Guide to a Romantic Weekend in Nashville, Tennessee: A Weekend in Music City

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Thinking about a visit to Nashville, Tennessee?

Nashville, Tennessee has a little something for everybody. Take a stroll downtown to hear incredibly talented artists playing at every street corner or pop in a restaurant for food out of this world. Explore art, history and music culture at every turn.

My Nashventure was a romantic and foodie combination trip. My husband surprised me and planned everything! I give him major props for pulling everything off since I am extremely difficult to surprise. I strongly recommend whisking away your significant other for a fun, romantic adventure and major brownie points (you can never have enough of those!).

The Best Place to Stay to Explore Downtown, Nashville:

Omni Nashville Hotel: The Omni was a fantastic place to stay for exploring downtown Nashville because it was within walking distance to just about everything. Omni is super convenient if you are planning on going to the Country Music Hall of Fame because the buildings are connected. Plus, you can get a package discount which can save tons depending on what your plans are.

Bonus for Country Music Fans: A concert hall is just one block away from the hotel. Blake Shelton was playing when we were in town and we could hear the entire concert while walking around!

Our package included two tickets to the Country Music Hall of Fame, breakfast buffet for two at Kitchen Notes and a Free poster at Hatch Show Print Shop. Be sure to keep an eye out for Hatch’s resident shop cat, Maow!

Food is another love factor for Omni since you can walk right downstairs to some pretty amazing restaurant options. I know…it seems crazy not to eat every single meal somewhere outside of the hotel. However, when you are exhausted from the drive or a night on the town, it’s nice knowing the food is great where you are staying.

We had a delicious breakfast two mornings in a row at Kitchen Notes where Omni offers their signature Art of Breakfast. Although the buffet option is a bit pricey, it was worth it to me since I love to taste as many different foods as possible. The buffet has a little bit of everything. I’m talking a phenomenal biscuit bar with toppings galore, Nashville Hot Chicken and Waffles and more! Beverages include freshly squeezed juice, whole-leaf tea with a tiny pitcher of simple syrup and a fantastic cup of coffee.

At night, we enjoyed Barlines for appetizers and drinks with live music before venturing out on the town. The Fried Green Tomatoes were out of this world and the handcrafted cocktails were packed with unique, local flavors.

Where to Eat in Downtown Nashville:

Acme Feed & Seed: Acme makes you feel like your are eating at the coolest place around, yet your grandma is in the kitchen. I ate collard greens, macaroni and cheese and pie for dessert. Acme is a great Nashville restaurant option for vegetarian and non-vegetarian eaters. To place an order, you walk up to the counter when you walk in.

Tip: If you are traveling as a couple, have one person place the order and the other grab a table. Otherwise you may be waiting for a while on a table!

Panoramic View from the Rooftop at Acme…

Mike’s Ice Cream Shop: After all the walking around, you may surprise yourself and be starving again. If you have room for it, Mike’s Ice Cream shop is delicious. The décor has a vintage feel, perfect for some cute photo ops! I recommend the Salted Caramel Ice Cream.

Where to eat outside of downtown Nashville:

Mas Tacos Por Favor: IF you can handle SMOKIN’ hot foods, stop by Mas Tacos and test out your taste buds. Make sure you are prepared to wait in line forever but if you love Mexican food AND love to test your spiciness threshold, it is well worth the wait. The line was literally out the door when we went (as shown in the picture!). Mas Tacos is a hidden gem and a hole in the wall in the best way possible.

What to do in Downtown Nashville:

Country Music Hall of Fame: The Country Music Hall of Fame is a must if you are a country music fan. You will see collectibles from just about any artist you can think of. The museum is home to Elvis Presley’s Gold Piano, Gold Cadillac, Taylor Swift’s guitar and much more.

John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge: Take a romantic stroll over the Cumberland River. This is an awesome spot for taking pictures!

Johnny Cash Museum: Johnny Cash fans will not want to miss this stop. If you are just shopping for a fan, you can still go inside to shop at the museum gift store. Head to the café for a delicious cup of coffee and buy ground coffee to go (a great souvenir!).

The GooGoo Shop & Dessert Bar: Watch GooGoo Clusters be made and order GooGoo Cluster themed desserts. Plus see vintage GooGoo artifacts and shop for merchandise and retro candy.

Third Man Records: Stop by Jack White’s Record Store if you are around between 10-6 on any day of the week. I was so bummed to have missed open hours and hope to go back to check it out.

Cool Sights Away from Downtown Nashville:

The Parthenon: The Parthenon in Centennial Park is a full-scale replica of The Parthenon in Athens, Greece. We found lots of parking available although you do have to walk a ways. If you want to tour the museum, you will need to pay for tickets inside. You can still get some amazing pictures from the outside.

The Bluebird Café: Bring out your inner Scarlet and Gunnar! If you are a fan of the show “Nashville”, be sure and get a photo here! You can also try and get reservations but chances of getting in are slim. Once tickets go on sale, reservations are taken by a randomized number in the queue. That means even if you are the first one online, chances are based on the computer selection.

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center: Sadly, we did not have time to go a show at The Grand Ole Opry. We did stop by Opryland hotel though! This hotel was so cool! There is a gondola ride inside the hotel, a waterfall and quirky inside balconies. I would love to go back just to stay at this hotel!

Tip: Avoid hefty parking fees if you are just stopping in to see the hotel. You have to be quick though because the ticket is only free for the first 15 minutes. We were able to see quite a bit with some fast-paced steps.

Getting away from the hustle & bustle…

Juro Stables: Take a break from the downtown scene and get in touch with nature. Horseback riding at Juro was an adventurous experience, even if you have been horseback riding before. The beautiful scenery in Tennessee and going off the trail with the horses makes the experience so special. The guides are wonderful and rely on tips so make sure to bring cash. It was freezing when we went so I definitely suggest lots of layers if you are riding in cooler weather. Also, do not wear anything that can’t get dirty! The stables are muddy after rain so be prepared with boots. Call 615-773-7433 for more information (or head to their website here but the site info is a bit difficult to read).

Bonus: You will see ginormous geese and possibly a cat on the roof!

Guide to a Romantic Weekend in Nashville, Tennessee: A Weekend in Music City