Last week, Jo Michael’s talked about the Millennium Maxwell House in Nashville on her blog, giving specifics about the hotel, room sizes, and how to book for the UtopYA June 18-21 conference in 2015! So, this week, I’m going to follow up with some information about the restaurants inside the hotel, because, if you’re like me–flying in–then you may have limited options in terms of leaving the hotel for foods. And that’s okay, because Millennium Maxwell House has two awesome restaurants—Pralines and Maxwell’s Lounge. (I tried to get menus, but that was a bust, so sorry.)

First, let’s talk about Maxwell’s Lounge, because in my opinion, that’s where it’s at.

Last year, I spent every evening here, sipping the specially crafted drink made JUST for the con, meeting and greeting friends and author idols, eating the BEST quesadillas, and all around having a good time. Especially for the costumed Karaoke… yeah, that happened. And it’ll happen again this year, so make sure you bring a costume and get suited up! (You don’t HAVE to wear a costume, or sing, but we’d love to see you all dressed up). And the food here… well, it’s definitely delectable! I really, really enjoyed it! The service was fast, and the atmosphere is definitely welcoming, if a bit small. But we’re a rowdy bunch, and we make room for everyone. So make sure you come on down and join the fun!

Check out my costume for Maxwell’s Lounge Karaoke Party:

Here’s what the hotel website has to say about Maxwells:

Maxwell’s Lounge is the perfect setting in which to unwind after a day spent exploring the many delights that Nashville has to offer. As one of the livelier bars in Nashville, TN, Maxwell’s Lounge hosts entertainment every night of the week.

Live bands regularly perform country, blues and alt-rock numbers while patrons socialize and enjoy a drink or two at the bar. Good food is also available, with the menu featuring a number of classic Southern dishes. All in all, this Nashville lounge is a great venue in which to enjoy a memorable night’s entertainment.

Operating Hours

2:00pm – 11:00pm

Other Information

Food served, bar snacks served

And then there’s Pralines.

This is more of a traditional sit down style restaurant than Maxwell’s Lounge (though you can certainly sit down and relax in Maxwell’s), and the buffet and food here is just as good—same kitchen as Maxwell’s Lounge—but I found it to be just a little small for our 700+ group. Hence, the wait for lunch was generally a bit long, and cramped. BUT—that just means planning on my part next year. Instead of trying to eat lunch during the lunch rush, I’m either going early or late. Since Pralines is open from 6am-10pm, there is plenty of time to get in, unlike Maxwell’s Lounge, which is only open in the afternoon to late evening. So plan accordingly!

Here’s what the hotel website has to say about Pralines:

For guests seeking delicious dining near downtown Nashville, look no further than Praline’s Restaurant. Located within the Millennium Maxwell House Nashville, the restaurant serves up fresh, inventive dishes throughout the day.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner can all be enjoyed within a relaxed setting at Praline’s. The food is cooked to perfection, with an emphasis on sourcing local ingredients where possible.

Operating Hours

Breakfast 6:30am – 10:00am
Lunch 11:00am – 2:00pm
Dinner 5:00pm – 10:00pm

Price Guide
Breakfast $3-9 USD
Lunch $5-12 USD
Dinner $7-25 USD

And of course, there are tons of places to eat outside of the restaurant if you have access to a car or plan to take a shuttle/taxi.

So—what are you waiting for?  Book your tickets for UtopYA 2015 NOW on Eventbrite!

And, be sure and pop on over to the other official utopYA blogs this month for more awesome information on the hotel (like booking the hotel, room rates, Nashville stuff to do, and in depth information on the rooms and amenities – there are TONS – available).