Having opened in the summer of 2017, Kimpton Aertson Hotel sits between the institutional sprawl of Vanderbilt University and the historic bars and studios of Music Row. While its Midtown Nashville location remains in constant motion, this 180-room property offers an off-the-tourist-path vibe, attracting both locals and travellers in search of both disconnection and a truly authentic Nashville experience.
Anchoring Aertson Midtown, a mixed-use development from Buckingham Companies, and a destination in its own right with 350 stylish apartment residences and 35,000 square feet of prime retail space, Kimpton Aertson is the boutique hotel brand’s first in Nashville, and takes its design cues from the creative spirit of the city as well as the historical influence of the nearby Vanderbilt University campus; architectural designer Gensler blending a curated mix of textures, materials, and unique spaces that each convey the rustic and eclectic charm of Tennessee’s capital to perfection.
On the same thread, and worthy of note, is the fact that the Kimpton Aertson Hotel pays homage to the heritage of Vanderbilt University’s namesake, the railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt, and the home village of his ancestor, Jan Aertson of Bilt, Netherlands; a snippet of information we were gleefully told by an enthusiastic hotel employee whilst taking a sneak peek at the rooftop pool on the 8th floor.
Inside Gensler’s architectural framework, guests are met with interiors that favour weight and material honesty. Think industrial-chic design with concrete ceilings, steel beams, burnished wood, and a palette that speaks in an similar dialect; softened only where necessary. Art features heavily throughout, and has been curated by Cynthia-Reeves, a contemporary art gallery that represents an impressive roster of established artists. Complementing the hotel’s overarching design scheme, the works are drawn from a mix of established names and have been placed with intention to support the material story that runs throughout the space.
Upon entering the Kimpton Aertson, guests are met with a vestibule framed by a moss wall — more textural than botanical — as well as a black stone map of Nashville etched into the floor. It’s a subtle yet clear nod to Music City’s legacy, grounding guests in a strong sense of place from the outset. Guest rooms follow the same design language with sliding barn doors in dark wood, unvarnished walls, and large panes of glass that face out to the city beyond. And what a city. For the uninitiated, Nashville is a vast, modern and clean city with a wild side; multi-storey live music venues, countless revellers, party tractors and a sea of rooftop bars adding to one of the most singular nightlife (and daylife) experiences we’ve witnessed.
Getting a free tattoo in a hotel lobby is certainly a ‘first’ travel experience.
In keeping with Nashville’s dedication to the musical arts, Kimpton Aertson’s ‘Pickin’ Library’ is a complimentary lending library stocked with a range of instruments — an Appalachian Dulcimer, Ibanez Mandolin, Makala Uke, Epiphone Guitar and record player with vinyls — that can be checked out from the front desk, allowing you to channel your inner Willie Nelson. The hotel also features regular pop-ups, and our visit coincides with a new partnership with New York’s Tiny Zaps, an emerging and innovative tattoo studio that specialises in tiny tattoos, to bring a helping of “tattourism” (the celebration of travel with meaningful tattoos) to Kimpton guests; my husband and We Heart co-founder, James Davidson, can’t resist the urge and celebrates this particular trip with a rather fitting little guitar.
Throughout the hotel, the design resists ornamentation, instead relying on thoughtful gestures that nod to your surrounds, including a wall installation quoting Cornelius Vanderbilt; a letterpress collage by Hatch Show Print; and floor-to-ceiling blueprint etchings of the Tennessee State Capitol in the bathrooms.
Our 400 square feet, King Corner Premium room is situated on the 7th floor, with a marble bathroom and floor-to-ceiling windows bestowing panoramic views of both Midtown and Downtown. This is the highest floor for guest rooms as, apart from the 8th floor, home to the pool and bar, as well as meetings and events spaces including the Patterson Ballroom, and the 17th, occupied by the impressive Woodlea rooftop events space, the remaining floors are inhabited by students of the surrounding prestigious universities.
While the lower levels suggest restraint, the 17th floor quietly abandons it. The rooftop terrace feels pitched somewhere between a greenhouse and a stage set. A mirrored fireplace throws reflections across a seating area dressed in garden furniture and dense textures, terrarium tables fold into light fixtures, while wall coverings shift tone from day to night.
In keeping with the Kimpton ethos, guests are invited to ‘social hour’ daily between 5pm and 6pm, where complementary, monthly-rotating wines are served just outside the property’s brasserie Henley; a thoughtful touch that brings together travellers from across the globe, and reemphasises the most basic human touches of travel.
With a grounding in local history, commitment to design integrity, and quiet celebration of Nashville’s creative pulse, Kimpton Aertson is a place where students, locals, and travellers cross paths; where music is never far away; and where detail is never for decoration alone. In a city that thrives on bold contrasts, this hotel offers a rare moment of balance between heritage and modernity.
