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DISCOVERING NASHVILLE
There are many areas of town to explore while visiting Nashville. Each neighborhood has its own personality, projecting the nature of the people who frequent them. Some are quiet and reserved while others are hip and boisterous. They all suit their surroundings and welcome all walks of life.
The Gulch
Nashville’s historic Gulch District, with its distinct industrial history, originally housed the downtown railroad terminal. From the turn of the century until the 1950s, over 100 trains arrived and departed from The Gulch daily.
Today, the Gulch District has developed into the hotspot for young urbanites. The Gulch, which recently became the first neighborhood in the South to receive “LEED for Neighborhood Development” certification, has perfectly combined its industrial background with a modern contemporary style. Old warehouses have been renovated into residential and office space, and upscale restaurants and a vibrant nightlife have made The Gulch the hottest new neighborhood in Nashville.
Some of the finest restaurants in Music City have made The Gulch their home in recent years. Watermark, with floor-to-ceiling windows, offers a luxurious dining experience with a beautiful, chic setting and a wonderful view of downtown Nashville. Watermark offers American food with Southern-style ingredients that give this modern restaurant a local flavor.
Just below Watermark is Sambuca. Known for its eclectic dining and nightly live music, Sambuca is the place to dine, drink and dance the night away.
Flyte World Dining and Wine is a casually elegant, fine-dining restaurant specializing in creative food and beverage menus and fresh, organic and humanely raised ingredients. Flyte aspires to offer diners an opportunity to engage in an exploration of world cuisine, interesting wines and finely crafted beers.
New restaurants are popping up in The Gulch including Urban Flats, located inside the Icon in the Gulch, which offers an eclectic fusion of ancient world style flatbread served up in a modern urban setting and Cantina Laredo, which serves authentic Mexican dishes in a sophisticated atmosphere.
Anchoring The Gulch since 1974, Station Inn is Nashville’s foremost home for authentic bluegrass and offers live acoustic music nightly. A far cry from its trendy neighbors, Station Inn keeps it simple with pizza, beer and some of the best Americana and bluegrass music around. Doors open nightly at 7 p.m. and music starts at 9 p.m.
Many people are flocking to The Gulch, not only to dine, shop and play, but also to live. Several new residential developments are under construction including Icon in the Gulch, Terrazzo and Velocity. These mixeduse condominiums will include retail and dining options. For those seeking an urban living experience, this is the place to be!
Eighth Avenue South
Not far from downtown, antique stores line both sides of Eighth Avenue South. A collector’s haven, the area has become known as a premier antiques district. Monthly, a local auction house in the center of the district at Douglas Corner opens its doors for one night of auctioning mayhem to a standing-room-only crowd.
Known as Nashville’s Antique District, you’ll find a dozen shops on Eighth featuring fine antiques at stores like Á la Maison, the Country Horse and Fine Offerings Antiques to eclectic stores like Pre-To-Post Modern, Classic Modern and Boomerang Finer Thrift.
Many diners converge on Eighth Avenue for Southern cooking at Arnold’s Country Kitchen. Open for breakfast and lunch, Arnold’s serves some of the very best of Nashville’s indigenous cuisine. Called a meat-and-three, this style of restaurant refers to the meals served for one price — a choice of meat plus three vegetables. Proprietor Jack Arnold stands behind the buffet counter and barks your order as you slide through the long line. One caveat: the seating is family-style, so you may have to share a table.
Step back in time and enjoy a nice lunch at the Savannah Tea House where every day the staff prepares several homemade menu items including soups, quiche, chicken salad, tuna salad, muffins, cakes, pies, and many other tasty treats, not to mention over 100 different kinds of tea.
The best comedians in the world frequent Nashville’s only comedy venue, Zanies Comedy Night Club, located at Douglas Corner. For more than two decades, Zanies has been making Nashville laugh with headliners like Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Tim Allen, Jeff Foxworthy and Paula Poundstone. Performers appear Wednesday through Sunday. Zanies offers non-smoking shows, is an 18-and-older crowd and requires a two-item food or drink minimum.
