The hottest travel destination of 2018. “The Cool List 2018.” “Best Places to Travel in 2018.” These are all just a few of accolades the booming city of Nashville, Tenn., has received this year. It’s not surprising, when you consider that the city welcomed a whopping 113 new restaurants and bars in 2017, followed by nine hotels in 2018, with another 10 under construction. Suffice it to say, there’s never been a better time to visit Nashville, located less than a four-hour drive from Atlanta.
Newly opened this year is the 144-room Bobby Hotel, boasting gritty-yet-polished vibe rooted in all things local and authentic to the Music City. Located in the North of Broadway area of downtown Nashville, the hotel features funky design touches like a lobby chandelier constructed of car parts, a wall inspired by safety deposit boxes (a nod to the bank that previously occupied the building) and historic world maps on the walls of each guest room inspired by the musician’s life on the road. Original artwork by songwriter and artist Bernie Taupin is hung throughout the lobby. While visiting, you might catch a glimpse of the hotel’s canine ambassador, Sasha. (Swipe a towel embroidered with her face on it, and $25 will be charged to your card and donated to the local animal shelter where she was rescued). The hotel offers four distinct dining venues, including a rooftop bar complete with retrofitted 1956 Scenicruiser tour bus, the street-side Café at Bobby, signature restaurant Tavern at Bobby and the hidden Bobby’s Garage, where you can make your mark on Nashville within its graffiti-covered walls.