JW Marriott Nashville
"Why did this hotel catch your attention? An ovular glass skyscraper jutting 33 stories into air, the JW Marriott Nashville is hard to miss. This is the city’s only true luxury hotel—although more are in the works—and it's one of the city’s most recognizable buildings. You can't help but crane your neck upward, jaw open. Inside, the décor is sleek, and crisp, and it oozes fanciness. Set the scene When Nashville hosted the NFL Draft in April 2019, the top picks and their agents stayed here. Other hotels may be the choice of celebrity musicians, but the JW Marriott draws plenty of influential movers. Suits and sport jackets are not uncommon here—cowboy boots are. Tell us all about the rooms? Guest rooms are comfortable and high-end, with smooth sheets, rain showers, marble bathrooms, sensor lighting, and USB charging outlets at every turn. But thanks to the building’s ovular form, they tend to be awkwardly shaped and small. The floor-to-ceiling windows, which offer striking views of downtown, South Nashville, and Midtown, distract from the lack of square footage. Even small rooms have ample closet space. Is there a charge for Wi-Fi? Wi-Fi costs $10 a day, unless you're Marriott Bonvoy member. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at? As you'd expect from a 570-room hotel, there are a lot of dining options. Stompin’ Grounds, on the ground floor, is a better-than-standard hotel restaurant (with a homemade gelato station), plus a market with to-go items. Even if they're not staying at the hotel, people compete for reservations at Michael Mina’s rooftop Bourbon Steak and adjacent Bourbon Sky bar for some of the city’s best views, service, steaks, and seafood. How was the service? Service is the signature here. Drop something? Someone will pick it up for you before you notice it’s gone. There’s turn-down service and a concierge who will make anything happen. What type of travelers will you find here? When Nashville hosted the NFL Draft in April 2019, the top picks and their agents stayed here. The nearby Thompson may be celebrity musician hotel, but the JW Marriott draws plenty of influential movers. Suits and sport jackets are not uncommon here—cowboy boots are. What about the neighborhood? What else is around here? A location on the edge of downtown, right by the Music City Centre, is convenient to almost anything you need, including the convention center, the Ryman, Bridgestone, the Frist Art Museum, and restaurants and bars. Is there anything you'd change? Many of the guest rooms are small, and the lobby doesn't feel particularly warm. Any other hotel features worth noting? The fourth-floor spa is adjacent to an and renovated expanded pool area, which offers its own bar and private cabanas. Unlike some of the other hotel pools in town, this one is for guests only, and the experience is white glove. Every 90 minutes a staffer comes by with a different amenity, such as a smoothie, a snack, or to clean sunscreen off your sunglasses. Sunscreen is helpfully stocked all over the pool area. Bottom line: Why are we staying here? For the most luxurious hotel experience in town." - Margaret Littman