Across the street from Zanies is Douglas Corner Café, one of Nashville’s most popular listening venues. The venue boasts live music six nights a week ranging from country to rock to Americana, and many of the early shows have no cover charge. On some evenings, the stage is even disregarded when songwriters pull up chairs and perform “in the round” in the midst of the audience.
Any true music lover must check out Grimey’s New & Preloved Music. Grimey’s has a wide selection of CDs, DVDs and vinyl. From indie to vintage, from mainstream to obscure, the knowledgeable staff at Grimey’s will help you find what you are looking for. They also host several in-store performances.
After visiting Grimey’s head down to The Basement, another great music venue located in the basement (where else?) of Grimey’s. This venue’s small setting lends to its intimate “underground” feel. The Basement, often filled with its musically inclined regulars, offers a consistently good music lineup of classic jazz, blues, rock and solo acoustic performances.
12 South
One of Nashville’s newest neighborhoods, 12 South is the up-and-coming place to live and socialize. With the city investing in sidewalks and street lighting, 12 South has begun to take shape over the last several years. You can grab coffee, score some new guitar strings, stock up on garden mulch and grab a bite to eat all in the course of an afternoon on foot.
Start a unique shopping adventure at Katy K’s Ranch Dressing, a one-of-a-kind boutique that offers great vintage finds such as Manuel suits and spangled gowns by Nudie’s of Hollywood. Crammed into this tiny store, customers can look through designer cowboy boots, belt buckles, cowboy hats and Western shirts – all cleverly called “Ranch Dressing.” You know you are there when you see the shapely cowgirl cutout on the building’s stone façade.
Shop for trendy clothes and accessories at Serendipity Emporium and Two Elle or for music and music accessories at the Corner Music Store. After walking around this charming neighborhood, pamper yourself in one of the chic salons like Trim Classic Barber or Green Pea Salon.
Not many neighborhoods have as many standout restaurants as 12 South. Mirror was one of the area’s first and has been a leader in martini trends and chic environments. Looking to introduce new foods, drinks and events to the neighborhood, Mirror continues to cater to the expanding and changing clientele.
Rumours Art & Wine Bar is a fullfledged wine bar with a small but excellent menu that complements the wine. With an expansive patio and hip ambiance, Rumours has been the perfect addition to the neighborhood.
Walk next door to the aRT hOUSE Gallery & Studio, a great source for local fine art. They offer monthly art exhibitions and a variety of studio art classes for adults as well as a selection of unique gift items. Or stroll down the street to Snow Gallery that features talented local artists and ever changing exhibits.
Mafiaoza’s Pizzeria & Neighborhood Pub is located in the heart of the 12 South district, and it fits right into the bustling neighborhood. With the slogan “Welcome to the Family,” you know you’ll feel at home in this Godfather-themed restaurant.
Next door to Mafiaoza’s is 12 South Tap Room, the quintessential friendly neighborhood hangout. It has 22 different beers on tap, an eclectic menu which includes hummus, oysters on the half shell, a jerk chicken sandwich and shrimp tacos and a great lineup of live music. Enjoy the décor of Hatch Show Poster motifs, artwork painted on table tops and wall designs fashioned from beer bottle caps, or when the weather is nice, sit out on the outdoor patio.
Around the corner is one of the neighborhood’s best kept secrets, Corrieri’s Formaggeria, which offers a wide variety of artisan and international cheeses, meats and gourmet foods as well as great sandwiches, party trays and gourmet prepared meals.
In an obscure, unmarked building on the south side of the district, many have found a rare treat: Las Palletas. An authentic Mexican popsicle shop, Las Palletas makes fruit and vegetable popsicles from old family recipes. Stripped bare of any accessories, two stand-alone freezers separate the customers from the two sisters who own the shop, and a chalkboard with the flavors of the day is the only menu in the store. Don’t be afraid to try unusual flavors like avocado, corn or hot chocolate (chocolate with hot peppers!).
