Omni-Presence in Music City

“Nashville” often comes to mind when the term “country music” is uttered. Even if you aren’t a fan of the genre, it can’t be denied country music and its artists collectively have had a profound influence on America’s overall cultural heritage as well as other artists in the pop, rock and soul genres. The Omni Hotel Nashville personifies that mindset along with the city’s current renaissance, including status as a LEED Silver Certified property.

Regardless of the musical tastes of your kids and parents, the lobby itself has a wow factor specific to Nashville’s legacy. Take a closer look at the ceiling’s lighting fixtures, curves of the floors and walls, natural woods, opalescent marble accents and even furniture arrangement and you realize you are inside a “guitar.”  It’s a nod to Gibson U.S.A., which has its electric guitar manufacturing facility in town and indelibly influenced Nashville’s music culture and musicians all over the world.

The Omni’s smack-dab city center location is a big asset, with shopping, dining, Lower Broadway’s music clubs and free-standing museums dedicated to Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and George Jones a short walk away. Other must-dos, including Music Row and The Gallery of Iconic Guitars at Belmont University, are readily accessible by car. However, this hotel does several better. For starters, the multifloor Country Music Hall of Fame is fully integrated into the hotel as is the Hatch Show Print. This shop not only houses a boutique selling replicas of American pop’s most iconic show posters, but also classes and workshops for adults and kids that allow them to compose their own visually cool masterpiece.

Tourists in a horse-drawn carriage pass the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Sean Pavone | Dreamstime.com

Upscale boutiques proliferated in Nashville’s up-and-coming neighborhoods, offering a mix of clothing, jewelry and home wares, putting the city on track to become one of America’s best shopping destinations. Following that lead, the hotel’s Five and TENN boutique replaces the thrown-together souvenir and sundry hotel boutique with a general store-inspired, 3,000-square-foot emporium stocked with a “greatest hits” selection of mostly locally crafted goods for the entire family. In-tune selections include Col. Littleton’s fine leather goods, Lucchese boots and home accents from Spirit of Nashville.

True to the blueprint of other Omni properties, food venues have a distinctively local flavor. They run the gamut from live entertainment venue Barlines (where parents can reward themselves on date night with a rollicking show), to proper sit-down dining at Bob’s Steak & Chop House, to grab-and-go goodies at Bongo Java Coffee Shop. The centerpiece, however, is the three-meal Southern restaurant, Kitchen Notes, which not only updates tried-and-true Southern fare (vegetarian breakfast biscuit sandwich, anyone?), but also stages its Biscuit Bar, serving a variety of biscuit creations throughout the day. Vintage interior enhances Kitchen Notes’ appeal, rendered with repurposed materials that include accents discovered from nearby antique stores and flea markets.

While the property extends its chain-wide signature Omni Kids Crew program, the Nashville staff infuses local warmth and hospitality into the popular amenity. At check-in, kids under 10 receive an age-appropriate, goodie-filled backpack, and later, will have milk and cookies delivered to the room on the first night. A coloring menu is also available at Kitchen Notes, with kid-friendly versions of grown-up favorites, crayons and an Omni Kids Crew cup.

Given the Omni Hotel Nashville’s entire package, it not only delivers quality lodging but also the rare opportunity to enjoy the city like a local.