"What did you notice upon arrival?Vandyke Bed + Beverage, a bright, white building in East Nashville’s Five Points intersection, stands out as something new in a haphazard collection of houses, bars, coffee shops, and other small businesses. The hotel lobby/bar/patio features sliding-glass windows designed to bring people in from the neighborhood. There's old-fashioned hotel lobby signage behind the bar, as well as art created by East Nashville artists. What's the backstory?The owners of Germantown’s Geist restaurant are behind East Nashville’s first real hotel. Local artist Tinsley Dempsey curated the art, pulling in neighborhood artists to create pieces for the public spaces and guest rooms. Tell us all about the rooms. Any tips on what to book?Each of the eight rooms has a different beverage theme, including Champagne, whiskey, wine, and beer, each with décor and appropriate glassware. The furniture is comfortable throughout—even the bunk beds feel grown up—along with touches like velvet couches, marble bathrooms, plants, and art. Two suites have patios; the rest have access to shared patio space, and one room opens directly onto the courtyard of the public bar. Is there a charge for Wi-Fi?Wi-Fi is free and fast. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at?There's an innovative food and drink program for all-day dining from Chef Jason Zygmont. His dinners use the same menu that locals flocked to during his inventive Setsun East pop-ups. The drinks remain a major draw, though. There’s a nice selection of beers as well as a tight menu of excellent cocktails. How was the service?Pre-check in, you're sent a link to an app, which you'll use to unlock your door. If you need additional help, you can find someone down in the bar; if you don't need help, it's possible to avoid hotel staff the entire time. What type of travelers will you find here?The hotel isn’t exclusively for bachelorette parties, but it's a liquor-themed, Instagrammable hotel in fun neighborhood, and the clientele follows suit. Is there anything you'd change?The handicap accessibility: Only the two rooms on the ground floor are wheelchair accessible, which is disappointing for a new building. Any other hotel features worth noting?There's free parking and a partnership with a neighborhood gym, which is a nice touch for a small hotel that probably won't ever have a gym of its own. Bottom line: What are we expecting from a stay?This is basically a pretty bar with pretty hotel rooms. There's a cool vibe and a location in the heart of cool neighborhood—all for a decent price." - Margaret Littman
