My Guide to an Awesome Weekend Getaway in Nashville

Now that Nashville is the nation’s “It” city, those of us who live here are (mostly) enjoying the fact that so many are discovering what we’ve known for years- Nashville is truly a jewel of a city. I’ve traveled across the country and would be hard-pressed to find a better place to live and raise a family. Because of the music industry here, Nashville has all the amenities of a big city- great shopping, a fantastic music and arts scene, fabulous restaurants and nightspots, and plenty celebrity sightings- but it also has a decidedly family-friendly, small town feel to it. Add a lush, hilly landscape that’s drenched in history and you’ve got a place that’s hard to beat.

So while my family loves to travel, my husband and I have discovered that one of our favorite getaways as a couple can be found in our very own town. A couple of weeks ago, we spent the weekend in a hotel downtown, eating and drinking and making merry like tourists. We had an amazing time and now I get to share it with you- Consider this a can’t-go-wrong guide to a romantic weekend vacation (or staycation!) in downtown Nashville.

We checked in at Nashville’s Omni Hotel on Friday afternoon – The hotel opened just last year and the city has been buzzing about it ever since- and with good reason. Thanks to my roles as blogger and travel writer/TV host, I’ve gotten to stay in my fair share of luxury hotels and I have to say that Nashville’s Omni Hotel is one of the best I’ve encountered.

Located right beside the city’s brand new convention center, the hotel is within easy walking distance of all that downtown has to offer- It’s also home now to Nashville’s famous Hatch Show Print, locally owned coffee shop Bongo Java, the classic Bob’s Steak & Chop House, popular restaurant Kitchen Notes, and the raucous music/sports bar, Barlines. With so much going on, the lobby is constantly filled with a see-and-be-seen crowd of conventioners, tourists, business travelers, and bachelor/bachelorette party attendees.

 

We took the elevator up to our room on the 14th floor and promptly fell in love with it. The decor was warm and luxurious and it just felt different from your average luxury hotel. After we’d spent a little time there, I realized the difference- “It feels like we’re staying in someone’s home rather than a hotel,” I told my husband. “If all hotels were like this, business travel would be so much easier.” And this, for me, is HUGE. Having spent three months on the road in 2012 covering the presidential election and working on I’ll Take That Dare, I’ve developed an extreme distaste for the average sterile hotel room when I’m traveling alone. Even the nicest hotels often have impersonal, functional rooms that make home feel farther away than ever. The Omni’s hotel room, on the other hand, was a place where I’d happily curl up on the corner sofa with a book for a few hours, or watch a USC game– which is exactly what we did on Saturday!

 

I mean, this is what a staycation is all about, right?

Other features I loved were the bed, which was one of the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in, and the bathroom, which had a well-lit mirror (a rarity in hotels) as well as a lit, magnified makeup mirror. SCORE. And then there was the view.

 
Lord, have mercy.

I took this picture all by myself. With my iPhone. From my hotel room window.

There was only one thing that could tear me away from this skyline.

 

Omni Nashville boasts an insane rooftop pool, bar, and super-sized rockin’ jacuzzi that was always filled with people. It’s definitely one of the nicest things about the hotel. In other words, BRING SWIMSUITS.

We could have stayed here all evening- but we had other plans…

 

Dinner at Etch.

Etch is one of the tastiest and most creative restaurants in all of Nashville and it’s a super-short walk away from the hotel. Dinner here can be pricy, BUT there’s a way around that. Come during Happy Hour and you can enjoy a number of discounted appetizers (including their AMAZING Roasted Cauliflower), as well as a selection of $6 craft cocktails. Although we missed Happy Hour, we sat in a window seat at the bar (the people watching outside is top notch) and ordered three appetizers- the lamb tartare, the roasted cauliflower, and the butter tasting. The appetizers are BIG, so we had more than enough food and our food total was a mere $31– Not bad for a fine dining experience. I’m only sad that we didn’t have room for dessert because it looked amazing and it’s made by pastry chef Megan Williams, who also happens to be my cousin. Clearly, my sweet tooth is in my blood.

If you’d like other romantic dinner options within walking distance downtown, I’d also highly recommend The Southern Steak and Oyster (I had my birthday dinner here, if that tells you anything), and the Capitol Grille in the nearby Hermitage Hotel, which you may recognize from the ABC show Nashville– multiple scenes have been shot there. The famous Oak Bar is also at the Hermitage- It’s a fun, insider-y place to have drinks and it’s also where Dinah Shore got her start as a singer back in the day!

After dinner, it was time to kick back at Nashville’s newest local hotspot– Acme Feed & Seed.

