North Stars:

Energy Efficiency

Water Management

Carbon Footprint

“1 Hotel’s earthy ambiance is a quiet contrast to the louder, bolder show business swag Nashville is known for.”

The Azure Road Take

Tendrils of English ivy tumbling down the 800-foot exterior of 1 Hotel Nashville evoke the image of Rapunzel letting down her flowing locks, but in this case, Mother Nature herself represents Rapunzel. Opened in 2022 in downtown, this Music City outpost from the 1 Hotel portfolio debuted as Nashville’s first sustainable luxury hotel.

Inside, the biophilic design includes a living green wall, reclaimed wood walls, and a front desk crafted from water-worn boulders. The lobby was inspired by the tobacco barns of the Cumberland River Valley, and the earthy ambiance is unique in Nashville, a quiet contrast to the louder, bolder show business swag the city is known for.

Artwork in hallways and public spaces is made from jute, linen, and leather, depicting larger-than-life sketches of local flora and organic abstract textures inspired by the Smoky Mountains and the Cumberland River.

Sustainability Chops

This modern hotel has LEED Silver certification and was developed on a brownfield site with reclaimed, recovered, and recycled materials throughout. Highly efficient HVAC, plumbing, and lighting systems minimize energy and water usage. Waste is diverted using on-site recycling and composting programs, and reclaimed materials, including wood, carpeting, and excavated boulders, were used in the hotel’s construction.

Ingredients at 1 Kitchen, the property’s signature eatery, are sourced as locally as possible, including rainbow trout that live their entire lives in cold, pure spring Tennessee water — free of hormones or antibiotics — at Bucksnort Trout Ranch and greens from Nashville’s first vertical hydroponic farm, Greener Roots Farm.

The hotel has three complimentary electric vehicle charging stations, including two Tesla chargers. Guests can also leave behind gently used clothing items to donate through the year-round 1 Less Thing program, which the hotel donates to local organizations in need.

Who It’s For

Climate-conscious travelers who are eager to explore Nashville’s bustling downtown shopping, restaurants, and nightlife, and who crave a peaceful home base when it’s time to call it a night.

Location

Just a couple of blocks from busy Broadway, the hotel’s central location is within walking distance of major attractions like the Country Music Hall of Fame, Gibson Garage, and Bridgestone Arena. Plus, you’re just 15 minutes from Nashville International Airport (BNA).

Rooms

Like all 1 Hotels, there are live plants, a filtered water station, refillable Path water bottles, and full-sized Bamford bath amenities in all 215 rooms and suites. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of natural light, and neutral tones create an earthy vibe with exposed wooden beams, open-grain wood floors, and unfinished concrete ceilings. Bedside mini chalkboards reduce paper use, and tumblers and carafes are made from recycled wine bottles. There’s even a little hourglass timer in the shower that you can turn on and try to keep your shower under five minutes.

My city studio suite made nice use of space, with a workbench-like island vanity for the sink and desk, along with a couch and table by the window, and a flat-screen LG smart TV facing the bed. Organic cotton linens are soft and breathable for a comfortable night’s sleep.

There’s a yoga mat in the closet, but not enough open floor space to do yoga in the room, so I headed to the gym for morning yoga instead.

Food and Drink

Neighbors Cafe, adjacent to the lobby, offers creative seasonal coffee drinks and pre-packaged snacks to go, along with a Carpigiani soft-serve ice cream machine. I enjoyed a reishi hot cocoa and honey sea salt cinnamon latte during my stay and appreciated that they have tons of alternative milk options, including pistachio, coconut, almond, and oat. Harriet’s is one of the more mellow rooftop bars in Nashville, with weekend performances by local musicians.

1 Kitchen is the main restaurant, open daily for brunch and dinner, with a dedication to sourcing ingredients as locally as possible, like Shakerag blue cheese from Sequatchie Cove in the baby kale salad. Juices are freshly pressed each morning, including Tennessee-grown citrus, which I didn’t realize existed. On a cold December day, I warmed up with the Nashville hot chicken broth, which is pretty seriously spicy with Calabrian chili, lemongrass, and garlic. The menu has a lot of delicious, health-conscious options, like a spirulina yogurt bowl with ginger-honey poached pears and cranberry granola, but you can also indulge in Southern classics like biscuits and gravy or fried chicken and waffles with smoked chili honey.

Staff & Service

The friendly young team includes a number of Nashville locals happy to provide recommendations. Several remembered me by name by the end of my stay, and the house car drivers know the city well enough that they don’t need map apps for navigation. Shoutout to Kady at Neighbors and Shreyas at 1 Kitchen for being especially thoughtful, and Jarius for being the best driver and making me laugh.

Amenities

The hotel has two fully electric Audi Q8 e-tron house cars available on a first-come, first-served basis to take guests within a two-mile radius. I used it two nights in a row to get to dinner, and both drivers were excellent. 

The fourth floor is dedicated to wellness, with a Bamford Wellness Spa and Technogym-equipped fitness center, but no pool. I caught a complimentary morning yoga class on the weekend, with an easy flow designed to open up hips and low back after travels. To further relax, I popped into the infrared sauna for a few minutes before a 50-minute assisted full-body stretching session on a warm PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field) mat that’s designed to improve sleep and circulation.