NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is excited to announce a new culinary partnership that brings a beloved all-day café and bakery to its picturesque grounds. Perenn at Cheekwood will officially open May 1, 2026, offering guests a fresh, thoughtfully curated dining option within the gardens.
Since opening its first Tennessee location in 2025, Perenn has quickly built a devoted following for its artisanal pastries, handcrafted breads, and commitment to high-quality ingredients. Co-founders and husband-and-wife team Tyler and Aubrey O’Laskey said the Cheekwood location will reflect the same dedication to craftsmanship, hospitality, and thoughtful sourcing that defines the brand—while being uniquely inspired by its garden setting. Perenn also operates the café at the Nevada Museum of Art and four other locations in Reno, Nevada.
The name Perenn, derived from “perennial,” reflects the O’Laskeys’ love of gardens and the idea that things return and grow stronger over time. This philosophy influences their approach to food, spaces, and community, making Cheekwood a natural fit for the bakery’s continued growth. Tyler and Aubrey are also Cheekwood members and frequent visitors to the historic estate.
The menu will feature Perenn’s signature bakery offerings, including pastries, cookies, and handmade breads and croissants, alongside a seasonal café menu designed to feel light, fresh, and in harmony with the surrounding landscape. Guests can enjoy breakfast sandwiches on signature sourdough made with house-milled flour, a variety of hearty salads, a garden club sandwich with rotisserie chicken, and a leek and garlic grilled cheese. A full espresso and tea menu will also be available.
“We’ve always believed that where you enjoy a meal matters just as much as what the meal is,” said Tyler and Aubrey O’Laskey, co-founders of Perenn. “Cheekwood is one of the most beautiful and meaningful spaces in Nashville and being part of it is incredibly special to us. Our love of gardening has always been part of Perenn’s story, and the idea of something perennial feels especially fitting here. We’re excited for this to be a place for everything from a quiet afternoon croissant and coffee to a family picnic in the gardens.” Perenn at Cheekwood will be open during regular Cheekwood operating hours and will be located in the Frist Learning Center courtyard, in the space previously occupied by Café 29.
About Perenn
Perenn’s mission is to provide a gathering place that intentionally empowers education, care, and sustainability through the sharing of thoughtfully crafted food. Created by husband-and-wife team Tyler and Aubrey O’Laskey, Perenn is an all-day bakery, rotisserie and grocery concept. Perenn was founded in Reno, Nevada in 2018, expanded to Tennessee in 2025, and now features locations in Nashville, Tennessee and Franklin, Tennessee. For more information on Perenn visit perennbakery.com or follow along on Instagram @perennbakery.
About Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
With its intact and picturesque vistas, Cheekwood is distinguished as one of the leading Country Place Era estates in the nation. Formerly the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, the 1930s estate, with its 30,000-square-foot Mansion and 55-acres of gardens, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and art museum with furnished period rooms and galleries devoted to American art from the 18th to mid-20th centuries. The property includes 13 distinct gardens including the Blevins Japanese Garden and the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden, as well as a 1.5-mile woodland trail featuring outdoor monumental sculpture. Each year, Cheekwood hosts seasonal festivals including Cheekwood in Bloom, Summertime at Cheekwood, Cheekwood Harvest and Holiday LIGHTS. Cheekwood is a 501c3 nonprofit charitable organization. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and nationally as a Level II Arboretum. It is a four-time voted USA Today Top 10 Botanical Garden, named the Most Beautiful Garden in Tennessee in 2025 by HGTV, in 2024 and 2025 received a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award, and in 2021 was named by Fodors as one of the 12 Most Beautiful Gardens in the American South. Cheekwood is located eight miles southwest of downtown Nashville at 1200 Forrest Park Drive. It is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., with extended days and hours of operation depending on the season. Visit cheekwood.org for current hours and to purchase advance tickets required for admission.
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