 

I freaking love this place. It’s located in the heart of downtown at the bottom of lower Broad, right by the river. And while it was packed to the gills on Friday night with a line of people waiting to get in, it’s so large that there was plenty of room for everyone. The Acme has three stories, with a different atmosphere on each floor. On the first floor, you can order food and listen to live music. The second floor is a great place to find a seat and have a quieter drink. The third floor is the rooftop bar and if you are over 30, you will definitely be the oldest person there!

 

We finished the night back at the hotel at Barlines back at the Omni, which was PACKED with both locals and out-of-towners of all ages- It was a great spot to end the evening.

 

It was truly a night to remember.

The great thing about a staycation is that we were able to head back home Saturday morning to take my son to his soccer game, then head back to the hotel to resume our weekend getaway. We spent the afternoon relaxing and watching the aforementioned USC game, then went out for dinner at Mortons nearby- a Ferrier family staple. We had plans for another big night out, but we were both exhausted and ended up going to bed early.

And this is where most weekend getaways end- But the best was yet to come.

 

On Sunday morning, we had brunch at Kitchen Notes and it. Was. AMAZING.

First off, if I ever become a millionaire, I’m going to hire the designer of this restaurant to come and do my entire home, because the decor is stunning and unique and inviting and comfortable- just like I want my own home to be.

Second, Kitchen Notes is now by far my new favorite Sunday brunch spot in Nashville.

 

Kitchen Notes is famous for its biscuit bar, which features three different kinds of biscuits, and this is great, BUT I was even more impressed by the actual buffet, which included Benton’s Country Ham, blueberry maple sausage, roasted potatoes and root vegetables, cage-free farm fresh omelets made to order, fresh fruit straight from Miami, freshly squeezed juices, a delicious cheese and charcuterie board, shrimp cocktail, applewood smoked bacon, the best made-to-order pancakes I’ve ever eaten, and much more. And to top it all off?

 

There was a dessert bar. The chefs at Kitchen Notes compete each week to make the best dessert- and we get to enjoy the spoils! The dessert buffet included strawberry cake, coconut cake, and derby pie– FOR BREAKFAST Y’ALLS. I don’t know about you, but this pretty much seals the deal as far as I’m concerned. In short, we loved it, and we’ll definitely be back- I’m thinking this is going to be my pick for Mother’s Day brunch next year. What. You don’t plan for Mother’s Day year round? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?

Our weekend was over, but I’m already looking for an excuse to return. Honestly, the Omni’s rooms are so comfortable that I’m thinking it would be a fabulous option for the writing weekend I’ve always dreamed of planning for myself, particularly because the Omni also has a spa that looks phenomenal and that I’m eager to try out. This would be my schedule: Eat. Work. Massage. Eat. Work. Facial. Work. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.

I digress.

If you’re planning a trip downtown, there’s so much to see and do. Here’s a quick list of downtown spots for all budgets that are surefire hits:

Demo’s is a great lunch spot that’s delicious, a huge hit with locals, and easy on your budget.

Puckett’s is always tasty, but be prepared for a wait.

The Palm. Big spenders just can’t go wrong there, and it’s always hopping.

Robert’s Western World is the only bar worth going to on Lower Broad in my opinion (besides the brand new Acme). This is my favorite spot for dancing (and the occasional fist fight) in all of Nashville.

Anything playing at the Ryman is worth seeing, and if you’re lucky enough to be in town when the Opry plays there for a few months each year, don’t miss it.

The Country Music Hall of Fame is fantastic, whether you’re a country music fan or not. It’s highly interactive and just fascinating.

Check the schedule at the Downtown Library while you’re in town- It often has great (free!) concerts scheduled, as well as panels with major authors.

Bobbie’s Dairy Dip is a Nashville staple and now has a location downtown! YUM.

Peace Love and Little Donuts has delicious, freshly made donuts in all kinds of interesting flavors.

Mike’s Ice Cream downtown is always busy and the ice cream is good- but what I REALLY love there is the hot chocolate. There are lots of different flavors to choose from and they’re all heavenly- especially on a cold day.

The Frist Museum is always fun.

Beer drinkers will love the Flying Saucer, a large gastropub at the historic Union Station Hotel with a huge beer selection and great open air balcony.

One note– Try to avoid Second Avenue at night. It was the only place where I really didn’t feel very safe and saw zero cop presence. Every other street we walked down- No problem.

Am I leaving anything out? Let me know in the comments! After all, the more you know…

Our hotel stay was graciously provided by Omni Hotel- I actually won the stay at an Omni opening party last year and we finally got a chance to use it!

Header image via Jim Nix/Flickr Creative Commons