If you’re looking for a quick getaway weekend full of live music, entertainment, and a thriving food and art scene, look no further than Nashville, Tennessee. The city is filled with black-owned eateries, cultural social events, historical buildings, and more to come such as the National Museum of African American Music, opening this summer.
Spend 48 hours in Nashville supporting these black-owned businesses on your next visit.
Day 1:
Cowboys, Southern-style vegan food and art.
Check-in at the Urban Cowboy B&B.
Awake to fresh fruits, pastries, yogurt, and other breakfast staples at this restored Southwestern-inspired, Victorian mansion. It features eight rooms with Instagram worthy wallpaper, detailed woodwork, and a complimentary whiskey drink to savor upon arrival. Makes a great spot for cocktails with outdoor seating at the Public House.
Savor Vegan Chicken and Waffles.
Vegan soul food never tasted so good! Enjoy Nashville’s first plant-based, family-owned eatery where everything on their menu is made from scratch with fresh ingredients, in-house prepared seitan, and is served with eco-friendly silverware. I recommend the ‘hot chick ‘n’ biscuits, apple fritters, vegan donut sandwiches, and ‘hot chick ‘n’ waffles made with organic maple syrup. Breakfast ends at noon on weekends, so you may want to get up early.
Explore Nashville’s Black History on a walking tour.
Learn about the hidden Black culture within Nashville with United Street Tours. Locals introduce visitors to the “often-overlooked” people, food, history, and art through cultural attractions and amazing narratives about the black community in Nashville. Tours last between one and three hours, so wear comfy walking shoes.
Get Rooted!
Speaking of shoes, stop by Rooted, Nashville’s black-owned sneaker store on Hermitage Avenue. They have a grand selection of footwear, accessories, and apparel from Adidas, Nike, Puma, Vans, Reebok, exclusive Converse designs, and more. You’ll find a good pair of sneakers for under $100 bucks.
Celebrate Culture Through the Arts
This is not your typical club environment, but more relaxed and laid back, accompanied by handcrafted cocktails and the sounds of Afro Beats, Jazz, Hip Hop, and R&B music. The Vanguard hosts regular African themed art shows and live showcases at some of the hottest clubs in Nashville. Sometimes with catered food from local restaurants and vendors. Check out this recap of their African art-themed show in October.
Day 2:
Creativity for Brunch, Hip Hip for Lunch and Craft Cocktails
Start your morning at this popular upscale brunch spot on Nashville’s historic Jefferson Street. Open only on weekends from 9am- 2 pm, The Garden Brunch Café offers salmon croquettes, fish and grits, and cinnamon bun french toast, amongst other sweet-flavored dishes. Take a look at their calendar for opportunities to catch art exhibits, poetry nights, mixers, and other events at night.
Get in touch with the local scene at The Lab Nashville.
Entrepreneurs and creatives will appreciate this stylish co-working space in the Germantown District for $15/a day. Check The Lab Nashville‘s Instagram account for updates about investor roundtables, hands-on mixology classes, business mentoring workshops for entrepreneurs, and other social events.
Grab a slice of salmon pizza for lunch.
Pull up to one of Slim Husky’s three locations, two in North Nashville and another in Antioch, for good pizza, music, and art. Their menu pays homage to Hip Hop culture with pizzas named after classic songs like ‘California Love,’ ‘P.R.E.A.M.,’ ‘Got 5 On It’ and ‘The Smokin’ Herb.’ The painted walls feature iconic hip hop lyrics and the 90’s music blaring from the speakers are also a nice added touch.
Nightcap with craft cocktails and music from the early 2000s.
Finish the night at Nashville’s top-rated, black-owned bar and restaurant offering craft cocktails made with fresh ingredients, Minerva Avenue. Their motto is Sip local, think global and be social. Personally, I recommend Show Me The Money or You Can’t Handle The Truth cocktails, although the Hakuna Matata means no worries.