Nov 2023

Things to do in Downtown Nashville

Downtown Nashville is rich in history, music, and highly-rated restaurants. One of the best things about visiting Nashville is that the city can appeal to all age groups. So whether you’re visiting with your young children, heading to Music City for a bachelorette party, or taking a solo trip into the city, you’ll be able to find activities to suit your interests.

This article will outline some must-see attractions and must-dine restaurants that you’ll want to keep in mind before you visit downtown Nashville. For tips about other neighborhoods in Nashville, check out our posts about 12 South, Germantown, The Gulch, and Midtown.

Best Food and Drink in Downtown Nashville

Downtown Nashville is a hub for great bars, pubs, and restaurants. Due to the high traffic of tourists in the downtown corridor, you can find fun places to eat and drink on almost every corner. Some of the most highly-rated restaurants in downtown Nashville are:

  • The Stillery: for American cuisine with a variety of local craft beers and cocktails. This restaurant doubles as a great bar to grab a quick drink!
  • Etch: for an upscale environment with delicious cuisine. It also has two private dining rooms, making it a great place to host large dinners and events. Etch has been so highly praised it has won Nashville’s best restaurant multiple times.
  • The Southern Steak and Oyster: for classic southern comfort food in a unique and modern environment. It is a popular spot for brunch, cocktails, or a sit-down meal! Chefs source the highest quality seafood that stands out from competitors.
  • Bakersfield: for traditional Mexican street food, Bakersfield serves the classics alongside its menu of over 100 tequilas and American whiskeys.

Best Bars and Pubs in Downtown Nashville

Music City has no shortage of bars and pubs for those looking for a lighter bite with unique cocktail options. Some of the most highly rated and visited establishments in downtown Nashville worth visiting include:

  • Skull’s Rainbow Room serves food alongside their specialty cocktails and nightly burlesque shows. Skull’s Rainbow Room is the place to be in downtown Nashville for drinks with a show!
  • Fleet Street Pub is a classic pub serving bar food alongside its menu of imported beers.
  • Bowie’s Nashville is located in a former brick showroom. The bar offers live music, southern food, and cocktails in its upbeat environment.
  • Gertie’s Whiskey Bar is a stylish cocktail bar serving a huge variety of whiskey cocktails, beer, and wine. Gertie’s is modern and proudly has one of the largest whiskey collections in the south.

10 Best Things to See in Downtown Nashville

Downtown Nashville has tons of activities for tourists and locals alike. With many museums and historic buildings, downtown is a haven for entertainment. The heart of Nashville has activities for all seasons and all interests. While spending time in the downtown corridor, be sure to hit some of these ten attractions:

  • Nashville Farmers Market
  • Tennessee State Museum
  • Tennessee State Capitol
  • Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
  • Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum
  • Johnny Cash Museum
  • Ryman Auditorium
  • National Museum of African American Music
  • Country Music Hall of Fame
  • Frist Art Museum

Read more about Nashville’s most popular and historical museums.

Hockey fans can head to Bridgestone Arena to watch Nashville’s NHL team, the Nashville Predators, play teams from across North America. For other sporting events and concerts, take a trip to Nissan Stadium. This is the home stadium for the Tennessee Titans and the Tigers of Tennessee State University.

9 Best Tours in Downtown Nashville

Downtown Nashville has several tour companies that book exciting and historic city tours. Whether you’re a city local or celebrating a weekend away with friends, there are tours that will suit your Nashville agenda. Many Music City tours combine visiting historical sites, locations with musical significance, and some of the best local food and drinks. For those looking to get a good sense of the city in a short period, doing a tour is one of the best ways to do so!

Some of the best tour companies that are located in the downtown core include:

  • Downtown Segway Tour
  • Nashville Food Tours
  • NashTrash Tours
  • Walkin’ Nashville
  • Hick Chick Tours
  • Old Town Trolley Tours Nashville
  • United Street Tours
  • Nashville History on Tour
  • Nashville Ghost Tours

To learn more about city tours in Nashville, email us at cityconsul@nashapartments.com so we can discuss exactly what you want to see and build an experience just for you. We have a special package for a hyper-personalized concierge city tour that allows you to create an experience entertaining for locals or tourists!

If you’re not looking to book any Nashville tours but want to learn more about Music City, consider booking a city consultation with one of our local Nashville experts. Our agents can answer any questions about the city while providing advice regardless of whether you want to move or visit the region. These consultations are separate from our apartment locating service, meaning you don’t have to be moving to the city to take advantage of this offering!