There’s Still More Exploring To Do!
In part one of A Guide to Nashville’s Hottest Neighborhoods, we highlighted Music City’s impressive growth and revitalization and three neighborhoods that have transformed into must-visit destinations.
From brunch in the Gulch to shop-hopping in 12 South to award-winning dinner options in Germantown, you could easily spend a long weekend just bouncing between those three happenin’ ‘hoods.
And while I can guarantee that’d be a weekend to remember, that trio of hot spots only makes up a portion of our hottest Nashville neighborhoods list, which means we still have more exploring to do!
Midtown
A prestigious university. A sprawling urban park. Historic music venues. These are just a few things you’ll encounter when visiting bustling Midtown.
The diverse neighborhood, conveniently located across highway 40 from downtown, has been buzzing for years with Vanderbilt University, three major hospitals, and several acclaimed music venues calling the area home.
More recently, the area’s identity has taken on a new dimension. Towering hotels and condos have begun to fill in the neighborhood skyline, and inventive food and beverage concepts have given the street-level scene a major boost.
Once roamed only by locals, the neighborhood now makes a great home base for exploring all things Nashville. And there’s plenty of action to keep you occupied all day.
Start Your Day Strong
Start your day strong by grabbing a meal at Midtown Cafe, where they’ve been perfecting southern breakfast for the past thirty-five years.
Whether you’re in the mood for a hearty breakfast sandwich, classic omelet, or some mouth-watering french toast, their menu has you covered, and the quality is hard to beat.
Those recovering from a late night out will appreciate Hopsmith Nashville, where two-for-one champagne specials rule the day, and massive food portions ensure you won’t leave hungry (I recommend the hangover skillet!).
If you’re a morning carbs kind of guy or gal, swing by Parlor Doughnuts, where you’ll have a variety of freshly-made layered donuts to choose from. Or, head to H&S Bagels, a hidden gem many locals consider the best bagel joint in all of Nashville.
For the best cup of coffee in the neighborhood, check out Sump Coffee. Their pour-over might be the meanest in town, and their space is great for socializing or hammering out those nagging work emails.
Centennial Park & Other Hangout Spots
When you’re ready for fresh air and people-watching, visit Centennial Park, one of Nashville’s true crown jewels. The 132-acre park features a beautiful sunken garden, a large duck pond, and several miles of walking trails.
It’s also home to the Parthenon, a full-size replica of the one built in Athens, Greece. The monument, which also serves as the city’s art museum, features a 42-foot statue of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, said to be the tallest indoor sculpture in the Western Hemisphere!
At the park’s southwest corner sits The Local, a laid-back live music bar with the motto “Come a stranger, leave a local!” In my mind, this place is quintessential Nashville, with its friendly atmosphere and stellar musical performances.
For a different type of afternoon fun, check out Sandbar Nashville, a sand volleyball bar with lots of outdoor seating and delicious beach-inspired cocktails. If you came to Nashville with a mission of drinking out of a watermelon or coconut, this is the place for you!
Those looking for a refreshing sweet treat can also stop into KOKO’s Ice Cream Scoop Shop next door. All their ice creams are plant-based (a big win for all my fellow dairy-intolerant folks), but you’d never know the difference. It’s simply that delicious.
Where to Chow Down
When it’s time to chow down, Midtown has a slew of choices to choose from.
Hattie B’s has become the Nashville Hot Chicken mecca for tourists, as evidenced by the line that often wraps around the block. Whether it’s the premier hot chicken spot is a debate for another day (a regular discussion among locals), but most visitors will tell you it’s worth the hype.
For some of the best barbecue in town, head over the Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, where they fire up the smokers at 5 a.m. to ensure their west-Tennessee style barbecue is done to perfection. From ribs to brisket to burgers, any meat-lover will find what they’re looking for here.
Dinner With Friends is an exciting, new concept that offers a unique and elevated experience in a trendy setting. From their lobster egg rolls to Chilean sea bass, the food is superb, and the staff doesn’t miss a beat.
Love Language is another hip, new establishment that’s received rave reviews since its opening. Their three-level space provides guests with a different experience on each floor, and their carefully curated food menu includes wood-fired pizzas and other Italian and Spanish-influenced plates.
Other dinner spots worth consideration include Hi-Fi Clyde’s (fun sports bar), Velvet Taco (Tex-Mex), BrickTop’s (upscale American), Nada (Mexican), and Giovanni Ristorante (Italian).
