“Play Bruno Mars!”
The shout came from inside the bar during a singer-songwriter’s set at Aldean’s on Broadway Street. The man yelling out the request was most likely a confident tourist who had sauced up enough to believe the night was about him. On stage, a woman far too talented to be interrupted smirked and, in a thick country accent said, “Okay, darlin’. I’m up for the challenge.”
What followed was a country rendition of Bruno Mars’ “Marry Me” that held the room captive. She then closed her set with Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” And by closed, I mean she did that. Sadly, I didn’t catch the artist’s name, but in Nashville, Tennessee, also known as Music City, a city full of talented musicians chasing their moment, it almost doesn’t matter.
I came to Nashville alone during the holidays. Sorry to disappoint, if you follow my solo travels, this one doesn’t include a big adventure in a cave, a meet-cute moment on the beach, or a dramatic self-discovery over a lost phone. This trip was a quiet getaway between Thanksgiving and Christmas. A moment of restoration sandwiched between the turkey and the manager, right before the season gets loud with family gatherings, gifts, and what would the holidays be without a little drama?
Yet, somewhere between conversations on barstools with strangers and sitting comfortably in my own silence, it hit me: “Nashville would make a great gift.” Speaking for all men (as I’ve been commissioned to do), we often don’t always know what gift to give our partners or friends. We tend to reach for something tangible because it feels easier than articulating care or feelings. But what we’re often trying to offer, especially during the holidays, is space, time, a pause. Nashville seemed to have that to spare.
Where to Stay in Nashville
The place to stay was an easy choice, especially if you’re a Hyatt member like me, Nashville gives you options. Four different properties. Four different moods. All conveniently located and just steps away from the “Honky Tonk Highway” of Broadway or the iconic history of artists like Jimi Hendrix on Printer’s Alley. The ease of moving between them actually became part of the experience.
I stayed at the Hyatt Grand, and upon stepping inside, it felt like I had crossed into a magical version of the season. The lobby leaned fully into holiday wonder: twinkling lights, towering trees, the kind of festive excess you only see in the movies. As Buddy the Elf said, “It was so pretty it belonged on a Christmas card.”
My first day there was all about full relaxation and spa service at the Hyatt Grand. One that I didn’t realize I needed until I fell asleep during the massage, which I was told by the masseuse is the highest compliment. For a steak cooked to perfection inside the Hyatt Downtown, be sure to visit Ella’s by Christian Petroni.
If you’re on a work trip, or just need to check emails, the Caption’s co-working space is open to the public. During a morning call, I ordered the French toast and had to stop the call, at least three times, for a moment of silence. At some point, you have to stop being a professional and take in happy hour at Hyatt House. Order the Nashville Smash drink, even if it’s not on the menu. Don’t ask questions, just thank me later.
Off the Beaten Path
Nashville has its own heartbeat, and much of it lives off the beaten path.
Local Black-owned restaurants like Shugga H Bakery & Cafe, about a ten-minute ride away from downtown isn’t trying to be the main event, and that’s exactly why they matter. Locally owned and operated, it’s the kind of place that feeds the people who actually keep the city moving. And the donut casserole at the buffet does not let its namesake down. Be warned if you try to stay more than 90 minutes to enjoy the buffet, they will politely — but firmly — ask you to leave.
Make sure you stop at Slim & Husky’s, co-founded by Tennessee State alums. Spend time at the National Museum of African American Music. Nashville is home to four HBCUs, one of them being Meharry Medical College, one of the nation’s oldest historically Black academic health sciences centers. Quiet reminders that Nashville’s story stretches far beyond Broadway.
If you’re feeling adventurous, visit Ole Smoky and try their moonshine flight. A curated tasting of ten of their moonshine flavors. I lucked out and joined a group of locals who folded me right into their circle, and peppered me with questions about my thoughts on AI’s impact on media. I later found myself at another non-touristy spot, Tin Roof, to watch Georgia win the SEC Championship (Go Dawgs!) shoulder to shoulder with locals sharing the moment — and plenty of shots— as if I belonged there all along.
Nashville the Gift that Kept Giving
That’s the version of travel I keep coming back to. Not a checklist, or itinerary, an invitiation to the table — or in this case, mostly the bar tops and the people you meet there.
Like that night on Broadway, when “Play Bruno Mars” was yelled out, and a musician met the moment with grace, turning it into something else entirely. Familiar, but reimagined. So did Nashville in its own unique way.