Are you looking for the best hidden gems in Nashville? I was born and raised in Nashville, so here are some of my favorites!
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Nashville has so many great things to do – but sometimes people get lost in the touristy attractions.
Don’t get me wrong, those things are all fun too, and you should totally check them out – Broadway, The Grand Ole Opry, hot chicken.
I’m a strong believer that you should still do the typical things – they are usually popular for a reason. BUT sometimes the best memories are made when you find some stuff the locals usually do.
These are some of the things I suggest to people when they are looking for something out of the basic things people always suggest.
Here are all the best hidden gems in Nashville!
Best Hidden Gems in Nashville:
Check out my blog posts:
The Ultimate 3-Day Nashville Itinerary for First-Timers
11 of Best Places to Eat in Nashville: Restaurant Guide
1. Love Circle Overlook
Okay, let’s start with one of my favorites. Anytime I have a friend come to Nashville for the first time, I make sure to take them to Love Circle. In my opinion, it is the absolute BEST view of Nashville. It’s a little hilltop where you can see for miles – and get an amazing view of the Nashville skyline.
You can bring blankets to lie on, stuff for a picnic, etc. It’s a great place to take some photos with the skyline or just sit and relax for a bit.
You’ll also see John Rich’s home (named Mt.Richmore) located right beside it.
It’s definitely one of the top hidden gems in Nashville!
I don’t think it really has an official address, but I just put it in my gps and it pops up as Love Circle.
👉If you’re looking for some things to take along with you, here are some things that may elevate your experience!
This is my absolute FAVORITE Picnic Basket Set!
If you think you might want to listen to some music, here is my favorite Bluetooth Speaker!
2. Pinewood Social
Pinewood Social, in my opinion, is one of the most unique places in Nashville. It truly has the most random assortment of things – there is a vintage bowling alley, a coffee shop (great for getting some work done if you are on a work trip!), a bar, a great dine-in experience, an outdoor dipping pool, an outdoor patio with bocce ball and ping pong…I mean, seriously, so many options to choose from! It’s super cute and trendy!
Just make sure to book bowling in advance because there are only a couple of lanes!
Click Here to Make a Reservation
3. Belcourt Theatre
I absolutely love Belcourt Theatre. It’s pretty historic – it’s been open since 1925. They started off showing independent films and now have evolved into showing mostly independent films and documentaries. They also do some fun other events, like Q&As. If you’re into the arts, definitely check out their event page!
4. Santa’s Pub
Santa’s Pub is on EVERYONE’s list if they are a local. It is literally decorated full out with Christmas lights all year long.
It’s super quirky and located in a double-wide trailer.
If you’re looking for cheap beer and karaoke…this is the place for you!
Oh, and there are tons of celebrity sightings in this bar. Just as the locals all know, make sure to be respectful! One of the best things about Nashville is that celebrities have their boundaries respected far more than in other cities like LA or New York City.
Be warned, though, it’s cash only!! So come prepared.
5. Speakeasy’s
One of my favorite things in ANY city is finding a really good speakeasy – and Nashville has some great ones!
There are some super trendy, dimly lit ones that are perfect if you just want to have a good drink with some good atmosphere.
But there are also some super fun ones that are themed and will change. Here’s a list of all the best ones in Nashville. I’ll do my best to give you a good description of each! (Keep in mind, they are speakeasies, so they may be a little hard to find. If you think you’re at the wrong place, you probably aren’t lol.)
Here are some of my favorites:
- Atta Boy – In my opinion, it’s such a cool concept. They don’t have a menu. Basically, you just describe to the bartender what you normally like in a drink. For example, you can keep it simple and just say, “I like dry red wines,” or “I like old-fashioned fashioneds.” But what’s really fun is getting creative. I had a friend who said, “I want what you think Willie Nelson would be drinking if he were in the Colorado Mountains.” They love getting creative! So if you’re adventurous, come up with a fun, unique order, and you’ll get to see what fun spins they put on it! P.S. No reservations, so try to show up early if you don’t want to wait. I’ve never had a long wait, though!
Located at: 8 Mcferrin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206 (You’ll think you’re in the wrong place, but just knock on the door around the back of the building. They’ll let you in!)
- Pushing Daisies -It is located on Broadway, but still a fun place to visit if you’re already in the area. It’s perfect for a quick drink before you catch a show at the Ryman or Bridgestone. They are known for their margaritas and have some light appetizers!
Located at: 570 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
- Red Phone Booth – This one is pretty cool – and it’s a chain, so you may have one in your own city. The one thing is – you’ll need a code! You enter a literal red phone booth, pick up the phone, enter the code, and that’s how you get access. You can buy a membership, and you’ll always have the code. But if you are a one-time visitor, you may have some other options to get in as well. If you meet someone with a membership, you can get the code – but if you don’t happen to know anyone, ask the concierge at your hotel! Every now and then, they are able to give you the hook-up!
Located at: 136 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203 (Just look for the red phone booth!)
- Patterson House – This was probably the first speakeasy I ever went to in Nashville! It was such a popular place to go for after-work get-togethers back in the day. Great for a short little get together if you’re meeting up with someone you want to impress! Click here for reservations!
Located at: 700 8TH AVENUE SOUTH, FIFTH FLOOR, NASHVILLE, TN, 37203
If you’d rather go for a themed Speakeasy, here are our favorites:
- “The Hidden Bar” in the Noelle Hotel – I first went here one year ago for my birthday. They used to have a restaurant called MakeReady (They have since changed the restaurant to a restaurant called Lona).