Curated Cocktails and More Live Music
After dinner, grab a cocktail at The Patterson House, one of Nashville’s original speakeasies, which has gone from best-kept secret to official hot spot. Despite its always-busy nature, the dimly lit setting maintains a cozy feel, and the mixologists’ attention to detail will ensure your drink will be one to remember.
For a nightcap alternative, check out Fable Lounge, which aims to impress with its perfectly poured drinks and swanky, yet friendly vibe. The bar features three distinct areas, including a cigar-friendly rooftop, to enjoy your beverage.
To wrap up the day in true Nashville fashion, catch some live music at Winners Bar & Grill and Losers Bar & Grill, neighboring establishments known for hosting some of the city’s most talented up-and-coming artists. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a country star making a cameo appearance!
East Nashville
Located directly across the Cumberland River from downtown, East Nashville is the city’s most progressive and diverse neighborhood.
You won’t find swaths of tourists wandering around or country music blaring out onto the streets. Instead, you’ll mostly encounter locals who value the authenticity found on their side of town.
In many ways, East Nashville is the antithesis of Broadway.
It wasn’t long ago that the neighborhood was full of blight and crime, but it’s safe to say it’s on the full up-swing (housing prices would agree!).
Vintage shops, murals, book stores, wine bars and breweries are all scattered throughout the neighborhood, and some of the city’s highest-rated restaurants call the area home.
Though East Nashville is more sprawling than the other ‘hoods on our list, many of the most popular spots are clustered together, particularly in the Five Points area.
Brunch or Coffee, East Has it All
Whatever your morning cravings consist of, East Nashville’s long list of cafes and eateries will give you plenty of options.
Flora + Fauna, one of the neighborhood’s most recent additions, is a new personal favorite of mine. The atmosphere is inviting, the service is friendly, and they’ve got plenty of food selections to pair with your Kenya pour-over or Cathead Bloody Mary.
Across the neighborhood, Ugly Mugs Coffee & Tea offers a community-oriented space with plenty of outdoor seating to hang out and sip your freshly brewed beverage. You can also swing by their business neighbor, Five Daughters Bakery, for one of their delectable donuts.
Butcher and Bee, a highly acclaimed concept out of Charleston, offers an ideal brunch experience with a comfortable environment and unforgettably delicious flavors. Start with an order of their savory biscuits, then choose from Mediterranean-influenced plates like shakshuka and braised lamb.
Cafe Roze (new American), Yeast (Czech), Hearts (Australian), and Snooze (American) are other popular spots that are fully deserving of your morning contemplation.
Unique Shops and Plenty of Green Space
You can’t properly spend a day in East Nashville without at least popping in to a few of the neighborhood’s unique shops.
For a carefully curated selection of books, stop in The Book Shop. Or, if your wardrobe could use a boost, peruse the vintage clothing racks at Hip Zipper.
Look for a new record at The Groove Record Station, or enjoy a craft beer while you scan the collection at Vinyl Tap.
May I also suggest stopping in Baxter Bailey & Company to grab a peace offering for your furry companion you ‘abandoned’ back home. Nothing says “I’m sorry for leaving you” like a new toy!
After securing a new prized possession or two, explore Shelby Park, a 300-acre green space featuring a disc golf course, fishing lakes, an off-leash dog park, and more.
Shelby Bottoms Nature Area, which sits adjacent to the park, offers 960 acres of forests and wetlands with plenty of trails winding throughout the landscape.
For a scenic adventure, rent a bike from the nature center and cruise down the Shelby Bottoms Greenway. Or, you can rent a kayak from Cumberland Kayak and paddle your way downtown!
Food Halls & Patios
If you’re in need of an afternoon bite, check out one of East Nashville’s multi-restaurant concepts.
The Wash is a formerly abandoned car wash re-created into an outdoor, micro-restaurant hangout. You’ll find a variety of ethnic cuisines that include Peruvian, Vietnamese, Cuban, and Hawaiian, and an on-site cocktail bar ensures you’ll have something to wash it all down.
Hunter’s Station is another tastefully-done concept that brings several vendors under one roof. I strongly recommend trying the pulled pork from Hugh Baby’s, but you’ll also have tacos, specialty grilled cheese, and Vietnamese as options.
Just down the street, Smith & Lentz Brewing is known for their wide assortment of pilsners, extensive wine list, and wood-fired pizzas. Whether you come thirsty, hungry, or both, it’s hard to go wrong with a hangout in their spacious taproom or out on their huge patio.
Quality Dinner Options Across the Board
From walk-up taco windows to five-star dining, you’ll find high quality dinner options across all price points and cuisines.