East Nashville
East Nashville is home to several historic neighborhoods that are finding themselves in the midst of a renaissance. Its low-key vibe and neighborly personality make this community a great place to escape without leaving town. Although over 600 structures were destroyed in the great East Nashville Fire of 1916, the area still boasts an eclectic mixture of antebellum buildings. Historic Edgefield is one of only two locally zoned “historic preservation districts,” requiring that all new construction, additions, demolition, alterations and fences be approved by the Metro Historical Commission, giving the neighborhood a timeless feel. Additionally, the area has been featured on the HGTV network during Bob Vila’s “Restore America” and in HGTV’s “Our Place” series.
The Lockeland Springs Historic Neighborhood is a turn-of-the-century streetcar suburb two miles northeast of downtown Nashville. The tornado of 1998 ripped through this historic neighborhood destroying or damaging at least 300 homes, but the neighborhood has rebounded stronger than ever with renovations, additions and new construction.
Edgefield and Lockeland Springs are linked by a bustling retail area known as Five Points. Several restaurants, a coffeehouse, hardware store, city library and neighborhood watering hole anchor this thriving area that is seeing more and more commercial investment each month.
Over the years, East Nashville has developed an eclectic and creative vibe that has attracted many musicians and visual artists to the neighborhood. Mingle with the patrons of the local hangouts and you’re bound to meet more than a few musicians and songwriters. Several art galleries have flourished in the area and even one of the local coffeehouses doubles as an art gallery.
Within East Nashville, sports enthusiasts frequent the Edgefield Sports Bar & Grille. A taste of New Orleans and great live music can be found at the French Quarter Café. For folks craving delicious soups and sandwiches for lunch, take a trip to Edgefield’s Tolar House Bakery or Marché. Mad Donna’s serves up innovative cuisine and creative cocktails for dinner. For a taste of old Mexico, visit the Rosepepper Cantina, where guests may find themselves being serenaded by a Mariachi band. Across the street is Eastland Café, a vibrant neighborhood restaurant that is both comfortable and casually elegant. Enjoy Allium’s contemporary French-inspired cuisine or take in some live music with dinner at The Family Wash which offers a small but delicious menu along with local bands and musicians performing Tuesday through Saturday nights.
Goodies are baked fresh each day at Sweet 16, a local bakery that makes scones, muffins, cakes, and Mamarangues, a mixture of chocolate and toffee. Margot Cafe & Bar, housed in an antique gas station turned brick-and-timber gourmet restaurant, has quickly become one of Nashville’s most outstanding restaurants. Chef Margot McCormack uses only fresh ingredients gathered that day.
Also an artist’s haven, Five Points is home to several galleries including the Art & Invention Gallery and adjoining studio, Garage Mahal. Having five to six shows annually, including the signature Tomato Art Show in August and Holiday Artisan Show in December, Art & Invention Gallery focuses on inventiveness in fine art, crafts and original furniture. Named Nashville’s “Best Neighborhood Event,” the Tomato Art Festival is a laid-back event that has attracted regional and national attention for its celebration of the fruit.
Visitors and locals alike are increasingly finding themselves crossing the river to sample the varied eating and nightlife venues available in East Nashville. Whether you’re in the mood for great music or incredible food, you can find them all just east of downtown.
Elliston Place
Elliston Place is located just west of downtown near the Vanderbilt University campus and has a variety of options for dining and nighttime entertainment. As one of Nashville’s young, trendy neighborhoods, small homes and cafes epitomize the tenants of the area. In the heart of the neighborhood is the Elliston Place Rock Block, a blocklong section of Elliston Place that is home to some of the loudest nightclubs in town.
The legendary Exit/In has played host to many of today’s hit-makers since 1971. This East Nashville’s Margot Cafe & Bar cornerstone of Elliston Place shows no signs of slowing down. The legendary Jimmy Buffett got his start at Exit/In shortly after it opened, as did a young comedian, Steve Martin.
For those with more alternative musical tastes, walk across the street to The End, a club firmly entrenched in Nashville’s rock scene and definitely worth a listen.
