Before heading to Nashville, get recommendations on dining, rooftop drinks & fun things to do from a local in this Nashville Summer Travel Guide!
This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy here.
There’s no shortage of things to do and places to eat in Nashville, no matter the time of year. It seems like this city is changing by the day with a new restaurant, coffee shop, or building popping up! It’s been awhile since my last Nashville travel post, so I wanted to share a few of my new favorite hangouts, along with some of the old favorites around town in this Nashville Summer Travel Guide. Because even in an ever-changing city, there will always be the tried-and-true favorites.
In addition to sharing some of my go-to spots this summer, I’m also excited to share that the 10th edition of Insiders’ Guide to Nashville is officially out now. The book is a guide to all things Nashville including history about the city and includes suggestions for attractions, entertainment, recreation, dining and more! You’ll also find itineraries based on different interests, like art, and information about relocation to Nashville, because undoubtedly you’ll love your visit to Music City so much you’ll decide to move here 🙂 Hop over to my Instagram page for a chance to win a copy of the book!
Nashville Summer Travel Guide
Eats
This is one of the most memorable meals I’ve had in Nashville for awhile. I went with my friends for my birthday and we ordered the Burrata and the Foccacia (because you can’t have one without the other, IMO) to start and I honestly would have ordered another round of both and been very happy! Instead, we decided to be adults and share a more balanced meal of Lamb Ribs with Smoked Yogurt, Charred Pole Beans (could have eaten two servings of these also), and the Crab Mac & Cheese. Truly, it was all incredible and I’m telling everyone I can about this new restaurant located in Germantown and operating under James Beard Award-Winning chef, RJ Cooper.
Ellington’s Midway Bar & Grill
My first time at Ellington’s was for a book club happy hour event where I had the opportunity to speak about my new book, Eat To Sleep. I love that they’ve started this monthly book club happy hour featuring local authors and when you’re also served delicious appetizers and cocktails, who wouldn’t want to be in on this book club?! After the book club, I stayed around with a couple of my newly made friends and we ordered food at the bar. The Burrata Salad caught my eye (of course!) so that’s what I had for dinner, which was the perfect portion size. If you go, try to get a seat on the patio of this restaurant & bar located inside the Fairlane Hotel.
Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, The Diner is a great lunch spot or dinner spot and offers a great view of the city when you choose to sit on any of the six different floors of the restaurant. The top floor is where sushi and oysters are served, along with the full menu. If you’re headed to an event downtown, The Diner may be a great place to pop in for a meal beforehand without needing a reservation! Be sure to snap a photo out on the balcony on the 6th floor before you leave.
This casual spot in Germantown serves up bao buns, dumplings, noodle soups, and bubble tea…a few of my favorite things in life! Steamboys is about a 10 minute walk from First Tennessee Park where the Nashville Sounds baseball team plays. If you love a good bubble tea, be sure to get one here!
Looking for a restaurant that’s very veggie-forward or mindful of a variety of dietary preferences? True Food Kitchen is it! No matter what your eating-style is (omnivorous, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.) you will find delicious food to enjoy at this bright and modern spot in Green Hills. While True Food Kitchen has numerous locations across the country, the quality of the food is outstanding and in the four times I’ve eaten here, I’ve always been very happy with the food.
Prepare yourself before going in to Baked on 8th because you’re about to feel like a little kid again looking at the display case filled with beautifully decorated cookies and cakes, and mouth-watering cinnamon rolls, muffins, bars, pop tarts, and more. Here’s a list of my favorite things to order: Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tart, Lemon Bar, Cinnamon Roll, Blueberry Muffin. And while I’ve never ordered a piece of cake to take home, I’ve had their cake on multiple occasions at friends’ birthday parties and as someone who doesn’t really like cake, I will ALWAYS eat a slice from Baked on 8th.
