Happy Monday! Is there such thing as a Happy Monday now that I think about it? I’ll try and stay positive, but I just got back from a fun weekend in Nashville and now I have to go to work. Any enthusiasm I have for this Monday is 100 percent fake.
Fun fact, Hubbs plays rugby. So we got to go to Nashville for his tournament. Β So most of my trip this time was spent at the rugby pitch, but I definitely got some local stops in.Β Nashville and Charleston are my two favorite cities so I definitely try to go as often as I can.
I wanted to do a Nashville travel diary about our trip, but honestly most of it is about places we ate. Sooooooo be prepared for a lot of food if you keep reading. Nashville has the best food ya know? Ok, let’s get to it.
DAY 1
Hubbs and I went to work because time off is not an actual thing, but we carpooled so it felt less awful. So when the work day was done, he came and picked me up in the POURING rain and we headed out. After a long trip of traffic and monsoons we made it to our Air BNB. Fun fact: this weekend in Nashville was Vanderbilt baseball finals, CMA Fest and Bonaroo soooo lodging was limited. We got SO lucky though–we rented an adorable little guest house that was just perfect.
We dropped our stuff off, cleaned up since we looked like formally drowned rats, and headed out to a late dinner at 55 South. This restaurant was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. It was so excellent that three days later I’m still thinking about it. We ordered cocktails–I had the Category 5 (House Infused Bourbon, Kronan Swedish Punsch, House Grenadine, Passionfruit, Lime, Orange) and Hubbs had the Bourbon Smash (Buffalo Trace, Lemon, Simple, Mint). Both were amazingggg! We also split an order of the Garlic Crab Fries which are seasoned fries covered in crab meat, lemon-garlic mayo, and green onions. These were THE MOST DELICIOUS THING I’VE EVER EATEN. Seriously all caps were deserved. I can’t even get it together. We devouredΒ this plate and were scraping the rest of the garlic-mayo off the bottom with a fork. I’m not even a little ashamed.
So after we were done acting like animals fighting over a carcass, we ordered entrΓ©es. I had the shrimp and grits…are you ready for this?Β Sauteed shrimp, apple bacon, mushrooms in a white wine butter over local cheese grits. I’m gushing because the food was this good. Stephen had the Dirty Bird which isΒ BBQ chicken, fried egg, cole slaw, secret sauce on Texas toast and homemade potato chips. Are you jealous of us now?
Then we walked around downtown Franklin for a bit and went to bed early…we needed it.
DAY 2
Today was rugby day, but we squeezed in a quick stop to Five Daughters Bakery for two of their 100 layer donuts. These are a hybridΒ of a croissant and a doughnut. They take four days to make. They guy at the counter said they have a longer life span than a common housefly lol. I had the lemon pucker up which is rolled in sweet and sour sugar and Stephen had The Purist which is your classic glazed. We technically have a Five Daughters Bakery in Atlanta, but it’s inside Ponce City Market. We wanted to go to one of the free-standing locations because they are so stinking cute.
Y’all. These donuts. These are not donuts–they are masterpieces. Enough said.
So after we had our donuts, we headed to the rugby tournament–which they WON! Really really exciting stuff. The rugby association hosts a social for the teams after the tournament. We went to Honky Tonk brewing and learned how to flip hammers…Β You flip a hammer and try to hit a nail into a tree stump in one fluid motion. It is as weird as it sounds, but fun.
Afterwords, we went back to the Air BnB to shower and freshen up for a night on the town with some of the guys on the team. We headed to Printer’s Alley for some live music and then ended the night on Broadway. We stayed out way too late, but nothing beats a night out in Nashville so it was totally worth it.
DAY 3
We checked out of the Air BnB and went to 12 South. Our first stop was the Frothy Monkey. We had omelettes and basic Bish Instagram coffee. The highlight for me was the bacon though. Man oh man do I love some bacon. This restaurant was farm-to-table and the bacon was thick and crispy and delicious.
