Music City on the mind? These are the best new points hotels in Nashville

Nashville is a city in motion. When I moved there in 2011 for college there were a handful of great hotels for visitors to call their temporary home. Now, more than 10 years later, it’s hard to keep track of all the incredible hotels that have opened up.

I moved away from Nashville in 2015. However, every single time I go back (which is usually three or four times a year), I’m blown away by how much the city has changed, how many new buildings are popping up and how many hotel options I have to book (since I’m way past the point of sleeping on my friend’s couches).

Better yet, the major hotel brands with loyalty programs have opened up some fabulous properties across town — though mostly downtown — where you can earn and redeem points for a stay in one of my favorite cities on earth.

Whether you want a place to bring the gals for a bachelorette party, a spot to live out your honky tonk fantasies or if you’re in town for a conference, a concert or to visit a student (did you know Nashville is called the Athens of the south for its many colleges?), here are a few new hotels in Nashville you can book with points.

Hotel Fraye, Curio Collection Hilton

MORIS MORENO

Many people like to hit up downtown or the Gulch area for a stay in Nashville due to the neighborhoods’ popping food and bar scenes. However, midtown is also a great place to stay near Vanderbilt University, Centennial Park (and its exact replica of the Parthenon in Greece), Music Row and off-the-main-strip bars and restaurants.

At Hotel Fraye, one of Nashville’s newest hotels and part of Hilton’s independent Curio Collection, guests can get a real taste of the city’s eclectic style.

There you’ll find zebra print rugs and chairs, more antlers than you can count, a seventh-floor rooftop pool and true Southern hospitality. Guests can imbibe local whisky at Eddie Ate Dynamite, the rooftop bar (that also serves the pool) or munch on hot chicken on a piece of white bread at Gathre.

Rooms come with floor-to-ceiling windows, 55-inch TVs that stream Netflix (praise!), leather headboards and more textures and patterns than you’d think possible for one hotel room to hold — and pull off.

How to book: You can find cash rates as low as $224 a night. Hilton Honors members can expect to spend 70,000 points per night for an award booking. With the Hilton Honors American Express Card you could snag a free night at this Nashville hotel by earning 100,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases on the Hilton Honors Card in the first three months of membership.

Related: Your ultimate guide to Hilton hotel brands

Conrad Nashville

HILTON

Another Hilton property that’s set back from the hustle and bustle of Broadway, this Conrad outpost is one of the many luxury hotels popping up across Nashville. Near enough to downtown that you could easily walk or scooter there, the Conrad Nashville is ideal for someone looking for a quieter spot that’s not light on luxury.

Rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, a subdued but warm design, large TVs, a French press and Byredo bath products. A large rooftop deck with plenty of chairs provides the perfect place to enjoy a beautiful Tennessee sunset. There’s also a pool where you can beat the heat in the hot Tennessee summers.

For food and drink, try modern Southern food at Blue Aster, a farm-to-table restaurant, or hit up Thistle & Rye for innovative cocktails and international bites.

How to book: You’ll find a good selection of cash nights for as low as $332 a night, with a few even below $200 a night. Hilton Honors members can book an award night for 80,000 points per night.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville Downtown

HILTON

There are a lot of reasons to love Embassy Suites, starting with the fact that it won our battle of free hotel breakfast, a perk that can save you a boatload of money traveling with your family.

However, this new downtown Nashville property has even more to offer travelers, including its prime location near the Music City Center and the Country Music Hall of Fame, epic city views from the 30th-floor pool and a free evening reception.

Depending on how you like to travel, there are plenty of different room types including ones with balconies, ones with kitchenettes and large rooms to accommodate the entire family, including interconnecting rooms.

How to book: Like most hotels in Nashville, rates at this property fluctuate wildly; they can be found at the staggeringly low price of $175 on select nights but are more often upwards of $200 a night. Hilton Honors members can book award nights between 59,000 and 70,000 points.

W Nashville

TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY

I can say firsthand that W Nashville is one of the best hotels in Nashville. How do I know? Well, I stayed there and reviewed it in early 2022 and had a truly great experience.

For starters, the rooms at this W have floor-to-ceiling windows, a really cool mural that depicts the life of Nashville musicians, a fully stocked mini-bar with local snacks and sips, and a large desk area perfect for remote work.

