The Bodda Getta

I would welcome suggestions as well. I am going up there Next weekend with my wife for the first time. I know the Country Music Hall of Fame is closed due to renovations right now :-(
Going to check out Jack's BBQ as I have heard good things about that place.

There is a ton to do in Nashville. For a nice restaurant check out Kayne Prime, in the gulch area. Other upscale Nashville local restaurants include Jimmy Kelley's, stockyard, watermark. I left off the list all the chain restaurants because that you can get anywhere. For a great dive burger check out Rotiers near Vandy. If you want a sports bar Jed's is second to none also near Vandy. Bars outside of downtown would be whiskey kitchen, boundry. Anywhere on lower broad and second ave are fun places. Check out trail or park inn, tootsies, bluegrass inn for some authentic country live music in smaller atmosphere...all on broadway. Also check out wild horse, buffalo billiards, and coyote ugly on second. The Ryman (original grand ole opry) is pretty neat to see along with belle Meade plantation and cheekwood botanical gardens for some tourist ideas. A little bit of a drive west of town is a must breakfast, loveless cafe. Another good breakfast spot is pancake pantry near Vandy. Hope this helps and I will think of more to add later.

That should read trailer park inn. Also thought of the beer cellar if you are a beer guy they have just about as many beers as I have ever seen in one place, downtown Nashville. If you like non-country live music check out exit inn. If you are big into country and don't want to go downtown go to the bluebird in green hills, ton of history and most of the big names played there at some point. If shopping is your interest green hills mall is upscale and opry mills is a huge indoor outlet mall.

Thanks for all of these suggestions so far. I will probably spend a good bit of time in the downtown area. The Beer Cellar definitely caught my attention.

Robert's Western World bar on Broadway (Legend's Corner) is a great place for live music and cold beer.

A great place to eat is near the Cool Springs Galleria. J Alexander's is the name . My wife and I have never been disappointed there. Happy Birthday! My 52nd is coming up in 3 weeks too.

Bout time you come and see us up here. Glad you're getting some suggestions and ideas as to where to go...the Beer Cellar sounds like a winner to me. Looking forward to the weekend...

Wildhorse Saloon - touristy bu that is the point. Great live bands and only place to learn how to two-step. Never a bad time for folks new to Nashville. huge dance floor with plenty of bars so never a wait for a drink.

The Stage - downtown will have the biggest crowd and a great band. Usually crowded but not too hard to get in.

Tootsies - the most famous honky tonk downtown. Really small and crowded, but if you can get in, a good place to have claimed to drink a beer.

Bluebird Cafe - this is out of the city in Greenhills, but this is a "singer-songwriter" bar and a great place to hear the writers of the Top 40 country songs sing their own songs. Very intimate and cool.

Printers Alley - is off of Church St and the is the "original" place for the honkey tonks. Looks shady but it is fun. Several bars down the alley.

Honky Tonk Central - 3 story bar, with open decks downtown; new and kind of trendy.

Tequila Cowboy - Dance club downtown if you are bored of country

All of the locals go to The Gulch and Midtown (on Division St) - Losers, Red Rooster, Rebar. Fun bars but you may as well be in Chicago or Atlanta. If you are coming to Nashville you may as well stay downtown and get the Nashville experience.

Most of the usual places have been named already. I'll add a few.

Tavern? Not sure if anyone mentioned. Trendy bar in Midtown. Not as crowded as he others.

Burger Up - burger place in 12th south. Uses only local meats and veggies. Really good.

Pour house - new place on 8th just south of downtown. I can't vouch for it. Only been there once and it was a weekday when they had first opened. But looks like it could become a new Nashville staple when the convention center finally opens in a couple months. Right now its sort of random but they planned the location well for the future because that area will probably blow up.

Tin Angel - not sure if anyone already named it but its one of my favorite restaurants. On West End.