Nashville Girls’ Weekend: Three Generations, One Unforgettable Getaway

As much as I love some of the boutique hotels in Nashville, I chose the Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville for our stay. Located just a few blocks from Broadway and with an affordable room that slept five comfortably, this hotel was the perfect choice for us. After checking in and getting settled, it was time to start making memories!

After just a short, five-minute walk, we arrived at Martin’s Bar-B-Que for lunch. Martin has some of the best barbecue in Nashville and is located in a funky space with a massive beer garden, outdoor games, live music, and great cocktails.

Insider tip: Try the Whole Hog BBQ, the traditional slow-smoked whole hog served sandwich-style!

After lunch, we walked down Broadway and made our first honky-tonk stop at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. This is a great place for an authentic experience in Nashville’s oldest honky-tonk. We made our way to the top floor for rooftop views, margaritas, and live country music!

We continued down Broadway and ended at Riverfront Park, which overlooks the Cumberland River. As we made our way back to the hotel, we made a quick stop at Goo Goo Chocolate Co., where the first combination candy bar was invented in 1912. Although we were still too full to indulge, it was neat to see. You can take interactive classes or even make your own chocolate treat here.

After freshening up at the hotel, we headed to the Bluebird Cafe. If you have not been here yet, this is a must-do on your next Nashville trip! The iconic music venue is a tiny and intimate venue where emerging artists take the stage. We were here for an “In the Round” event where songwriters sat in a circle in the middle of the room, sharing stories, and performing songs. It was a unique, cool experience we all loved.

Insider tip: Be sure to reserve your table ahead of time—the venue fills up quickly! Wearing a “Celebrating 50” sash gets you acknowledged by the songwriters!

Today, we did the Old Town Trolley hop-on hop-off tour so we could experience the great neighborhoods of Nashville. After all, there is so much more to Nashville than just the honky-tonks and pedal taverns! Plus, this was a first-time trip for both of my sisters, so this was a great way for them to get the lay of the land.

Here are a few highlights of our favorite stops:

• Nashville’s Farmer’s Market: Located in Germantown, the historic farmer’s market dates back to the early 1800s. We spent a few hours here, wandering through and spending some money at the market that is filled with local restaurants, international food venues, local artists, and an expansive garden center.

• Marathon Motor Works: Also in Germantown, this former car factory has been reinvented into a historical space with tributes to the car factory and is home to many shops, local artists, distilleries, and more. Be sure to enjoy a free tasting at the Jack Daniels distillery!

• Centennial Park: Although we didn’t get off here, Centennial Park is a stop I recommend. You can explore the iconic Parthenon or walking trails or relax by the lake, take in an art gallery, stroll through a sunken garden, or even join a game at the sand volleyball court. It is a great spot to enjoy the outdoors in Midtown.

• Hattie B’s: We did stop for lunch in Midtown at the famous Hattie B’s. The Nashville Hot Chicken did not disappoint. Plus, there’s a fun chicken-shaped topiary and funny sign just outside the restaurant that will make you smile.

• The Gulch: Our next stop was in the Gulch, a trendy neighborhood in Nashville. It is most known for its boutique shops, brunch scene, and mural walk. Since it was late in the day and very hot, we made it a quick stop to find the iconic Wings mural—definitely a great photo op!

Hot and tired after a long day, my daughter decided to unwind at the hotel while the rest of us decided it was time for some margaritas! We found two excellent spots that offered two unique experiences.

• Twelve Thirty Club: We went straight to the rooftop terrace that overlooked the Bridgestone Arena and Broadway. It was classy and chic and had an amazing margarita list. I had the Skinny Cucumber Margarita, super refreshing on this hot day!

• Pushing Daisies: From the rooftop, we went underground at Pushing Daisies. The dark and moody speakeasy vibe and live music were relaxing and intimate. The margarita menu was lengthy and featured many creative, unique margaritas. They were both beautifully presented and delicious! None of us were disappointed with our picks!

On our way back to the hotel, we strolled through the Nashville Music Garden and the Music City Walk of Fame.

After a quick refresh at the hotel, we found ourselves back on Broadway, ready for some country music. We stopped in a few more honky-tonks but spent most of our time at Luke’s 32 Bridge listening to a great musician.

Insider tip: One of the best things about the honky-tonks is that they each have a unique vibe and experience. It is definitely worth stopping in as many as you can, even if it’s just to walk through!

For a late-night snack, we ended up at Casa Rosa’s, Miranda Lambert’s Tex-Mex cantina. As far as honky-tonk food goes, Casa Rosa’s is one of the best options.

Insider tip: We all loved the queso fundido, but not the Bluebird Margarita my sister ordered!

We spent the morning enjoying the Country Music Hall of Fame. Even though we are not all huge country music fans, we all really liked our time here. It is something everyone must do at least once. I especially enjoyed the Dolly Parton Journey exhibit.

Since we each had a few honky-tonks we wanted to see, we decided to stop at JBJ’s Nashville for lunch. Since Bon Jovi is one of my favorite musicians, this was one of my favorite stops. Plus, you can watch people try bull riding (on the second floor or on the TV screens through JBJ’s) or get a tattoo at the in-house studio, Inkwell.

Other stops included Jelly Roll’s Goodnight Nashville, which has the highest rooftop patio on Broadway, complete with a gigantic rotating skull. Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk is always a must for good people watching, day or night.

For the afternoon, we wanted to get off Broadway and explore Printer’s Alley and the area just north of Broadway. Printer’s Alley is a historic district known for its cobblestone streets, live music venues, burlesque shows, and speakeasies. We didn’t spend much time here before heading a few blocks north.

Since my mom is a bourbon fan, we headed to Nashville Barrel Company for a bourbon tasting. This place was amazing! The atmosphere is industrial with neon signs, bourbon barrels on display, a wraparound bar, and a separate tasting room with tables. The staff was helpful and welcoming and really made the experience special, helping us pick the bourbons best for each of us. I highly recommend a stop here, and they also do wine tastings, if bourbon is not your thing.

For dinner, we headed to the Melrose neighborhood to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, Poncho & Lefty’s. They used to have a small location just across from the Bridgestone Arena but have expanded and now have locations in several neighborhoods in Nashville. It was worth the Uber ride!

We ended the night at the Hidden Bar, a speakeasy located inside the Noelle hotel. You enter through a green storage door. Nashville is full of speakeasies, but we like this one because it changes themes. Tonight, it was an Oath & Fang vampire theme. Draped in red lights and cobwebs, the space was completely transformed into a spellbound tribute to the ‘rebellious spirits of dead poets and the hunger of the undead.’ The cocktails were named and crafted to match the dark and mysterious spirit. This was a great experience and way to end our last full day in Nashville.

We had the morning to tour the Ryman Auditorium, which is the original home of the Grand Ole Opry. The backstage tour was worth the extra cost and included a guided tour backstage, full of history and stories of the Auditorium.

Insider tip: This is a great place to watch a concert! According to our tour guide, the best sound is in sections 12 or 13 in the balcony!

From here, we had lunch at The Stillery, known for its brick-fired pizzas, stacked burgers, and mason-jar cocktails. Its casual atmosphere and quick service was just what we needed. Plus, it gave us just enough time to check out Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up and hear one more country band before heading to the airport.