Drinks
Quite possibly the best frozen drink in town, the Frosé at LA Jackson inside the Thompson hotel is a dangerously good. You also won’t be disappointed in the views at this rooftop bar. Stop by LA Jackson for lunch (yes, they have excellent food too) or for a fancy drink before heading to dinner.
Tucked away in Edgehill Village, Old Glory is one of my favorite spots for a fancy cocktail. Their bartenders are magicians and the menu changes seasonally. The space is certainly one of the more unique spots in Nashville, and while you may be tempted to save this place for an evening visit, I suggest going while there’s still daylight so you can see just how cool it is inside.
If the Nashville heat is getting to you, head over to Pinewood Social to cool off! They have a couple dipping pools, situated conveniently next to the Airstream trailer bar so you can order food and drinks while enjoying the patio and pool. You can take a dip anytime between 10am-10pm Wednesday through Sunday at Pinewood Social.
While not original to Nashville, City Tap House serves up some great food and drinks in the heart of downtown. The best part about City Tap House is the rooftop, open Thursday-Sunday. Check out the views from the rooftop while taking part in one of their special events, like Sunset Saturdays!
Fun
Is it really summer without going to a baseball game? I love the new(ish) baseball stadium here in Nashville where our minor league team, the Sounds, play ball. There’s a different theme or promotion going on at each game, and you can even play some putt-putt golf inside the stadium before the first pitch is thrown.
Murals & Street Art
There are countless murals around the city that are worth checking out and snapping a photo. This one in the picture above is across from Barista Parlor in the Gulch and was created by Nathan Brown, who has several murals around town with one of his more recent works featured on the side of TopGolf. Fellow blogger, Kristin, over at Camels & Chocolate has the ultimate Nashville street art round-up, so check it out!
Cheekwood is a 55-acre botanical garden and historic estate located in the Bellevue area. The mansion on the property serves as an art gallery and exhibits rotate throughout the year, with many of the exhibits also including outdoor art features. This is a great escape from all of the activity of the city for a bit to enjoy the beautiful gardens and memorable art exhibits.
This outdoor venue does not disappoint! I’ve seen countless shows at Ascend Amphitheater since it opened a few years ago and have lucked out every time with perfect weather. While you can buy tickets for seats, the lawn also provides a great view of the show, and an even better view of the sun as it sets behind the city!
Nashville Old Town Trolley Tour
Want to see all the sights but don’t want to deal with driving or taking a Lyft or Uber ride from each location? Get a full tour of Music City from the comfort of the Old Town Trolley. I was invited to check out the Old Town Trolley Tour a couple years ago and really enjoyed learning some interesting facts about the city I’ve called home for 10 years now! You can hop on and off the trolley throughout the tour and spend as much time as you’d like at specific stops. Learn more about the Old Town Trolley Tour in this post I wrote after my experience.
Stay
Whether you’re coming to Nashville for fun or for work, the Omni Hotel is the ideal spot to stay downtown. Conveniently located across from the convention center, the Omni has an incredible rooftop pool with a full, seasonal menu, several restaurants inside the hotel, and of course stunning views of Music City. I was invited to the Omni for a pool day and to try their new ‘Summer of Passion Fruit’ menu items, which has definitely been the highlight of my summer so far! The other cool thing about the Omni is that you can easily get to Hatch Show Print, the iconic letterpress poster print shop founded in the late 1800s, from inside the hotel.
If you’ve ever wanted to stay in an old train station, the Union Station Hotel is your place. Originally opened in 1900 as a train shed, the iconic building was remodeled and reopened in 1986 as a hotel. The building is beautifully ornate inside and out. I had a chance to tour the hotel a few years ago during an event recognizing some of Nashville’s historic landmarks. Even if you decide to stay elsewhere, pop in to the Union Station Hotel lobby to see the stained glass in the vaulted ceiling.
Be sure to hop over to my Instagram page for a chance to win a copy of Insiders’ Guide to Nashville and save this post on Pinterest to refer back to before visiting Nashville!