Tourists Can’t Get Enough of These Nashville Hotspots – Locals Are Actively Avoiding Them

I asked Nashville visitors and locals what tourists love that Nashville residents secretly avoid — and the answers were overwhelmingly clear.

Broadway Takes the Top Spot

Lower Broadway dominates this list by a landslide. While tourists flock to the honky tonks and neon lights, locals steer clear of the packed sidewalks and chaotic atmosphere. The traffic alone keeps most Nashville residents away, not to mention the nightmare of finding parking.

And speaking of parking — it's not just hard to find, it's expensive. Really expensive.

The Outfit

White cowboy boots and sparkly hats are practically a uniform for visitors. Locals notice that most Nashville residents don't actually dress like country stars. The cowboy aesthetic might be fun for a vacation photo, but it's a dead giveaway that you're not from around here.

Bachelorette parties in matching outfits — especially the all-pink looks with one girl in white — are another tourist trademark that locals find hard to miss.

Pedal Taverns and Party Buses

These rolling bars on wheels are wildly popular with tourists but locals tend to avoid them entirely. Party buses and pedal taverns clog up traffic and contribute to the downtown congestion that keeps residents away from Lower Broadway in the first place.

Hattie B's Hot Chicken

Hattie B's gets mentioned repeatedly as something tourists line up for while locals skip. There's no question it's popular with visitors, but Nashville residents have their own favorite spots for hot chicken.

Robert's Western World does get love from both groups though — particularly the beer, bologna sandwich, and moon pie special that's become legendary.

The Price Tag

$24 drinks. $17 drinks. The cost of everything downtown has skyrocketed. Locals remember when Broadway was affordable and catered to residents, not just tourists. Now the dining prices, parking costs, and drink prices keep many Nashville residents looking for entertainment elsewhere.

Even the arena concerts have become too expensive for many locals who used to enjoy them regularly.

What Changed?

Nashville transformed almost overnight from a place locals enjoyed to a tourist destination that feels designed exclusively for visitors. The city that once welcomed both groups now feels like it caters primarily to people flying in for bachelorette parties and weekend trips.

Some locals wish there could be a happy medium — where residents got parking breaks or other perks to encourage them to enjoy their own downtown. But for now, most Nashville residents are happy to let tourists have Broadway all to themselves.

Where Locals Actually Go

For music, many Nashville residents avoid Lower Broadway entirely because of the traffic and parking situation. They're finding their entertainment in neighborhoods beyond the tourist zone — places where the drinks don't cost $24 and the cowboy hats are genuine, not costume pieces bought for Instagram photos.