Planning the perfect bachelorette for a bride-to-be is a very important job. It’s their last “hurrah” before they say “I Do” and aside from the wedding, it can be one of the only times that bride will have everyone they love under one roof for a weekend.
Recently I planned a bachelorette trip to Nashville, Tennessee from Toronto. Nashville has become such a huge bachelorette destination over the years, and I’d say, at least within my circle, it’s replaced the always popular, Vegas. As a country fan, and someone who has long preferred live music and bars to nightclubs and pool parties, I’m not mad about this pivot to giving Nashville the hype it deserves.
So where do you begin when planning a bachelorette in Nashville? I’ve put together this guide to help you curate the perfect weekend for your bride, but of course, like any city, there is so much to do in Nashville and this only scratches the surface. If you have a bride that is into anything niche, I’m sure you can find exactly what you’re looking for in this city.
Where to Stay in Nashville for a Bachelorette
The key street you’re going to find yourself on a lot during your time in Nashville is Broadway. Broadway is the entertainment district, lined with honky tonks and live music venues, and you’ll want to stay somewhere nearby here for ease. You’ll find a lot of Airbnb’s and hotels in this area, but if you’re traveling with a large group like I was, it’s likely you’ll need to look at some of the surrounding neighbourhoods for the larger accommodations. Here is a guide to help you choose:
12South: This is the area we stayed in as it had a lot of cute stores, restaurants, etc. but was only a 5-minute Uber from Broadway. 12South is highly walkable, and trendy. It’s located a bit south of downtown. We rented this Airbnb which was perfect for our group of nine girls.
The Gulch: This chic, redeveloped industrial area offers a trendy urban experience with high-end boutiques, great restaurants, and popular murals for that perfect photo moment. It’s also only about a 5-minute drive or 20-minute walk to the Broadway strip.
Germantown: A historic and walkable neighborhood just north of downtown, Germantown boasts charming Victorian homes, cobblestone streets, and has a reputation for fantastic restaurants. It takes about 10-minutes to get anywhere popular in Nashville so it also is a great base.
East Nashville: Quickly up and coming, East Nashville is loaded with Airbnb’s and is known for its eclectic, and artsy vibe. It can be a great place to explore more local spots in Nashville while still being close enough to Uber to the tourist spots.
What to Do in Nashville on a Bachelorette
Now that you have accommodations sorted, you’re probably wondering what you’ll fill your time with. So let’s talk about some of the fun activities there are in Nashville.
Line Dancing
What goes hand-in-hand with honky tonks? Definitely line dancing. There are so many places that offer both public and private line dancing in Nashville. Check out Stompin Grounds (they offer private and drop-in classes at several bars on Broadway), or Urban Cowboy. You can also just join a line dancing on select days at Category 10.
Custom Cowboy Hat
If your group is into the idea of having a great souvenir from Nashville, making a custom cowboy hat at the beginning of the weekend is a great activity. Rustler Hat Co. offers a group experience where you can get a custom hat fitting or Fleastyle also offers something similar where you can accessorize your cowboy hat to make it your own. This activity can get pricy depending on what you choose as a hat and for your accessories.
Pedal Tavern (or other booze cruises)
There are many different options for riding around or being driven around while drinking in Nashville. The most popular is the pedal tavern where you join a bike of about 12 people and pedal around downtown while drinking (it’s BYOB so budget-friendly). There are many companies that offer this but the two times I’ve been to Nashville I’ve done it with Nashville Pedal Tavern. Outside of the pedal tavern there is a party tractor, a drag bus, and even a monster truck party ride (to name a few).
Boat Cruise
One request I had from the bride on my recent trip is they wanted to be on the water at some point during the weekend. I thought this was an unusual request for Nashville but turns out there is actually quite a few great options for this. First up is the Pontoon Saloon which goes down the Cumberland River. This one is more centrally located as it leaves from Lower Broadway. However, if you want more of an adventure I recommend renting a pontoon on Percy Priest Lake. Book with Nashville Toons as they have a free shuttle out to the lake, although there are a few companies that offer it. We all had so much fun spending the afternoon on the lake, and since it was BYOB and food, it was rather budget-friendly.
Country Music Hall of Fame
If you are interested in doing some tourist stops while in Nashville, the Country Music Hall of Fame is a must-do. It’s dedicated to preserving the history and traditions of country music and is located right downtown. I’m not a big museum person but as a country music fan I really enjoyed this.
Grand Ole Opry
If you’re looking for an elevated night out you can get tickets for the Grand Ole Opry. The Grand Ole Opry is known as the “Home of Country Music” and is a must-see for music lovers. Catch performances by some of countries bigger, and up-and-coming acts.
