Culture Convo: Above the Nashville Skyline in Style

I don’t know if this is just a Detroit thing, but it feels like everyone is going to Nashville for a trip or vacation.

It’s buzzy. It’s a “place to be.” And it’s increasingly a place where every bachelor and bachelorette party must happen for some sort of vague legal reason for better or worse.

On my first real trip down there, I was ready to see if Nashville, Tennessee, was a bust or must in a 48-hour sample size of seeing as much as I could before heading home. The quick up-and-down flight was an absolute plus right from the top.

But there had to be a few lines to stay within if I really wanted to get loose.

I only went places I could walk to from the hotel. Detroit isn’t the most walkable place, so to up the sense of escapism, I wanted to enjoy Nashville on foot exclusively. This was a breeze for two reasons. For one, downtown Nashville is compact and easy to navigate. For two, the hotel I stayed at — Bobby Nashville — was in a perfect location.

And let’s talk about how our views of a hotel have changed. I’m long past the days of hearing my parents say, “Well, the hotel doesn’t need to be nice — we’re just sleeping there.” Screw that! The way I travel now, I want to enjoy every inch of the hotel where I’m staying. It is, after all, often the most expensive part of the trip. Why not actually enjoy the space?

Bobby Nashville offered enjoyment in spades, with the first hotel lobby I actually wanted to chill in. Its obsession with car culture made sure I wasn’t too homesick. The eclectic, steampunk art deco vibe kept it warm and comfortable. The rotating art collection brings a sense of the city’s art scene to your hotel doorstep here.

Foodwise, there’s a solid breakfast café ( Café at Bobby ) in the lobby, which locals seemed to dig, too (always the ultimate sign of respect).

The in-house restaurant, Union Tavern , is perfect for small plates before hitting the town. (I’m still thinking about the perfectly marinated smokiness of a seasonal tomato dish there, so lean toward what’s seasonal and light here.)

You can also walk right outside the hotel into Printers Alley , a historic district filled with speakeasy-style bars, flickering neon lights, and a musical history as a place where acts as diverse as Waylon Jennings and The Supremes once cut their teeth. It’s still thriving today and one of the most unique nightlife destinations in Nashville. It’s popular but doesn’t feel as overpopulated as other downtown haunts. Bobby’s Garage — the in-house faux dive bar connected to the hotel — is a perfect gateway to the spots I loved in Printers Alley, like the legendary burlesque bar Skull’s Rainbow Room .

From the hotel, it’s just a 10-minute walk to the Honky Tonk Highway . This is the strip, where megabars rule and the rooftops are the place where the parties really happen. It is one of the most overstimulating strips I’ve ever seen. If you love to party, you’ll easily find your scene in these suds-soaked skyscrapers. But if you’re looking for hidden or quieter gems along this strip, let me introduce you to a few.

Robert’s Western World is the throwback vibe you don’t want to miss. The line moves quick (there are lines at a lot of these honky- tonks), and the music was the best here (think that old-school country/Patsy Cline/ slide guitar-type sound). The back door leads right to the Ryman Auditorium, a must-see for any hard-core live music fan.

If you have to pick one massive honky-tonk to explore, pick Chief’s . This is owned by country star Eric Church (they are all owned by country superstars of wildly varying degrees of authenticity, from Garth Brooks to Kid Rock). It’s a newer arrival on the strip and, across multiple floors, offers the most diversity of design and best live music (live music is everywhere here; that doesn’t mean it’s all very good). James Beard Award-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott is behind the food here, resulting in some of the best barbecue and collard greens I’ve ever had in my life.

Assembly Food Hall is a temple for food lovers. Good luck grazing through all of it — the portions are massive at most food stalls across this multifloor, indoor-outdoor food hall. But if you’re going to get one thing here, make it Prince’s Hot Chicken . A famous export of Nashville, this seemed to be the universal favorite of locals. And surprisingly, I heard some of the best live music inside Assembly. Go figure.

Do not miss the National Museum of African American Music . This is one of the coolest museums I’ve ever been to in the world. From the roots of African music to its profound effect on the world’s musical menu, I was absolutely floored by the wealth of knowledge on display here. The interactive displays bring the music to life. This isn’t a stale, quiet museum at all . It’s a joyous celebration that doesn’t skimp on the technology (a wristband that automatically adds all the music you discover to a custom playlist sent to your email? Yes, please!). Set aside at least four hours for this and lament the fact that this museum didn’t open in Detroit (we deserve it).

Treat yourself to fine dining Nashville-style at Oak Steakhouse . This was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. The Nashville hot crab cakes were a lovely upscale twist on a local favorite. The blackberry jalapeño gastrique on the bacon dish was freakishly good. This was admittedly the only place I took a cab to, and it was well worth it.

Retreat to your rooftop oasis. Nashville is a city that lives above the skyline. The rooftop culture here is wild and appreciated. And luckily, my hotel had one of the best situations going in a city littered with options. The rooftop at Bobby Nashville has a bar and pool for guests and the public, and guests can request a private cabana. It’s even got live concerts up there and a converted bus acting as an indoor bar. Going out and exploring is fun, but my favorite parts of the trip came from lounging here for hours and enjoying the view.

That’s a quick 48 hours in Nashville, I know. But it’s a blend of resting your head in the right hotel and seeing the city without wearing yourself out. Add in the fact that it’s barely a two-hour flight from Detroit to Nashville, and I’d put this trip on your itinerary ASAP.

T his story originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Hour Detroit magazine . To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our digital edition will be available on Oct. 7.

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