldest bar in Nashville, located right by the replica of the Parthenon.
1) Hattie B's is one of the most well-known hot chicken spots in Nashville and it is a franchise. However, that does not mean that the lines will be any shorter. I waited a solid forty-five minutes outside in the sweltering heat for this chicken and it was....mid. It is a Nashville classic, just like Prince's which is the original hot chicken joint, so definitely give it a try, but this next option is way better.
2) Red's 615 Kitchen is literally a shack at the side of the road, but I swear it does not disappoint. Let's just say, I'm brown and my mouth was still on fire. There was no line, no wait, and the food was as fresh as it comes. 10/10 recommend this spot, but be prepared to find somewhere indoors to eat so you don't burn your mouth and skin at the same time.
EVERYTHING ELSE Surprisingly, there is more to Nashville than the food and bars. A couple must sees are the Grand Ole Orpy, which is a concert with a bunch of different artists and you never know who is performing till the night of, also check out the Country Music Hall of Fame. There is a bunch of attractions to check out during the day, and even the bars are popping from the time they open till close (which is usually around 2AM).
Hopefully this provides some sort of guide to Nashville, and I must say; I travel a lot and Nashville remains one of the best places I've visited.
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