The SOCO Guide to Nashville
Team building? Live music? Delicious southern food? Sounds perfect. Our team recently went on our annual retreat where we reoriented our goals, reset as a team, and had more fun than we could have ever expected. This year, we chose Nashville as our retreat location, and we’re not exaggerating when we say more than one SOCO girl didn’t want to leave. Music city stole our hearts, and whether you’re going for a night, a weekend, or a week (luck you!), we have recommendations everyone will love.
Where to Eat
Martin’s BBQ Joint
If you’re looking for traditional southern bbq, you have to check out
Martin’s BBQ Joint. With a huge smoker onsite and an incredible selection of bbq options, you will leave Martin’s feeling happy (and full). The mac and cheese is some of the best you’ll ever have. The hush puppies are perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. If you’re going with a group of friends, try as many menu items as you can. Because between the brisket, ribs, and pulled pork, there wasn’t a bad bite to be found.
Los Toritos Mexican Restaurant
Madi is a big Mexican food fan. So when she calls something her
favourite Mexican restaurant, we listen.
Los Toritos serves up authentic Mexican dishes you’re not going to find at your local chain restaurant. Some of our favourites? The guacamole, queso, and street corn are incredible starters. The birria tacos, nachos supremos, and Pollo con Queso were all popular choices. 10/10 would go back again. While you’re there, treat yourself to a margarita. They’re amazing, refreshing, and come with the cutest surprise.
Raising Cane's Fried Chicken
When you think of southern food, what comes to mind? For us, Nashville is synonymous with fried chicken. And when you need crispy chicken done the right way, you stop at Raising Cane’s Fried Chicken. Nashville’s
Raising Cane’s on Broadway delivers exactly that. Golden, crunchy perfection paired with their signature sauce. They’re open late with extremely fast service. A stop at Raising Cane’s is a perfect way to end the night.
The Pancake Pantry
Whether you’re a breakfast person or not (we’ll only judge a little), The Pancake Pantry is a Nashville institution. Expect a line, but trust us, it’s worth every minute. This Nashville staple features a large menu of sweet and savoury breakfasts. So whether you’re looking for a light bite like avocado toast to start the day, or you want to experience the legendary southern pancakes, there’s something for everyone. We loved the pancake sampler, the Pantry wrap, the chicken fried steak and the vanilla cold brew.
Where to Shop
Nashville’s shopping scene is a perfect mix of southern charm and cool, modern vibes.
Fifth + Broadway
This area off the main strip is a one-stop spot for small boutique shops and local brands. Check out The NASH Collection for a souvenir sweater that’s anything but souvenir quality. The area also has a cute store called Little Words Project where you can make or purchase Taylor Swift style friendship bracelets. Addie was so excited to get a Life of a Showgirl inspired bracelet on album release day.
Our team loved
Molly Green
for trendy country-inspired fits. If we make it back to Nashville, some of us will for sure be stopping at
STUDS for a piercing experience that’s as stylish as it is fun. When you’ve got so much packed into a 3 day trip, it’s impossible to get to everything.
12 South
For a more local vibe, head to 12 South. It’s walkable, and packed with so many fun stores and photo op locations. A few of our team members spent some time at
Hart Jewelry to make beautiful charm bracelets and necklaces. Some of our Bravo girls, like Vic, were so excited to shop at
Sewing Down South and picked up some adorable sweaters and canvas bags. And while we didn’t stay for coffee because the line was
crazy
long (a local told us to order ahead by an hour), we dropped by the famous
La La Land Cafe to check out their adorable merch.
The Strip
How can you go to Nashville and not shop the strip? Broadway is full of stores. It’s the perfect place to find souvenirs like t-shirts and magnets to bring back home. And of course, a trip to
Broadway wouldn’t be complete without a stop at
Boot Barn. Even if you’re not in the market for a new pair of boots, you have to check out the incredible collection they offer.
What to Do
The Grand Ole Opry
No trip to Nashville is complete without music. And we hit some unforgettable highlights. We were lucky enough to visit the
Grand Ole Opry during its 100th anniversary weekend, complete with appearances from Country music legends including Terri Clark, The Gatlin Brothers, Riders in the Sky, Don Schlitz, and Ricky Skaggs. The highlight of the evening? A surprise appearance from Garth Brooks! It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that gave us all chills, even those of us who aren’t die-hard country fans. The Opry is worth the visit for the music, history, and culture. It’s what country music is all about.
Pedal Tavern
Sometimes team building looks like activities in a boardroom. Other times it looks like a
Pedal Tavern ride through Downtown Nashville. We laughed, sang, and did some sightseeing together. The Pedal Tavern is such a fun way to see the city.
Line Dancing
When in Nashville, you have to find somewhere to learn how to line dance. And lucky for us, we did!
Category 10 (among other places) offers multiple opportunities to learn to line dance during the week. It was packed, but a fun, pressure-free environment for all skill levels. A few of us left Nashville line dancing like pros.
Broadway
Nashville is known as Music City for a reason. And there’s no better place to experience that (other than the Opry), than on Broadway. There are countless celebrity bars to check out. It’s not just about the celebrity name attached to these places, but the spectacular variety of music offered along the strip. Everywhere we went had live music from talented local performers. A few of them had rooftop bars with beautiful views of the city. And when we wanted to dance, we found spots with DJs offering exciting club vibes. Some of our favourite spots? Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Morgan Wallen’s This Bar, and Jelly Roll’s Good Night Nashville.
Looking for some place to ride a mechanical bull in Nashville? Carolina was. She found it at
Wild Beaver Saloon. And she rocked it!
Would we go back?
In a heartbeat. Nashville truly has it all: incredible food, vibrant energy, and that unmistakable southern hospitality that makes you feel right at home. Whether you’re traveling for work, play, or a little bit of both, we promise you’ll leave already planning your next trip back.
