East Nashville
Eat
Greko Greek Street Food
Street-style Greek food in a casual, urban outpost. Meats are cooked in-house on vertical rotisseries, and we love gathering in the graffiti-covered courtyard in the back on nice evenings.
Photos: @grekostreetfood
I Dream of Weenie
The only thing cuter than the name of this place is the fact that they serve hot dogs out of a yellow vintage VW bus. Parked in the Five Points area, I Dream of Weenie is a gourmet hot dog stand with above average franks, such a pimento cheese and French toast. Choose between beef, turkey and veggie options.
Yeast Nashville
Another adorably named eatery, Yeast Nashville is a daytime bakery specializing in kolaches – a Czech style pastry that can be filled with sweet or savory fillings such as fruits, nuts, sausage or eggs. Yeast Nashville also serves more familiar breakfast options such as eggs, biscuits and breakfast burritos.
Mitchell Deli
It’s surprisingly hard to find a good sandwich in Nashville. Where fast food options abound, Mitchell is a mainstay of the East Nashville community – a place where you can drop in and get something to go without sacrificing quality. Grab a sandwich made from the best breads and artisan meats or a salad from the self-serve salad bar.
Five Points Pizza
Southern cooking is a lot of things, but no one does pizza like New Yorkers. Fortunately, we get our own slice of the Big Apple in Five Points Pizza, serving NY-style pies, slices and stromboli. Consistently voted in the best pizza in Nashville and located in the hip Five Points area, this is the perfect spot to start the night or get something to go.
Photos: @fivepointspizza
Mas Tacos Por Favor
Never has the name of a restaurant so perfectly captured how we feel. One of Nashville's first food trucks to open a brick and mortar, Mas Tacos serves street-style tacos with simple ingredients and just the right amount of hole-in-the-wall. Mas Tacos is cash only, but at only $3 a piece, they will have you saying "more tacos, please" in no time.
Clean Juice
An organice juice and smoothie bar in the heart of Five Points. On the menu, you'll also find snacks like acai bowls and avocado toast (a personal favorite). It's the perfect place to grab a quick healthy breakfast or snack on the go. Download their app and you can take advantage of online ordering and paying.
Cafe Roze
An adorable French-feeling cafe that proves Millennial pink is here to stay. With coffee, cocktails and healthy dishes served all day, Cafe Roze is equally perfect for breakfast as it is for happy hour.
Photos: @caferoze
Rosepepper Cantina
This East Nashville darling serves up everyone’s favorite tacos and margs, but it’s probably best known for its witty sign, with the most Instagrammable of sayings. We’re firm believers you can never, ever go wrong with a night at Rosepepper.
Wild Cow
Don’t be fooled by the name; no cows were harmed in the making of this restaurant. In a region where it’s not uncommon to find meat IN your vegetables, Wild Cow is one of the few strictly vegetarian spots in Nashville. Everything on the menu comes vegan, with the option to add cheese.
Butcher & Bee
Based in Charleston, Butcher & Bee serves creative small plates, cocktails and a handful of entrees. Everything is fresh and made-from-scratch, featuring ingredients you recognize presented in a unique and flavorful way. The small plates are what shines here, and you can’t skip the whipped feta.
Photos: @bandbnashville
Eastland Cafe
Upscale American food, carefully selected wines and a chic, yet laid back atmosphere is a perfect combination that Eastland Cafe does so well. A neighborhood favorite and our eastside go-to for a night out with friends, family or a date.
Each mini donut is made to order - pick from the signature flavors or create your own. Every donut is soaked in a special sweet whiskey glaze made from Nelsons Green Brier Distillery Belle Meade Bourbon. Coffee, craft beer and wine, as well as spiked milkshakes are offered.
Folk
The latest creation from the chef of the highly-acclaimed Rolf & Daughters, Folk answers Rolf & Daughters’ pasta-centric menu with another Italian classic: pizza. Here, you’ll still find interesting ingredients (no judgment for Googling the menu under the table) and plenty of exposed brick, with a lighter and airier side than its sister restaurant.
Photos: @goodasfolk
Marché
Marché is a daytime-only European bistro, serving brioche, croissants, and crepes along with a popular weekend brunch. Marché and its nationally acclaimed sister restaurant, Margot, were some of the first to bring farm-to-table cuisine to Nashville and are mainstays of the fine dining scene in East Nashville.
