Long before Broadway became a neon carnival illuminated by bars named after celebrities, Nashville had Music Row. As someone who has been based on this legendary street for nearly 15 years, I’ve watched the area morph from magnolia-lined avenues of modest songwriter cottages to a silhouette of glass towers and mixed-use developments.
But with change also comes progress, and the arrival of the Virgin Hotels Nashville a few years back bridged the gap between Music Row’s creative legacy and the city’s ever-rising skyline by providing a convenient, comfortable base at the intersection of the Gulch and Midtown.
Why stay at Virgin Hotels Nashville?
To be amid the action without being too entrenched in the chaos. The Virgin thrives on its location and generous third spaces that seem custom-made for both social interactions and hanging out solo with your laptop. While Downtown Nashville may be made for those who truly do not need sleep—be it you’re burning the midnight oil or kept awake by the noise of those who are—I appreciate being close to the city’s heartbeat while still feeling as if I can retreat to my own quiet space. The Virgin offers that with minimal ambient noise from the outside.
Likewise, if you’re a true connoisseur of musical history—or even a casual fan looking to do a deeper dive into the place behind the hits—you’ll want to immerse yourself in the neighborhood beyond the hotel’s walls. Book a tour of Historic RCA Studio B, once the recording home of Elvis and the Everly Brothers that’s just two blocks from the hotel, or visit Belmont University’s Gallery of Iconic Guitars right up the hill.
Not 10 minutes downtown in the other direction are the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, National Museum of African American Music and the Johnny Cash Museum. For concerts, there are plenty of places for live music within a cheap Uber ride from the Virgin, like Bridgestone Arena, Ryman Auditorium, Ascend Amphitheater, Schermerhorn Symphony Center and Nissan Stadium, the city’s NFL stadium which also doubles as a concert venue.
What are the rooms like at Virgin Hotels Nashville?
Cozy but well laid out. The Virgin has 262 chambers, as it calls them, spread over 14 floors. I’ve visited a handful of Virgin properties, and they each mimic a fairly standardized and minimalist room layout—clean walls, pops of red, splashes of local art—so if you’ve stayed at one, you know what to expect. They’re also pet friendly—and actually pet friendly as in they don’t charge an additional fee for you to bring your dog along as your companion (and they welcome all sizes and breeds).
Chamber Rooms, available with one king or two queens, make good use of their 300 square feet, prioritizing functionality and maximizing use of every nook and cranny. I stayed in a king, which has a large bench seat beneath the window overlooking Music Row. In all rooms, a sliding door separates the sleeping area from the vanity and bathroom, which is divided up with separate stalls for shower and toilet. I’m a fan of the modular-style storage for my hanging clothes and suitcase.
The beds are extremely plush, and if you need more room, Chamber Suites top out at 562 square feet, while Richard’s Penthouse Flat, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom suite with a balcony perched on the 12th floor, is the ultimate splurge. Amenities at Virgin Hotels Nashville include robes, slippers, yoga mats and premium toiletries. The SMEG fridge minibars are well-stocked with top-shelf liquor, sodas and snacks, and you can access your favorite streaming service via the smart TVs.
The one thing that some travelers may find frustrating is that everything—literally, everything—in the rooms is operated through a series of complicated touch switches, which can also be controlled via your personal device. It can be confusing, even for those of us who consider themselves adept with technology.
Which are the best restaurants and bars at Virgin Hotels Nashville?
What I love about this Nashville hotel is the ample common space; it seems designed with the remote worker in mind as well as travelers who prefer to spend their time outside of their room. The hotel draws in a mix of clientele that span music industry types, conference goers, parents visiting their college-aged students nearby and Millennials who just love the stylish vibes of the lobby. You’ll find many of them congregating around the long tables positioned throughout the Funny Library Coffee Shop, which serves more grab-and-go options and has a variety of board games for borrowing.
