The Ultimate Local's Guide to Nashville || Gatekeepers

On our new series Gatekeepers, host Justin Lizama is traveling across the country to meet up with these individuals and experience their city on a local’s level. First stop: Nashville, Tennessee, where local host/personality Paxton Elrod is on a mission to prove to Justin no matter how popular Nashville becomes as a tourist destination, it’s still a small town city with a southern charm. Here are the best places to eat, drink and visit on your trip to Nashville.

In every city there’s someone who’s connected, who knows where to go on a slow Monday night and can get a table anywhere they want on a Friday - in every city there’s a Gatekeeper. In this Thrillist travel show, we’re sending our host across the country to meet up with these Gatekeepers and experience first hand everything you should make sure to do/eat/drink, one city at a time.

Host
Justin Lizama

Associate Producer
Mia Faske

Camera Operator
Dustin Brandt Hyer

Editor
Chris Murphy

Animator
Megan Chong

Showrunner
Tyler Gildin

Director of Photography
Thom McKenna

Audio
Tyler Weisenauer

Assistant Editor
Leonard Klein

Production Assistants
Maureen Powers, Jess McMahon,
Chanel Baker

Developed By
Leo Fernandez

Line Producer
Emily Tufaro

Post Production Supervisor
Daniel Byrne

Supervising Producer
Stasia Tomlinson

Graphics Art Director
Ted McGrath

Creative Director
Tom O’Quinn

Executive Producer
Justin Lundstrom

Songs:
Witch King
by Mr. Kristopher

Deliver Me
by Mr. Kristopher

Deliverance
by Warden

Find more about Justin here:
IG: @tsgjustin

Check out our website for more food, drink, travel, and entertainment.

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#Thrillist #Gatekeepers #Nashville

[YizzERR]

A proper record store, like with vinyl riiight? Nah bro just CD'd and cassette tapes lol This man is a walking Portalndia character, no jokes.

[KentuckyFriedNerd]

I could swear the Groove has been open before 2008, cuz I remember finding an old David Bowie cd there and then finding out Mark Kozelek was gonna play an acoustic set there live in a few weeks and I was really bummed I wouldn't be able to come see it.

[aubimar]

The host has all the charisma of wet paint. Brings absolutely nothing to the table.

[tristanhoman]

Can't wait for the Philadelphia episode!

[lilpinche]

We have a Christmas bar in Austin that's been open for 40 years and no joke, it's one of the best bars in the entire city.

[johnconnor]

I call shenanigans ...I was a limo driver there 10 years ago and it was all bachelorette parties...

[jeffrielley]

First view of the city was from Love Circle. Smack dab in a residential neighborhood, so don't go there expecting to party. But you can bring a blanket and sit down for a relaxing view.

I worked a half block north of Broadway for a few years. The reason it seems different during the day is that you see a lot of people who are there to work, not party.

There's a lot of good hot chicken places in Nashville. Unless you've been to them all you can't say one is the best. Bolton's, Prince's and Big Shakes are very good. I've never conquered the lines at Hattie B's. New places seem to pop up all the time. If you've never had it, don't get the hot. Just don't.

The drunk bachelorettes on the pedal taverns are known as the Woo Girls. Be patient, they'll get out of the way.

The best place to take scenic pictures is from the John Siegnethaler Walking Bridge or on the banks of the Cumberland next to Nissan Stadium.

Santa's Pub is currently closed due to the pandemic because they're a bar and not a restaurant. The owner is not happy.

[kilasantana]

i will be in Nashville in about 2 months i will have to fine this place

[lespaniel]

Pose dude it makes no sense at all - or are you into Freddy Mercury - Some guys ....