Drink
Barista Parlor
Though Barista Parlor now has locations across Nashville, their spot in East Nashville is the OG (original garage). This hip shop instantly made its mark on the Nashville coffee scene when it opened in 2011, sourcing single origin coffees and roasting them in house. We love the spacious interior layout and Americana vibes.
The Post East
We adore this little cafe tucked away in one of East Nashville’s quaint residential neighborhoods. Though it’s a coffee shop, it is also one of Nashville’s best spots to grab gluten-free, vegan and organic bites and smoothies.
Photos: @theposteast
High Garden
Part tea shop and part enchanted forest, High Garden is must-visit for tea lovers. The front of the store has an assortment of fresh herbs and tea blends sold in bulk, while the back is home to a fermentation shop, with fresh kombucha, kefir and fermented foods. Grab a seat the bar and try the daily assortment of kombucha on tap.
Soda Parlor
As the name would suggest, this is a vintage-style soda parlor serving milkshakes, floats and high-end sodas on tap. If pretending you’re Sandra Dee for a day isn’t enough, you can also enjoy the on-site arcade and independent apparel shop, with graphic tees and hoodies designed in Nashville and screen printed by hand.
Photos: @thesodaparlor
Rosemary & Beauty Queen
For when you kind of want to go out and kind of want to go a house party, there’s Rosemary and Beauty Queen, two bars nestled in the cutest East Nashville houses. Though the final touches are still being placed on Beauty Queen, Rosemary has been an instant hit with its great cocktails and cozy vibe.
Urban Cowboy Public House
When trendy Brooklyn bed & breakfast Urban Cowboy opened its Nashville location, everyone fell in love – so much so, that they created the Public House, a place for the locals to enjoy Urban Cowboy with no overnight reservations required. Stunning interior work from the folks at 1767 Designs, large fire pits and Southwestern decor make this the perfect spot to enjoy a spring or fall night.
Photos: @urbancowboybnb
Dino’s
Dino’s claims that it’s East Nashville’s oldest dive bar, and is there really any more explanation needed? Go for late night cheeseburgers, $3 beers and maybe even the occasional celeb sighting.
Smith & Lentz Brewing
East Nashville is home to some of Nashville’s best microbreweries, and the first one our list is Smith & Lentz. Located in no-frills digs along East Nashville’s main drag, Smith & Lentz has everything you need in a brewery: a popcorn machine, soft pretzels, a big projector screen for watching the game and plenty of cold brewed beer.
Photos: @smithandlentzbeer
Southern Grist Brewing Co.
Southern Grist, tucked away in a residential neighborhood, is known for its experimental and creative flavors, incorporating things like fruit, coconut, cacao and vanilla into its brews (trust us, it works). We love grabbing a picnic table out front on a pretty day and sampling the flavor of the week.
Vinyl Tap
Our love for this place goes to 11. Vinyl Tap is half craft beer bar, half record store, with beer holders built into the record shelves for easy sipping and browsing. It’s basically what all your hipster dreams are made of, and it’s right across from Southern Grist for the perfect one-two punch.
Walden
Walden is the bar we’ve always imagined. Beautifully designed, but laid back. Well-lit and cozy, a place for chatting with friends more than a place for getting someone’s number. And most importantly, THE COCKTAILS ARE UNDER $12, which is a small miracle in Nashville. As its muse would say, “go confidently.”
Photos: @waldenbar
Pearl Diver
Nashville’s hottest spot north of Havana. Pearl Diver is a tropical-themed bar, with island-inspired drinks, cabanas and all the Hemingway-in-Cuba vibes. A really fun escape from the rest of the city, a trip to Pearl Diver should be on any East Nashville itinerary.
Photos: @pearldiver_nashville
Attaboy
There’s no menu at this hip speakeasy, started in New York. After a cocktail consultation with your waiter, Attaboy’s bartenders will create a custom drink for you, based on your favorite spirit and flavors. We’ve yet to be disappointed, and even if surprises aren’t your thing, the atmosphere alone makes this a great place to get together with friends.
Shop
Fanny’s House of Music
Located in a literal house, Fanny’s House of Music has everything a musician needs under one roof. The shop’s main inventory is made up of new and used instruments and music gear, but they also feature vintage gear and a vintage clothing line for those looking for something truly unique. With a mission to make gear buying a comfortable experience for all musicians (including women), Fanny’s is a kind and cozy neighborhood alternative to the corporate music scene.