There are also several bars on Elliston. The Corner Bar is unabashedly basic — good drinks, good pool and good people. This place is a favorite among locals looking for a low-key night of simply hanging out. The Gold Rush doesn’t claim to be a pool hall; actually, it doesn’t claim to be anything. This no-frills bar is a late-night hangout where many bands have been known to appear after their gigs at larger venues around town.
No trip to Elliston Place is complete without a stop at the Elliston Place Soda Shop. An institution for seven decades, Elliston is a meat-and-three favorite with a 1950’s decor. Known for its fried chicken and milk shakes, this authentic old-time soda fountain has a faithful following among the locals.
Just down from Elliston Place Soda Shop is Elder’s Bookstore, which has been serving Nashville’s literary set since 1930. This modest-looking bookshop stocks some of the rarest of the rare: first edition Faulkner, limited edition Warren and signed Hemingway. A superior selection of Southern and classic literature, leather-bound volumes, illustrated children’s classics, antique maps and Tiffanystyle lamps can all be found here.
A little further up the street is another local favorite with the same down-home charm. Rotier’s has been serving up the city’s best cheeseburger for decades. Take your server’s suggestion and try their burgers on French bread.
Germantown
One of Nashville’s historic neighborhoods is bringing people closer to town to live and play. Germantown, so named because of the influx of German immigrants in the mid nineteenth- century, was Nashville’s first suburb. The district is one of Nashville’s most architecturally heterogeneous neighborhoods, containing a significant concentration of Victorian building styles. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979, the neighborhood is now being restored to its original grandeur.
Germantown Café specializes in straightforward traditional cooking with a subtle twist. Recently featured in Bon Appétit, this unpretentious restaurant serves bistro fare with the menu changing seasonally. Nearby in a restored Victorian home, Monell’s is a staple of the Nashville food scene. A traditional meat-and-three restaurant, meals at Monell’s are served family-style. Seated at tables of 10 or 12, patrons pass the bottomless bowls of fried chicken and hot rolls to the diner on their left. Get there early as Monell’s doesn’t accept reservations.
Located down the street from Monell’s is the Mad Platter Restaurant. With a menu that changes seasonally, this intimate and inviting restaurant was one of the first local cafes in Germantown. Guests are encouraged to try the signature dessert – Chocolate Elvis, a threelayer terrine with dark and white chocolate ganache and Italian milk chocolate buttercream on an almond graham cracker crust.
One of the newer additions to Germantown is City House Restaurant. Matching the décor of the quaint residential neighborhood, City House, located in a house built in 1901 that was at one time sculptor Alan LeQuire’s home and studio, has been turned into a space that’s both chic and rustic. The dining rooms have a farmhouse feel, with high ceilings and rough plaster walls. The kitchen is open, bounded by a chef’s bar that lets diners watch the action. The cuisine at City House is Italian, but it’s not typical Italian-American fare. The inspiration is the simple but sublime food that can be found on a dinner table in Italy.
Appealing to the sweet tooth, new bakeries, The Cocoa Tree, which opened by chocolatier Bethany Thouin, author of Chocolate Covered Friendship, and The Cupcake Collection offer delectable treats.
Green Hills
An area that sports some of Nashville’s most desirable homes, Green Hills also has its fair share of exciting destinations for a night out. The Bluebird Cafe has a national reputation as the place to be heard in Nashville if you’re a songwriter. In this intimate setting you can witness a moment “in the round.” In this format, three or four songwriters sit in a circle, sharing songs and the inspirations behind the music. This format has become an important part of The Bluebird Cafe’s tradition. The audience is given a unique opportunity to hear original material from different points of view in a casual, comfortable environment. It’s a chance to discover up-and-coming writers or to hear hits, new and old, from some of the best of the best. The Bluebird serves a variety of alcoholic beverages, and offers a small but interesting menu.
For the jazz lover, look no further than F. Scott’s Restaurant & Jazz Bar. The restaurant has an award-winning menu, wine tastings every Monday and jazz nightly. F. Scott’s serves contemporary American cuisine in a setting that combines the comfort and familiarity of a neighborhood restaurant with flair and sophistication.
