Nashville city skyline at night with illuminated buildings, cloudy sky, leafless trees, and a park bench in the foreground.

Nashville Night Shift Adventures

Published On : April 22, 2025 | Last Updated : April 22, 2025

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Y’all, let me tell you about this incredible night trip to Nashville we took back in January 2021! As a night shift nurse during peak COVID times, getting out of the house was RARE, but Rich (being the amazing husband he is) adjusted his schedule to match mine so we could have this little adventure together.

Picture this – we walked into the Mall at Green Hills and oh. my. goodness. I have never seen it so empty! It was literally like something out of a movie – just us and our masks wandering through this usually bustling shopping center. While it felt a bit eerie, it was also kind of special having the place practically to ourselves.

Two people wearing gray face masks pose in front of a white brick wall mural that reads "I Believe in Nashville" with a design featuring stars and stripes.

A closed Apple Store with its lights on and covering panels in front, located inside a shopping mall with nearby benches and storefronts.

A white luxury car is displayed inside a shopping mall near a Nordstrom store, with another car and shoppers in the background.

After our ghost town mall experience, we headed to Five Points Pizza and LISTEN – if you haven’t tried their garlic knots, you are seriously missing out! Run, don’t walk! We had ourselves a little car picnic (because, COVID) and let me tell you, those garlic knots were absolutely outstanding!!

Three garlic knots topped with herbs and cheese are placed on foil, with a small container of marinara sauce nearby inside a pizza box.

A man and woman smile in front of the Five Points Pizza sign at night. Text and emoji graphics are overlaid on the image.

A slice of pepperoni pizza on a paper plate next to a Five Points Pizza takeout bag inside a car.

Next up was Cafe Intermezzo, and can we just take a moment to appreciate how gorgeous this place is? While our coffees were fair, the real showstopper was the atmosphere. Y’all, it felt like we had stepped straight into Europe! The dessert case was absolutely incredible, and I’m still dreaming about all those treats we didn’t have room to try (next time for sure!).

Two people wearing face masks hold coffee cups outside a café at night, with the café’s illuminated sign visible in the background.

Two people wearing face masks hold coffee cups outside a building at night.

A dimly lit restaurant with ornate ceilings, wall art, draped fabrics overhead, and diners seated at tables.

A cafe interior with a glass display case showing various cakes, a bar with bottles on shelves, and staff working behind the counter.

A dimly lit café bar with two people behind the counter, shelves of liquor bottles, pastries displayed in a glass case, and framed art on the walls.

A close-up of a white daisy and yellow flowers in a small glass vase on a table, with a lit candle in a ribbed glass holder in the background.

A hand holds a Café Intermezzo coffee cup inside a car at night, with city streetlights and buildings visible through the windshield.

A warmly lit restaurant with ornate ceiling tiles, chandeliers, artwork, and patrons seated at tables and the bar.

The perfect finale to our night was heading over to Titans Way next to Nissan Stadium. The Nashville skyline at night is just breathtaking, and it was such a peaceful way to end our adventure. There’s something magical about seeing the city lights reflecting off the river – it never gets old!

A nighttime view of downtown Nashville’s skyline under a partly cloudy sky, with illuminated buildings and a grassy foreground.

A woman with long blonde hair smiles at the camera while sitting in a car at night, wearing a black jacket and a seatbelt.

A nighttime street scene shows a road closure with police cars, barricades, and flashing lights on Broadway under a red traffic light. Pedestrians are visible on sidewalks.

A view of a city skyline at night with illuminated buildings and a grassy park in the foreground featuring a single empty bench.

Even though we were in the thick of COVID and had to take precautions, this little nighttime escape was exactly what we needed. Rich and I cherished every moment of this quick trip, proving that sometimes the best adventures are the simple ones close to home.

Have you been to any of these spots? Please tell me if you try those garlic knots – I need to live vicariously through you! And if anyone makes it to Cafe Intermezzo for dessert, I’m dying to know what you order!

Until next time,

Abigail