The best hotel in downtown Nashville depends on what you are optimizing for. For design and a genuine local identity, the Joseph at 401 Korean Veterans Boulevard is the strongest answer. For proximity to the honky-tonks and a social atmosphere that matches the Broadway energy, the Thompson Nashville in SoBro or the Noelle on Fourth Avenue are better fits. For pure luxury and location, the Four Seasons Nashville at 100 Demonbreun Street, which opened in 2022, is the most expensive and the most comprehensively resourced.
The Joseph
The Joseph is an art-focused hotel operated by Noble House Hotels and Resorts. It opened in 2020 and is located steps from Bridgestone Arena and the lower end of Broadway. The hotel’s art collection includes over 4,500 pieces selected by a curator, displayed throughout common areas and guest rooms. The spa, called Rose, is one of the better hotel spas in the city. The rooftop bar has views of downtown and a more elevated atmosphere than the Broadway strip. It is not the closest hotel to the honky-tonks, but it is the hotel with the clearest identity of its own.
The Thompson Nashville
The Thompson Nashville at 401 11th Avenue South in the Gulch sits about a mile south of Broadway, which makes it slightly inconvenient for walk-everywhere honky-tonk access but excellent for the broader Nashville lifestyle. The LA Jackson rooftop bar on top of the Thompson is one of the city’s most iconic rooftop destinations, with views of the skyline from a vantage that feels removed from the tourist core without being far from it. The Gulch’s walkable restaurant and bar scene is directly accessible.
The Noelle
The Noelle at 200 Fourth Avenue North is a converted 1930 office building in downtown Nashville with a boutique hotel aesthetic that fits its central location. The Rare Bird rooftop bar, which offers views of the Cumberland River, Nissan Stadium, and the pedestrian bridge in a single sightline, is frequently cited as one of the best hotel rooftops in the city. It is genuinely walkable to Broadway, the Ryman, and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons Nashville at 100 Demonbreun Street opened in 2022 with the highest room rates in the city and a rooftop pool, the Rivière rooftop bar on the seventh floor, and a location that puts it between downtown and the Gulch. For visitors with no budget constraint who want the most comprehensive hotel infrastructure, it is the answer.
The Budget Consideration
For visitors whose priority is Broadway access without hotel price anxiety, the SpringHill Suites and similar mid-market properties within two blocks of Lower Broadway offer functional rooms at prices that leave more budget for the bars, restaurants, and shows that define the Nashville visit.
Sources
- Nashville Guru, Best Rooftop Bars in Nashville: https://nashvilleguru.com/54030/rooftop-bars-nashville
- The Infatuation, Best Rooftop Bars Nashville: https://www.theinfatuation.com/nashville/guides/best-rooftop-bars-nashville
- Rowdy Bus Nashville Bachelorette Guide, Where to Stay: https://www.rowdybus.com/nashville-bachelorette-party-guide/