Mar 2, 2026

Part of planning for your upcoming five-day holiday in East Nashville is deciding on your accommodations and putting together an itinerary that makes the most of every day. If you’re staying with us at Noa Nashville, you’ve chosen one of the best and most unique boutique resorts, featuring open-plan layouts, a chef’s kitchen, and living and dining areas brimming with luxury.
While you’re here, you’re more than welcome to stay in, but those who wish to explore what East Nashville has to offer are in the prime location to uncover gem after gem. Remember that itinerary we mentioned? It’s already arranged and ready for you to browse. We want you to see and experience all the hidden gems in East Nashville, including some of the area’s finest dining, our amazing nature parks, the fantastic shopping, and some pretty great golf.
Noa Nashville is within walking distance of the famed Five Points neighborhood, and minutes from downtown’s Honky Tonk Highway as well as Music Row. It’s close to some of the city’s best recreational activities, and you won’t want to miss out on the cool, yet elusive, speakeasies dotting the area.
Here’s how a perfect week and East Nashville weekend itinerary unfolds.
Day 1: Arrive, Exhale, Settle In
Your luxury home awaits, and it’ll take your breath away. Over 1,800+ square feet of refined elegance is all yours for the next five days. Filled with natural light streaming through window after window, you’re settling into the polish of a high-end hotel, appointed with thoughtfully curated accoutrements and stylish decor. And as you take it in, you feel the pace of your hectic life melt away.
Noa Nashville is a brand-new build, completed in 2025, bringing a new category of distinguished accommodations to Nashville. Expansive living quarters give way to spacious bedrooms and bathrooms that convey the tranquility and opulence of a five-star spa.
5:00 PM – Chef’s Kitchen Stock-Up
Make the most of your chef’s kitchen so you’ll always have something on hand if you’re craving a snack or decide to dine in sometimes. A lovely ten-to-fifteen-minute stroll down Woodland Street brings you to the Turnip Truck Natural Market, which features an expansive grocery selection along with beer and wine, grab-and-go foods, a deli, a sushi section, juice bar, hot soups section, butcher, and bakery. Pick up your favorites, and don’t forget to include the famed house-made guacamole and Santo Nino Tortilla Chips. If you’re short on time, reach out to the Noa team for a full fridge-stock before you walk in the door.
Once back at Noa, we recommend you uncork a delicious bottle of wine from Woodland Wine Merchant and take in all the little details making up your stunning resort home in this fantastic part of the world. If you’re traveling with the kids, this is when they can explore, decide who gets dibs on which room, and then gather in front of the giant screen TV for a little decompression time.
There’s no need to rush for dinner. In our proposed itinerary, you’ll be dining at the James Beard-nominated Lockeland Table at 7:00 PM. You can walk there in just 15-20 minutes if the weather’s nice, or take a brief ride.
7:00 PM — Dinner at Lockeland Table ($$$)
A short trip brings you to one of East Nashville’s most respected dining destinations. Lockeland Table has built its reputation on refined comfort and seasonal ingredients served in a welcoming, unfussy setting.
Signature dishes are indulgent, thoughtful, and uncompromising. The smoked bone marrow with pickled red onion and parsley salad will leave you speechless. Follow that with steamed PEI mussels fragrant with lemongrass and fresh herbs, or lean into a heartier meal with the dry-aged NY strip steak, accompanied by green beans and house-made chimichurri. Linger over the LT chocolate chip skillet and an espresso, and catch up on conversation that has nothing to do with work.
9:00 PM — Fire Pit Wind-Down Time
Under the quiet glow of the neighborhood streetlights, you’ll make your way back to Noa Nashville, pour a couple of nightcaps or hot chocolates, and gather around the property’s fire pit in the courtyard. As the flames flicker into the night and the cooler air sets in, you’ll feel like you’re a million miles from anywhere.
Day 2: Poolside Mornings and the Breakfast of Champions
Begin the day in the pool while the air warms up and the courtyard is peaceful. Or head down to our on-site fitness center for a 30-minute jog to gear up for a full day of exploring. On the itinerary today, we begin with breakfast at Bongo Java East Cafe.
9:30 AM — Breakfast at Bongo East Cafe ($)
Just a five-minute walk from Noa, Bongo East Cafe is an undisputed local favorite in East Nashville. Part coffeehouse, part board game cafe, Bongo helped kick off the revitalization of the Five Points neighborhood back in 2000.
If you’re a lover of great coffee, you can’t leave without ordering the Cortado, a 4 oz. double espresso with steamed milk (guaranteed to set you up for hours of adventuring). We also highly recommend their signature Milky Way, which blends caramel, mocha, espresso, and milk served hot or cold. Along with an all-day breakfast selection, Bongo’s menu offers lunch, snacks, and dinner options featuring many old favorites and a creative new spin on the traditional turkey sandwich.
