For our first city guide, we consulted our friend and fellow wayfarer, Kirby Fopma, author of the Bon Bon Voyage children’s book series. A few years ago, Kirby put down roots in the sweet little town of Alameda, CA, but feels just as at home weaving through the streets of any new city.

When most people think of Nashville, they picture Music City: a place bursting with giant neon signs shaped like guitars, live country music around every corner, and throngs of cowboys in tight jeans & boots. But guess what, friends? I’m here to let you in on a pretty little secret-Nashville has changed, Y’all! Yes, the aforementioned things are still alive and kicking, but so is the Indie music scene, the craft cocktail lounges, and the coffee culture. Over the past few years especially, Nashville has come into its own, earning a well-deserved place in the Cool Cities of America Club. Go see for yourself. If the Southern charm alone doesn’t knock your socks off, everything else will.

EAT

Mas Tacos Por Favor

732 McFerrin St

Nashville, TN 37206

This cozy little spot used to be a taco truck, but now that it has ditched the wheels for roots, it has arguably become one of the most loved restaurants in Nashville. Tucked away on a quiet street in Greenwood, this tiny Taqueria serves up heart-warming (and mouth-watering) comfort food like cast-iron chicken tacos, elote (grilled corn on the cob with cheese, spice & lime), and plantains fried in sweet cream. Everything is bright, fresh & delicious. Sit outside in the summer & dine with the fireflies.

Little Octopus

505 12th Ave South

Nashville, TN 37203

Situated in the Gulch , this young restaurant, with its simple, yet eye-catching golden mirrored entrance beckons you (and your reflection) from the outside. Once inside, the feeling is cool, clean & modern. The food is a continuation of this feeling, with Caribbean/Latin American offerings grouped into four categories: raw, cold, warm & meat/fish/poultry. Highlights include the avocado with orange & crispy shallots, the fingerling potatoes with chimichurri & broccoli rabe, the Jamaican Goat Curry, and the whole fried snapper. Vegan/Vegetarian/Pescatarian/Carnivore friendly!

Etch

303 Demonbreun St

Nashville, TN 37201

Owned by Nashville local, Chef Deb Paquette, Etch is one of those classy establishments that has managed to shrug off any semblance of snootiness. And with how delectable the food tastes, it could totally turn its nose up at all other restaurants. The interior is lovely, but subdued, while the offerings are anything but. Start with the butter tasting (you heard me!) and the roasted cauliflower, move on to the grilled lamb loin or scallops, and end perfectly with the ice cream sundae. Sidenote: the lunch menu is more affordable and just as delicious!

DRINK

Pinewood Social

33 Peabody St

Nashville, TN 37210

Remember waking up on Christmas morning as a little kid and feeling completely overwhelmed by the brightness and good cheer (and gifts) around you? That’s what Pinewood Social is like. Step inside this breathtaking Social Club and become that awestruck child once again. Stop off at the bar and order one of their beautifully inventive cocktails and a little something Southern to nosh on (like pie!), then wander over to the reclaimed wood bowling lanes, or out back to the dipping pools, or to the poolside airstream for tacos & frozen drinks- whatever tickles your fancy! This place is great for coffee, reading, or brunch, as well.

Robert’s Western World

416 Broadway

Ste B

Nashville, TN 37203

Going to Nashville without experiencing a Honky Tonk bar with live music is like skipping the all-you-can-eat buffet when visiting Vegas. Mmmm...crab legs. Anyway, this vibrant, sooty place is thick with funky memorabilia, great music, and lively company. Stay downstairs and shake what your mama gave you in front of the intimate stage, or pick a more private nook upstairs to nurse an ice cold beer and people-watch. If you feel the need to sober up a bit, order the cheeseburger- basic, greasy & delicious. It doesn’t get more authentic than this!

Bastion

434 Houston St

Nashville, TN 37203

Vintage mismatched furniture? Check. Old school games? Check. Vinyl spinning? Check. Boilermakers? Check! Now googling the definition of a Boilermaker? Check! (It’s a beer paired with a shot)! There’s no doubt about the fact that Bastion is a recipe for Hipster paradise, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. And in the case of this bar, it is a very, very good thing, because the cocktails are flawless (try the Jack of No Trades), the nachos will fill that nacho-shaped void in your stomach perfectly, and the vibe is as cozy as your own living room. 

CAFFEINATE

Barista Parlor

519B Gallatin Ave

Nashville, TN 37206

I swear I didn’t truly know what cool was until I experienced Barista Parlor. Maybe it’s the clean, minimalistic interior design that still somehow manages to deliver a gritty, bad-ass message. It might be the homemade pop tarts and collection of beautifully wrapped chocolate bars that sweetly greet (and taunt) you at the register? Maybe it’s the bandana napkins? Is it the vintage motorcycle parked inside for all to gawk at? Could it be the painfully attractive baristas? Wait, did I just type that out loud? Yes folks, it’s all of these things, but without mind-blowing coffee, how cool can a coffee shop really be? Like I said, this place is the coolest. Sidenote: give in & order one of those cheerful pop tarts.

