Nashville. Home of honky-tonk, hipsters, + the almighty southern sweet tea. Salt of the earth people and country cooking sing that NASH sunshine up in the morning, straight into your soul. Springtime signals that it is again time to make the pilgrimage to Music City. Car precariously stuffed to the gills for a LONG road trip, camera finger itching, and a concert list half the length of 12th South.

WHERE TO STAY IN NASHVILLE

Urban Cowboy, Thompson Nashville, Hutton Hotel, Sobro Guest House, Airbnb

(or, your friend's couch... depending on how you roll)

The Neighborhood

Once you know where you will be resting your head at night - familiarize yourself with the Nash neighborhoods and plan your adventure. Nashville is not a large metropolis. Depending on your travel style, you could see the bulk of the city in just a couple days.

12th South

Imogene + Willie

Where the beautiful everything lives. The store front is as aesthetically pleasing as it is unique. The denim is a delicious texture lover’s dreamscape. The staff, nice, inviting, stunning. Had a great chat with the girls, both hailed from Texas and answered all my denim questions with ease. They were prepping for an event later in the evening in the back space behind the shop, drinks and general good times were had by all. This shop is my favorite retail space on 12th, for all the right reasons.

Bartaco

I was really confused by the name bartaco, anyone else? A quick side note, this 12th south staple sits just a few doors down from Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James ( definitely pop in, and, bonus, they provide the most adorable miniature cup of sweet tea while you browse the signature shop. Southern charm at it's finest) Ok, back to Bartaco.

Bartaco's patio seating was the perfect perch to view the sunset foot traffic on 12th south. The food, delicious taco after taco, affirming my intuition that though I had not heard of bartaco previously, I had certainly come to the right place. I finished my meal at sunset and was pleasantly surprised when my waiter, Spencer, brought by a navy velveted blanket to stave off the impending chill. The staff graciously and efficiently pulled out several outdoor heaters across the patio keeping the cool night air at bay. Good food, excellent service, great people watching.

I recommend: baja fish taco, seasame ribeye.

East Nash

The Mitchell

The Mitchell, an east Nashville staple for sandwiches that will make you feel like a rockstar as you consume your fare next to an actual rockstar who is doing their best to remain incognito. You will have to wade through the sea of hipsters in order to get to your sandwich, but I promise it will be worth the wade.

I recommend: The Turkey Apple Brie

Terminal Cafe

If you only have a quick few mins to round out your East Nashville tour, pop into the Terminal Café and request the orange lavender iced latte, it's not on the menu so they may have to grab Khalil (one of Terminal’s owners) to have it made. Worth it.

I recommend: The Orange Lavender Latte Iced

Rosepepper Cantina

An east Nash staple and a great place for meet-ups. House margaritas are on point and so are the kick back and chill vibes at this local watering hole. As serendipity would have it, we managed to be there for national margarita day, naturally we did not the opportunity go to waste.

Marche

If Nashville is doing brunch, it will certainly be at the one and only Marche. European bistro fare, eclectic ambience... with minorly difficult parking. This stop was worthy of the wait time for our table, the delicious latte redeemed the time.. it probably helped that I may have had two. Yes, don't judge, one was for the 11 hour road trip looming ahead of me. I wasn’t overly impressed with my meal pick. My friend Natashia's nosh looked (and tasted) insanely delicious. Next time I will let her pick my entrée. Either way, I’ll definitely be back.

Downtown + The Gulch

L.A. Jackson

Grab a drink and unparalelled view of the Nashville skyline at LA Jackson perched atop The Thompson. The vibes here are at once electric and celebrity. Arguably the best rooftop patio in the city, day or night.

Killebrew

The virtual nook of a caffeinated refinement. Perfectly poised aside The Thompson, with the same attention to design at every detail. Delicious space to compose your workday or getaway adventure. Sit just long enough to get the caffeine pumping through your veins before you step out the door to take in the gulch.

OTHER MUST HAVE COFFEE

CREMA best coffee in Nashville
FIDO (Bongo Java) try the Evergreen Latte
FROTHY MONKEY anything on the specialty menu

First time in Nashville?

Don't forget to:

Take a walk down Broadway
Catch a show at the Ryman
Daydream about running into Charles Eston (SWOON)

Also stop for: Franklin Juice Co. + peek inside White’s Mercantile.

Snap a #BASIC pic at the I believe in Nashville mural on 12th south.

THE NASHVILLE EDITION