LIVING THE DREAM

Written by Allison Supko

The best dreams are the ones that we can remember. The ones that cling to the back of our eyelids, exploding with color and searing with detail. The ones that, somehow, feel simultaneously familiar and rare. Dream Nashville, aptly named, is a taste of this reverie – the new gem of historic Printer’s Alley rising wistfully from the center of the city, just a shy turn off of the bright lights of Broadway. In an ever-evolving community such as Nashville, equally rich in culture, industry, and tourism, there is a unique opportunity to cater to guests of all genres. Dream Nashville was created with that idea in mind, taking guests from rise-and-shine to kiss goodnight with charm, decadence, and style.

Simply, the inspiration for Dream Nashville was the city of Nashville itself. With Music City as the muse, the Dream team conducted months of research to create a space to celebrate Nashville and deliver to the city’s exact tastes and desires. Michael Lindenbaum, Executive Vice President of Hotel Development and Operations at Dream Hotel Group, spoke to the desire to add to the diverse and growing landscape that fuels Nashville’s “craft” culture. And so was born a fleet of dining experiences that would not only offer a brilliant marriage of refinement and approachability but would welcome hotel guests and a legion of devoted Nashvillians alike.

So whether you are a local by-passer or road trip warrior, once you step over the intricate, mosaic-tile floor into the lobby of Dream Nashville, you are immediately met with a symphony of elegance and swagger. A space, styled masterfully by award-winning Meyer Davis studio, that is truly transcendent of an era; where it wouldn’t seem out of place to see Elvis Presley and Kacey Musgraves talking rhinestones while Jay Gatsby treated Willie Nelson to a cocktail. Lush greens and velvets are shocked awake by electric orange, while cool marble is warmed by fragrant leather. Trendy footwear treads vintage black and white floors. The vibrant space is buzzing, even on a Monday afternoon.

Yet, the inspired lobby is but an opening act to Stateside Kitchen, Dream Nashville’s flagship restaurant. A posh-in-a-pinch, “non-occasion” treasure, Stateside Kitchen produces consistent quality via elevated classics. Whether it be a turkey Reuben with grilled Swiss fit to, unironically, dream about, or steaks and chops to satiate a diehard southern carnivore, Executive Chef Michael Kopfman and his team are dishing up smart, flavor-focused fare with walk-up accessibility.

And, in true Nashville trend-setter fashion, Stateside Kitchen added its own niche flair to the brasserie-style menu: sushi. Not just sushi, but intricately-crafted, pressed sushi so artistically striking it is only rivaled by the remarkable glass atrium ceiling that sits atop the entire space like an art-deco crown. The light that beacons through the atrium is enough to illuminate the entire main floor of Dream Nashville, inviting you to explore all of the food and beverage offerings as a cohesive space.

That journey unfolds in chic vignettes. Flanking Stateside Kitchen is the Parlour Bar, an innovative cocktail experience that bests the concept of “lobby bar” and classifies as a true libation destination. Aesthetically, the Parlour Bar is a knockout – with plush jade banquettes, wood paneling, and dustings of marble, leather, and gold that beckon you beyond the velvet draperies to indulge in the extraordinarily creative menu. From spirits infused with espresso and chai (via Japanese drip towers) to sazerac and negroni barrel-aged in-house, the beverage program at Dream Nashville is methodical yet exploratory, hailing classics with curiosity while maintaining the integrity of the very building that once housed the likes of Dickel Distillery. And with that, the acclaimed Smoked Peach Old Fashioned is enough to turn casual sinners into repeat offenders and make the Parlour Bar’s distinction as one of the top ten cocktail bars in Nashville sweeter.

A quick mingle past the Parlour Bar is her sexy, swanky sister, the Back Bar. An option for more privacy, the Back Bar features cozy, cognac booths, an upscale event space, and a delicious introduction to the Frist Collection, a wildly elaborate art instillation embellishing the entirety of the hotel. Alas, expect an exclusive experience at whichever bar you choose; with their own proprietary blends of Woodford Reserve, hand-picked Patron Anejo, and customized London-style pub brew “Printer’s Abbey,” the beverage experience at Dream Nashville is both unparalleled and irreplicable.

It is no coincidence that the team at Dream decided to develop their Nashville location in the famous Printer’s Alley, the city’s historic “naughty and nice” nightclub district. Paying homage to the tongue-in-cheek frivolity that gives Printer’s Alley its flavor, Dream Nashville fashioned two mischievous contributions. The first, Dirty Little Secret, a radical, speakeasy-meets-sophisticated nightclub where “craft music” may come in the form of EDM anthems or Luke Bryan behind the DJ booth. The second, Snitch, a live music-focused piano joint, where any musician would want to sling a cocktail after a gig on Broadway. Whether the night ends at the gourmet sandwich stand, Easy 8, or trickles into the morning upstairs at California-classic Natura Café, Dream Nashville is everything you can want in one location.

From customizable brunches to stay-cation suites featuring outdoor grills and an on-call Barbecue Butler, to a GuestHouse with an en-suite poker table, Dream Nashville’s “can do” approach and event-planning freedom provides a “bespoke, personalized experience” for dreamers both local and on holiday. They have achieved the mission of becoming a place, not only to rest but also to entertain. The staff's knowledge of food and drink, and commitment to design, are only rivaled by the entire operation’s attention to detail and devotion to service. In the words of Michael Lindenbaum, “This is Nashville’s Dream, not an iteration of Dream in Nashville.” The best dreams are the ones we can remember – and Dream Nashville is one you will never forget.

Photos Courtesy of Dream Nashville