Drift Hotel Nashville

Condé Nast Traveler

5 days ago

Why book?
With a prime location right across the street from the football stadium and tucked between downtown and East Nashville, this midcentury-modern property features an open-air design, vibrant guests, and local art.
Set the scene
Drift Hotel Nashville sits comfortably between the interstate, East Nashville, downtown, and the football stadium. Its physical location is a good representation of the kind of people the hotel attracts. Thanks to its lively pool scene (and easy-to-access daily pool passes), its lineup of live music, and its Instagram-worthy decor, it's a hotel where locals are just as likely to hang out as travelers. The hotel's proximity to Nissan Stadium also makes it a destination for football fans and concert-goers. Its central, accessible location (and parking lot) attracts tourists who want to explore beyond Lower Broadway.
The backstory
Since 1965, a hotel has stood on this corner. Rumor has it that Elvis Presley once stayed here. But times changed, and so did the city. After its Elvis prime, the building was converted to The Stadium Inn in honor of the nearby football stadium, and was infamous as a transient hotel that also hosted wrestling matches. In 2024, it reopened after a complete gut renovation, which preserved its midcentury-modern bones but completely overhauled everything else. Now, as Drift Nashville, it's part of Marriott's Design Hotels collection.
The rooms
Concrete columns (one of the only original features inside the hotel rooms) are sturdy frames for guest rooms with sleek wood beds alongside tile and art from local artists. Inside the five room types—king, one-bedroom suites, two-bedroom suites, three-bedroom suites, and the penthouse—guests can expect minimalist, boho decor, and earth tones. Built for creatives, even the room numbers are fashioned from custom tapestries. Suites feature kitchenettes and separate lounge areas. It seems hard to believe, given the hotel's proximity to the interstate, but the windows have serious soundproofing: You won't need a white noise machine here to block out any sounds of traffic whizzing by.
Food and drink
Alexis Soler is one of Nashville's most innovative and intuitive hospitality pros. She created The Sun Room, an indoor and outdoor space that offers crafted cocktails, tinned fish, and other eats, and Poolside at Drift. Admire the terrazzo-flecked bar while sipping a cocktail made with fresh fruits. Dawn Café is where you'll grab coffee and seasonal drinks, such as a blueberry lavender latte. Even if you have other dinner plans, don't skip the opportunity to have a street food–style taco by the pool.
The neighborhood/area
While the Drift is convenient to many things, its location is more in a liminal space than a neighborhood. There aren't any coffee shops or boutiques on the block or across the street. The proximity to the stadium, downtown East Nashville, and Germantown is its calling card.
The service
The Drift is a limited-service hotel. You'll check in digitally or with someone at Dawn Café. You'll be responsible for getting your luggage to your room and back (there are carts, but no bellmen), and you'll park your own car. The service that is available, in The Sun Room and Poolside in particular, is welcoming and friendly. Staff clearly love the Drift and its vibe.
Eco effort
The brand uses energy-efficient heating and lighting, and only changes linens and towels when guests request to have their rooms tidied by housekeeping.
Accessibility
The hotel meets ADA standards.
Anything left to mention?
The rooftop patios from the penthouses are a tailgater's dream. If you're headed with a group to Nashville for an event at Nissan Stadium, this is where you want to splurge.