Neighbourhoods of Rhythms of the South

Atlanta, Nashville and New Orleans are known as the Rhythms of the South cities for obvious reason. And whilst each city has a lot in common, each city also has its own unique character and individual neighbourhoods with a different personality. Read on to find out more:

ATLANTA

Atlanta isn’t just another big city, it’s an urban landscape made up of nearly 45 intown neighborhoods.

Home to a walkable convention and entertainment district with hotels, a multitude of dining options and world-class attractions, Downtown is the perfect starting point for first-time visitors. Centennial Olympic Park is surrounded by Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, CNN global headquarters, Children’s Museum of Atlanta, The National Center for Civil and Human Rights and Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame, all within steps of each other. Downtown is a gateway to any visit and is an ideal place to begin exploring the city.

Knownas Atlanta’s “heart of the arts”, Midtown sits along the famed Peachtree Street. Midtown boasts the largest concentration of arts facilities and organisations in the Southeast. Work your way through Atlanta’s cultural history, beginning with the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum at the intersection of 10th and Peachtree, making a stop at the fabulous Fox Theatre and ending at The Woodruff Arts Center, home to High Museum of Art, Alliance Theatre and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. For a breath of fresh air, head to Piedmont Park – one of the largest greenspaces in the city.

North of Midtown is the ultra-chic neighbourhood of Buckhead . Known as the “Beverly Hills of the East,” Buckhead is a shopping haven for fashionistas across the South. Find the latest styles from high-end designers at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza.. There’s aso award-winning dining options throughout the neighbourhood, from several chef Ford Fry outposts – King +Duke and St. Cecelia – to high-end classics like Restaurant Eugene and Chops Lobster Bar.

On the Westside , a blending of Georgia Tech’s college campus culture with nearby loft communities creates a new district within old industrial spaces. The dining scene thrives at Westside Provisions District. Staple eateries including Little Star Provisions and JCT. Kitchen & Bar anchor the district as new, lively concepts like Little Trouble and Cooks & Soldiers make their mark. Nearby, The Optimist, Miller Union and Antico Pizza Napoletana create a collective of eateries catering to the city’s sophisticated palate. Head to Atlantic Station on 17th Street for well-known retail brands mixed with casual dining to make a shopping day just a little different. Throughout the year, Atlantic Station hosts several special events including BB&T Atlanta Open and Cirque Du Soleil.

Neighbourhoods on Atlanta’s Eastside are connected by the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail, a multi-use trail and greenspace that runs three miles from Piedmont Park to Reynoldstown. Along the Eastside Trail are two of the neighbourhood’s newest developments, Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market. Locals and visitors alike will find chef-driven concepts alongside curated retail options.

Bordering the BeltLine, the Eastside has more than seven distinct neighbourhoods. Locals stop for a pastry at Alon’s in Virginia-Highland, one of the city’s original streetcar suburbs. Inman Park combines small urban green spaces with winding boulevards lined with colourful Queen Anne and Victorian homes in the city’s first planned suburb. The scene edges into a Bohemian style in Litte Five Points , where vintage dress matches the creativity of tattoos. Spend an evening in East Atlanta Village , home to a few of the city’s most-talked-about live music venues, like The EARL.

What’s old is new again in Old Fourth Ward , where this neighbourhood continues to redefine itself, transforming into a hotspot for nightlife along Edgewood Avenue. Grant Park surrounds the city’s fourth-largest park and is home to Historic Oakland Cemetery and Zoo Atlanta. Once an epicentre of African-American commerce, Sweet Auburn Historic District continues to flourish on the city’s southeast side. Auburn Avenue, known in the 1950s as the nation’s most affluent African-American street, houses The Municipal Market, bakeries and clubs near the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and Ebenezer Baptist Church.

NASHVILLE

Nashville is defined by its neighbourhoods, each with its own distinct personality and character. Discover what to do and where to stay, eat, and shop.

Nestled between Vanderbilt University and Belmont University is Belmont / Hillsboro Village , a four-block stretch down 21st Avenue South packed with cafes, shops, restaurants, and Nashville’s oldest movie theatre, a former home of the Grand Ole Opry.

At first glance, Berry Hill looks like a purely residential neighbourhood until you realise funky independent shops, restaurants, recording studios, and music publishers occupy many of the homes. Technically its own city, Berry Hill is treated as a distinct neighbourhood of Nashville and is located just south of Downtown beyond 8th Avenue South.

Not far from downtown, antique stores line both sides of Eighth Avenue/Melrose . A collector’s haven, the area has become known as a premier antiques district.

Sandwiched between a vintage clothing store and a gourmet Mexican popsicle shop is a half-mile stretch along 12th Avenue South known as 12South . One of the most walkable neighbourhoods in Nashville, 12South is a shopping and dining destination chock full of restaurants, coffee houses, bakeries, bars, and boutiques featuring local designers and makers. Don’t miss the “I Believe in Nashville” mural located next door to Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James store.

