Thompson Nashville

Nashville, in case you haven’t noticed, is having a moment. And hoteliers saw it coming, which explains why there’s suddenly a new crop of interesting places to stay in Music City. And when Thompson moves in to an emerging scene, it’s officially open season for boutique hoteliers.

It may stretch some people’s definition of “boutique” by virtue of its size — the Thompson Nashville has 12 floors and 224 rooms — but it gets away with it, thanks to a certain degree of artistry and attention to detail. Practically everything in the guest rooms and suites is custom-made, from wallpaper by Flat Vernacular to bath products by D.S. & Durga. The lobby is filled with artwork by local painters; the floor is inlaid with a massive compass mosaic with brass lettering that spells out the hotel’s geographic coordinates. Not to mention a rooftop bar, L.A. Jackson, serving craft beer and small plates built around local produce.

It’s also hard, if not impossible, to design a hotel in Nashville without referencing the city’s musical heritage. Luckily, the Thompson Nashville excels at understatement: this is the polar opposite of Hard Rock hell. Indeed, with its sleek urban aesthetic and alt-rock spirit — picture dark wood floors with boldly hued woven rugs, and bathrooms with white subway tile and old-fashioned claw-foot tubs — this is a hotel that hits the right notes. (Sorry, it had to be done.)

There’s a serious coffee bar, Killebrew Coffee, brewing beans roasted by the Alabama-based Revelator Coffee Company. Chef Nathan Duensing oversees the restaurant, Marsh House, which specializes in “gulf-to-gulch” Southern cooking. Thompson Nashville isn’t just stylish and laid-back, it’s also perfectly true to its setting, and location-wise, it’s also an ideal jumping-off point for exploring the record shops, designer boutiques and music venues that dot the streets in the immediate vicinity.