Grandma-Chic and Glorious, Graduate Is One of Nashville’s Most Visually Interesting Hotels

In a deluge of new hotels opening in Nashville, Graduate Nashville is one of the most stunning to date. This place seems to, truly, have everything — from singing pigs leading karaoke songs to natural wines, a taco truck, and even a Dolly Parton-themed hotel suite and pinball.

Chuck E. Cheese (and really OG Showbiz Pizza) fans all over rejoiced yesterday with the opening of Graduate Nashville’s animatronic karaoke bar, Cross-Eyed Critters. But there’s a lot more happening here, both as far as food and beverage and and as far as visually captivating details underneath this not-yet-open rooftop restaurant and bar. The hotel itself opened earlier this week, as did Poindexter, the lobby’s all-day cafe and bar (also from hospitality team Marc Rose and Med Abrous).

Design in the common spaces takes inspiration from both nearby Vanderbilt University and the diverse and inspiring music culture synonymous with the city of Nashville. Guests are welcomed into the opulent, open-plan lobby with terrazzo marble floors and high-gloss walls, complemented with vibrant mismatched furniture, eclectic Music City-inspired statement pieces and spirited university nods. The front desk is reimagined as a vintage stereo cabinet and is positioned before a hook-rug portrait (created by Margaret Timbrell) depicting legendary country comedian and Grand Ole Opry headliner Minnie Pearl. Amphitheatre-style seating with rows of bright, eclectic couches and a striking light fixture (composed of an evening gown) hint to Nashville’s artistic identity, while area rugs featuring black and gold stars reference marry Vanderbilt’s school colors and the Tennessee state flag.

Guest room décor continues to emphasize Nashville’s creative spirit and innate southern roots with bright floral bed canopies, pink and white striped walls and rich gold accents. Inspired by music greats who have called Tennessee home, rooms carry a residential energy with portraits of Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton adorning the walls. Intricate wool carpets and mini jeweled pendants under bed canopies carry the lavish energy felt throughout the lobby upstairs, encouraging guests to live like a country star. In homage to music legend Dolly Parton, the hotel’s presidential suite has been reimagined as the “9 to 5” suite. The elevated guestroom takes on the spirited energy of Parton, debuting a king-sized water bed complete with disco-ball surface ceilings, pink shag rugs and concert posters and vintage memorabilia throughout.

Scroll to see a bit more of the gorgeously detailed hotel, then stay tuned for more details, then a look at the upcoming rooftop restaurant and bar, Miss Bessie’s.