Holston House Nashville Review
With a few days to myself around New Year’s Day 2023, I decided to book a last-minute trip to Music City, USA. Gotta use all those flight credits and points I’ve accrued over the last year! After considering several hotel options, I settled on the Holston House Nashville, a Hyatt Unbound Collection property, for my first night. It proved to be an excellent choice.
Overview & Pricing
The award Category 5 Holston House was asking $334 after taxes for the night of January 1, 2023. Normally, this would require 20,000 World of Hyatt points. But it was an off-peak date, which meant I only needed to shell out 17,000 points for the stay. This gave me nearly 2.0 cents per Hyatt point for an award redemption, which I consider good.
The nightly rate dropped precipitously for the following night, which was, oddly, a standard award night. Generally expect to pay $250-$500 per night at the Holston House Nashville. The much lower rate influenced my choice to move to the Grand Hyatt Nashville for my second night in town.
Unfortunately, there are no Category 1-4 hotels in downtown Nashville for which you can use your credit card award certificates.
Holston House Nashville Location
The Holston House Nashville is half a block off Broadway, just a couple blocks away from where the honky tonks begin. You’re also in very close proximity to Ryman Auditorium, Bridgestone Arena, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Downtown is easily walkable. The Gulch is a bit further, but still close.
Taxi or Uber is the quickest way to downtown from Nashville International Airport. The Line 18 Express Bus also stops just one block away.
Lobby & Check-In Experience
I arrived to a festive Holston House lobby and a warm welcome from the doorman. It was early. The Uber ride into downtown the next morning was quick, with few people on the road that New Year’s Day. A late arrival into Nashville Airport made an airport hotel the best choice for my first night.
The hotel has a unique aesthetic. The exterior art deco touches are matched by its interior, with neither being overly flashy. Rugs hide the loud checkerboard tile, and the lighting has a more industrial look. But it works. The lobby and restaurant both have a great appeal. Not to mention how cozy the space is. The secluded corners and hot chocolate invited me to sit and stay a while.
I’ve managed to check in extremely early to multiple Hyatt properties, but struck out at the Holston House. I’d feared this would be the case, arriving at a boutique hotel on New Year’s Day. The front desk took my number and assured they’d text me when the room was ready. I dropped my bags and headed out in search of a cup of coffee before walking to church, which filled the remainder of my morning.
As promised, the Holston House Nashville alerted me a few hours later, as I was stuffing my face at 417 Union. Time to wipe the prime rib hash off my face and return to check in.
King Bed Deluxe Room
I’d been modestly upgraded to a Holston House Nashville deluxe room. These are slightly bigger than the standard rooms, and the nicest room type short of a suite. I liked its style as well.
The desk setup is unique. The sofa bench at the end of the bed doubles as the desk area. It actually works rather well, and was more comfortable than I expected it would be at first glance. There is even an outlet included in the bed frame, adjacent to the sofa bench.
The use of an armoire rather than a closet by some modern hotels has grown on me. I actually hung up some of my shirts and my jackets, which is rare for a one-night stay.
It took me a while to get to sleep, but I blame that on the time change and not the bed. Speaking of time, I couldn’t figure out how to turn off clock light. It was way too bright. I ended up unplugging the whole thing.
The bathroom setup is unique. It has a large sink and shower on one side, with the toilet and a separate sink across the entry. The large, overhead shower was fantastic. What I’m not sold on still is the use of barn doors for bathrooms.
I didn’t mind the view, either. Not that there is that impressive a skyline in Nashville. There are some great buildings, though, along Broadway, including a couple churches, the Customs House (can see its tower in the photo below), the historic high school, and Union Station, now converted into a hotel.
Hotel Amenities
The Holston House Nashville features a fitness center, a small meeting space, and a rooftop terrace with both a pool and bar.
Sadly, the bar wasn’t open during my stay. The terrace has some great views. I’d imagine it’s super popular during the summer. I ventured up to take a look at sunset and again in the morning, and it was deserted both times.
For a boutique hotel, the Holston House offers a great fitness center. There are multiple treadmills and bikes, plus a couple machines and a set of free weights. I’ve been much better the past several months about keeping an exercise regimen while traveling. I really appreciate well-equipped hotel gyms.
Food & Drink
Tenn is the Holston House’s small, intimate restaurant. It opens daily for breakfast/brunch from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM and offers dinner Thursday through Sunday from 5:00-9:00 PM. It was being un-decorated after Christmas the day I was there. You’ll find the restaurant downstairs and the bar upstairs.
I poked my head into the upstairs bar in the afternoon before I left, just to take a peek. It’s small, but has a killer aesthetic. I regretted not visiting the evening before. The Tenn bar is open every day, even when dinner isn’t offered. You’ll find the rooftop bar, Tenn on Top, next to the pool.
The Holston House provides up to $30 per person for as the Globalist breakfast benefit. This is enough to order most things on the menu, plus a coffee. I went with the Nash Omelette plus a side of bacon and a coffee, which came to $29.08 after tax. The food is excellent.
Holston House Nashville Review: Final Thoughts
The Holston House Nashville would be high on my list to revisit if again in Nashville. The hotel has a great style, comfortable rooms, and an excellent breakfast. I enjoy boutique hotels among the more “independent collection” brands offered by the major chains, and some of my most memorable stays have been within Hyatt’s Unbound Collection, Hilton’s Curio Collection, and Marriott’s Design Hotels.
All things considered, my visit to Music City was way too short. I’ll surely be back.
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After both this and the grand Hyatt in Nashville, what would you choose for a couple stay for 3 nights?
Excellent question. They are both the same award price (GH tends to be higher paying with cash), so it is up to other factors.
I’d lean toward Holston House, but it depends on what you value. It has a better style and will be quieter. I like the feel of boutique hotels.
If you both like the full-service aspect of hotels, especially multiple restaurants, then the GH. I didn’t get to have dinner at The Continental, which might be the perfect fancy couple’s night. Breakfast is a bit better at Holston House, in my opinion, since you only get a club lounge breakfast at the GH.
Nashville is on my list. Thanks for the report.
Thanks for reading, Dave!