Murals & Mimosas Tour
If you’re looking for the perfect photo opportunities with the bridal party, the Murals and Mimosas Tour is a 2-hour, BYOB tour that takes you to some of the best murals and photo spots in the city. This is a fun way to get all the Instagram content while singing, dancing, and enjoying the ride along the way.
Food Tour
Like any major city, you’ll find so much delicious local food in Nashville, and there is no better way to try all the different food a city has to offer than on a food tour. I have done food tours with Secret Food Tours in other parts of the world and they’re fantastic. When in Nashville on my first trip, I also joined a food tour with Dabble Events.
Winery Tour
Did you know that Nashville is also close to a lot of wineries? The most popular is Arrington Vineyards and there are lots of companies that offer shuttle services and tours to the winery. Check out Honky Tonk Party Express.
Ranch Hands Cowboylesque
If seeing strippers on your bachelorette is a must-do then look no further than Ranch Hands Cowboylesque. This show is a choreographed cowboy stripper show and it’s so hilarious and fun for the whole group. Book your tickets in advance because they do sell out.
Bar Hop on Broadway
Of course, no bachelorette is complete without a bar hop down Broadway, Nashville’s entertainment district. Whether in the day or at night, Broadway is always bumping with live music on every floor, rooftop patios, and the best vibes. Even if you’re not a country fan, or into partying, a visit to Nashville isn’t complete without experiencing Broadway.
Where to Eat in Nashville
There are a ton of amazing restaurants in Nashville. As you know, there are so many pockets and neighbourhoods in this city that it’s impossible for me to cover them all in depth so I’ll give you the highlight reel for each spot:
Downtown:
- Assembly Food Hall (an elevated food court full of great options)
- 5th & Broadway (located in Assembly Food Hall)
- Sixty Vines (good at anytime but great spot for brunch)
- Garage Sale Vintage
- Skulls Rainbow Room (located in Printers Alley which is a great spot to bar hop)
- Twelve Thirty Club
- The Hampton Social (also great for brunch)
- The Listening Room (iconic spot for dinner and a show)
- Martins BBQ (go-to for BBQ)
- Pinewood Social (you can also bowl here)
12South:
- The Henry
- Fonda
- Postino
- HEARTS (great for brunch)
- The Buttermilk Ranch (popular brunch spot)
- Edley’s (another staple for BBQ)
The Gulch:
- L.A. Jacksons (roof on top of the Thompson Hotel)
- Superica
- Ole Smokey Distillery
- Milk & Honey (great for brunch)
- The Mockingbird (we went for brunch and loved it)
East Nashville:
- Redheaded Stranger (amazing tacos!)
- Fancy Pants
- Pearl Diver
- Urban Cowboy (indoor and outdoor space with fire pits)
- Five Points (so yummy – we ordered this for delivery one night)
- Rosemary & Beauty Queen
- Butcher & Bee
- FOLK
- The Pharmacy (delicious burgers)
What Bars to Go to on Broadway
There are no shortage of great bars in Nashville, so much so that it is impossible to know where to even start when recommending any to you. Each neighbourhood has their own great bars but for the purpose of this being for a Bachelorette, I’m going to focus on Broadway, since that’s likely we’ll you’ll spend most of your nights.
Here is a fantastic guide and map of the key bars that are located on Broadway. My recommendation is to just walk down the strip and pick which one has the shortest line (although lots of lines move quick) and looks/sounds to have the best vibes. I also recommend you don’t just stay at one spot because there are so many to explore and musical acts in all of them, on every floor.
Some of our favs from my recent trip were:
- Morgan Wallen’s This Bar
- Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row
- Garth Brooks’ Friends in Low Places
- Honky Tonk Central
… but it entirely depends on the night. So go out and explore them all. Yeehaw!
FAQ
How many days do you need for a Bachelorette in Nashville?
This is entirely dependent on where you are traveling from. We were traveling from Toronto which is a pretty quick flight and found that 3 nights, and 2 full days was more than enough when traveling with a large group. If you are traveling to Nashville with family, or a different occasion, you likely will want more time. Personally, for partying hard all weekend, 3 nights was enough.
What is the best time of year to travel to Nashville?
Spring (April-May) and Fall (September-October) are the best months to travel to Nashville because the weather isn’t too hot. However, anytime in Nashville is a fun time. Just be warned that we went in June and it was very hot and humid.
How do you get around Nashville?
You’ll want to stay close to Broadway/downtown. This will make getting around easier. Uber and Lyft is widely available throughout the city and quite reasonably priced. We found Lyft to actually be cheaper most days than Uber.
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