Downtown
Downtown Nashville is the first place most visitors hit first. That’s where you will find great restaurants, slammin’ honky tonks, sports and music venues, and the Music City Center, our internationally renowned convention center. However, the downtown area also has its unique areas that you will need to know about.
Lower Broadway
Where you will find the famous honky tonks like Tootsies, Roberts Western World, Kid Rocks and many others. There are also many places to eat and drink on Lower Broadway.
Second Avenue
The beginning of the downtown revival started on Second Ave. Here you will find the Wild Horse Saloon, BB King’s and many other great places. The site of the Christmas Day bombing, much of Second Ave is in the process of repair.
Printer’s Alley
Dating back to Nashville’s heritage of publishing and printing, Printer’s Alley has an intriguing history. Before what you see Nashville to be now, Printer’s Alley was where you went for entertainment years ago. From restaurants to jazz bars, this is the Nashville of the past. Enjoy a step back in time here.
Capitol Hill
Nashville is the capital of Tennessee, and much of the state’s governmental work is done right here. For history buffs, Capitol Hill is a “must visit.” The capitol building, finished in 1859, overlooked extensive history from the Civil War forward.
SoBro
One of the later developments in Nashville, the area south of Broadway is home to such sites as the CMA Hall of Fame, Schermerhorn Symphony Hall, and the Music City Center. Great restaurants and hotels also are located in the SoBro district.
The Gulch
The newest and trendiest neighborhood in Nashville, The Gulch was built in what used to be a railroad bed. If you look up toward Broadway from The Gulch, you will see the Union Station, which served as the hub of Nashville’s transportation well into the 20th Century.
Many of Nashville’s best restaurants are found here as well as excellent shopping opportunities. The Thompson Hotel and The W are located in The Gulch, and some of the brunch favorites are here, including Biscuit Love and Milk and Honey. The Gulch is growing, lying between 8th and 13th Avenues, and extends from Division Street all the way past Charlotte Avenue.
12 South
Moving out 12 Avenue South from The Gulch about two miles, the neighborhood of 12 South awaits you and your friends. If you find yourself in “sensory overload” from your time on Lower Broadway, 12 South gives you a quiet respite and a time to regain your sensibilities. Here you will find more shopping, interesting boutiques, and some great eating as well. Although alcohol is still legal here, drinking and live music are not the emphasis in this neighborhood.
Midtown
Extending from the southern loop of I-40 out to about 21st Ave, from Division Street to Charlotte Avenue, Midtown has its own unique qualities. Many great hotels, restaurants and nightclubs dot Midtown. Some notables are Winner’s and Loser’s bars, Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, and Dolly’s White Limozeen. If you want to be near Vanderbilt, the medical centers, or Music Row, Midtown will be a wise choice. Also, many stay here to be close enough to Lower Broadway, but not too close!
Music Row
Running along 16th and 17th Avenues South, south of the “naked statues,” you will find the heart of the music business—Music Row. You can take a tour and get to see inside a studio or two, or you can just stroll and still glean a ton of information about what Nashville does and how it works when it comes to anything music. Slowly transforming from a residential neighborhood to more of an office community, Music Row still maintains some of its original character. If you are looking for a change of pace, take an hour and walk up and down Music Row.
8th Ave South
Once you leave The Gulch on 8th Ave South going south, you are in the 8th Ave South neighborhood. When you get to Wedgewood Avenue, continue south to find such places as the comedy club Zanies and some very interesting Mom and Pop shops. There is another Hattie B’s, The Sutler Saloon, and Sinema. A popular district for Airbnbs, you are close to 12 South, to the new soccer stadium, the speedway, and just a few blocks from the Wedgewood Houston neighborhood.
Wedgewood Houston
Just as the name says, this neighborhood sits between Wedgewood Avenue and Houston Street, and bordered on the west by 8th Avenue S and on the east by 4th Avenue S. A new and upcoming district in transition, WeHo is a great place to find craft breweries and distilleries, coffee shops, health food, and various other boutique businesses. Corsair Distillery, Diskin Cider, and E+Rose are a few of the businesses finding their home in Wedgewood Houston. Also, the Adventure Science Center and Fort Negley are interesting places to visit.
Opryland
Opryland is a city unto itself! Back in the day of the Opryland theme park, the Gaylord Opryland Hotel was first built as well as the Grand Ole Opry House. The theme park later was replaced by the Opry Mills Mall, which has shopping galore and many, many restaurants and other forms of entertainment. Please take some time to visit the hotel! It is one of a kind, and you can get your steps in as you visit the fountains in the Cascades, the Delta, the Magnolia wing and the tropical Conservatory.
Visiting Nashville is not complete until you have actually been to a Grand Ole Opry show. It’s a live radio show, and you can be part of it.
The Opryland area includes a host of additional hotels and restaurants, and you are welcome to explore!
West End
As you move west through Midtown, you continue out West End Avenue, past the Vanderbilt campus and toward BelleMeade. One awesome place to visit here is Centennial Park, founded in 1897 during the Centennial Tennessee Exposition. At that time, a replica of the original Parthenon was built and stands today, waiting for you to come for a photo opportunity.
Many hotels and restaurants lie along the West End corridor, as well as Airbnbs. All told, this is a very nice part of town in which to stay!
Hillsboro Village
Nestled in between the Vanderbilt and Belmont campuses, Hillsboro Village is a favorite for visitors who want a change of pace from the loud-paced downtown atmosphere. Here you will find several restaurant favorites such as Pancake Pantry, Grilled Cheeserie, Biscuit Love and E3. Also, there are many boutique shops on and off of 21st Avenue, worthy of your checking them out. You won’t be sorry if you spend some time here!
Germantown
Just north of Downtown Nashville, you will find another one-of-a-kind neighborhood—Germantown. Nashvillians and visitors alike fall in love with the houses and architecture of this very historical part of Nashville. Here you will find great restaurants and drinking places, as well as a beautifully designed park in Bicentennial Park and Plaza.
Some of the favorites to visit are the Tennessee Museum, the Farmer’s Market, First Horizon Park (Home of the Nashville Sounds AA baseball team), and TopGolf. Don’t forget to eat at Monell’s, Fifth and Taylor, or Germantown Pub.
East Nashville
Sitting just across the Cumberland River from Downtown Nashville, East Nashville is a completely different flavor of Music City. Home to many younger Nashvillians, it has a character all its own. You will see some of the houses dating back to the 1800s as well as some of the tall & skinny new houses built on East Nashville lots. It just may make you want to move here!
Of course, Nissan Stadium is the first thing you will see in East Nashville as well as many riverfront businesses. Some of the favorite restaurants are The Pharmacy Burgers, Mas Tacos Por Favor, Five Point Pizza, and Rose Pepper Mexican Restaurant.
The Nations / Sylvan Park