Crema

15 Hermitage Ave

Nashville, TN 37210

When owners Rachel & Ben first created Crema, their main goal was to build close, trusting relationships with all of their coffee bean farmers. Even as Crema grew, they stood firm in the belief that their farmers should be good friends, and their customers should be welcomed warmly, like family. With its light and airy atmosphere, Crema sets itself apart from all the other coffee shops on the map by offering up a variety of beans from off-the-beaten-path places (like Yemen!), coffee soda to ease the pain of those sweltering Southern days, and one of the best Cuban coffees you’ll taste this side of...well, Cuba. Don’t skip the avocado toast, either!

Frothy Monkey

2509 12th Ave S

Nashville, TN 37204

If you want to get your stimulants where the cowboys & country singers get their stimulants, go to Frothy Monkey. Located in the lush, picturesque 12 South neighborhood, this coffee house is nothing short of having breakfast on a good friend’s wrap-around front porch. From the time you order your coffee (or orange lavender latte if you’re fancy), to the moment you step back out into the real world, you will be bathed in more Southern Charm than you’ll know what to do with. All of the food items hit the spot, but the homemade bread & jam are a requirement. Don’t forget to pay a visit to the “I Believe in Nashville” mural before you leave the neighborhood!

SEE

The Johnny Cash Museum

119 Third Ave S

Nashville, TN 37201

Don’t like Johnny Cash? Why are you in Nashville? Oh, you’re kidding? Phew. Even if you weren’t kidding and you don’t like Johnny Cash, you will appreciate this gem of a museum. Buy a ticket in the gift shop and enter into a time capsule of Country music, where you’ll see rare photos, scrawled lyrics, costumes, and so many other important pieces of a legendary past. While the focus is, of course, on Johnny Cash’s music, his great love story with June Carter Cash is also told in the form of tear-jerking love letters and photographs. A perfect place for the sentimental music-lover in all of us.

The Cumberland River Pedestrian Bridge

2300 Two Rivers Pkwy

Nashville, TN 37214

Nashville is a fun, buzzing city, but it’s also a city filled with heart-stirring natural beauty. If you feel like you might go cross-eyed if you see one more “2 for 1 on Cowboy Boots” sign, drive on over to this pedestrian bridge, and take a lazy stroll (preferably with a popsicle in hand) across, allowing the lovely greenery and expanse of blue water to unfold around you. Breathe in deeply, letting the sweet, earthy incense of the South calm your senses, and then return to the foot-stomping liveliness of Broadway, feeling renewed and ready for more cowbell.

Downtown Franklin

Yes, I know that this isn’t technically  Nashville, but we’re not sticklers here! Downtown Franklin is only about a 30 minute drive from Music City, and oh so worth it, because you get to see a softer, more rustic side of Tennessee along the dusty country roads. Park anywhere near the downtown and stroll through the quintessentially Southern square of bookstores, eateries, and boutiques. If you need to escape from the elements or just rest your sore, line-dancing legs, duck into the historic Franklin Theater to catch a showing of a classic film. Don’t have time to watch all 4 hours of Gone With the Wind? Stop on by Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant for some down home food & drinks before you head back to the bright lights.

SHOP

Imogene + Willie

2601 12th Ave S

Nashville, TN 37204

Named after the owner’s grandparents, this unassuming shop (once just a place to pump gas) somehow manages to represent Nashville in one simple, beautifully written statement. While Imogene + Willie might look like a pit-stop from the outside, don’t expect to find an Icee machine inside; the space you’ll step into is warm & thoughtfully curated. Fabric patterns hang overhead like laundry in the sun, denim is strung like twinkle lights, the floors are covered in well-worn rugs, and the walls are lined in vintage finds. Every item in this place is gorgeous, but don’t leave without taking home a pair of their hand-stitched, made- in-the-USA jeans. They fit like an absolute dream and pair very well with Tennessee whiskey.

The Soda Parlor

1200 Clinton St

Ste 20

Nashville, TN 37203

Do you have root beer floats, men’s clothing, and arcade games on your to-do list? First of all, weird, second of all, come to The Soda Parlor and you can cross everything off that strange list in one fell swoop. With its’ cushy sofas, bubbly-sweet drinks, and free arcade games (board games, too!), this is one of those places that’s just so easy to sink into & stay awhile. Peruse the cheeky apparel, all made by Owner Olan Rogers (a Nashville native known for his acting & directing), then re-energize with one of the quirky ice cream floats (the Freaking Fosters is my pick), kill it at Pac Man, rinse, repeat. Good, clean fun for the whole family!

Hey Rooster General Store

1106 Gallatin Ave

Nashville, TN 37206

First of all, who doesn’t love a good General Store? The sawdust on the floors, old-timey candy in jars, and that familiar smell of nostalgia in the air. Ahhhh! Well, friends, you’re in for a treat here because Hey Rooster is an especially good General Store. From the sunny first impression of the storefront’s striped awning, potted plants, and yellow door, to the hand-picked items, many of which are locally-made, this shop gets it so right. If you’re having any trouble deciding between the banana rum jam, golden saffron salted caramels, lavender deodorant cream, or black pepper tobacco candle, don’t fret, everyone who works here is extremely helpful & knowledgable. Just know that no matter what you walk away with, you can’t go wrong. Generally speaking.

Written by Kirby Fopma