When the rain falls in Nashville, it brings a unique charm that somehow makes the city even cozier. While many might daydream of sunny skies and honky-tonks when they picture Nashville, this vibrant city has a treasure trove of indoor experiences just waiting to be discovered. So don’t let a little drizzle dampen your plans; embrace the opportunity to explore.
From fascinating museums that dive deep into the rich history and culture of the area to lively venues where you can enjoy some of the best live music, Nashville does not disappoint when the weather turns gray.
- Explore Nashville’s Museums
- Catch Live Music Indoors
- Pedal and Sip in Style
- Savor Nashville’s Culinary and Craft Delights
- Rainy Day Adventures to Keep You Moving
- Shop ‘Til You Drop
- Ahh! Nashville Spas
- Laugh it off
- The Theater, The Theater
Explore Nashville’s Museums
Trust us–despite being known for our music roots, we’ve got some seriously incredible museums where you can spend some serious time (especially when the rain is here to stay). Here is a solid place to start for the best museums in Nashville:
- Country Music Hall of Fame: Explore iconic country music history, see legendary artists’ memorabilia (like Taylor Swift’s dresses, Dolly Parton’s handwritten lyrics and Elvis’ gold cadillac!), and visit the famous Rotunda honoring Hall of Fame inductees
- Frist Art Museum: Enjoy rotating art exhibits from around the world in a stunning Art Deco building, plus interactive experiences in the Martin ArtQuest Gallery.
- National Museum of African American Music: Discover the deep roots of African American musical influence across genres like jazz, blues, hip-hop, and gospel through immersive exhibits (we love “One Nation Under a Groove” featuring Aretha Franklin, Prince and Stevie Wonder).
- Tennessee State Museum: Learn about Tennessee’s rich history, from Native American heritage to the Civil War and beyond, with artifacts, interactive displays, and educational exhibit (and it’s free!)
- The Parthenon: Gawk at the full-scale replica of the ancient Greek Parthenon, complete with a towering 42-foot statue of Athena and an art museum inside.
- RCA Studio Tour: Step inside the legendary “Studio B” where music icons like Elvis Presley recorded hits, and experience the stories behind some of Nashville’s biggest songs, like “Jolene” by Dolly Parton or “Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison.
Catch Live Music Indoors
There are a lot of options for live music, which often include patio or rooftop performances. Tuck into the places below when you want to listen to some jams but want to stay out of the elements.
- The Bluebird Café: This intimate, world-famous songwriter venue is where you can hear Nashville’s best songwriters perform their original hits.
- The Station Inn: No frills, no problem. This venue hosts some of Nashville’s legendary bluegrass musicians.
- Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge: This laid-back East Nashville bar hosts incredible bluegrass jams every Monday night.
- Santa’s Pub: Who doesn’t love a dive bar outfitted with year-round Christmas decorations? Come for the cozy Christmas vibe, stay for the rowdy karaoke and live music.
- Rudy’s Jazz Room: Sultry live jazz, craft cocktails, and a cool, vintage atmosphere make any rainy day better at this speakeasy.
- Vinyl Tap: A record store and bar that hosts live music nights in an intimate, music-lover’s setting.
- American Legion Post 82 Inglewood: This local gem is known for its dance floor, classic country bands, and honky-tonk vibes.
Pedal and Sip in Style:
Nashville is beautiful and worth exploring, rain or shine. And while Nashville Pedal Tavern may look like an “outdoor” activity, our party bikes not only provide a roof over your head against a rain shower, pedaling (with an adult beverage in hand) keeps your body active and warm against a chill.
- Wondering if your scheduled Nashville Pedal Tavern is still running during inclement weather? Call/text 615-390-5038 and we’ll get you the latest information on our operation.
- Don’t let a little mist ruin a day of exploring Nashville; we’ll take you around to all the sights, and sprinkle in a few warm bars along the way.
Savor Nashville’s Culinary and Craft Delights:
Rainy weather is the perfect excuse to tuck into a delicious meal at a popular Nashville hotspot or a beloved hidden gem. Don’t forget that Nashville is also host to some incredible breweries and distilleries; keep those spirits high by sampling the best spirits Nashville has to offer.
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- Fleet Street Pub: A cozy British pub in Printer’s Alley known for authentic UK fare like fish & chips, bangers & mash, and a great selection of UK beers; quieter, no-live-music atmosphere is conducive for a rainy-day chat
- Assembly Food Hall: This lively food hall hosts 30 diverse eateries, offering everything from hot chicken to sushi, plus beautiful views and live music.
- Deacon’s New South: A stylish downtown steakhouse known for dry-aged steaks and top-notch whiskey.
- Black Rabbit: A moody cocktail bar for moody weather; order craft drinks or small plates at this cool speakeasy-like bar.
- Beyond the Edge Sportsbar: A casual East Nashville sports bar with an extensive beer list and pub-style eats.
- Little Hats Market: A cozy Italian spot serving fresh, handmade pasta and classic red sauce dishes.
- Bill’s Sandwich Palace: A hidden gem for oversized, stacked sandwiches made with high-quality ingredients.
- FatBelly Pretzel: A local favorite for hearty breakfast sandwiches and classic deli subs.
- 51st Deli: A go-to West Nashville spot for fresh sandwiches, tacos, and killer breakfast burritos.
- Tower Market and Deli: A reliable, old-school deli with solid breakfast and lunch options.
- Dicey’s Pizza & Tavern: A laid-back dive bar with cold beer, great late-night vibes, and a killer burger.
- The Loveless Cafe: A Nashville institution serving legendary biscuits, country ham, and Southern comfort food.
- Monell’s: Family-style Southern dining with endless fried chicken, cornbread, and homestyle sides.