Make a note to pop by later one evening when the board games include coaches and some seriously fun competition. Choose from over 700 options, and may luck + skill equal your becoming a crowned champion.
11:30 AM - Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Natural Area
Hop in the car for a 10-minute drive toward the Cumberland River and prepare yourself for the glorious 960-acre gem known as Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Natural Area, adjacent to Shelby Park.
With nearly three miles of Cumberland River frontage, this is where locals go in East Nashville to step away from city life for a while. Bottomland hardwood forests stretch alongside open meadows, wetlands, and winding streams, creating a breathtaking landscape.
More than five miles of paved, ADA-accessible trails invite you to hike, bike, run, skate, or stroll while watching for deer, herons, and other wildlife. If you’re looking for something quieter and more immersive, there are several trails off the beaten path that offer a slower, more contemplative way to explore.
A terrific starting point to your adventure is the Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, set within 336 acres dedicated to environmental education and recreation. Here you’ll learn about the local landscape and the ecosystems thriving within it. Step back outside, and you’re reminded that we are all a part of nature, not separate from it.
4:30 PM — Return to Noa & Recharge
When you arrive back at Noa and enter your sumptuous home, you’ll congratulate yourself once again for bypassing the cookie-cutter hotel route and choosing something more tailored, central, and distinguished. Forget pricey late afternoon room service, you’ve got everything you need in your fridge. But don’t go nuts! Dinner’s in two hours.
6:30 PM — Dinner at Bartaco (2-3-minute walk from Noa, $$)
Another short walk from the property brings you to a lively, super fun dinner spot. Whitewashed interiors, woven basket lighting, and photography of exotic travel experiences, Bartaco knows how to blend a relaxed coastal feel in East Nashville with an authentic taco experience.
Order the pork belly and duck birria, along with some shared sides. Add a cocktail because why not, you’re on vacation!
8:30-9:00 PM — Evening’s Ease
Returning to Noa Nashville feels like coming home. The courtyard lights are shimmering, and a cedar hot tub under the stars awaits. Time to call it a day, wrap yourself up in your luxury bedroom, and have the best sleep of your life.
Day 3: Adventure, Art, and Dining for the Bon Vivant
By now, you’re probably getting used to the morning rhythm here in East Nashville. Unlike the music scene and vivacious nightlife, mornings start slow at Noa. Begin the day with your new favorite, a swim in the pool, and then relax at the resort over coffee and pastries. There’s no rule that says you need to slay every hour. And there’ll be plenty of time for that in the afternoon, with your ziplining adventure.
1:00 PM — Ziplining at Adventureworks Nashville ($$)
Ready to shake things up? Head about 30 minutes west to Adventureworks Nashville. Located near the Narrows of the Harpeth in Harpeth River State Park, this is the kind of experience that brings out everyone’s inner thrill seeker. Ten zip lines wind through the old-growth forest canopy, offering sweeping views and a zap of adrenaline. Great for couples and families!
Late Afternoon — Happy Hour at Urban Cowboy Bar ($$)
If you’re in town Monday through Thursday, transition from zipping to sipping at Urban Cowboy Bar between 3:00 and 6:00 PM for a Happy Hour that’s distinctly Nashville.
An expansive, multi-level 8,000-square-foot space, Urban Cowboy is where locals gather in full denim and pearl-snap haberdashery, along with variations on the cowboy/cowgirl hat. One side of the bar offers a shaded courtyard dotted with fire pits and paper lanterns; the other opens into an airy patio lined with picnic tables where you’re invited to soak up the atmosphere over your favorite drink.
Expect immersive design, an eclectic energy, and $2 off cocktails. For something classic, order a boiler maker (beer paired with a well shot) and settle into the perfect prelude to the evening ahead.
7 PM — Dinner at Bad Idea ($$$)
As evening sets in, it’s time to get ready for an exquisite dining experience in Five Points. This good idea called Bad Idea is a restaurant housed in a beautifully converted church sanctuary minutes from Noa. Its Executive Chef pairs Laotian-inspired cuisine with one of the area’s most impressive wine programs featuring approximately 125 curated selections.
Inside, a dramatic horseshoe bar anchors the space, surrounded by an expansive dining room and ample seating. The menu can be described as playful yet polished, featuring unexpected small plates, and entrees such as charcoal-grilled steak, quail stuffed with spinach, and Bucksnort trout “Super Stuffed.”
It’s an upscale but welcoming place; your ideal third-night dinner after what already feels like a lifetime of incredible experiences.
Day 4: Unwind Like a Local
You’re in the East Nashville groove now, and you don’t want the good times to end. We get it. Take today to relax with a game of golf or a restorative massage. But first, start with breakfast to mull it over.
