Welcome to Out of Office, Who What Wear UK’s chic travel guide that provides you with the most stylish take on any destination by tapping creatives who know where to stay, what to eat and, importantly, which items to pack. This month, Who What Wear’s Insights Manager, Sophie Cookson, shares all her favourite places from a trip of a lifetime to Southern America, documenting where to eat, stay and much more. Keep scrolling to read her Out of Office guide to Nashville, New Orleans and Austin.
For three weeks this summer, I went on my dream holiday with my boyfriend to Southern America. We planned to drive between three states, experiencing the southern culture and hospitality. For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with Nashville for its country music (Thank you Dolly Parton, Shania Twain and Taylor Swift!) so it seemed like a natural place to start. Music and food were the focal points of the trip, searching high and low for authentic spots to eat and enjoy the music. This is what led us to New Orleans and Austin. Each spot was so unique in its own way and we found the best little gems in each state. I have listed out the best places to stay, where to eat, what to wear and what to do so that you can enjoy them as much as I did!
Nashville was the first stop on my southern American trip, and boy did it not disappoint. It had all the characteristics you’d expect from Tennessee; white cowboy hats and the most incredible cowboy boots (more on that later), country music can be heard from every bar and friendly locals. There’s a couple of areas within Nashville to visit, Broadway is a must. Here you will find Honkytonks with live music, cheap drinks and dancing. Nestled in between are boot shops where the cowboy boots were extraordinary, but expensive. I would recommend bringing your own cowboy boots with you if you already have them, but if not their options are incredible.
I stayed in two hotels during my time in Nashville, which helped me explore the city more. Even though they are relatively close to each other, it provided a different experience to the Music City. The Bobby is also a destination in its own right; the Rooftop Lounge has a pool with amazing views overlooking Downtown, and in the summer they host intimate live music events as part of their Backyard Sessions Series which shouldn’t be missed!
Nashville is known for its cuisines; we were on a mission to find the best hot chicken spots and barbecue joints. Here is a list of the top places overall that you shouldn’t visit on your trip,
I was so glad that I packed two pairs of cowboy boots for this part of my trip. I wore them almost exclusively every day and night, just switching out my clothes depending on where I was headed. I wanted to emulate the country girl style with a modern twist, without buying that much before the trip. You want to be comfortable as it’s so hot during the so wear your favourite bits. During the day, I was living in jorts, tank tops, or t-shirts and my trusty uniqlo bag. For the evenings, my inspiration was coastal cowgirl (think floaty white dresses or skirts). Do not bring heels to Nashville, they will stay in Nashville for the duration of your trip.
Our next destination was New Orleans which had a completely different vibe compared to Nashville. It felt like it had a slower, deliberate pace which was a contrast to Downtown Nashville. This could have been because it was the middle of July, boasting a heat of 40 degrees so all the locals are inside and the tourists know better to visit. For us, it meant we spent our time slowly exploring the city, eating the delicacies and residing by the pool to cool off. In my opinion, unless it’s Mardi Gras I would avoid the French Quarter. It wasn’t what I was expecting, for cool bars, jazz venues and great restaurants I would stay in the Lower Garden District.
Based in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans, on the vibey Magazine Street, Hotel Saint Vincent is an interiors lover’s dream. The property has 20th century Italian design elements combined with opulent mid-century finishes such as 70’s Murano glass chandeliers and custom designed furniture. We stayed in the Mary Suite, which had the most beautiful wallpaper in the rooms, as well as a stand alone deep bath, however all the rooms are unique in their design. The pool was very calm and perfect after exploring the city. It also has two restaurants; San Lorenzo which features a coastal italian menu and Elizabeth Street cafe which is more casual including a vietnamese-style cafe menu and a french bakery. In the evening they have Chapel Club, a guest-only bar where they also host events like comedy nights and live singers.
New Orleans’ food culture is heavily influenced by Creole, Cajun and soul food, so we spent much of our time exploring different places trying all of the cuisines. Be on the lookout for Po-boys, Gumbo, Grits, all types of oysters and beignets. These were my favourite places that I went to:
New Orleans is another place where I would ditch the heels, unless you are going out to a nice restaurant in the evening. During the day, I was in sandals, shorts and a top for walking round the city and exploring the sites. In the evening I opted for linen dresses, trousers or shorts with a smarter top. The bars and restaurants I visited were more casual except for when I went to Galatoire’s so I dressed up with an elevated dress.
Last, but definitely not least, on the tour was Austin. It was my favourite city that we visited, as it was really relaxed and had an LA vibe. I was back in my element with locals in cowboy boots and all the food you could muster. Austin is a huge city, and we were situated around SoCo (South Congress) and by Barton Springs. We walked around most places, but the city is loaded with rental bikes or ubers if you don’t have a car.
In our final week in America, we split our stay in Austin between 3 different hotels which provided us with unique experiences each time. They were based around South Congress and the Zilker Neighbourhood of South Austin, where the main street had a vibrant mix of shops, restaurants and cool bars.
There were three main food groups that I ended up eating whilst in Austin. Austin is known for its tacos and quesos, you can almost get them on every street corner, each with their own spin on the fillings. I also had more BBQ and spicy chicken in Austin which was also amazing. By the end of the trip, I was desperate for some vegetables and
Austin style is very relaxed to match the hot climate. I spent the majority of my time during the day in a swimming costume, either relaxing by the hotel’s pools or in Barton Springs Creek. Otherwise I had on denim shorts, logo tee or a simple floaty dress. Protect your face from the strong sun with a cap or sunhat. For the evening, I would still be in shorts, however paired with a subtle evening top, fisherman sandals and a shoulder bag. There wasn’t a need for heels in Austin, but you might want to bring some if you were going to a smart restaurant.
My Final Thoughts, Highlights and Top Tips:
This trip felt like a once in a lifetime experience; every person we met was super friendly and helpful if we needed help. It was amazing to experience a different side to America that I hadn’t seen before. If you want to follow in my footsteps, the drives are long in each state but the views are breathtaking along the Mississippi river. These cities will remain a special place in my heart, and the memories will last a lifetime. I had one suitcase that lasted me three weeks, and I felt like the clothes I bought suited each place perfectly. I would dress for comfort, you won’t be needing heels unless they are on cowboy boots!