The expansive rooftop bar with a massive wrap-around outdoor space gives folks a place to unwind with views of the city while the downstairs lounge has cozy, intimate spaces for a drink. At the Nashville outpost of New York City’s Carne Mare, Italian-style steak is served, and at The Dutch, on the main level, brunch is the name of the game.

If you visit in the summer, hit up the pool deck for a good dose of sunshine in a lively atmosphere or simply turn it all off with a yoga class on the neighboring deck. The Gulch location of the W Nashville has you within walking distance of all the goings-on in Lower Broadway, Printer’s Alley and Music Row.

How to book: Find cash rates as low as $308 a night. Marriott Bonvoy members can book a reward night starting at 70,000 points per night. With the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card you can snag a free night at the W Nashville by earning 100,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville

HYATT

If you want a hotel right in the middle of all the action, look no further than the Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville. It’s set just two blocks off of Lower Broadway and near plenty of must-see attractions like the Country Music Hall of Fame.

At this pet-friendly property, guests visiting the Tennessee state capital will find chic rooms with classy-country accents, floor-to-ceiling windows, gold accents, Drybar hair dryers and one of my personal favorite in-room amenities, Chromecast, so you can stream your own content directly to the TV.

At Ella’s on 2nd, a new American-style restaurant, craft cocktails and seasonal ingredients are served up fresh from an open-air kitchen. Enjoy drinks and light snacks around the ninth-floor pool at Lala’s Rooftop Bar. If you need to work off all those calories, hit up the gym for a ride on a Peloton bike.

How to book: Cash rates at this new Hyatt property start in the mid-$200 range and go up. World of Hyatt members can book this Category 5 hotel from 17,000 to 23,000 points, depending on peak/off peak pricing.

If you apply for the World of Hyatt Credit Card you get a few free nights here by earning up to 60,000 points, starting with 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening. You can also get up to 30,000 more bonus points by earning two bonus points total per $1 spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn one bonus point, on up to $15,000 spent.

Grand Hyatt, Nashville

HYATT

The Grand Hyatt Nashville is another hotel I can personally recommend. This stunning hotel is on the upper portion of Broadway and set back enough from the chaos of Lower Broadway that you can sleep well without worrying about the crowds.

A massive hotel, this Grand Hyatt has chic, upscale rooms that are comfortable and well-appointed, with sleek furnishings, huge floor-to-ceiling windows and spacious bathrooms.

Like many downtown hotels, this one features a rooftop pool that’s a hit with guests in the summer months. I didn’t go for a swim but I did visit the rooftop bar, Lou/Na, for an Aperol spritz with great city views.

In fact, the Grand Hyatt Nashville is a dining destination in and of itself with a handful of restaurants and bars including The Nashville Grange, serving “Tennessee to table” dishes;  Sean Brock’s restaurant The Continental, which pays homage to classic hotel dining; The Vesper Club, a martini bar in The Continental; a coffee shop; a stunning lobby bar and Solstice, a guests-only bar and restaurant by the pool.

If that’s not enough, there’s also a spa and a club-level lounge.

How to book: Cash rates at this Grand Hyatt start in the mid-$200 range and work their way up. World of Hyatt members can book this Category 5 hotel from 17,000 to 23,000 points, depending on peak/off peak pricing.

The Joseph, Luxury Collection

THE JOSEPH

One of the swankiest hotels in Nashville, The Joseph, part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection, is a beast of a building right off Lower Broadway.

At this hotel, you’ll find a vast private art collection scattered throughout the building, a rooftop deck on the 21st floor and a spa offering an array of treatments to wash away a night of booze on Broadway.

In the rooms, don’t expect any kitschy Nashville-themed decor but rather elevated furnishings, art and embellishments that feel more like what you’d expect from a New York City hotel. Rooms range from a 335-square-foot Deluxe King to a 2,169-square-foot Presidential Suite with a grand piano, six-seat bar and soaking tub.

For food, taste the wonders of James Beard Award-winning chef Tony Mantuano at Yolan, an upscale Italian restaurant. Or join a Saturday afternoon Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese tasting with the culinary team in the lobby, a special experience exclusively for guests.

How to book: Cash rates for The Joseph can be found as starting around $373 a night. Marriott Bonvoy members can book an award night starting at 70,000 points per night.