- Kung Fu Saloon Speakeasy: Kung Fu is a fun little bar located in Midtown. They’ve got tons of games and a little karaoke room you can reserve. There are tons of outdoor games too! I used to go there all the time, and it was years before I even realized they had a speakeasy inside! When you walk in, go to the right and you’ll see a door that literally looks like it would be an exit door – but once you open it, it’s a full-blown Beetlejuice-themed bar! It’s great for photo ops – and whenever I’ve been in there, it’s so much better because shockingly, people really don’t know about it, so it usually isn’t so packed!
- House of Cards: I don’t really know if House of Cards really qualifies as a speakeasy – it’s a full sit-down restaurant and entertainment experience – but it’s the same vibe in that it’s hidden. If you’re looking for a fancy dinner, this is your place. It is all magic-themed. You’ll enjoy an amazing meal, and while you wait for that meal, there are several magicians around performing tricks. And they are very talented! Then, once dinner is over, you go to the theatre and enjoy a full show. It’s such a fun and unique experience. Also, make sure to check their website because there is a strict dress code!
6. Shelby Bottoms Greenway
If you need something a little more outdoorsy, check out Shelby Bottoms Greenway! You can walk or you can rent a bike, and enjoy some greenery a little outside of the city! You’ll get to go along paths that follow the Cumberland River and see some great skyline views!
Click here to book a bike at Shelby Bottoms Greenway!
Also, if you need a cheap, super cute workout se,t this is my fave!
7. Marathon Village
If you want something a little random – Marathon Village is a top pick! It used to be an auto factory, but now it’s got a ton of shops, breweries, and distilleries. It’s a cool place to roam around a bit outside of the hustle and bustle.
They also have a great music venue: Marathon Music Works! I highly recommend checking if they have any shows you might want to check out.
Another place I used to love over there was Antique Archeology. They used to have live music, and I played there a couple of times, but unfortunately, it closed. They were always featured on the TV show American Pickers.
8. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
Cheekwood is always a local favorite! One of my best friends(who also grew up in Nashville) got engaged there! It’s mostly botanical gardens and a beautiful mansion you can tour, but definitely check their website to see if they have new exhibits, because they do a lot of fun events for each season!
9. Printer’s Alley
Printer’s Alley is one of the BEST hidden gems.
It’s literally like a two-minute walk from Broadway, but it’s a totally different vibe.
Whenever I play a double, I often head over to Printer’s Alley for dinner. It’s just literally a little alleyway, but it’s pretty cool.
They have tons of great restaurants and bars – but for me, the highlights are Fleet Street, Ms. Kelli’s, and Skull’s Rainbow Room.
Fleet Street Pub is one of my favorite places to go grab a drink and some fish and chips. It’s a U.K. style pub – and while I, of course, love it, my U.K. friends always say it’s their favorite too.
There are some board games, some books, and ALL the vibes.
Ms. Kellie’s is a great karaoke bar.
Skull’s is great if you are looking for something a little fancier.
The whole little alley is great, though, so I highly recommend walking the little block and seeing if anything catches your eye!
10. Red Door Saloon
As the years go on, Red Door is definitely becoming more discovered by tourists – but let me tell you why the locals love it.
I used to go there ALL the time – and it never failed, I would always run into people I knew. When Whiskey Jam used to be at Winner’s, everyone would head over to Loser’s afterwards and then finish the night at Red Door.
Although the Midtown location is where I frequented, they also have a location in East Nashville and now a brand new one in Donelson.
My recommendations – get the potato salad! I know this sounds so random, but when I used to go there all the time, I met so many people who LOVED the potato salad. I’m not even usually a potato salad lover… but it was amazing.
I literally met someone one time who tried to get them to cater his wedding with just the potato salad.
Also, my party trick for making friends (after a few too many drinks, of course) was to show them the skeleton in the ground.
If you’re at the Midtown location, when you go to the very end of the bar, you’ll see a small hole in the ground in the wood-planked floors. If you get down on the ground and peek through it, you’ll see a whole staged setup with a skeleton.
People might think you’re crazy when they see you on the ground peering through a hole, but it’s fun and, to be honest, is a great conversation starter with people.
I know it sounds crazy – but it’s fun because no one really knows about it!
Where to Stay Near These Hidden Gems
If you want to experience Nashville like a local, consider staying in one of these highly rated hotels:
- [The Thompson Nashville] (Click here to book!) – If you’re looking to be close to the Gulch, Pinewood Social, and Printer’s Alley, this hotel is perfect! It is also home to my favorite oyster happy hour in Nashville – at Marsh House. They have $1.50 oysters, but also have tons of great drink specials and other food on the happy hour menu as well. They also have an AMAZING rooftop bar with the absolute best views of Nashville. It’s definitely a top pick!
- [Kimpton Aertson Hotel ] (Click here to book!) – Stylish boutique hotel near Love Circle and Vanderbilt.
I always tell people to check out Broadway just to say you did it – and who knows, you may love it! But Nashville has so much more to offer than just the typical tourist attractions. I hope this helped you find some different things you may not have been able to find just from a quick search.
These are some of my favorite local places!
👉 Pro tip: Rent a car [Click here to book on Expedia] so you can easily explore these off-the-beaten-path spots.
This post was all about the best hidden gems in Nashville!
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The Ultimate 3-Day Nashville Itinerary for First-Timers
1 Day in Nashville Itinerary: Day Trip Travel Guide
11 of Best Places to Eat in Nashville: Restaurant Guide
13 of the Best Free things to do in Nashville
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The Ultimate Packing List for Vacation