For the ultimate change in scenery, stop by the Greenhouse Bar. This place really is a greenhouse complete with hanging plants, gravel floor and fountain. Try one of their specialty drinks or step up to the beautifully crafted bar for a beer.
A few doors down from the Greenhouse are a couple of watering holes for the sports-minded patron. Crow’s Nest has TVs everywhere, so you won’t miss your favorite team in action. It gets crowded on game days so arrive early.
From boutiques to an upscale mall, some of Nashville’s best shopping can be found in Green Hills. Stores like Bamboo and My Friend’s Place offer trendy, chic clothing lines in a boutique setting. Anchored by Dillard’s and Macy’s department stores, The Mall at Green Hills features such stores as Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Sephora, Kiehl’s, Pottery Barn, Sigrid Olson and many others. The newly opened Hill Center is an outdoor shopping center which offers Nashville’s first Whole Foods grocery as well as upscale boutiques like Anthropologie, Posh, Hemline and Francesca’s. It also has some great casual restaurants like California Pizza Kitchen, Pei Wei, Zoe’s and Five Guys Burgers.
Hillsboro Village
Conveniently located near Vanderbilt and Belmont Universities, Hillsboro Village is a collection of shops, boutiques and restaurants perfect for a day’s stroll. A four-block radius with all the makings of its own village, this quaint Nashville neighborhood has rejuvenated the community and attracted young professionals for living and playing.
If hungry customers are hoping to rub elbows with Music Row execs or simply want to eat something from the extraordinary half-price late night menu, look no further than the venerable Sunset Grill. A longtime staple of Nashville’s dining landscape, Sunset Grill offers a great wine menu, inspired entrees and a cool atmosphere.
Across the street is the popular Cabana, a versatile restaurant and bar. This mellow restaurant morphs into an upscale hot spot with live music and DJs in the evening. Behind Sunset Grill is the trendy Jackson’s Bar and Bistro. Specializing in French bistro-style food as well as eclectic European fare, this neighborhood bistro encourages patrons to come as they are and be themselves.
Across the street is one of Nashville’s most famous restaurants. A Nashville breakfast tradition, the Pancake Pantry boasts a menu with 21 pancake selections. Combining some surprising ingredients with family flapjack recipes, the ending results are pancakes that melt in your mouth. (Try chocolate chip or sweet potato flavors.) Saturday and Sunday mornings are especially popular at the Pantry, and the waiting line usually wraps around the building down 21st Avenue.
For Parisian-style fare, Provence Breads & Café offers gourmet sandwiches and decadent baked goods in a relaxed, cozy atmosphere. In the center of the Village is one of Nashville’s local breweries. Boscos brews handcrafted beer and has won many awards for its Tennessee original Flaming Stone beer. There are more beers on the menu, too, suited to every beer taste imaginable, plus a variety of pasta dishes, oven-fired pizzas and great sandwiches.
Sam’s Place is a fully functioning sports bar with great food. A bit younger crowd than at the other Village spots, Sam’s is a place where patrons can feel comfortable dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. Across the street from Sam’s Place is Fido. This funky coffeehouse is the heart and soul of Hillsboro Village. Fido draws a mix of Vandy students, Music Row execs, musicians and neighborhood locals. Coffee is the main attraction, but large sandwiches and all-day breakfasts are crowd pleasers.
Hillsboro Village may seem small, but unique boutiques and specialty stores abound. From industrial espresso makers to egg timers, Davis Cookware carries a myriad of kitchen items. BookMan/Book- Woman Used Books offers more than 150,000 used volumes and a search service to help you find what you need.
Pangaea, Fire Finch and A Thousand Faces each offer their own varied selection of art, jewelry, office accessories, furniture and gifts. For unique gifts or rare finds, these stores are a must. Posh Boutique offers a wide selection of the latest styles with prices ranging between $10 and $200, accommodating all budgets. Even glasses aren’t spared by this neighborhood’s chic style. SEE (Selective Eyewear Elements) features unique European designer eyewear.
Midtown
Every city seems to have a midtown, and Nashville is no exception. The funny thing is, nobody here ever calls it that. If you were to ask a local where Midtown is, you might receive some confused looks. But ask about places like South Street, Bound’ry or Virago, and they’ll be able to tell you exactly how to get there.
