Where to Stay in Sylvan Park for a Graduation Weekend
Sylvan Park Boarding House is an 8-suite bed and breakfast in Nashville's Sylvan Park neighborhood, about 4 miles from downtown, and it is a natural place to stay when your family is in town for a graduation weekend. Built in 1910 by J. W. Fryer and a boarding house in the 1930s, the inn now gives out-of-town grandparents, parents and siblings their own quiet room, a complimentary breakfast in the lobby and free parking, all within a short drive of Vanderbilt, West End, Belle Meade and Green Hills.
Where should family stay in Sylvan Park for a graduation weekend?
Graduation weekends are crowded, and a group of relatives scattered across three properties spends the weekend texting about who is picking up whom. At Sylvan Park Boarding House, eight suites sleep up to 18 guests under one roof, and every suite has its own private bath. Seven are king suites, and one, The Geny, is a double queen, handy for two grandparents who prefer separate beds or a pair of siblings traveling together.
If your family is large enough to fill most of the house, you can keep everyone together and still give each household its own door to close. Reach out early, since graduation dates tend to book up.
Start with the sleep
After a long ceremony and a longer dinner, a good night's sleep matters most. Each suite is dressed with Frette linens and Peacock Alley down bedding, and every room has its own climate control. There are no TVs in the rooms, which makes for a quiet night, and free Wi-Fi keeps everyone connected for sharing photos from the day.
Breakfast in the lobby and free parking
Complimentary breakfast is served to overnight guests in the Boarding House lobby from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. daily, which makes it an easy way to gather before a morning ceremony or a farewell drive home. Coffee and tea are available all day. Parking is free, so nobody has to hunt for a garage with a trunk full of flowers and a framed diploma.
What is there to do in Sylvan Park between ceremonies?
The Sylvan Park neighborhood is tree-lined, historic and walkable. Take the graduate for a stroll along the Richland Creek Greenway, browse the Richland Park Farmers Market if your visit lands on a market day, or head to Centennial Park for photos. For a celebratory meal, the neighborhood has restaurants such as Answer, Lion's Share, Café Nonna, Lola and Punk Wok.
Just through the rear courtyard is Tantísimo, a separate Latin American café and restaurant that serves brunch, dinner, happy hour and cocktails. It is a handy spot for a toast with the whole family, and it is only a few steps from your suite. Call ahead for larger parties.
A few practical notes for graduation weekend
Check-in is at 4:00 p.m. and check-out is at 11:00 a.m. The house is a historic two-story home with no elevator, so relatives who have trouble with stairs should let us know when booking and we will help with luggage. Pets are not allowed. The inn is a short drive to Vanderbilt and the rest of West Nashville, so plan your rides to the ceremony ahead of time and leave a little extra time for traffic.
Book your Nashville Inn for the big weekend
Whether you are celebrating a December graduate or planning ahead for spring, we would love to host your family. Book at spboardinghouse.com, email hello@spboardinghouse.com, or call 615-450-3104 and we will help you find the right mix of suites.
