Accolades & Honors

Last updated on July 9, 2025

Nashville's culturally diverse and friendly environment makes it a favorite place for conventioneers and tourists alike and a great place to work, live, and raise a family. The following honors and rankings are just a few of Music City's shining accolades.

Nashville's Recent Rankings & Recognition

Travel + Leisure (July 2025):
Ranked among the 15 Best Cities in the U.S.
U.S. News & World Report (May 2025):
One of the 16 Best Places to Go for the Fourth of July
Conde Nast Traveler May 2025):
Named one of the 11 Best Places for Women to Travel Solo in the US
Afar (May 2025):
Featured as one of the 7 Great Places to Travel in the U.S. for July 4 Celebrations
Southern Living (March 2025):
Ranked #3 in The South's Best Cities 2024
Conde Nast Traveler (January 2025):
Ranked #22 in 27 Best Holiday Destinations in June
Tripadvisor's Traveler's Choice Awards (January 2025):
Nashville ranked in two categories on Best of the Best 2025
- #6 Top Destinations in the U.S.
- #7 Best Food Destinations in the U.S.
AAA Club Alliance (January 2025):
One of the 10 Destinations to Put on Your Travel Bucket List in 2025
Daily Mail (December 2024):
Named in the Top 25 Travel Destinations of 2025
Conde Nast Traveler (December 2024):
Featured in 28 Cities That Go All Out for Christmas in America
Traveling Lifestyle (December 2024):
Named one of the Best Places in the U.S. to Celebrate New Year's Eve 2024
Frommer's (December 2024):
Ranked in the Best Places to Go in 2025
World's Best Cities (December 2024):
Ranked #64 in the World's 100 Best Cities
U.S. News (November 2024):
Recognized as #41 of the Best Places to Retire in the U.S. in 2025
The Points Guy (November 2024):
Named one of the 6 Best Places to Spend New Year's Eve in the U.S.
USA Today (October 2024):
Represented four categories in 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards winners:
- #1 Best Airport Grab-And-Go Food: 400 Degrees Hot Chicken
- #1 Best Airport for Shopping: Nashville International Airport (BNA)
- #2 Best Large Airport: Nashville International Airport (BNA)
- #3 Best Airport Bar: Tootsies Orchid Lounge
Wallet Hub (September 2024):
Nominated as one of the Best Cities for Vegans & Vegetarians
Timeout (August 2024):
Named one of the Best Babymoon Destinations in the U.S. for a Pre-baby Vacation

Nashville Music Recent Rankings & Recognition

Refinery's 29 (April 2025)
CMA Fest is named in the 13 Must-See Festivals for Every Music Genre Lover
Southern Living (January 2025):
The Grand Ole Opry was listed in The 25 Best Places to Go in the South in 2025
TimeOut (January 2025):
The Grand Ole Opry was named in The 10 Best Things to Do in the U.S. in 2025 – Travel-Worthy Experiences
President of the United States (October 2024):
Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum received the National Medal of Arts
Academy of Country Music (June 2024):
Bridgestone Arena named Arena of the Year

Nashville Hotels Recent Rankings & Recognition

Travel + Leisure (July 2025):
Readers named their 5 Favorite Hotels in Nashville of 2025:
- #1 - The Joseph
- #2 - Thompson Nashville
- #3 - Grand Hyatt Nashville
- #4 -1 Hotel Nashville
- #5 - Omni Nashville Hotel
Cvent (May 2025):
Listed four Nashville hotels in the Top 250 Meeting Hotels in North America
- #1 Renaissance Nashville Hotel
- #2 JW Marriott Nashville
- #3 Grand Hyatt Nashville
- #4 Omni Nashville Hotel
Conde Nast Traveler (April 2025):
Named The Printing House in The Most Exciting Hotel Openings of Spring 2025
Southern Living (March 2025):
Included The Hermitage Hotel in The South's 10 Best Classic Hotels 2025
Tripadvisor (December 2024):
Named The Joseph, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Travelers' Choice Awards: Best of the Best
Business Wire (September 2024):
Included The Hermitage Hotel in the list of The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Afternoon Tea Experiences
Michelin Guide (September 2024):
Listed four Nashville hotels in All the Keys in the United States:
- 1 Hotel Nashville
- Hermitage Hotel
- SoHo House
- Southall Farm & Inn
Forbes (June 2024):
Highlighted ten Nashville hotels in the list of The 10 Best Hotels in Nashville 2024:
- Best High-End Hotel In Nashville: Four Seasons Nashville
- Best Boutique Hotel In Nashville: Noelle Hotel
- Best Hotel In Downtown Nashville: The Hermitage Hotel
- Best Hotel In The Gulch In Nashville: W Nashville
- Best Hotel In East Nashville: The Russell
- Most Stylish Hotel In Nashville: Fairlane Hotel
- Best Hotel With A Rooftop Bar In Nashville: The Joseph, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Nashville
- Best Hotel For Design Lovers In Nashville: Thompson Nashville
- Best Hotel For Families In Nashville: Gaylord Opryland Resort
- Best Pet-Friendly Hotel In Nashville: 1 Hotel Nashville
Tripadvisor (April 2024):
Two Nashville hotels landed on the Most Luxurious Hotels in the United States:
- #18 - 1 Hotel Nashville
- #25 - J.W. Marriott
Tripadvisor (April 2024):
Ranked The Joseph, a Luxury Collection Hotel #19 in 'Best of the Best Hotels' in the United States

