Two weekends ago, my sisters friends and I surprised her with a trip to Nashville for her bachlorette. Even though she’s not getting married until March, it was decided that the fall was a better time then in the winter when the weather is more unpredictable. It was all but one of our first times in Nashville and I can say it won’t be my last. I totally fell in love with Nashville!
We did a lot in 48 hours! Here’s the lowdown on where we stayed, where we ate and what we did!
Where we stayed
We stayed at the cutest airbnb in a really cool area of Nashville called East Nashville. It’s a transitional neighbourhood that is mostly made up of hipsters and young families. The houses are the cutest things you have ever seen. They are Victorian cottage style homes and most have porch swings or seats that just adds to the charm! The house was amazing. It was fully renovated and furnished and very comfortable for 8 people. It was walking distance to everything in the Five Points Area in East Nashville making it the perfect location to explore the neighbourhood.
Where we ate
The food in Nashville is amazing!!! I was so pleasantly surprised. I touted Nashville as a foodie haven as each restaurant that we went to was better than the last.
Five Points Pizza– delicious, delicious New York style pizza. The vodka sauce pizza was recommended by a friend and it was delicious. All of the pizzas come with a little side of fresh cut up basil which was a really nice touch. If you go there, you must try to the garlic knots which are loaded with fresh garlic and Parmesan cheese and come with delicious marinara sauce for dipping. There is an option to eat in or take out.
The Southern– A steak and oyster house that adds a bit of southern flair to all of their dishes. This restaurant was great for our party of 8! As a steak lover I ordered “The Belle” and it was amazingly delicious. The steak was cooked perfectly and the chive mashed potatoes were divine. The restaurant has a great ambiance and is a few minute walk to the popular Broadway area.
Yeast Nashville– For breakfast we picked up a variety of baked goods from Yeast. We went early in the morning and it was packed and after tasting everything I know why! They are known for their Kaloches. Don’t ask me to pronounce that word because I butcher it every time. We got a sample of biscuits, kaloches and the biggest cinnamon bun ever. The biscuits are amazing! So fresh and super buttery. I tried the sweet Kaloches which had blueberries and apples inside. There was also the option for the savory Kaloche with sausage and jalapeno.
Butcher and Bee– We went for brunch which is a modern twist on Mediterranean food. You can share their mains, but they offer Mezze which are their sharing plates. Order the whipped feta mezze that was honey and pepper on top. It is served with grilled pita and it is out of this world delicious! The coffee was tasty and for my main course, I had my favourite Shakshuka. It was super fresh and very tasty! It was served with grilled sourdough bread that was perfect to dip into the tomato and pepper sauce.
S’more Love Bakery– We stumbled upon this super fun food truck while in the 12 South District. Every piece of the s’more is homemade and handmade even the graham cookies! I got the Cookie Monster which was the special. Homemade soft chocolate chip cookies covered in homemade marshmallow and toasted on top. I thought it was the perfect afternoon sweet treat.
Hattie B’s-Hot chicken is a thing and if you go to Nashville you must try it! This was the only thing I wanted to do while I was there, seriously! Give yourself lots of time when you go for hot chicken as the lines are huge. I’m against waiting in lines to get food, but for Hot Chicken I did it! The line to order was 45 minutes and once we ordered we had to wait another 20ish minutes to get our food. A trick I learned while I was waiting in line is to call ahead and place your order so you don’t need to wait in the huge lineup. We tried the medium heat chicken tenders with jalapeno mac and cheese and coleslaw. The chicken is served atop a slice of white bread to soak up all the greasy goodness. I like spice and the medium was perfectly spicy with a great kick! I’m so happy I tried the hot chicken and you should too if you go to Nashville!
Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant– When in Nashville, eat fried foods and we did just that! Super fun atmosphere and they had a booth that was large enough to fit all 8 of us! I have a thing for booths at restaurants. As I had just gorged on hot chicken, I split fried green tomatoes and brisket nachos. Both servings were very large and the fried green tomatoes were amazing! I also tried someones fried chicken and waffles which were yum! You must order a side of the Gouda smoked mac and cheese! They have live music and the only downside is that even if you are paying customers eating a meal there, if you choose to stay and listen to the music, you have to pay an additional over charge. I thought this was super cheesy especially since we were already paying a lot for our meal.
Woodland Wine Merchant – This isn’t a place to eat rather a really interesting curated wine and liquor store in East Nashville. The store is laid out really well so you can discover lots of different brands that you may not have known about. The staff are very helpful with their recommendations. The smoked rum was amazing and paired with coke made for a very interesting drink!
What we did
Grand Ole Opry– I was so excited to see this site yet it was the most disappointing. It’s situated right behind a massive outlet mall and it seems so out of place. Unless you want to take a tour backstage for $24 US or you have tickets to see a show, there is no point to visit.
Gaylord Opryland Hotel– This is a hotel, resort and convention centre all in one. It’s pretty crazy as it’s in a bubble right beside the Grand Ole Opry. If you happen to be staying in the area or come see a concert, it’s a pretty cool place to walk through. There are cute shops to visit, and lots to see! It even has a river running through it!
Broadway- want to listen to some amazing live music, dance and drink? Then you’ll have to head to Broadway! It’s a strip that is lined with famous bars such as Honky Tonk and Tootsie’s. In the area also is the famous Ryman Auditorium. The atmosphere is nothing like I’ve ever seen before with tons of people in each bar, waiting in lines and walking on the street. We were told by our Uber driver that locals don’t hang out on Broadway and that it’s just tourists. The musicians are incredible and play more than just country music.
Nashville Pedal Tavern– Have you ever imaged drinking while spinning on a bicycle? Well the Pedal Tavern offers just that with your closest friends and some new ones as you explore an area of Nashville. We did the Pedal tour in Midtown which goes around Music Row and Vanderbilt University. You bring your own alcohol and carrying it in a plastic water bottle is reminiscent of high school! Each seat has a spot to put your drink so you can drink while pedaling. The tour makes a few spots at local bars where you can grab and drink or a quick snack before getting back on the bike. Pedaling at times could be hard but overall it’s a fun thing to do with a group of friends!
The Gulch– Situated between Downtown and Music Row is an area called The Gulch. There happened to be a craft and beer show while we were there and it was an awesome event to see local artists and try some yummy treats. The Gulch itself is a small shopping area but it is home to Two Old Hippies which was featured on the show Nashville.
12 South– I can’t remember who told us to go here, but I’m pretty sure it was one of our amazing Uber drivers. The area is amazing and we didn’t have nearly enough time in this area. Filled with lots of cute local shops, and restaurants you’ll want some time to wander about. Check out Draper James which is Reese Witherspoons store which is filled with southern charm!
There you have it friends! You can do SO much in 48 hours in Nashville! If you’ve been before, what did you like doing there?
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