Mid Town Afternoon and Evening
This is an idea for a 2-5 hour outing in the Vanderbilt/Centennial Park neighborhood. Transportation-wise this is a drive-able event, it is also something that can be accomplished using a ride-share service. The outing itself is a walking outing. This is a way to partake in a very Nashville experience without being in a crowd.
Itinerary:
- Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint
- The Nashville Parthenon (Centennial Park Outdoor Events Calendar)
- The Local
For this outing, I suggest starting here between four and six pm. If you are planning on visiting the Parthenon, you must confirm the hours it is open that day and adjust your itinerary accordingly.
Martin’s BBQ is the best Bar-B-Que place in Nashville. They specialize in whole hog barbecue. I think the best thing on their menu is their beef brisket. When you go, protein is the feature food item. I have been going to Martin’s for years, this is the location I go to the most. Over time I have tried almost everything on the menu. It is all of the highest quality. It deserves to be considered one of the best restaurants in Nashville, period. In January of 2025, the New York Times had an image of the downtown location on its list of the 25 best restaurants in Nashville. There is not a way to go wrong at Martin’s. It also has free parking which is very convenient and becoming increasingly rare. If you are visiting Nashville, Martin’s is one of the places you need to check off your list. This outing is one way to accomplish that. You can either walk in and order in the main area and then take your number to your table, or you can order at the bar. There is very nice outdoor seating as well. Their base sauce that is sitting out on tables is a vinegar based sauce. They also have a thicker mild and hot sauce. The hot sauce is not for the timid. They also have an Alabama white sauce. My suggestions in order are Brisket, Pulled Pork, Chicken Wings, and the Nachos. For sides my suggestions are potato salad, mac n cheese. I do stand by my previous claim that you cannot go wrong when you choose your meal at Martin’s.
The next stop is going to Centennial Park to see the Parthenon. This can be moved to the beginning of your outing. You also can park for free on the street on the south side of the park. It is not a bad idea to find this parking spot at the beginning of your outing if you are driving, and leave your car there until the end of the outing. Centennial Park is a beautiful park to spend time There are often events going on in the park. It is a great walk by itself. The Parthenon is a central feature of the park. It is well worth paying to enter and explore the museum inside the Parthenon. Nashville branded itself as the Athens of the South. So when it created a park to commemorate the first hundred years of its existence, they constructed a full scale replica of the Parthenon of Athens. When you are ready, move on the final leg of the outing, The Local.
Nashville is known as Music City. Not all of its venues for live music are on Broadway. Probably my favorite place to see live country music outside of the Grand Ole Opry is the next stop on this outing, The Local. Every night of the week, starting fairly early, there is great live music playing. There is no cover charge. Also, don’t go to sleep on the food. This outing is not designed to eat at The Local, but as you modify these suggestions, their food falls into the category of really good food in a music venue. The Local also has excellent deals for happy hour. If you are able to schedule this outing for a Saturday night, I suggest making sure that you see Organic Country play. The amount of collective talent and experience their usual lineup has is mind numbing.
These three places are located very close together and are easily walkable. Below are some other options as you tailor this outing to your tastes. Let us know what you think if you try it out!
Additional Plug and Play Options for this Outing:
Attend a Vanderbilt sporting event
See a concert at an Elliston Place Venue
See a free performance in Centennial Park.