There may not be a more classic east-side choice than The Pharmacy Burger Parlor and Beer Garden. In addition to sizzling hand-smashed burgers and tasty brats, the menu features sodas, phosphates, and milkshakes created by an old-school soda machine on site. If the weather is nice, enjoy all this goodness on their shaded beer garden in the back.
When you reach the junction of your trip where a New York-style (pizza) pie is in order, look no further than Five Points Pizza. You can grab a single slice or a whole pie, but I’d highly recommend starting off with the garlic knots either way! This place is seriously one of my favorite businesses in all of Nashville, so check them out if you have the chance.
Tucked a few blocks back into a mostly-residential area, Lockeland Table offers a dining experience you’ll be thinking about long after you’re gone. The atmosphere is lively, but that doesn’t inhibit the staff from maintaining a high level of service. From pork chops to wood-fired pizzas, everything is prepared to perfection. And if that doesn’t sell you, a portion of their happy hour proceeds goes back into the local schools!
Margot (French and Italian) Graze (vegan), Redheaded Stranger (Tex-Mex), Edley’s (barbecue), and Once Upon a Time in France (French) are just a handful of East Nashville’s other top-notch dinner spots.
After dinner, head to Chopper, a tiki bar full of creative flair and fun, tropical drinks. Or, swing by Rosemary and Beauty Queen for a “house party vibe” in the converted Victorian-style home. Enjoy a cocktail in the living room, or head to the backyard where you’ll find strung up lights and rope swings at the bar!
For some late-night competition, wrap up the day at Up-Down, where they’ve got over sixty beers on tap and an assortment of arcade games to showcase your skills.
Honorable Mentions
Wedgewood-Houston
Formerly the site of industrial factories and warehouses, Wedgewood-Houston has quickly morphed into a bustling arts hub.
The neighborhood is the home of several notable galleries and hosts a free art crawl on the first Saturday of each month.
Walk around the neighborhood, and you’ll notice beautifully rehabilitated buildings alongside tons of new construction that will make the area nearly unrecognizable in the five years.
While many new food and beverage concepts haven’t yet made their neighborhood debut, you’ll find plenty of up-and-running establishments worth checking out.
Grab a coffee at Americano Lounge and a pastry from Dozen Bakery.
Tour the award-winning Corsair Distillery, or hang out on Jackalope Brewing Company’s patio.
Throw some axes at Blade and Timber, or catch a Nashville SC game at recently-opened Geodis Park.
Enjoy dinner in Earnest Hemingway and Bar’s chic space, then finish the day with a liquid masterpiece at pH Craft Cocktails.
SoBro
Recent development in the “South of Broadway” neighborhood has solidified the area’s status as the more modernized side of downtown.
While the southern half of this neighborhood is still in its transitionary phase, there’s no shortage of current places worth visiting.
Start the day at my favorite coffee shop in the city, Crema. Or, grab brunch at Pancake Pantry, a Nashville institution.
Hang out at 6th and Peabody’s massive indoor/outdoor space, then grab lunch and a brew at Tennessee Brew Works.
Swing by the always-hoppin’ Pinewood Social, or brush up on your music history at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Indulge in some tacos at Bakersfield, or enjoy an upscale dinner at Husk.
Finish the day with live music at The Listening Room, or hang out in style on Hampton Social’s rooftop.
Sample Midtown Itinerary:
- Start with a hearty brunch at Midtown Cafe
- Head to Centennial Park and take a leisurely stroll
- Pay a small entrance fee to access the inside of the Parthenon. Check out Athena and the other exhibits
- Stop by the Sandbar or KOKO’s Ice Cream for a refreshing drink or treat
- Catch a musical act at the Local
- Grab dinner at Hattie B’s or go a little more upscale at Love Language
- Grab a cocktail at The Patterson House
- Swing by Losers Bar & Grill for a couple sing-a-longs, then grab a late night snack at Velvet Taco across the street
Sample East Nashville Itinerary:
- Start the day with a coffee and meal at Flora + Fauna
- Check out a few of the neighborhood’s unique shops
- Take a stroll or bike ride down the Shelby Bottoms Greenway
- Grab a bite at Hunter’s Station then head to Smith & Lentz for a beer on the patio
- Go for a classic dinner at The Pharmacy, or a more sophisticated experience at Lockeland Table
- Enjoy a fun cocktail at Chopper
- Swing by the walk-up window at Five Points Pizza for a late-night slice
