Virgin Hotels Nashville Just Opened — and It Has a Stunning Rooftop Pool

A piece of Sir Richard Branson now calls Music City home with the opening of Virgin Hotels Nashville.

The hotel — located off Nashville’s historic music row, the heart of the city’s recording industry — is the first new hotel to open in the city since COVID-19 lockdown restrictions began to lift. The hotel brings 262 chambers (what Virgin Hotels calls rooms), plus new restaurants and bars, to the already vibrant hospitality scene of one of America’s favorite destinations.

“Anybody who has ever visited Nashville knows there’s something truly special about the city,” Virgin Hotels CEO Raul Leal exclusively told Travel + Leisure. “The locals are warm and welcoming, it has a captivating atmosphere that doesn’t feel at all stuffy, and you can inevitably find excitement around every corner. With Virgin Hotels Nashville we aimed to embody that same sensation you get when strolling around town.”

Rooms in the Nashville outpost of Virgin Hotels follow the brand’s signature style. They consist of two distinct and functional areas, “The Dressing Room” and “The Lounge,” which can be closed off with a sliding barn door. You might not have a Dolly Parton-worthy glam squad, but you’ll feel like you could with the Dressing Room’s massive shower, vanity, and makeup desk. In the lounge guests will find an adorable, red SMEG mini-fridge, likely to hold some Tennessee whiskey, and a patented, ergonomically designed bed fit for a true country star.

And as far as social distancing goes, chambers at the Virgin Hotels Nashville were prepared for the job before the term was ever on our minds.

“Something interesting about the Chambers (rooms) themselves is that the layout was inherently designed with consumer privacy in mind and to help social distance, even before the term was widely used,” Leal said. “Not many other hotels can make that claim. A dividing door separating the 'Dressing Room' from the 'Lounge' means guests never have to come in contact with teammates delivering room service or dropping off towels.”

Fans of the hotel brand will likely be familiar with Lucy, Virgin Hotels’ virtual assistant who can do anything from ordering you room service to adjusting the temperature of your room. In Nashville, Virgin Hotels is ushering a new and improved Lucy for a totally “touchless” experience.

At The Pool Club, helmed by executive chef Patrick McEntyre, guests can hang out at an indoor/outdoor bar on the 14th floor before going for a dive surrounded by music from a local DJ. Funny Library Coffee Shop pours brews from Hugh Jackman’s Laughing Man Coffee and easy breakfast items. And for a members only-like experience, Commons Club, Virgin Hotels’ flagship restaurant, will be the place to be seen for dinner or cocktails starting this fall.

Leal wants Nashville locals to know that this hotel and its restaurants and bars aren’t just for the tourists who flock to the cit. “The hotel was created not just as a home for out-of-towners, but as a destination where our Nashville neighbors will want to pop in for a happy hour, to order coffee and work, or catch their favorite DJ spinning at The Pool Club,” he said.

In fact, Tennessee residents are promised 35% off any stay. “We know how much the city has been through in the recent months, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome in the locals to relax, have fun, and reclaim their city,” Leal added.

Virgin Hotels Nashville is now open for guests and is following strict health and safety protocols.