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Woman in a blue dress sits on a wooden bench next to a large mirror, with a plant and a yellow armchair nearby in a modern room.

A Memorable Nashville Overnight: Live Music, Local Eats, and Unexpected Encounters

Abigail Toy

If you’re looking for a quick but unforgettable Nashville getaway, let me tell you about our recent overnight trip. It packed in everything we love: cozy accommodations, live music, tasty food, and even a celebrity sighting!

Woman in a blue dress sits on a wooden bench next to a large mirror, with a plant and a yellow armchair nearby in a modern room.

Checking In: Cozy Guest Suite in Lockeland Springs

We rolled into Nashville and checked into the Cozy Guest Suite Airbnb in Lockeland Springs. Right away, we knew found a cozy slice of East Nashville living. The place had this perfect blend of vintage charm and modern, rustic flair. Cass and Martin, our hosts, were fantastic. They sent us a whole list of recommendations and genuinely cared about our experience. It’s always a good sign when your hosts are as excited about your trip as you are! If you’re ever in the area, this is a lived-in homey option in a solid location.

A man and a woman smile and pose together in front of a rustic wooden sliding door.
A man in a dark shirt takes a selfie in a round mirror above a white sink with a soap dispenser, under two lights, in a bathroom with herringbone tile walls.
A small storage room with shelves holding boxes, an iron, dishes, glasses, utensils, towels, and a hanging rail with hangers; below are two bins and a microwave on a metal rack.
A weathered wooden door with peeling turquoise paint stands partially open on a concrete floor, next to a patterned rug.
A neatly made bed with gray and white striped bedding, two large pillows, and one smaller red pillow resting against them.
Modern shower with herringbone tile walls, black fixtures, a glass door, a round mirror, and a small window above the shower area. A bottle is placed on a built-in corner shelf.
Modern shower with herringbone tile, a window, matte black fixtures, and glass door next to an open closet with shelves, towels, and cleaning supplies.
A modern room with a bed, two armchairs, a small rug, a tall counter with two stools, and frosted glass double doors letting in light.
A bedroom with a neatly made bed, gray and white bedding, a single red pillow, bedside tables with lamps, rustic sliding barn door, and abstract art on the wall.

Dinner at Mas Tacos Por Favor

After settling in, we headed to Mas Tacos Por Favor for dinner. Honestly, we’d heard so much hype, but it just didn’t live up to expectations for us. The flavors were a bit underwhelming and bland (Generally, I like blander food), which surprised us given all the rave reviews. Maybe it was an off night, or maybe it’s just not our style, but hey, you win some, you lose some when it comes to food adventures!

People stand outside Mas Tacos, a restaurant with a sign reading “Mas Tacos DELI cious,” with several cars parked in front on a sunny day.
Three tacos in a paper tray with a lime wedge, next to an elote covered in cheese and chili powder, a bottle of water visible in the corner.
Customers order food at a counter with a large chalkboard menu displaying tacos, soups, and sides at a casual Mexican restaurant.
Spray-painted graffiti of a stylized face with spiky blond hair, dark sunglasses, and a goatee on a dark wooden wall, with orange and red accents and white signatures nearby.

The Basement East: DK the Drummer & Sucre

The highlight of the trip was definitely the show at The Basement East. DK the Drummer and Sucre brought the house down. It was a fun show. The venue itself is intimate and lively, making it one of our favorite spots for live music in Nashville.

A fun twist: we ran into Roy, the bass player from Mutemath, and he actually remembered us from back in the day! He even jumped on stage for part of the show, which was awesome to see. Rich worked up the nerve to hand Roy his business card (tech help, anyone?), and now we’re happy to call him a friend. It’s wild how music brings people together in the best ways.

A person with long hair plays an electric guitar on stage under red lighting, with a microphone and keyboard visible in the background.
A drum set, keyboard, guitar, and equipment cases are arranged on a dimly lit stage with microphones and cables visible.
A group of people gathers outside a building at night under red lights, with a Tennessee flag mural and parked cars visible.
A handwritten setlist on a sheet of paper lies on a dimly lit stage floor beside cables, a pedal, and equipment.
A dimly lit stage with a drum set, keyboard, microphone stands, guitar, and equipment cases, ready for a live music performance.
A musician with long hair plays an electric guitar on stage under red lighting, with amplifiers and equipment visible around him.