- Rolf And Daughters: A trendy Germantown restaurant serving inventive, Mediterranean-inspired dishes with handmade pasta.
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Hot Chicken for cold days:
- Hattie B’s Hot Chicken: The most tourist-friendly spot with a range of heat levels, crispy chicken, and classic Southern sides.
- Prince’s Hot Chicken: The original hot chicken joint, known for its deep, slow burn and extra-crispy skin.
- Bolton’s Spicy Chicken & Fish: A no-frills, extra-spicy option with a grittier, more pepper-forward heat and killer fish sandwiches.
- Scoreboard Bar & Grill: A solid local pick with juicy, smoky hot chicken and a relaxed sports bar vibe.
- 400 Degrees Hot Chicken Unique for its thicker breading and cayenne-heavy spice, delivering serious heat in every bite.
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Breweries & Distilleries to beat the rainy-day blues:
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- Smith & Lentz: A craft brewery with excellent lagers and IPAs, plus great pizza.
- Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery: Historic distillery known for its Belle Meade Bourbon and Tennessee whiskey.
- TailGate Brewery: Fun, laid-back brewery with great craft beer, pizza, and multiple locations.
- Music City Brew Hop: A hop-on, hop-off brewery tour bus for exploring Nashville’s best craft beer spots.
- Fait La Force Brewing: A standout brewery on the other side of town, known for its Belgian-inspired and creative beers.
Rainy Day Adventures to Keep You Moving
Maybe you don’t feel like vegging out while waiting for the rain to pass. We rounded up some fun and unique activities to keep you active when being outside isn’t an option.
- Pinewood Social: A trendy spot offering bowling lanes, a bocce ball court, and a heated outdoor pool (with a rooftop for covered seating) that makes for a fun, active hangout, even on rainy days.
- The Crag: Challenge yourself with indoor rock climbing on a variety of walls.
- Tee Line Nashville: Try your hand at the Olympic sport of curling.
- Pins Mechanical Co.: A bar and arcade with plenty of indoor activities, including duckpin bowling, pinball machines, and foosball
- Puttshack Nashville: This high-tech indoor mini-golf course with fun, interactive games keeps you moving and entertained while staying out of the rain.
- K1 Speed: Get your adrenaline pumping with indoor go-kart racing, racing against friends on a slick indoor track.
- Smash City Nashville Rage Room: Unleash some stress with an active, adrenaline-filled experience where you get to smash things with sledgehammers and other tools in a controlled environment.
Shop ‘Til You Drop
As if you needed an excuse? If you don’t want to walk around in the rain in some of our shopping-friendly neighborhoods like the Gulch or 12 South, we have options!
- Nashville has a couple indoor malls that are worth ducking into during a quick afternoon shower, including Opry Mills Mall and The Mall at Green Hills
- Looking to do a little shopping but don’t feel like dodging the puddles while becoming one? Stay dry and warm on the Bevē bus. Our partner, Bevē Curated, puts together the perfect itinerary for shopping in Nashville. Some of our favorite shopping themes lately have been:
- “Shop like a Celeb” which included stores like Kittenish (Jesse James Decker), Draper James (Reese Witherspoon), Uncommon James (Kristin Cavallari) and White’s Mercantile (Holly Williams)
- “Love from Nashville” which included The NASH Collection, Made in Nashville, Bubblery Nashville and Thunder Moon Collective
- “Quirky Shops”, which includes thrift stores, locally made goods and other oddities. Stores on the tour include: Hail Dark Aesthetics, Fatherland District (stores like Gift Horse), STARLAND, Troll House Cottage, Cool Stuff Weird Things and Shop Whiskey Water
- “Bevē Book Crawl” which included Pont Nuef, Parnassus Books, McKAY’s and Dose Nashville
Ahh! Nashville Spas
Trade in your cowboy boots for a terry cloth robe; it’s time for a little self care on any given rainy day.
- Sometimes the rain is the perfect excuse to focus on a little self care. Search these spas for last minute openings, or schedule a full day experience (sunny or rainy!): O.liv Body Bar,Spa Haus Nashville, Escape Day Spa & Salon, Luxe & Luna, Urban Oasis Spa, Salon & Boutique, Woodhouse Spa
Laugh it off
Laughter is the best medicine when the weather isn’t cooperating in Nashville; luckily, we can induce some laughter!
- Nashville’s comedy scene is the perfect cure for the rainy day blues, and there is no shortage of options. Some of our favorite comedy clubs include Zanies, Third Coast Comedy Club, The Blue Room Bar and Springwater Supper Club & Lounge.
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The Theater, The Theater
What’s better than seeing astonishing entertainment in a cozy, dark venue? Seeing astonishing entertainment when it’s raining buckets outside…
- Tennessee Performing Arts Center: The go-to venue for Broadway musicals, plays, ballet, and more.
- Nashville Opera: Known for its opera productions and often performing at TPAC (above), it’s the place to catch top-tier classical vocal performances.
- Nashville Ballet: Nashville’s premier ballet company, performing beautiful classical and contemporary works at venues like TPAC and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s Polk Theater.
- The Grand Ole Opry: While primarily country music-focused, the Opry also hosts musicals and variety performances featuring a range of live entertainment.
- Ryman Auditorium: Famous for its history with country music, this iconic venue also hosts musicals, theater productions, and concerts.
- Circle Players: Nashville’s longest-running community theater, showcasing a variety of plays and musicals.
- The Belcourt Theatre: A historic venue that often features independent films, but it also hosts live performances, including theater productions.
No matter the weather, Nashville’s charm remains as warm and inviting as ever. Don’t let a little rain keep you inside, as Music City is packed with indoor options that cater to relaxation and entertainment. So, grab an umbrella and let Nashville’s vibrant and cozy spots make your rainy day one to remember!
