When seeking news about Nashville, it’s a good idea to look to its ever-evolving neighborhoods, which are like individual music boxes that when opened reveal all that is wonderful and happening around the city.
Music via up-and-coming local talent? Check. Filming of the new ABC hit show, Nashville? Check. Great food and intriguing gifts at recently opened eateries and shops? Check. A new convention facility that will change the way “Music City” handles group business? Check!
“Throw in Nashville’s affordability and accessibility and it’s easy to see why this city strikes a chord with meeting executives,” says Kay Witt, chief sales officer at the Nashville CVB.
Truly experiencing a destination like Nashville means exploring downtown and its other neighborhoods, which Witt says are an essential part of the city’s blueprint.
“They are great places to go to experience the local sights, sounds and tastes that make Nashville unique,” she says. “All these neighborhoods are within 10 minutes of downtown Nashville so it is easy to get away for an afternoon of shopping, a nice dinner or a night out.”
Following is a snapshot of several group-friendly neighborhoods in Nashville.
Downtown
Downtown, home of meetings favorites such as The Hermitage, Union Station, Renaissance and Hilton, is the hub of the city and the best place to experience some of Nashville’s history, according to Witt.
“From the famed honky tonks to the Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, it can all be explored on foot and gives visitors a good sense of why we are ‘Music City,’” she says. “Meeting planners could easily find all the hotel, meeting space and dining and entertainment they could need to accommodate their entire group downtown.”
When the Music City Center debuts in May, the area will become an even bigger draw for groups. Located just a block south of popular Broadway Avenue in an area aptly named SoBro (South of Broadway), the center will more than triple convention space in downtown Nashville.
“What used to be an area made up of warehouse buildings is now seeing new hotels, restaurants, event spaces and greenways, with much more expected to come,” Witt says of SoBro, adding that the Music City Center will allow the CVB the opportunity to market the destination to much larger groups. “Having the space to host larger and more groups will positively impact our hospitality industry, which currently employs more than 60,000 people.”
Aside from the upcoming unveiling of the Music City Center are other notable group options, including attractions such as Schermerhorn Symphony Center and Frist Center for the Visual Arts, both of which double as off-site gathering spots, as well as turnkey event venues such as Aerial and One Eleven.
Opryland/Music Valley
In the nearby Music Valley area, groups will find entertainment such as the famous Grand Ole Opry, shopping at Opry Mills Mall and Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, which houses a variety of event space and a bundle of attractions, from varied dining and shopping options to a spa and a golf course.
Also located in the area are the General Jackson Showboat, Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theater and Grand Old Golf, Games and Go Karts, all available for group events, as well as the Willie Nelson and Friends Museum and General Store. PageBreak
The Gulch
The historic Gulch District was originally a railroad terminal filled with warehouse buildings. Today, according to Witt, it is a thriving, upscale neighborhood that includes condos, a wide variety of restaurants and shopping, and a new hotel currently under construction.
“The Gulch, which is the first LEED-certified neighborhood in the South, is just blocks from downtown and is the perfect place to have a dinner or reception while overlooking views of the Nashville skyline,” Witt says.
Group-friendly venues here include the Mercy Lounge, a second-story music venue featuring a relaxed ambience with pool tables and booth seating, and the Cannery Ballroom, a larger music venue.
Popular area eateries include Watermark, which offers American food with Southern-style ingredients and floor-to-ceiling windows for a terrific view of downtown Nashville, Kayne Prime, an upscale steakhouse, and the Whiskey Kitchen, a “tavern-chic” spot that serves gourmet pub fare.
The Gulch is also home to Two Old Hippies, a store featuring rock ’n’ roll memorabilia, unique apparel collections, fun novelty and gift items, as well as a stage for local performances.
Midtown
Midtown, where top meetings properties such as the sleek Hutton Hotel, Loews Vanderbilt and Embassy Suites reside, is located just minutes from downtown and is a favorite night spot among locals, Witt says.
