Our favorite spot for a date night. Get the Chicken Milanesa and (trust us) the Clam Pizza. If you're looking for a great wine list, this is where you'll find it. Folk is a pretty popular spot, so we suggest booking a few weeks in advance.
The sister restaurant to Folk, easily the best pasta we've had in Nashville. Another popular spot, so book your reservation early.
A modern take on Italian, we've never had a bad meal at City House. You can't go wrong with any of their pizzas, so take your pick.
One of the first places we ever visited in the city. Phenomenal food and right next door to Pearl Diver!
After trekking all around the city, Dose wins our award for best iced coffee. You can often find us walking the mile or so from our house to grab coffee to go. The food is also delicious, but it's a popular hangout, so be prepared to wait if you're going during the weekend.
Trendiest slew of coffee shops in Nashville, the is the original (and best) location. If you're a fancy coffee drinker, this is your spot. And if you're adventurous enough to try one of their CBD coffees, let us know how that goes.
The best sandwiches in the city. Order ahead via their website (don't use Google's ordering system, it doesn't always work) to avoid waiting; you can still eat your sandwiches in the restaurant or take them to go. Mick's favorite - Pastrami Courtney's favorite - Turkey Bacon Avocado
Forget Biscuit Love - you can't find a more authentic Nashville biscuit than here. It's a small place, so we recommend going in groups of 5 or less. If you're going during the weekend, get there early (before 9am) or be prepared to wait. Tailgate Brewing next door opens at 11am for those wanting to grab a beer to kill time.
Classic, old school diner vibe for a great breakfast or brunch.
See those piña coladas and overall trendy atmosphere in our photos? That's all Pearl Diver. Set in an old motel, this 50's tiki-themed bar has everything: fun decor, friendly staff, and dangerously tasty drinks. If you're looking for a great pre-dinner snack, get the piña colada with a floater (shot of sherry and coffee grounds) with Tijuana Fries and dumplings.
Trendy, seasonal cocktails with a beautiful outdoor seating area. Walk through the bar and up to the second floor to check out their outdoor bar with swings instead of seats.
We're both equally proud and not proud of how many nights we wind up here. Easily our most frequented dive bar in Nashville - home of the "$3 Frosty Mug" (no idea which beer it is, but it IS beer) and tasty late night chicken nuggets. Shoot some pool or sit in a booth; you can't go wrong.
If you're looking for an authentic Nashville dive bar experience, Red Door is the place to be. While it doesn't typically have live music, it is the go-to hangout for members of the music industry, so you never know who you may run into... There is also another (original) location in Midtown at 1816 Division Street.
If you're a craft beer lover, Southern Grist is your happy place. Check out their newly expanded location to grab a beer (we recommend Salad Days, one of their signatures) and some small plates from their attached restaurant, Lauter.
Don't wait at Hattie B's - THIS is the true Nashville hot chicken spot. A favorite of Anthony Bourdain's, Bolton's is sure to light up your taste buds with both great food and friendly staff. If you're not sure how hot to go, ask the cashier - she's a pro at sizing up customers' spice tolerance.
Nashville is known for having one of the largest Oktoberfest celebrations in the U.S.! Grab a beer and a soft pretzel and walk around the various booths and shows on display in Germantown. Runs October 5-8 and admission is free!
Home to some of the very best songwriters' rounds in Nashville. Price of admission varies on the artists performing, but food and drinks are available. Keep in mind, this is a very reverent venue, so attendees are expected to stay relatively quiet during performances.
YEE (and we cannot stress this next part enough) HAW. Yee-Haw features an on-site brewery, an indoor and outdoor stage, and shares its space with Ole Smokey; Tennessee's first legal moonshine distillery. Moonshine tastings are around $18 and include several different flavors and a complimentary Yee-Haw beer. And no, it's not made in a bathtub...probably.
A great alternative to Listening Room if you're in search of a songwriters' round that's in a more casual bar setting. Admission to rounds are free, and they host them almost every night, so check out their website to see who's performing.
On the off chance we've been tricked into going out on Broadway, this is where you'll find us. Robert's is one of the last original honky tonks. Grab any domestic beer for $2.50 and listen to some of the best fiddle of your entire life.
An outdoor mall right on Broadway (for those folks coming from the DC area, think the new Ballston Mall). If you're looking for a bite before or after honky tonks, we recommend checking out Assembly Food Hall - a massive upscale food court featuring nearly every local Nashville restaurant option. For sushi lovers, the crispy rice at Horu Sushi Kitchen is hard to beat. For those looking to carb up, head to Desano's for pizza and meatballs to give yourself a good pre-Broadway base.
Take a walk through country music history either with a guide or on your own terms. You can also add on a tour of RCA's famous Studio B - a favorite recording spot of Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, and more.
Just north of Broadway, the Frist is perfect for a full afternoon of art or even just a quick trip.
Our wonderful friend, Rae, recently opened a boutique in East Nashville! Featuring both popular brands like Free People, Rails, and Missen + Main, as well as bespoke clothing and accessories from creators near her hometown of Bend, Oregon, Frae has something you're bound to love for both men and women.
You know that big recreation of the Parthenon that Nashville randomly has? This is where to find it. Centennial has some beautiful walking trails, as well as live music and markets that usually run most weekends through the end of Fall.
This East Nashville park has plenty of running/walking/biking trails for anyone looking to get moving, as well as some of our favorite tennis courts in the city.
For those looking to take a ~low intensity~ hike, Percy Warner is a 20 minute drive south of the city. Courtney refers to this as "advanced walking" so don't worry about anything too strenuous - sneakers will be fine.
Grab a drink AND get your bowl on. Pins has 10+ duckpin bowling lanes, plus an indoor/outdoor area with giant Jenga, corn hole, and other yard games. Lanes are first come, first served, so get there on the earlier side if you don't want to strike out (pun very much intended, do you even know Courtney?). If you're looking to grab a bite, they also partner with local food trucks, so check out their website to see which will be there.