Welcome to Nashville Nights, a new column where Nashville native and culture writer Toby Rose gives her top picks of restaurants and shows for the month. For more options, check out our running list of the best new restaurants and bars in town!
🎸 Kurt Vile + Cheesesteaks
If I had to choose one concert in July, it’d be Kurt Vile, July 18 at the Ryman. His 10th album, “Philadelphia’s Been Good to Me,” is sun-faded and nostalgic. Vile’s laidback persona is turned on its head during his live shows, when he’s backed by his band The Violators, ripping complex guitar solos that reveal just how brilliant a technical musician he is.
To set the mood for the KV show, I’d hit up The Philly Special at Assembly Food Hall across from the Ryman, where you can grab the Original sandwich: Fresh ribeye and Cheez Whiz served on a classic Amoroso roll. Talk about a light summer meal!
🍸 Groceries, Etc. + Butcher & Bee
Dodge Nashville’s scorching temps by heading to Groceries Etc., a vinyl bar in East Nashville. Climbing the stairs up to the 100-year-old attic space feels like entering a sunless speakeasy. At 4:30 every afternoon, the DJ plays a classic album from beginning to end to accompany your thoughtfully crafted cocktail. Inviting the world to pause and listen to Dave Brubeck’s “Time Out” in its entirety is a holistic and charitable act. This would be the perfect place to wait out an afternoon storm.
When you’re done with the listening session, the tried and true Lockland Table is directly across the street, or you could walk a mile over to Butcher & Bee. Their back courtyard features lush greenery and string lights, lulling you into a vacation vibe. I enjoy one of their new menu items, matbucha, a Moroccan roasted tomato dip with fresh pita. Brightly flavored with an herby kick, it screams summer.
🏊🏼♀️ The Chloe + The Belcourt
In June, I went to a birthday dinner at the Chloe, a polished new boutique hotel in Hillsboro Village. We sampled most of the menu and loved the tomato and watermelon salad, pimento ham, twin stack burger, and butter pecan ice cream sandwich. Eat in their color-drenched dining room, or opt for a poolside table. Afterwards, end your night by walking over to the Belcourt. Their current series, Queer Classics and Beat the Heat, are especially enticing. Go in, escape the humidity, and have a long summer sit.
For August, inspired by the Empire State Building climbers (true romance), I am looking for the best rooftop in Nashville. Let me know if you have any recs!