FLWR Shop
Marketed as “not your granny’s flower shop”, FLWR Shop focuses on natural, beautiful flowers and creative, organic floral design. Send a loved one an arrangement described with adjectives like “earthy”, “vivid”, “amorous” and “celestial”, or stop by the store to shop for succulents, houseplants or even a bouquet for yourself.
Fond Object
Vinyl records, vintage finds, art, and unique clothes. These are a few of East Nashville’s favorite things, and they can all be found at Fond Object, a self-described “psychedelic department store.” In addition to the hodgepodge of items for sale, Fond Object has a sister record label and is known to host shows and movie nights in its backyard.
The Bookshop
Can we all just take a minute and mourn the decline of the physical bookstore? The Bookshop in East Nashville helps fill this little hole in our hearts with their selection of beautiful books, all carefully displayed in a brick and mortar shop. With the shop’s selection intentionally chosen for design and presentation, this is one place where it’s ok to judge a book by its cover.
Lemon Laine
A beauty shop that focuses solely on natural beauty and wellness products, Lemon Laine carries clean makeup and skincare products along with supplements to make you glow from the inside out. Make sure you make a stop by the oil bar, where they will blend a facial oil totally customized to you and your skincare needs.
Lucaya Clothing Co.
Nashville might be a Southern, landlocked state, but Lucaya Clothing Co. is all about outfitting your beachy, boho looks – whether for an escape out of town or a night out on the town. Think dresses, rompers, kimonos and fun jewelry at prices that won’t break the bank (or cut into your mojito budget).
Old Made Good
The ladies at Old Made Good are masters at curating and reconstructing vintage pieces in a way that will make you say “OMG”. Their inventory of old clothing, jewelry, and home goods are either carefully selected or refurbished by the shop’s owners, and are mixed in with eclectic items from local makers. Each visit brings a new fun thing you didn’t know you needed.
The Groove
The quintessential neighborhood record store, The Groove sells used and new vinyl and CDs out of an old house. Laid back, with stacks that are easy to sort through, The Groove is a cozy shop where you can get lost for an afternoon, hunting for your favorite tunes.
Apple & Oak
Vintage Turkish rugs, candles, wall art, and the cleverest greeting cards; Apple & Oak carries all the things that give us all the heart eyes. This cute home goods store is a treasure chest of unique finds – and they even have a blue vintage Ford pickup named Loretta Lou that will bring rugs to your home to try out.
Natalie Bubsy
A women’s clothing store where all their products are made and designed in Nashville. You’ll find simple, versatile, well-made garments with everyday life in mind.
Whiskey Water
A women’s boutique with affordable clothes, everything at Whiskey Water is curated by the owner – including their original line of t-shirts, with cute sayings like “La Croix Me A River” and “Support Your Local Dive Bar”. Expect standard boutique finds along with pieces with a little bit of edge for the “whiskey drinking rebel in all of us.”
Go
Scout’s Barbershop
Scout’s promises a good haircut and a good hang – at about half the price of normal salon. A barbershop for both guys and gals, Scout’s has it all, from straight razor cuts and fades to full cut and color. The best part? No appointment is necessary. Simply put your name on the list and grab a local cold brewed coffee or beer on tap while you wait.
Shelby Bottoms
East Nashville’s community park, Shelby Bottoms, has sports fields, a nature center and a paved greenway that stretches for miles along the Cumberland River. A popular spot for bikers and runners, we love early runs along the river before exploring the city.
Climb Nashville
An expansive rock climbing gym, Climb Nashville offers tons of indoor climbing space along with a fitness and yoga studio. Where the west Nashville location focused on top ropes and lead climbing, the East Nashville gym is all about bouldering, with over 4,000 square feet of bouldering space.
Basement East
Affectionately called “The Beast” by the locals, The Basement East is the latest venture from the Grimey’s record store owner – a spacious club hosting local and national acts, including record release shows sponsored by Grimey’s. Craft local beers and the wrap around porch elevates The Beast above the average rock club and makes it a popular spot for industry chats in between sets.
The 5 Spot
Though The 5 Spot is a great place to catch live bands, this club is best known for its weekly dance parties. We recommend Motown Monday, a dance party that kicks off at 10 p.m. each Monday night. Who said Mondays have to be boring?