The Best Places to Stay in Nashville, Tennessee

Several factors combine to make Black Swan one of the best places to stay in Nashville. Firstly, it’s got a great location – across the road from the Country Music Hall of Fame and a 10-minute walk from the Honky Tonk Highway. Secondly, the accommodation takes the form of apartments, so you can make yourself at home. Finally, the hotel has sass. A kooky monkey statue greets guests at the gateway, and local art hangs on the walls of each room.

If you’re wondering where to stay in Nashville to get a feel for how locals live, Caroline House is your answer. This boutique B&B in the 12South Neighborhood is owned by a seventh-generation Nashville native who is full of tips on where to shop, drink and dine. You’ll also wake up in the morning to locally roasted coffee before choosing one of five local eateries to visit for the breakfast that’s included in the room rate.

As the name hints, Mint House is located inside a former Federal Reserve (Central Bank) building, and you can still see original features, like the steel vault doors inside. Accommodation takes the form of smart apartments, including a Bank Vault room where a safe door hangs on the wall like artwork. Location-wise, the hotel is in Downtown Nashville, which is the best area to stay in Nashville if you want to explore on foot rather than by car.

It’s the floor-to-ceiling windows that you get in every room, the rooftop bar with its craft cocktail menu, the coffee shop that serves specials like cereal milk lattes, and the weekday happy hour in the Marsh House restaurant where you can try $1 oysters that make the Thompson one of the best places to stay in Nashville. You’ll find the hotel in the modern Gulch area of Nashville, a half-hour walk from the Downtown part of the city.

This hotel is one of the largest, most feature-packed places to stay in Nashville: it’s got 2,712 guest bedrooms and a further 176 suites. There are 19 bars and eateries on site, including the only Jack Daniel’s restaurant in the world – be sure to wash dinner down with a Sippin’ Whiskey flight. On top of this, it’s home to a spa, a three-level waterpark called SoundWaves, and a 4.5-acre (1.8ha) replica river delta where guests can take boat tours.

As the name suggests, this collection of apartments is located in the Gulch – the best area to stay in Nashville if you want to be surrounded by innovative restaurants, high-end boutiques and characterful bars. The apartments themselves are modern spaces with whitewashed walls, wooden floors and chrome kitchens. Each one gives you access to Locale’s rooftop terrace, too, which is topped with lounge chairs and sofas and offers up 180-degree views of the neighborhood.

The five-star Hermitage Hotel, which hosted both John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt, has been around for over a century, and offers tasteful, comfortable rooms featuring vintage wallpaper and wooden headboards. Located in downtown Nashville, the Hermitage is a great mix of traditional styling and the fun of being right at the heart of the city’s nightlife action.

The Hutton Hotel is one of Nashville’s most modern hotels, and it’s dedicated to helping the environment with moves such as eliminating all incandescent lights from the hotel. Keeping up with the times, the Hutton’s rooms offer modern decor and features such as flatscreen televisions and opulent bathrooms. Located near Vanderbilt University and the city’s famous music hubs, the Hutton is the place for a modern stay complemented with historical and nightlife activities.

Union Station Hotel is a historic landmark located in an old railroad station that was remodeled in the late ’80s to become one of downtown Nashville’s best hotels. The building’s Gothic-style architecture is in stark contrast to the modern yet cozy interior. There’s a sense of the past here, while staying (and sleeping) in the present; another reminder of the present is the abundance of trendy restaurants and shops of Nashville that are close at hand.

Situated in the downtown area, Hotel Indigo is a uniquely decorated boutique where each room is dressed up differently. The historic district of Printers Alley is right outside the door, where you’ll also find a great range of bars, restaurants and shops. The hotel occupies a former bank, and remnants of the past are infused within the modern design.