PHOTO: www.facebook.com/fontanelnashville

Fodor's Expert Review The Inn at Fontanel

Name: The Inn at Fontanel
Address: 4125 Whites Creek Pike, Nashville, Tennessee, 37189, United States
Telephone: 615-724-1600
Price range: $$

4125 Whites Creek Pike, Nashville, Tennessee 37189, United States See on Map

Mary Margaret Harris

Set on a 186-acre estate once owned by country singer Barbara Mandrell, the Inn at Fontanel was adapted from its original, expertly-designed model as the 2013 Southern Living Idea Home. The pet-friendly bed and breakfast features a wrap-around porch for savoring warm Tennessee evenings, a courtyard, garden, and pond with a fountain and waterfall. Nine miles from downtown Nashville, the inn has plenty of entertainment of its own. The adventurous can go ziplining or hiking, while others can tour the former Barbara Mandrell home, shop, or attend a tasting at the distillery. The property even has its own recording studio and venue for live events.

Check the calendar for events like murder mystery dinners or yoga.

room

The inn is composed of six suites, two of which are detached from the main house. Each room is unique; some have sitting areas or a separate living space while others have a kitchenette, library, or fireplace. The spacious rooms have private entrances and are styled with consummate Southern accents.

YOU SHOULD KNOW If bringing pets along, the Jack-and-Jill suites are the only pet-friendly rooms.

bathroom

Ample bathrooms feature plenty of natural light and walk-in showers, soaking bathtubs, or both.

lobby

The airy lobby is in a converted living room with a vaulted ceiling and plenty of seating for browsing a magazine or talking with friends and family. Guests can stop by the 24-hour front desk if needed, or visit the kitchen, which is always open, through sliding doors.

dining

Guests partake in a complimentary breakfast between 6 and 10 a.m., but other meals can be had at the estate's Italian restaurant, Café Fontanella.

drinking

The property is home to not only a bar and tasting room, Prichard's Distillery, but also a winery, Natchez Hills. The distillery is open seven days per week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with exception to Sunday, when the hours run from 12 to 5 p.m. Taste five wines for $6 any day of the week. The winery is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and remains open one hour later on weekends.

LOCATION

Getting Around

Guests will need car to see and explore the surrounding area as well as downtown Nashville, a 15-minute drive. Parking is provided on-site.

Restaurants

To eat out apart from the estate's restaurant, the best and most plentiful options are closer to downtown. Visit Monell's in Germantown (14-minute drive) for true Southern delicacies, or 5th & Taylor (15-minute drive) for its inventive take on Southern cuisine and spacious, stylish atmosphere. To try something new and different, take a seat at Americano (15-minute drive), a Spanish restaurant.

Bars

For creative cocktails and a thoughtful selection of beer and wine, stop in The Stillery (17-minute drive). For speakeasy-style bars, try Bar Sovereign (16-minute drive) or Old Glory (20-minute drive) if you can find them.

WHY WE LIKE IT

The Inn at Fontanel combines the best aspects of vacationing in Nashville. The removed location and luxury digs allows travelers to have a restful night without missing the downtown scene. Guests can easily reach any sights or experiences they wish to, but can return to the peaceful estate for relaxation and a pampered stay.