“Groups can have a nice dinner at a number of local favorites and then walk to a swanky cocktail lounge, beer joint or anything in between,” she says.
Tavern, South Street Restaurant and Bound’ry Restaurant are three popular dining options here, and attractions include the Parthenon, a full-sized reproduction of the Greek Parthenon that houses fine art galleries, and Historic RCA Studio B, Nashville’s oldest recording studio.
Off-site venues for group gatherings in this area include the Noah Liff Opera Center and Ruby, a boutique event hall.
12South
One of Nashville’s newest neighborhoods, 12South, is a walkable area where folks can grab a coffee, buy new guitar strings and enjoy a bite to eat.
“Known more as a residential area, quaint coffee shops, boutique shops and restaurants line the four-block stretch of 12South’s main street,” Witt says. “This is the perfect afternoon getaway for groups to get out and wander.”
Two restaurants here that double as off-site event space are Urban Grub, where the menu features different cuisine, from Southern-style seafood and a raw bar with oysters to tacos and enchiladas; and Edley’s Bar-B-Que, which has a large patio.
Shops include Katy K, a boutique that offers great vintage finds, and two spots for jeans: Imogene + Willie, a custom jeans store, and MODA Boutique, which also specializes in jewelry and other accessories. PageBreak
East Nashville
Over the years, East Nashville has developed a special vibe that has attracted many creative types to the neighborhood.
“The most eclectic neighborhood in the city, East Nashville is home to many of the musicians and artists who call Nashville home,” Witt says. “As a result, pockets of art galleries, vintage shops and diverse restaurants have found a perfect home just across the river from downtown.”
And if you’re a fan of the ABC show Nashville, Witt adds that you may recognize a few spots where scenes were filmed.
A popular area to find vintage, antique and unique items is in 5 Points, home to Art & Invention Gallery and stores including Hello Boys, Moss and Goodbuy Girls, which sells the best quality and affordable vintage cowboy boots in the city.
East Nashville’s new shopping community, Shoppes on Fatherland, has its own mix of stores, including 1907 Apparel, a philanthropic apparel store that opened in September, and High Garden Herbs, Tea & Tradition.
Group-friendly restaurants include Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden, Mas Tacos Por Favor and Holland House Bar & Refuge.
Hillsboro Village
Nestled between Vanderbilt University and Music Row, Hillsboro Village comprises a four-block radius that’s wonderfully suited for an afternoon outing.
“The artsy Hillsboro Village is lined with great boutique shops, bars and restaurants, including the famous Pancake Pantry that has a line wrapped around the corner every weekend morning,” Witt says. “The coffee shop Fido is one of Taylor Swift’s favorite places.”
Shops here include BookMan/BookWoman, a book store with more than 150,000 used volumes and a search service to help patrons find what they’re after, and Pangaea, Fire Finch and A Thousand Faces, which each offers a varied selection of art, jewelry and other gifts.
Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Cafe, where guests can grab a bite and hear local musicians, is also located in Hillsboro Village, as is the historic Belcourt Theatre, once home to the Grand Ole Opry and today a movie theater and performing arts venue.
Germantown/Marathon Village
Named because of the influx of German immigrants in the mid-19th century, Germantown was Nashville’s first suburb.
“Nashville’s oldest neighborhood, Germantown, is the perfect place to host a group dinner,” Witt says. “Just minutes from downtown, the streets are lined with beautiful Victorian buildings and several upscale restaurants, including Germantown Cafe and Silo, which are both great options for groups.”
Another popular spot is the Corsair Artisan Brewery Taproom, which has a changing menu of 16 craft beers from microbreweries around the country.
Near Germantown is Marathon Village, a neighborhood made up of a group of 100-year-old warehouse buildings and featuring Marathon Music Works, a locally owned and operated concert and event space originally built in the early 1900s.
Frequent contributor Carolyn Blackburn plans to take a shopping spree the next time she’s in Nashville.
