In the early morning, creative minds sip coffee at Noelle’s Drug Store Coffee. Come lunchtime, suits snack on deli-style sandwiches at Fairlane Hotel. In the afternoon, history buffs tour The Hermitage Hotel, while guests of 21c Museum Hotel, after checking into their room, tour the hotel’s art galleries. Diners of all kinds gather for dinner at Oak Steakhouse, adjacent to The Westin Nashville, before winding down with drinks atop the hotel’s rooftop bar, L27. This is not an unusual day spent in Nashville’s downtown hotels, and the schedule isn’t just for tourists. Locals and visitors alike are taking advantage of Nashville’s expanding hotel scene.
In addition to being great places to rest your head during a visit to Music City, hotels are social settings for all, and patron numbers are increasing daily. According to Visit Music City: In 2017, nine hotels opened with 1,219 rooms, and in 2018, 16 hotels are scheduled to open with 2,639 rooms. Much of this growth is happening Downtown, where the demand is highest (5,489 rooms are currently under construction, and 3,333 of those are downtown — Source). Once a place for tourists to overindulge without getting a single glimpse of local life, Downtown is seeing a new era, one marked by locals frequenting the neighborhood.
Boutique hotels, in particular, are rising in popularity. Perhaps an overused phrase, “boutique,” in this case, describes hotels that are comparably smaller in size to larger chain hotels and offer a high-quality experience. Boutique hotels are selling more than rooms; they are selling a singular experience, hospitality and character. We’ve gathered a list of five downtown hotels that have opened in the past 12 months, most of which are boutique, and all offering something for guests and locals.
21c Museum Hotel
221 Second Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37201 • (615) 610-6400
Opened May 2017
Hints of history and hospitality are found in each of the 21c Museum Hotel’s seven locations. In Nashville, the 124-room hotel and contemporary art museum brought life back to the historic Gray & Dudley building on Second Avenue. Lodging spaces include guest rooms with contemporary finishes and a handful of suites you’d be happy to call home — even temporarily. The hotel’s adjoining restaurant, Gray & Dudley, invites locals and guests to explore their culinary offerings or to simply stop by for a drink at the bar. The real treat of any 21c Museum Hotel is the contemporary art galleries. More than 10,500 square feet of exhibition space is designed to showcase contemporary art that is probably unlike anything you have seen before.
Friendly penguins welcome guests to 21c Museum Hotel!
Even if you are not a hotel guest, you are invited to stop by to see the rotating selection of contemporary art!
Swing by Gray & Dudley for delicious eats!
Related: 6 Nashville Restaurants Proving Hotel Food is for Locals & Tourists Alike
Holston House
118 Seventh Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 392-1234
Opened December 2017
Holston House Nashville is a boutique hotel under the Unbound Collection by Hyatt. Not uncommon for larger hotel groups, the Hyatt Hotel Groups launched a collection of individualized hotels under The Unbound Collection. The 191-room Nashville hotel credits five things for making it an extraordinary place to stay: art deco architecture, unbeatable location, enticing eats and creative cocktails, a rooftop bar with stellar views and customizable space to host events. As fans of restoration and preservation of historic design, it is the art deco detailing of the 1920’s building that initially caught our eye. As locals, we are most interested in TENN restaurant, Bar TENN and TENN on Top, a rooftop bar with skyline views, cocktails, live music and pool.
Art deco style dictates the design of this hotel. Image: Holston House
A selection of rooms is available to suit your travel needs. Image: Holston House
Stellar views, a pool and a bar … what more could you want? Image: Holston House
Noelle
200 Fourth Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37219 • (615) 649-5000
Opened December 2017
Noelle is truly a space where Nashville locals and visitors commune. Whether it be at the coffee shop, retail space, restaurant or one of three bars, all can be found commingling and appreciating the creative energy that’s intrinsic to the hotel and its many experiences. This creative energy is the creation of Nick Dryden of Dryden Architecture & Design, Bryce McCloud of Isle of Printing, Benji Peck of Peck & Company, Andy Mumma of Barista Parlor and Libby Callaway of The Callaway, all of whom were instrumental in the final product. Formerly Noel Place, a luxury hotel that opened in the 1920s, today’s iteration, now the 224-room Noelle, is the talk of the town.
