At a glance, Nashville may come off as the perfect destination for country music lovers. That may be the case. With the historic Ryman Auditorium and Grand Ole Opry providing performances nearly every night, down-home, backwood banjos are the soundtrack of the city. However, there’s much more to Nashville than country music.
Believe it or not, Nashville is a hub for all genres of creativity, art, and music. Real American culture has been preserved and evolved in Music City. With so much flavor, good vibes, and history, you need more than a few days to capture the magic dwelling in Nashville. Here are just a few hidden gems for Black travelers to discover the next time they’re in the Midwest city.
Bask In The Culture At The African American Museum Of Music
The African American Museum of Music is hands down Nashville’s most underrated attraction. The museum opened in 2021 after being in the works for twenty years. While many don’t seem to realize the museum is in Nashville, you don’t want to miss it the next time you visit.
The museum is unlike any other. This interactive experience takes visitors through the complete history of Black music. Beginning before enslaved Africans left the motherland, the many exhibits take guests on an emotional journey through the creativity and perseverance of Black artists. Visitors can produce their own beat, spit a hot 16 bars, and even throw on silk robes for a jam session with Bobby Jones and his choir. You need much more than an hour to explore this museum. Be sure to allow yourself enough time to get the full experience.
Make A Pizza Stop At Slim & Husky’s
If Hot Chicken is the official chicken of Nashville, Slim & Husky’s might be the city’s official pizza spot. The restaurant is the brainchild of three TSU alumni. After selling their moving company, the three friends opened the restaurant. With one of them being skinny and the other two bigger, Slim & Husky’s seemed like the perfect name.
Black-owned pizza is making major waves at Slim & Husky’s. They have nostalgic Hip Hop vibes, fresh ingredients and every day is P.R.E.A.M (pizza rules everything around me). They also have dynamic cinnamon rolls at locations around the city.
Explore The Nashville Farmers Market
Most major cities have a local farmers market. Located in the Germantown neighborhood, the Nashville Farmers Market is unique. The open-shed concept hosts produce vendors throughout the week. There’s a huge 24,000-square-foot garden center to explore with an array of rare plants. When travelers are done shopping, they can enjoy lunch at the market’s food hall with over 20 restaurants and shops.
Catch A Vibe On The Honky Tonk Highway
The Honky Tonk Highway is a smorgasbord of bars, shops, and restaurants in the heart of downtown Nashville. This strip of live music, country fun, and Midwest culture is party-central for travelers and locals. The highway comes alive every night of the week from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Most of the bars have no cover charge, making it the perfect place to turn up after a day exploring the city.
Let The Music Take Over At The Listening Room
Nashville is Music City. Beyond the live music happening at over 150 venues around the city, travelers can feel the rhythm at The Listening Room. This performance venue places some of the country’s biggest, upcoming songwriters on stage to perform their songs. Every once in a while, big-time writers stop by to perform hit after hit. Music really comes alive at The Listening Room in an intimate setting, unlike any other Nashville venue.