NASHVILLE NICHE: Nestle into Noelle to navigate Music City

Article content

“It’s OK,” I’m told, “open it.”

Article content

I’m standing before a door marked STORAGE and being a stickler for rules, I hesitate.

Article content

But then my curiosity takes over and I turn the handle, entering a red-hued space with petals on the floor, cozy furniture, bling chandeliers and a disco ball. And great cocktails to boot.

This is Hidden Bar speakeasy, one of many gems found at Noelle hotel in downtown Nashville (noelle-nashville.com).

In a city known for its roaring honky-tonks and vibrant music scene, which can be found just steps away, today’s Noelle is a throwback to the building’s origins as The Noel Hotel, opened in 1930.

The tallest building in the city at the time, Noel served guests — including Babe Ruth, Bob Hope and Eleanor Roosevelt — until the 1970s, after which it became a bank for some time before reopening in December 2017 as Noelle.

Article content

Article content

The 222-room boutique hotel found at the corner of Fourth Ave. and Church St. — with the famous Printer’s Alley at its back and Broadway two blocks away — recently marked its fifth anniversary by breaking ties with Marriott and becoming independent.

For Jim Merkel, CEO of hotel owner Rockbridge and founder of hotel operator Makeready, being “uncaged” gives Noelle the freedom “to better serve all of our local partners and do it the way we want to do it.”

And exposing the unique local Nashville scene to guests is what Noelle strives to do.

In the lobby’s Keep Shop boutique, the creations of top local fashion designers, artisans, leather workers, jewelers, etc. are showcased. And beyond just purchasing off shelf, Keep Concierge works with local makers to offer guests personalized shopping, for example, having the hat maker come in to do a custom fitting or a craftsperson to embroider leather bags.

Article content

The hotel’s concierge program will also curate an itinerary for guests depending on how they want to enjoy Nashville, offering special access, discounts and private experiences.

A hotel-wide exhibition features a different local artist on each guest floor and showcases Nashvillians of Note, those who made an impact both small and large in the community — and not just in music but civil rights, social advocacy and more.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Noelle’s art deco architecture has been preserved in the Trade Room lobby bar with its stunning original marble and brass. A great view of the bar can be found from the mezzanine-level Archives, which showcases treasures from the original hotel and the Noel family who was behind it.

Article content

Also, not to be missed in hotel are Rare Bird rooftop bar and lounge which overlooks downtown, Drug Store Coffee in the lobby and Makeready L&L restaurant where the Grand Ole Benedict was a delicious choice for brunch.

And because it’s Music City, guests can request a record player be brought to their room and choose vinyl to spin to get in the mood to explore all that Nashville has to offer. And you don’t’ need to go far to do that as you’re literally just steps to the Ryman Auditorium, Bridgestone Arena and Broadway’s honky-tonks (TIP: Robert’s Western World has the best fried bologna sandwich — order the Recession Special and get it plus a PBR beer, bag of chips and Moon Pie for $6!).

When you play hard in Nashville you need to recover to do it all over again. Hydration won’t be an issue as each floor in Noelle has a station dubbed The Nook offering complimentary still- and sparkling-filtered water that can be consumed using one of two water bottles supplied in each room.

Article content

And though the hotel has a 24-hour fitness centre with strength and cardio equipment and Peloton bikes, it also has a partnership with QNTM Fit Life, conveniently located right across the street and well worth the steps to visit. More than just a gym, QNTM (qntmfitlife.com) not only has tons of state-of-the-art equipment, it also has wellness offerings like a hydromassage chair (basically you’re in a hot tub but reclined in a chair), red-light therapy, Human Touch massage chairs, and more revitalization services. It’s seriously the nicest I’ve ever seen and as a guest of Noelle you have access to it all.

WINE AND DINE

On the recommendation of the Noelle concierge team, I had the most amazing dinner in “SoBro” (aka South Broadway) at fine-dining Italian restaurant Yolan (yolannashville.com), which has Michelin-starred Chef Tony Mantuano as food and beverage partner. The James Beard Award winner and his wife, wine expert Cathy Mantuano, brought fine Italian dining to Chicago’s famed Spiaggia restaurant and have established another must-visit spot with Yolan in Nashville.

On this night, I was taken on a journey through the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy with an impressive eight-course tasting menu with wine pairing. Each dish — such as diver scallop, pistachio and winter citrus or bucksnort trout, lambrusco and smoked roe — was a work of art with a story complimented by wines presented by an engaging sommelier. An experience not to be missed.

[email protected]