After weΒ hadΒ to make a stop at Draper James…poor hubbs. We also did some shopping around in the stores in that area. We stopped at the cutest little flower truck. It’s all adorable, 12 South is one of my favorite parts of Nashville.
Then we hopped in the car to head home. Nashville is my fave. I hate that I’m home lol.
We did spend most of the time at the rugby pitch, but here is a super short little highlight video. I was going to do it on YouTube Tuesday, but it makes way more sense for this post so Tuesday came early this week. π
Have you been to Nashville? What’s your favorite part?
I love Nashville! I never know where to eat (I always hit up all the BBQ spots), so you’ve given me a few new places to add to my list. That first meal looks like the perfect comfort food dish, and the donuts…well, let’s just say I’m drooling on my keyboard over here π
Oh anytime you need a food rec, I’m your girl! I have been so many times I can’t even count now, and hubbs and I take food very seriously! π
Omg, that donut looks amazing!!! I love Nashville. It’s been a couple years since I’ve gone. i’d love to go back. You just can’t beat the atmosphere!!
It’s really the best! I go every chance I get.
Okay firstly you are HYSTERICAL βwhen we stopped acting like a animal fighting over a carcassβ that cracked me up! I think itβs so cool your husband plays rugby! Iv always wanted to go to Nashville, and all of your photos of food is definitely persuading me! I hope you had the time of your life!
Lol oh girl. It was not very becoming of either us but no shame. Those crab fries were totally worth the Lion King reenactment.
This post is making me super hungry haha! Everything looks SO yummy! Glad you all had a blast- I want to plan visit to Nashville later this year.
I go to Nashville any chance I get! Y’all will have a blast.
My husband and I want to visit Nashville so bad! All of this yummy food looks to die for!
You absolutely should! It’s such a fun city!
I love Nashville and I’ve actually been to that bakery! It’s probably one of the best bakeries I’ve visited. Looks like you had a great time! Thanks for sharing!
Isn’t it the best?! Those doughnuts are in a league of their own.
I loved visiting Nashville, and clearly I need to go back for the food. Those garlic crab fries sound AMAZING!
Girl! They were SO good. It’s been like 5 days and I still can’t stop thinking about them.
That food looks incredible! I’d love to visit Nashville one day with my husband. It seems like an awesome place to visit with a lot of delicious food! Thank you for sharing!!
Oh yes, all the food is top notch!
you had me at the donuts!! they look delicious. I would love to have a chance to visit Nashville and try all these yummy eats!
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They were SO amazing. I definitely recommend a visit. It’s my fave city!
I’m a Nashville native, and I love this post and comment section sooo much! It’s just lovely to hear people saying how much they love my city. I’m working on putting together a Nashville guide to share on my blog in the next couple months because there’s just so much to love!
I’m so jealous! I wish I was a Nashville native. It’s my favorite city! I can’t wait to check out your guide!
I’m literally obsessed with doughnuts and love love lovedddd these pictures!! I now automatically want to go eat some π Your trip looks amazing, I’ve never been to nashville and am dying to go now!
Nashville is one of my favorite cities! I highly recommend a visit and a doughnut! π
I’m just dying to go to Nashville again! It is such a cool city.
It really is such a fun and unique place to visit!
WOW I miss Nashville so much…one of my favorite US cities fosho!
Mine too! I go every chance I get!
That bakery is the cutest thing ever! They’re one of my favourite places to go whenever I’m visiting a new city βΊοΈ
Isn’t it just adorable?! I completely agree.
The food looks amazing! I always get sucked in to picking a destination based on the food!
LOL I usually plan my itineraries on trips around meals. No shame.
Oh! The food! How amazing. Sounds like a fun trip, and a city I have yet to visit!
Oh it’s my favorite city!
Looks like you had a fun weekend in Nashville! All of that food looks SO yummy. I definitely need to make it out to Nashville soon!
Thanks Jess! It was definitely a fun weekend!
jessicapanian 5++
I love having travel diaries, it is also quite important as well. At least you get to track what to do and what is going on. Five daughters diary is very nice.
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This is the one destination my family returns to year after year. The whole thing looks straight out of a story book