9 AM — Mama Bread Bakery and Market ($$)
Start with a 15-minute stroll to Mama Bread at the edge of Five Points. Marked by its bright blue storefront, Mama Bread is a newly opened gem that has quickly become a neighborhood favorite. Known for its house-made bread, croissants, and delicious coffees, it was founded by longtime bread and grain authority Jennifer Latham, formerly of Tartine Bakery.
Here’s where you’ll find a selection of pastries, coffee, and espresso-based drinks alongside a thoughtfully curated market stocked with local produce, pantry staples, and artisanal goods. Maybe bring back some teas and jams for an afternoon’s informal high tea, Nashville style, when you return home.
Afternoon — Golf or Massages? ($-$$$)
If you’re a golf aficionado, book a tee time at Shelby Golf Course ($). Opened in 1924 and recently refreshed with a $2 million makeover, this 18-hole course winds through Shelby Park’s rolling hills and lush landscaping. The links are a little challenging in places, but isn’t that what golf is all about? Plan for 3.5 to 4.5 hours for a full round. You’ll only be five minutes away (driving) from your home base at Noa, so take your time honing your game.
Prefer to rest and recalibrate instead? Book a massage or a Reiki session at the nearby O.liv Body Bar ($$–$$$). Relax in the Mud Lounge, sample different essential oil and herbal powder aromas, and leave with your own custom blend. Known locally as a one-stop sanctuary for self-care, O.liv Body Bar offers therapies designed to calm the nervous system and reset the body. It’s where East Nashvillians go to unplug.
7:00 PM — Dinner at Butcher & Bee ($$$)
For your final evening, make it memorable. Butcher & Bee, another James Beard finalist, is known for world-class hospitality and seasonal, farm-forward cuisine. They’re one of the city’s largest buyers of local Tennessee produce, so you’re in for a treat.
Expect inventive dishes, thoughtful vegetarian options, and cocktails that hold their own. Outdoor seating is available when the weather allows, and the ambiance is lively without being flashy, a perfect note upon which to wind up your dining excursions in East Nashville.
9:00 PM — Music, the Nashville Way
Time for a show, the Nashville way.
For something both intimate and electric, head to The Basement East (“The Beast” as we call it), a beloved venue that has hosted nationally touring acts across every genre. The place leans a little grungy, not a polished orchestral hall, that’s for sure, but it’s also unmistakably East Nashville.
If The Basement isn’t calling your name, then secure tickets at the Ryman Auditorium, one of music’s most iconic stages. This historic concert hall was once home to the Grand Ole Opry and is now sacred ground for artists and fans alike. Prices vary depending on the performance, but the experience and the venue are unforgettable.
Late Night — Treat Yourself to a Nighttime Sauna at Noa
Once back at Noa Nashville, consider a nighttime sauna. Spending 15–20 minutes in a sauna heated to 150–175°F (ideally one to two hours before bedtime) gently raises your core body temperature. When you step out, and your body cools, that natural drop signals the brain to release melatonin, helping you fall asleep faster and sink into deeper, more restorative rest.
To maximize the benefits, stay well hydrated, begin with shorter sessions if you’re new to sauna use, and skip alcohol beforehand so your body can fully relax and recalibrate.
Day 5: One Last Wander
Before checkout, take a final stroll into Five Points for brunch at Cafe Roze ($$), a wonderfully welcoming local spot that strikes just the right note. Open all day, the menu is thoughtful and seasonal.
Start with a strawberry-beet shake or house-made coconut yogurt with citrus and Julia's granola. Prefer something savory? The egg bowl, layered with avocado, bulgur, kale, and preserved-lemon yogurt, is a symphony of color and flavor. For something on the sweeter side, try the Stout waffles with roasted apple and cider maple.
The Last Moments at Your Boutique Stay in East Nashville
We hope this East Nashville neighborhood guide proves useful as you contemplate your stay with us, whether you follow it down the line or try some of our recommendations.
Blending exclusive urban luxury with the inimitable Nashville vibe, Noa Nashville will stake its claim on your heart. With 16 resort-style homes, maybe next time you’ll book the Carriage House or the Wellness Escape package. There’s room for 10 guests afterall, making it the perfect getaway for a group of friends celebrating a milestone birthday, or something equally as special.
From poolside mornings to evenings around the fire pit and afternoons touring Five Points and other Nashville charmers, Noa Nashville is central to all of it, and a sumptuous retreat you’ll want to revisit again and again.
Search availability at Noa Nashville and begin planning your unforgettable stay today. And for more recommendations of non-tourist things to do in Nashville, reach out to us! We’d love to help you plan your stay.