Nashville has always held a special place in our hearts. My family has an annual BBQ (58 years strong) there, so Nick and I have gone basically every year since we’ve been together which is *gulp* 13 years. This summer was blessed with not 1, not 2, but 3 trips to Nashville. Definitely calls for an official Wills Casa Guide to Music City.
Just FYI this is Ramona and Beckett in front of the house their great-great grandfather built where their great-grandma grew up.
HOT CHICKEN:
Hattie B’s – Our personal favorite for hot chicken is Hattie B’s. We order it Damn Hot. We love that the level of spiciness is pretty consistent at Hattie B’s, so we know exactly how much pain we are signing ourselves up for (kidding, not kidding). Plus the fried chicken is really good on its own.
Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack – Prince’s is hotter than Hattie B’s and sightly more inconsistent with their heat levels. The quality of chicken isn’t as good as Hattie’s either, but Prince’s is the original. They only take cash and are in a bit of a shady part of town.
Bolton’s Spicy Chicken – We thought we were going to die when we ate here. Our lips were red and swollen, and our nose was running. I ordered medium. They are very inconsistent with the level of spiciness.
Hot chicken pro tips: Order something to cool your mouth like potato salad. Get 2 drinks if refills aren’t a thing at the restaurant (i.e. Bolton’s). If it’s too spicy, let the chicken cool down a bit temperature wise. The spice and the temperature work in tandem to get you, so give yourself some breathing time. Avoid feeding your baby while you are eating hot chicken (don’t even ask how I know this).
**Update: Check out Nick’s Hot Chicken Recipe.
Always follow hot chicken with Jeni’s. Because it’s delicious and puts the fire in your belly out. My favorite is Goat Cheese with Red Cherries. You can’t order just 1 flavor (because hot chicken), so my other go-to’s are Salty Carmel, Brown Butter Almond Brittle, Black Coffee, and Askinosie Dark Milk Chocolate. They have delicious seasonal flavors as well. I always get a trio and visit at least twice a trip, so I get around when it comes to Jeni’s ice cream.
EAT:
Cat Bird Seat – We got all kinds of lucky last trip getting a reservation at Cat Bird Seat. It’s a 3 hour tasting menu of delicious proportions. This is 1 of 3 insane desserts – blueberries, elderflower, goats milk, and herbs. A complete mind blowing experience that you should plan to do (sans kids).
Husk – We eat at Husk at least 3 times every time we visit and typically at lunch. Order the burger without question. The shrimp + grits and fried chicken are unbelievable. If you go for dinner, the pig ears (trust me) for an appetizer and lamb for your main course will completely change your outlook on Southern food. For the love of God order the Buttermilk Chess Pie too.
Barista Parlor – Possibly our most favorite spot in all of Nashville is Barista Parlor. Coffee is a must for us every morning and why not have it in an inspiring space. We go so often (proof here) that the barista thought we lived in the area. Things got awkward, but we are pretty memorable with the kids and our proclivity to order all the coffee and pastries. I don’t blame her.
They are opening 2 more locations in Nashville, but we usually find ourselves in East Nashville anyway.
SHOP:
Old Made Good – Right up the street from Barista Parlor is OMG basically a curated vintage store (think mid century modern) with artsy twists and handmade goods. The owner actually helped with the interior at Barista Parlor. Mad skillz y’all.
Nashville Flea – You would have to visit on the 4th weekend of the month to go to the flea, so plan around that. We managed to overload the car before, but look at all our finds! Bonus points if you know where they are now.
Antique Stores – I know so vague and with a link to a post we wrote about a few stores last year (opening picture is at Barista Parlor…told you we are obsessed). Antique stores are always hit or miss, but seems like you can always score something incredible and reasonably priced in Nashville (hello airplane mobile). Or if you’re into American Pickers, you can go to their store Antique Archeology.
imogene + willie – If you are a jean enthusiast, then you already know to come here when in Nashville. If you aren’t into clothes, then go anyway because it’s just a gorgeous space. We got Beckett’s vintage jacket from here (see hang-all).