Nashville Restaurant & Bar's Recent Rankings & Recognition

OpenTable (April 2025):
Named Noko in the Top 100 Brunch Restaurants in the US
Bon Appétit's (April 2025):
Named Babychan as one of the Best New Restaurants to Try This Spring
Food & Wine (April 2025):
Named three Nashville Restaurants in the Best U.S. Restaurants for Ambiance
- #1 Yolan
- #4 Skull's Rainbow Room
- #10 The Catbird Seat
Food & Wine (April 2025):
Four Walls at the Joseph Hotel is named in the 10 Top Hotel Bars in the United States
James Beard Awards (April 2025):
The James Beard Awards 2025: Restaurant and Chef finalists include:
- Best Chef Southeast: Jake Howell | Peninsula
Tripadvisor (December 2024):
Two Nashville restaurants were named in Travelers' Choice Awards: Best of the Best:
- #3 - Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina
- #18 - Etch
Yelp (December 2024):
Two Nashville restaurants ranked among the Best New Restaurants of 2024:
- #2 - Noko
- #12 - Gannons Nashville
Esquire (December 2024):
St. Vito Focacceria was named in America's Best New Restaurants 2024
Esquire (October 2024):
Audrey landed on The 7 Best Tavern-Style Burgers in America
Rolling Stone (September 2024):
Eight bars were named the Best Bars in Nashville:
- Coral Club
- Patterson House
- Roze Pony
- Santa's Pub
- St. Vito
- The Fox Bar
- The Late Grate
- Tiger Bar
Southern Living (September 2024):
Bringle's Smoking Oasis was named among The South's Best Barbecue Joints in Every State 2024
Southern Living (September 2024):
Sperry's listed in The 30 Most Legendary Steakhouses in the South
Food and Wine Magazine (September 2024):
Chefs Brian Lea and Leina Horii of Kisser were named in Best New Chefs 2024
Bon Appetit (September 2024):
Kisser ranked among the 20 Best New Restaurants of 2024
The New York Times (September 2024):
Bad Idea and Edessa landed on America's Best Restaurants 2024
Yelp (July 2024):
Two Nashville restaurants ranked among the Best New Restaurants in the South 2024:
- #1 - Noko
- #7 - A-Roi by Smiley Thai
Lovefood (July 2024):
Steam Boys named among the Best Chinese Spots in the Nation
USA Today (July 2024):
Named The Lipstick Lounge among the Best Bars in America in 2024
The New York Times (June 2024):
Included City House in The Best Pizza in the United States Right Now

Nashville Meetings Recent Rankings & Recognition

Cvent (May 2025):
Nashville is named #4 in the Best Meeting Destinations in the Country
Convention South (November 2024):
Seven Nashville Hotels and Businesses landed on the Readers' Choice Awards:
- Fairlane Hotel Nashville, by Oliver
- Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
- Grand Hyatt Nashville
- Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation
- Omni Nashville Hotel
- Renaissance Nashville Hotel
- Union Station Nashville Yards, Autograph Collection
Smart Meetings Magazine (November 2024):
Five Nashville Hotels and Businesses were named as a 2024 Platinum Choice Award Winner:
- Conrad Hotel
- Grand Hyatt Nashville
- JW Marriott
- Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation
- Southall Farm & Inn
Convention South (October 2024):
Nashville was named #5 in the Top MICE destinations
Knowland (May 2024):
Nashville was named #1 in the Large Market for Meetings Volume Growth
Cvent (May 2024):
Four Nashville hotels were ranked among the Top 250 Meeting Hotels in North America:
- #1 - Grand Hyatt Nashville
- #2 - Omni Nashville
- #4 - JW Marriott
- #5 - Renaissance Nashville

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