The Gritti Palace, Venice, a Luxury Collection Hotel?

Welcome to Music City, home to the Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Honky Tonk Highway. Every day of the year, you can find live music in one of Nashville’s many bars or other venues. But the city is more than just its great musical history. Eat Nashville hot chicken and barbecue, shop for cowboy boots, check out the local art scene, and visit Centennial Park to see a full-size replica of the Parthenon. This year is the first time we’re sharing what Travel + Leisure readers say are the best hotels in Nashville, so you can start planning your trip to the Tennessee state capital.

T+L’s World’s Best Awards survey asks readers every year for their thoughts on the best hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, super mario bros and other travel experiences around the world. Hotels, including safari lodges, were rated based on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Based on where they were and what they had, properties were put into three categories: city hotel, resort, or safari lodge.

This year’s list includes historic places like the Hermitage Hotel (No. 2), where U.S. presidents and country music stars have stayed, and modern places like the Hutton Hotel (No. 5), which has a vinyl library and a live music venue called Analog. Nashville is known for its nightlife, and several readers liked the bars at Noelle (No. 3), especially the rooftop bar. One reader called it a “unique and culturally historic hotel with a story you can feel.” One reader liked the atmosphere and food at No. 4 Dream Nashville, which has six places to eat and have fun: “It’s hard to beat the atmosphere at Dream Nashville. Love the all-you-can-eat brunch on Saturdays.”

According to T+L readers, these are the best hotels in Nashville, starting with the Joseph, which was named the best hotel in the city this year. The Joseph has 297 guest rooms, including a large Presidential Suite with a Steinway piano and a marble bar with room for eight people. On the 21st floor, there is a luxury full-service spa. The James Beard Award-winning chef Tony Mantuano runs the Italian fine-dining restaurant Yolan. The tasting menus are based on the region of Puglia in Italy, and the rooftop bar Denim serves cocktails and small bites with a view of the city. The hotel is in SoBro, which is south of Broadway. Some of the city’s best sights, like the Bridgestone Arena and Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, are just a short walk away.