Downstairs in the lobby level, Commons Club is a solid spot for cocktails or brunch; while the food may not be the most memorable meal you have in Nashville, the wide-open spaces and dimly lit booths are prime spots for a meeting, meet-up or date night. The signature restaurant of the hotel, Commons Club has patio seating and daily happy hour deals on oysters, drafts, wine and other items.
On the 14th floor, you’ll find the Pool Club, which might just have one of the best skyline views in town, and it’s where you’ll find me on many afternoons with my laptop and a cocktail once coffee hours have long passed. The Pool Club hosts various themed pop-ups for occasions like the holidays or a Taylor Swift album launch (with excellently named cocktails like the Fall Too Well to match), though sometimes it is closed for private events.
For a nightcap, the Late Great is a hidden cocktail lounge with speakeasy vibes that is open late from Wednesday through Saturday nights. It channels the energy of Music Row with singer-songwriter rounds, DJ sets and other musical acts in the rotation.
What is the service like at Virgin Hotels Nashville?
Employees are enthusiastic, but Virgin’s staff usually skews younger with fewer career hospitality workers than other hotels of similar caliber, which can translate to a less experienced team. There are often long lines for the grab-and-go items in the Funny Library Coffee Shop, but sit-down service at the Pool Club or Commons Club tends to run a bit more smoothly if you hit them during off-peak times.
What is the swimming pool like at Virgin Hotels Nashville?
Though the 14th-floor pool has a small footprint, the loungers and cabanas are usually full, even during winter months. Unseasonably warm weather in spring and fall extends the actual swimming hours, so book a daybed, sofa or cabana online if you want a guaranteed spot, and note that there’s usually a pretty high food and beverage minimum in addition to the reservation fee. The Pool Club has a DJ many afternoons and evenings.
What is the gym like at Virgin Hotels Nashville?
Small, but stocked with everything you need for a quick workout on the road. The second-floor fitness center is open 24/7 and has cardio machines, free weights, and towels and complimentary water, and the natural light spilling in from the large windows makes working out seem more like a choice than a chore.
What’s the area like around Virgin Hotels Nashville?
This small stretch of midtown Nashville is anchored by 16th and 17th Avenues South and is the working soul of Music City. Countless songwriters and musical acts have written, recorded, and produced in the modest but storied buildings that line the two streets. Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Taylor Swift and other big names have all spent time in these famed studios, where songwriters hole away as they tweak on their next big hit.
You’ll know you’re almost to the hotel when you pull off the interstate and spot the highly recognizable “Musica” statue, a cluster of bronze figures dancing in the center of one of Nashville’s few major roundabouts. Leaving the raucous bars of Demonbreun Hill, you’ll pull onto the more sophisticated corridor of Music Row, which houses the hotel and borders the Vanderbilt campus.
Traditionally, Music Row has been less of a nightlife destination and more of a creative hub, but as the city’s epicenter expands, so do the restaurants and bars. More cafes like the Well Coffeehouse and Just Love Coffee are cropping up, just blocks away are several lively entertainment joints like Winners, Losers and Tin Roof. Occupying an area brimming with both students and creative types also translates to numerous fast-casual and quick-service restaurants like Chuy’s, Velvet Taco and Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, but if you want something a bit more glam, the Gulch is just a few minutes in the other direction.
Why you should you book a stay at Virgin Hotel Nashville
Music Row is an underrated, often-overlooked area of town for travelers who may not realize it offers an appetizing mix of centrality and comfort without wading through crowds.
Nashville’s high season runs from April through October, though hotel prices fluctuate depending on if there’s a big event or conference taking place in the city, which there seems to be weekly throughout the year. The busiest week is when CMA Fest takes over all of downtown each June. Weekends during football season, both NFL and college, from late-August through January can be busy when the home team is playing.
If you’re hunting for the best hotel deals in Nashville, your best bet is going to be mid-week during low season like January or February but avoid winter holiday weekends (e.g. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day).
DETAILS
Address: 1 Music Square W, Nashville, TN 37203
Price per night: starting from $299 per night
Closest transport: Bus routes 7, 89, 93, 95
Book now: via Booking.com
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