There is no shortage of style at Noelle! Image: Emily Dorio
One of the hotel’s three bars is located in the lobby, which celebrates the building’s original architecture and design. Image: Emily Dorio
Rare Bird, the rooftop bar, is now open! Image: Caroline Allison
Related: Keep Shop is Not Your Typical Hotel Gift Shop
Cambria Hotel Nashville
118 Eighth Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 515-5800
Opened January 2018
With 255 rooms, Cambria Hotel Nashville is the largest hotel on the list. And while larger than your typical boutique hotel, it promises “a full range of thoughtfully curated amenities [and] boutique design touches at every turn.” Cambria is a chain of hotels, and this property is its first in Nashville. You will find Cambria Hotel Nashville in SoBro, just south of Broadway (as the neighborhood’s nickname suggests). The hotel proudly offers 5,000 square feet of meeting space, a fitness center, a restaurant/bar with a stage for live performances and a barista bar.
Hang your hat in SoBro for the weekend! Image: Cambria Nashville
Rooftop bars are all the rage in Nashville, and we can see why! Image: Cambria Nashville
Stop by the hotel bar for drinks and views of the city! Image: Cambria Hotel
Fairlane Hotel
401 Union St., Nashville, TN 37219 • (615) 988-8511
Opened March 2018
Set in a 1968 building, Fairlane celebrates the style and retro-modern design of the late ’60s and early ’70s. Upon stepping into the 81-room hotel, you will be greeted by the open lobby framed by large windows letting in natural light and glimpses of Nashville’s bustling Downtown. Mile End Delicatessen is abuzz with busy bees breaking for lunch, and later this month, coffee drinkers will begin lining up at Union Teller Coffee Counter for their brew. In the coming months, Ellington’s Mid Way Bar & Grill will welcome guests to the hotel’s fourth-floor restaurant and bar. “This isn’t just a hotel for guests, it is a hotel for locals,” General Manager Ben Webster tells us. “We care about the community; we care about this street corner. We wanted to do something community-driven.”
A bright, open lobby welcomes visitors and locals alike. Image: Fairlane Hotel
New York-style deli dishes are perfect for lunch. Image: Fairlane Hotel
When visiting, note how the thoughtful design details celebrate the era in which the building was constructed. Image: Fairlane Hotel
Honorable Mention:
505 Nashville
505 Church St., Nashville, TN 37219 • (615) 214-4505
Opened December 2017
Though not a hotel, we’d be remiss to overlook 505 Nashville, which recently opened Downtown and offers space for both locals and visitors. Luxury apartments are available for rent, lease and purchase inside this 45-story skyscraper. Additionally, Stay Alfred, a hospitality brand, offers rentals for travelers. Designed to marry the concept of a boutique hotel and vacation rental, Stay Alfred welcomes you to at 505 Nashville!
505 is a spot that feels like home! Image: Stay Alfred
Vacation rentals are complete with a kitchen, washer and dryer, and living space. Image: Stay Alfred
All the views from 505 Nashville are unbelievable, and the lobby is no exception! Image: Stay Alfred
Opening soon
Bobby Hotel and Dream Nashville are two additional hotels set to open later this year. The 144-room boutique hotel will feature a rooftop lounge and on-site restaurant. “An immersion into Nashville’s creative community, Bobby Hotel is a magnetic blend of Southern hospitality and urban appeal. We are creating a destination to invigorate this area of Downtown Nashville,” shares Avi Niego, General Manager at Bobby Hotel. Construction for Dream Nashville is in full swing as well, and the 169-room hotel is set to open later this year. We look forward to seeing all they have to offer!
If you are a visitor to Nashville, we hope you have a happy stay! If you are a local, we urge you to take advantage of these Downtown hotels and their many amenities!
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