You'll Experience Old-School Nashville At These 7 Iconic Spots Around The City
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Meghan Kraft
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Nashville has experienced a renaissance of food, art, and culture in the last few years, mainly due to the deluge of tourists and transplants that have made their way to Tennessee’s capital city. For locals, there’s been a lot of change. Those peddle taverns on Broadway weren’t always there, folks! These seven spots still remain nostalgic and iconic for many locals and serve as a nod to the way Nashville used to be. We miss you, old friend, but onward and upward we go.
The Hermitage Cafe is perfectly located just a hot second from Broadway, and has long been a spot for locals to indulge in pancakes, eggs, and biscuits and gravy in an attempt to stave off their hangovers. It's also where locals gather for cheap, early morning eats and bond over strong cups of coffee. All in all, the Hermitage Cafe is truly like stepping back in time.
The 5 Spot's ultra-popular Motown Monday event has slowly become more and more packed in recent years and newbies made their way to Nashville. The bar and venue has since rocketed to semi-fame after hosting Lady Gaga on her tour of dive bars around the nation.
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Long lauded as Charlie Daniel's favorite restaurant in Nashville, Rotier's serves up a burger on a thick cut of French bread, making it not only one of the most creative restaurants in the city but one that requires a repeat visit. The restaurant itself has been open since 1945.
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Ah, Dino's. It's known as one of the oldest and best dive bars in the city, a perfect spot for cheese fries and greasy burgers. It recently underwent a renovation that opened up a back patio with spades of seating.
Well, of COURSE the Ryman has to make an appearance on here. As the original home of the Grand Ole Opry (it's now located in its own building on the other side of town), the Ryman remains the Mother Church of Country Music. It's known for having some of the best acoustics of any venue in the United States, and is always worth the investment of attendance.
Brown's Diner is another classic Nashville eatery, a tiny, homey space that's been open and welcoming locals and tourists since 1927.
Sure, Tootsie's is now considered an epic tourist trap located in the heart of Nashville's downtown Broadway strip. Still, it's a classic honkytonk that many, many country artists performed at before they skyrocketed to stardom. Come, fight the crowds and raise a toast to a future star.
If you’re looking to experience a bit more of the city, check out this definitive list of Nashville’s best biscuit spots.
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