Nashville Hotels

Built in 1910 in the beaux-arts style, this city institution is the grande dame of local hotels. Smiling after an $18million refurbishment, the lobby is gilded plaster and stained glass windows, and the all-suite guest rooms boast Florentine marble bathrooms. Dining at the hotel’s Capitol Grille evokes an elegant wine cellar, and the Oak Bar has ornate woods and plasterwork.

Nashville’s answer to Graceland, this regal property has 3.6 hectares (9 acres) of indoor gardens, skywalks, cascading waterfalls, winding pathways and riverboats. Outdoor pools, a huge spa and 85-foot fountains complement the 14 restaurants, 20 shops and 5 ballrooms. Guest rooms are comfortable, but not as grand as the public spaces.

A former railway terminal is the home for this hotel, which dates back to 1900. The architecture is Romanesque-Gothic, and the property enjoyed a $10million facelift in 2007. The station’s main hall becomes a striking lobby, with vaulted stained glass ceilings. While the exterior is a National Historic Landmark, the rooms are contemporary, though light sleepers may want to avoid those that overlook the tracks.

Opened in 2009, this property blends traditional southern touched with Manhattan-esque chic, the lobby a mix of luxuriant woods, abstract sculptures and oversized lampshades. It’s a bold attempt to steer away from the more laboured aspects of the city, and you won’t find country music being piped on repeat. The rooms are trendy but not pretentious, and the 1808 Grille brings a modern twist to down-home cooking.

According to the collection of signed photos in the lobby, this motel has been popular with local music stars over the years, most likely for its location in the very plaid-covered bosom of music row. The standard rooms are clean and cosy, or plump for a suite and get a whirlpool tub.

You don’t check into motels like this expecting any frills, though the nightly live music in the lounge (Mon-Sat) is an unexpected bonus. The rooms are perfectly adequate, and a few extra dollars for a suite gets you a lot of extra space. The main advantage is the ease of access to Music Row and Downtown. There’s also an outdoor pool.

The rooms here are at least refurbished every few years to keep this good value motel at least comfortable. The property dates back to the 1960s, giving it kind of a retro cool, and the free local calls and internet don’t hurt the budget. The location is convenient, with Music Row and Vanderbilt University both within easy walking distance.