DO:
Olive and Sinclair – Take a chocolate tour with Southern chocolatier Olive and Sinclair. The warehouse is beautiful and the art of making chocolate is pretty interesting. Grab a box of duck fat caramels on your way out and feel free to mail them my way out of appreciation for this city guide I’m writing.
Other eats: Mas Tacos, Mitchell Deli (get the BLT), Marche, Loveless Cafe, Rolf and Daughters, Crema (for coffee)
Just in case you haven’t jumped in the car and headed there already for some hot chicken, stay tuned for our recipe this week.
omg i want to go to omg! it looks amazing and totally my kind of place! i also dream of going to the nashville flea.
such a fun guide you are!
Pick a date. I’ll meet you there! Not kidding. Mainly because I know you’ll bring your flea market luck, but also because I want to hang!
I’ve had Nashville hot chicken just once and it was the best chicken I’ve ever tasted. Nashville isn’t too far from us… I see a trip there in our future! Great guide. Food and shopping… I like how you roll.
It really is the best chicken and the only food I’ve ever craved. There is so much to do. It’s such a great city. I can see you and Aaron tearing it up.
I like how hot chicken is a separate category. Like first you eat and then you shop and then you have hot chicken. Now I want some. I’ve never been to Nashville, which is ridiculous because it’s only 4 hours away. Must fix this.
When I was writing this I wondered if anyone would catch on to the fact it got its own category. Obviously it’s necessary. I’m disappointed you haven’t gone!! 4 hours – I would be there every other week or at least making a few hot chicken runs a month. Although Nick’s recipe is pretty stellar, so it makes the 12 hour distance bearable.
I’ve always wanted to visit Nashville. One day!
Babymoon? You would love it. It’s really kid friendly too.
I love this so much…almost as much as I love BNA!!! I missed my annual trip this year, and I’m in withdrawls! Thanks for giving me a little taste. har. #seewhatIdidthere
ps — you’ve got an image issue happening with a few of these. or maybe it’s just my end. 😉
I see you. I was writing this thinking I wonder when I can swing the next trip. It’s bad. BNA is like my drug.
I think we need a Nashville reunion. I’ve never been. I feel like you should rename this the fancy guide to Nashville. 3 hours of eating??? I”m not sure my ADHD allows me to do anything for 3 hours. 😛
You said that about my birthday dinner at Qui. Trust me you could kill 3 hours at dinner with us and not even blink! I’m down for a reunion in Nashville. It seems central enough!
Decorandthewills vacation 2015
I have a new bucket list item: A food vacation with the Wills. I love how food centric your trips are. With a healthy dose of shopping thrown in. So good!!
Every vacation is a food vacation for us, so add vacation with the Wills on your list. Let’s cross it off soon.
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If it wasn’t for the fact that you guys just built a house here in TX, I would had for sure thought you guys were planning a move to Nashville, that’s just from all your inta pics this past summer ;). I wouldn’t blame you though, looks like my type of place.
It was definitely a huge consideration after we sold. If either one of our immediate families lived up there, then we absolutely would have made the move. We both have family there, but our parents are here. You win this time DFW. 😉
Nashville is definitely on my list of US cities to visit one day! It sounds amazing! Especially that 3 hour sampling!
Thanks for sharing!
You must go!! You would have an insane amount of fun!!
I just found out about the nashville flea, I want to go!! We’ll make sure to check out your food recommendations too!!
You going to find the most amazing things at the flea. I just know it!
I need to plan a trip to Nashville with this guide. Can you just put together a guide for every city? I think my trips would be cooler that way.
We wanted to do one for Athens and Atlanta, but we had like no pictures. I was considering doing a Ft. Worth guide. I don’t know I like to talk and eat so seems fitting.