A Nashville favorite for years, South Street Original Crab Shack & Authentic Dive Bar is known by locals as simply South Street. This Cajun restaurant serves large portions, spicy entrees, seafood and barbecue. With a ‘convertible’ dining room and an open upstairs called the Treehouse, South Street is perfect for a casual atmosphere on a warm Southern night.
A few doors down and a world away, the Bound’ry is one of Nashville’s most eclectic places to spend an evening. Dining at the Bound’ry is a true experience. The upscale global cuisine is delectable, and the restaurant itself is a work of art. The décor is best described as a Salvador Dalí painting gone wild. It is eclectic and beautiful at the same time, combining the five senses into one grand experience.
The Broadway Brewhouse is a place for the true beer connoisseur with over 70 beers on tap and another 100 or so in the coolers. Attached to the Brewhouse is the very affordable Mojo Grill, specializing in Cajuninspired dishes that will fill your stomach without emptying your wallet.
One of the hottest spots in Midtown is Virago. This restaurant is rather upscale with a very contemporary menu. Patrons can choose to lounge around the sushi bar for a more casual dining experience or sit in the main dining room surrounded by Paul McLean’s artwork. Part sushi bar, part upscale restaurant, part late night cocktail lounge, Virago plays all of its roles well.
With the same owners as Virago, Lime maintains the same upscale, hot-spot feel but with a modern Latino flair. Flavors of all Latin locales collide beautifully in exotic cocktails like a margarita with strawberries and jalapeno. From the cornbread-like arepas to the Oaxacan tamale, the menu will keep you coming back to expand your notions of Latin cuisine.
Noshville is a New York-style deli that offers a broad menu of deli favorites like the Reuben and corned beef. Try one of the exceptionally large servings of dessert or the sour pickles found on every table. With a second location in Green Hills, Noshville brings a bit of the Big Apple to Music City.
Miro District Food & Drink, located in the ground floor of the new 18-story Adelicia in Midtown, offers lunch and dinner with a menu of Mediterranean-inspired cuisine with a Southern twist, ranging from antipasti to fresh seafood and homemade pasta.
Giovanni’s Ristorante, like the 15-yearold flagship Giovanni in midtown Manhattan, specializes in Tuscan fare. The menu features risotto, homemade pastas and seafood, with house-baked breads and an extensive wine program.
Sylvan Park
Southwest of downtown Nashville lies the quaint and quiet neighborhood of Sylvan Park, a beautiful setting with homes and businesses that run the gamut from funky to upscale. Here, 1920’s clapboard homes and 1930’s stone bungalows look right at home together.
The neighborhood’s namesake restaurant, Sylvan Park Restaurant, has been serving Nashville residents old-fashioned Southern cooking for more than 50 years. The restaurant’s continuing popularity is demonstrated by the proliferation of Sylvan Park restaurants around the city.
Across the street, Caffe Nonna is a cozy, neighborhood Italian bistro. Seating 45 people, the cafe has an intimate ambience with servers who maneuver deftly between wooden tables.
Next door to Caffe Nonna is Park Cafe, comfortable and quirky; this fusion eatery serves creative dishes with influences from Asia, India, France and Italy. Known for its upscale dining, Park Cafe has become a top choice for many of Nashville’s prominent faces.
At The Produce Place, one can find a wide selection of fresh food and produce, including organic and gourmet items. This small establishment offers fresh bread from local bakeries and a varied selection of fine cheeses as well as preservative-free juices and soups.
The newest addition to the neighborhood is the eco-friendly Green Wagon which houses a classic collection of general store merchandise, with everything from cleaning supplies to clothing to shampoo to crib mattresses. The store features a “refilling station” where customers can refill their bottles with products like shampoo and household cleaners at a discounted price, instead of buying new containers. A large portion of the products in The Green Wagon inventory are made locally, therefore reducing the business’ and customers’ carbon footprint that would normally occur during the shipping process and supporting the local economy.
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