Of course I had to celebrate the big 3-0 in my favorite city! Nashville never disappoints, and this birthday weekend was absolutely perfect from start to finish.
Starting Strong with French Flavors
Y’all, let me tell you about Cocorico Bakery & Cafe. The owner is straight from Toulouse, France, and she’s bringing the real deal to Nashville. When the staff recommended their almond chocolate croissant, they weren’t kidding – it was literally the best croissant I’ve ever had! We went all out (because, birthday!) and tried their Parisian sandwich with ham, brie, and salted butter, plus some French chocolate cake, madeleines, and the cutest lavender latte with a little lavender pastry on top.
Shopping Adventures
Okay, shopping confession time – I hit up TWO Anthropologies in one day! First stop was Franklin, and don’t roll your eyes at me about Anthropologie prices because I only shop clearance. They had an extra 40% off sale going on, so you know I had to take advantage! We also popped into White’s Mercantile (owned by Hank Williams Jr.’s daughter, Holly!) and spent some time at The Factory at Franklin, where Fork of the South General Store is always worth browsing.
Later, at the Hill Center Green Hills Anthropologie, I scored the deal of the century – a $200 dress for $50! Plus some $20 shirts. See? Anthro can totally be affordable!
Foodie Paradise
Dinner at Fonda on 12th South was everything I’d hoped for. Quick tip: get your parking validated at the host stand – trust me, parking in Nashville adds up fast! We demolished some chips and queso, the biggest portion of guac I’ve ever seen, and split this amazing carne asada taco board. Pricey? Yeah, but the vibes and food were worth every penny.
We checked into Hotel Fraye that night (booked through Priceline Express Deals – your girl loves a good luxury hotel hack!), and it was absolutely gorgeous. Modern design, super comfy beds, and the AC worked perfectly (which is honestly a must for me!).
Day Two: Eating Our Way Through Nashville
Started our day at Egg Hill Nashville with some incredible egg sandwiches, then later hit up Elegy for their Honey Bear Cold Brew – coffee lovers, put this on your list!
The Dinner That Made My Night
Pelato in Germantown was seriously a highlight. Our server Jordan was an absolute gem, and we went all out with the small plates – burrata caprese, potato croquettes, fusilli pesto, this amazing salmon special, radiatori vodka, and san gennaro zeppoles. The best part? We ended up sitting next to this amazing couple from New York who gave us all their travel tips. They were basically living our dream life!
Birthday Weekend Wrap-Up
The last day was extra special because we got to have brunch at Hearts with our friends from Adventures of Matt and Nat. It happened to be their 7th wedding anniversary (how sweet are they for meeting up with us?), and we’ve got our 7-year coming up in July too!
Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk
Had to check out Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk before leaving – I know it sounds touristy, but after watching that Prime show about it, I was so curious! It’s actually super well done, and those collared green stuffed wontons? Insane. We even grabbed a cheesy photo with the statue!
Five Points Pizza
Wrapped up our Nashville adventure with some Five Points Pizza for the drive home, because ending a birthday weekend with pizza is always the right choice. As we savored each slice, we reminisced about all the whimsical activities in Nashville that had made the weekend truly unforgettable. From exploring vibrant murals to dancing the night away at a lively honky-tonk, every moment felt like a celebration. With our stomachs filled and our hearts happy, we set off on the road, already dreaming of our next Nashville adventure.
Turning 30 never tasted so good! Nashville, you outdid yourself once again. Can’t wait for my next visit – though my wallet might need a minute to recover! 😉