Brunch at Biscuit Love

After a night of great music, we needed a solid brunch. Biscuit Love was the answer. If you haven’t been, you have to try their East Nasty or the famous Bonuts. Their specialty coffees are amazing too. The place was crowded, and the food totally lived up to the hype. It was a great way to kick off a day of exploring.

A woman sits at a table in a restaurant, smiling, with a plate of scrambled eggs and potatoes and a cup labeled "Biscuit Love" in front of her.
A plate of scrambled eggs over roasted potatoes with vegetables, next to a plastic cup filled with ice and a visible logo, on a wooden table.
Three pieces of French toast topped with blueberries and cream, served on a plate with blueberry sauce.
A cup of latte with a heart-shaped design in the foam, placed on a wooden table.
A glass Coke bottle on a wooden table in a casual restaurant with people dining and a large "MUSIC CITY" sign on the wall in the background.

Shopping and a Celebrity Sighting

We spent the afternoon at Hill Center Green Hills, browsing West Elm and Anthropologie. I’m a sucker for home goods and pretty things, so this was right up my alley. And then, in true Nashville fashion, we spotted Lauren Akins (yep, Thomas Rhett’s wife!) and her family out shopping. It was a total “wait, is that…?” moment. We respected her quality family time and didn’t say anything. I wish I had of though.

Close-up of a round mirror with a white, rectangular tile mosaic frame reflecting overhead lights.
Four white geometric planters with faceted surfaces are stacked on a wooden table in a store, surrounded by other planters and decor items.
Two striped glass vases sit on a round, white tiled tabletop next to a gray textured rug.
A modern sideboard with textured white drawers, two table lamps, decorative vases, and a large abstract artwork on a blue wall.
Three ceramic vases—two pink and one blue—are displayed on a white tabletop in a modern home goods store.
A young woman stands and smiles in a store with shelves of colorful dishes and ceramics. She is wearing a gray shirt, black shorts, and a purple shoulder bag.
Three decorative pillows with a colorful floral print and blue piping are arranged side by side on a shelf.

We also checked out RH (Restoration Hardware) and wandered through the Mall at Green Hills. Whether you’re shopping or just window shopping, it’s a fun spot to explore.

A modern wall-mounted light fixture with two vertical bulbs is illuminated against a marble-tiled wall.
A woman sits in a large, high-backed chair, smiling and holding a menu. A lit lamp is on a wooden table beside her.
Menu for RH Café featuring sections for food and drinks, including breakfast items, cheese boards, salads, sandwiches, coffee, tea, fresh juices, and desserts, printed on a cream background.
A modern bedroom with a beige sofa in front of a canopy bed, white bedding, sheer curtains, and a crystal chandelier overhead.
A bedroom with a four-poster bed draped in sheer curtains, two bedside tables with lamps, a chandelier, and a beige sofa at the foot of the bed.
Modern chandelier with multiple clear glass globes and a brass frame, illuminated in a stylish, contemporary interior setting.
A three-story commercial building with large windows, trees planted on the roof, and parked cars in front under a clear sky.
A painted portrait of a man's face, overlaid with handwritten mathematical equations and symbols, displayed upright in an art store.

I’m beginning to find these blogs have some frequent repeats of places. Can you spot them? It seems we have some favorites. I promise you, we are mixing things up as we go back to Nashville and trying new places to diversify our Nashville experiences. Stay tuned! We like what we like. What can I say? I hope these inspire you to create your own Nashville or other city experience that is curated to what you enjoy and/or what you would like to learn more about. Experiences are fun familiar or new!

Why Nashville Never Disappoints

Looking back, this quick trip had everything: a cozy place to stay, great music, tasty food (well, mostly), shopping, and even a brush with celebrity. Nashville always has a way of surprising us, and this trip was no exception.

If you’re planning a super short Nashville getaway, I can’t recommend the Lockeland Springs neighborhood and The Basement East enough. And don’t be afraid to chat up your favorite musicians or anyone for that matter. You never know what connections you’ll make!

Tips for Your Own Nashville Adventure:

  • Even if a restaurant is hyped, trust your own taste buds.
  • Keep your eyes peeled-you never know who you’ll run into in Nashville!

Have you had a Nashville adventure of your own? Let me know your favorite spots. We’re always looking for new recommendations and have so many places we want to try!

Until next time. 🙂

A man and a woman smiling and posing for a selfie together in a dimly lit environment.

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