Donelson , just 10 miles east of downtown Nashville, is often the first and last place seen by visitors that travel to Nashville by air.

Located across the Cumberland River from downtown Nashville, East Nashville is the stomping ground of Nashville’s creative class, attracted to the area’s culturally-diverse and eclectic vibe and historic homes dating back to the early 1900s. The area helped put Nashville on the map as a culinary destination. Visit the many dive bars, craft cocktail joints, coffee shops and vintage stores sprinkled throughout the neighbourhood.

Nashville's oldest neighbourhood, Germantown , is lined with beautiful Victorian buildings and homes and has great restaurants and shops

Considered one of the most desirable areas to live in Nashville, Green Hills is an affluent suburban enclave known for upscale brands and boutiques. Hidden within an inconspicuous strip mall is the famed Bluebird Cafe, home to both established and up-and-coming songwriters.

Just south of downtown lies The Gulch , a former abandoned industrial area that's undergone an urban revitalisation in recent years. This exceedingly walkable LEED-certified community is teeming with boutique hotels, high-rise condos, instagrammable murals, shops, live music venues, breweries and diverse culinary offerings spanning everything from biscuits and Nashville Hot Chicken to Detroit-style pizza, traditional ramen and Indian food.

Marathon Village , a unique neighbourhood of sorts that has become quite a Nashville hotspot, is made up of a group of 100-year-old warehouse buildings which was originally where the Marathon, a car made in the early 1900s, was built.

The bustling neighbourhood of Midtown / Vanderbilt , extends up Broadway and Division Street and houses a variety of hotels, restaurants, and bars that come alive at night.

Located between the edge of downtown and West End is the Music Row / Demonbreun / Edghehill neighbourhood, the centre of the recording industry and an area steeped in history. Home to the recording studios where music greats recorded their biggest hits, Music Row is populated by stately homes converted into recording studios, song writing rooms, record labels, management offices, public relations offices.

Opryland/Music Valley offers great entertainment, dining, and shopping options close to Gaylord Opryland and Opry Mills.

South of Broadway’s honky tonks and neon lights is an area called SoBro , filled with the new Music City Center convention centre, hot new restaurants, attractions, cocktail bars, and trendy hotels.

Southwest of downtown Nashville lies the quaint and quiet neighbourhood of Sylvan Park , a beautiful setting with homes, businesses, restaurants and nightlife that run the gamut from funky to upscale.

Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston (or 'WeHo') neighbourhood is located a few blocks south of downtown Nashville with borders defined by Houston Street to the north, Wedgewood Avenue to the south, Eighth Avenue South to the west, and Fourth Avenue South/Nolensville Pike to the east.

The West End / Elliston Place district, with Elliston Place Rock Block at its heart is home to some of the loudest nightclubs in town.

NEW ORLEANS

New Orleans has some of the most interesting architecture, food and entertainment in the world – dispersed through many diverse neighbourhoods. When you visit, explore as many areas as you can and learn what makes New Orleans so especially New Orleans.

Considered the heart of New Orleans, the French Quarter showcases beautiful European architecture, centuries-old restaurants and a vibrant nightlife scene. Explore antique shops on Royal Street or try beignets at Café du Monde.

With its grand mansions, pristine gardens and Southern charm, the Garden District stands out as on one of the country’s loveliest residential areas. Travel back in time down oak-lined St. Charles Avenue by streetcar or shop unique boutiques along Magazine Street. Grab a pint and some grub from New Orleans-style Irish pubs such as Parasol's and Tracey's before hopping on a streetcar to your next destination.

The nation’s oldest African American neighborhood, Treme, is full of culture, colourful Creole cottages, shotgun homes and historical landmarks such as Louis Armstrong Park.

A community with a thriving arts and culture scene, the Arts/Warehouse District is home to galleries and world-class museums. This area is famed for institutions like the National WWII Museum and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and events like the First Saturday Julia Street art walk. Watch the world go by as you dine at award-winning restaurants.

Head to the the Central Business District in the bustling downtown area to sample innovative restaurants, restored theatres, rooftop bars and trendy hotels. With close proximity to both the French Quarter and the Garden District, a hotel stay in the Central Business District is a win-win.

Known for its bohemian spirit, colourful murals and a booming live music scene along Frenchmen Street, the Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods should not be missed. Bring home a one-of-a-kind souvenir from an art market or listen to jazz under string lights at an outdoor wine bar.

Friendly and off-the-beaten-path, the charming neighborhood of Mid-City contains City Park and Bayou St. John. It’s chock-full of bars that especially come alive during the NFL/college football season, World Cup, and other peak sports-viewing hours. Take the Canal St. streetcar or bike the Lafitte Greenway – both conveniently pass a po-boy shop or two.