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Music City Food

Amplify your stay with local food traditions that place Nashville at the top of the culinary scene. Enjoy the finest in “Hot Chicken” and “Meat & Three,” for example. Say what? “Hot Chicken” is a spicy Nashville original that, according to legend, was created by a scorned lover seeking revenge nearly 100 years ago. A “Meat & Three” meal is southern food at its best and includes a delicious meat dish accompanied by three mouthwatering sides. While you’ll find these, plenty of other great food and a lot of fun times within walking distance of the convention center and the downtown music scene, here are several other places to check out: 

  1. 6th & Peabody: Near the convention center, this local favorite offers the full Nashville experience via live music and great food and drinks, thanks to Ole Smoky Distillery and Yee Haw Brewing Co. Website: 6thandpeabody.com
  2. Bobby Hotel Rooftop Lounge: Perched atop the Bobby Hotel, this bar provides an eclectic atmosphere. Enjoy a drink while gazing at the stars from the back of a retrofitted 1956 Scenicruiser, or take the driver’s seat overlooking historic 4th Avenue and Avenue of the Arts. Website: bobbyhotel.com/rooftoplounge
  3. Nashville Farmers’ Market: As a combination market and restaurant space in the heart of the city, you’ll find a delicious fusion of tender meats, fresh produce, warm bread, and umami deliciousness, all sourced locally. Website: nashvillefarmersmarket.org
  4. Legend’s Corner: Only a few feet from the Convention Center, Legend’s will be your first stop on a tour of lower Broadway’s honky-tonks. You may meet real-life legends on the barstool next to you. Vince Gill, Bill Anderson and Little Jimmy Dickens are known to drop in from time to time. www.legendscorner.com 

This list is just a sampling of what Nashville restaurants and nightspots offer. Please note: Restaurants and bars might have capacity limits and abridged hours, so check with individual establishments for details.

Say What?

Every city has its own quirky aspects and thoughtful cultural undercurrents, and Nashville is no different. You’ll find plenty of “Y’alls” flying around, and a fair share of “Fixins,” but here are a few more terms you might find handy as you mingle with Music City residents: 

Bless Your Heart: Depending on the context, “Bless your heart” might be an innocent term of endearment or a not-so-subtle approach to throwing some shade (aka veiled insult.) 

Bushwacker: This boozy milkshake-esque drink is perfect for hot summer days and lazy evenings with friends. 

Goo-Goo Cluster: This chocolate candy, created in Nashville in 1912, is a delectable confection of real milk chocolate, peanuts, caramel and marshmallow nougat. 

Honky Tonkin’: The Honky Tonk Highway is bedecked with colorful neon signs promoting various live-music venues (aka honky-tonks), all free to the public.

Nashville's Music Scene

The music scene in Nashville is as diverse as the songwriters and musicians who make up the community. Not only can you find free live music 365 days a year at the honky-tonks, but you can also find Americana, rock, pop, hip-hop, and just about any other genre at a variety of venues around town. Whatever you are in the mood to hear, you can find it in Music City. Here are just a few suggestions:

The Bluebird Café: Since 1982, one of Nashville’s best-loved live-music venues has featured up-and-coming performers, as well as hit songwriters, in an intimate setting.

Tequila Cowboy: Set your sights on a night to remember! Located in the heart of downtown, this hotspot offers different music venues in one convenient location.

Two Bits: It’s all about the classics! Featuring 24 draught beers and traditional cocktails, patrons enjoy kicking back to play vintage arcade games and consoles, shuffleboard, card and board games, and much more.

Music Museums & More

Artober Nashville: Held every October and perfectly timed for NFDA’s convention, this month-long celebration of the arts in Nashville and Middle Tennessee includes hundreds of events. 

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: This place is the definitive home of American music, safeguarding more than 2.5 million priceless artifacts, including countless recordings and photographs, numerous stage costumes, musical instruments, and more.

The Gallery of Iconic Guitars at Belmont: This Music City venue celebrates more than 100 prized instruments and features some of the rarest, most iconic guitars and stringed instruments ever created. 

The Johnny Cash Museum: Dedicated to the life and music career of the late “Man in Black,” the museum features the world’s largest, most comprehensive collection of artifacts and memorabilia. 

Music City Walk of Fame: Located on Nashville’s Music Mile, the walk’s stars span genres and generations, honoring those who made, created, recorded, performed.

New! National Museum of African American Music:  NMAAM is the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced, and inspired by African Americans. The museum’s expertly-curated collections share the story of the American soundtrack by integrating history and interactive technology to bring the musical heroes of the past into the present.