For many visitors, Nashville is synonymous with the famous honky-tonks on lower Broadway Street like Tootsies Orchid Lounge and Robert’s Western World, but venture a little further from the bright lights of downtown and you’ll discover Music City’s many unique neighbourhoods, each with its own special character, flavours and attractions.
SOBRO
Step a few blocks south of Broadway and you’ll find yourself in SoBro, a booming neighbourhood that is home not just to the city’s sprawling convention centre and Bridgestone Arena, but also several intimate live music venues and award-winning restaurants that are worth a visit. Standouts include The Listening Room Café, a cozy spot where famous and soon-to-be-famous singer-songwriters come to try out new music and Etch, a restaurant with a globally-inspired menu created by Deb Paquette, the first woman in Tennessee to qualify as a certified executive chef. Other SoBro highlights include the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the Tennessee whiskey of the Nashville Barrel Co. and the irresistible Goo Goo Chocolate Company, home to America’s oldest candy bar.
THE GULCH
This former industrial neighbourhood just to the south of downtown has been transformed in recent years into an exciting and walkable community that pulses with renewed energy that has drawn numerous new businesses and attractions to the area. Visit the dazzling Frist Art Museum, a nonprofit art exhibition centre housed in a spectacular art-deco former post office, or rock out on your dream guitar at The Gibson Garage, the no-hassle flagship store of America’s most famous guitar maker. The Gulch teems with craft breweries and new restaurants where you can try everything from the city’s iconic Nashville Hot Chicken and barbecue to anything in between, but you shouldn’t miss the award-winning Biscuit Love, a brunch spot where the beloved southern biscuit reigns supreme.
EAST NASHVILLE
From downtown, cross the Cumberland River on The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world, for epic views of the city skyline then make your way into East Nashville, the beating heart of the city’s creative culture. Home to numerous galleries, thrift stores, coffee shops and dive bars, the neighbourhood is at its heart a residential one with historic homes dating back to the early 1900s. Catch a show at The Basement East, a small live music venue that attracts big acts, go crate digging for old vinyl at the iconic Grimey’s record store or grab a delicious crustburger at Joyland, a nearby fast-food concept restaurant that is the brainchild of celebrity chef Sean Brock.
GERMANTOWN
To the northwest of downtown lies Germantown, a hip and trendy neighbourhood where you’ll find a mix of Victorian homes, renovated warehouses, cozy cafes and upscale restaurants. Start your exploration with a visit to the beautiful green space that is Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park where you’ll find the always-bustling Nashville Farmers’ Market and the free-to-enter Tennessee State Museum. While you won’t find any German restaurants in the city’s oldest neighbourhood, it is home to some outstanding eateries including 5th & Taylor, Rolf and Daughters, Butchertown Hall and Henrietta Red. You can also enjoy a drink at one of the many bars and breweries that call Germantown home such as Bearded Iris Brewing, The Back Corner or Von Elrod’s Beer Hall and Kitchen.
WEDGEWOOD-HOUSTON
Dubbed by some as the “sequel to the Gulch,” WeHo is a trendy area that is rapidly gentrifying as old warehouses and factories transform into shops and restaurants. The neighbourhood’s arts scene is flourishing as affordable housing has attracted creative minds whose works are on full display in places like the David Lusk and Julia Martin Galleries. The women-owned Jackalope Craft Distillery is a must-visit for beer enthusiasts and there is no shortage of good eats to sample including local favourite Earnest which is just across the street from Jackalope or the always-popular Dicey’s and Soho House.
OPRYLAND/MUSIC VALLEY
One attraction which is synonymous with Nashville is The Grand Ole Opry, which is often referred to as the “Show that Made Country Music Famous.” This historic and iconic radio and stage show that is dedicated to celebrating country music will celebrate its 100th birthday next year and is still going strong in a purpose-built venue that has spawned an entire neighbourhood catering to visiting fans. It is home to the Gayland Opryland Resort, Opry Mills Mall and Gaylord Springs Golf Links. Food options are plentiful including the delightful southern comfort food of Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen and the mouthwatering barbecue of Bar-B-Cutie Smokehouse. For something special, enjoy live entertainment with your meal on a cruise aboard the General Jackson Showboat on the Cumberland River.
12SOUTH
This half-mile stretch along 12th Avenue is one of the city’s most walkable and is a premiere dining and shopping destination adored by locals and visitors alike. Explore unique boutiques like Serendipity, which was voted the best gift shop in Nashville in 2023, or Ranger Station, a one-of-a-kind fragrance house. In between your shopping excursions, fuel up with coffee at the 12th Avenue outpost of local café chain Frothy Monkey or go for something more substantial at Edley’s Bar-B-Que or the delicious 12 South Taproom and Grill.
THE NATIONS
No one’s quite sure how this up-and-coming neighbourhood got its name, but the former industrial area that is just a 10-minute drive from downtown is a welcome escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. Home to numerous craft breweries, convivial bars, delightful art galleries and chef-driven restos, it’s the place to go for a hyper-local Nashville experience. Stop at LeQuire Gallery to learn about one of Nashville’s most regarded artists, Alan LeQuire, visit ABLE, an ethically-minded women’s apparel store committed to helping women throughout the world via fashion or stuff your face at Bringle’s Smoking Oasis, a recently-opened restaurant created by the founder of one of the city’s most revered barbecue joints, Peg Leg Porker.
WEST NASHVILLE
West Nashville is a leafy and affluent residential community known for its stately homes including two historic properties that can be toured by visitors: Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery and Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. Belle Meade started as a log cabin and 250 acres and grew into a beautiful Greek Revival Mansion and one of the largest thoroughbred horse farms in the American South. It’s also home to a winery which offers a variety of wine and food pairings, and bourbon tastings while preserving the art of southern hospitality. Meanwhile, the stunning 55-acre Cheekwood Estate was built in 1929 by the Cheek family who amassed their fortune through the Maxwell House Coffee business. Today, it serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum and museum.
Visit It
To learn more about these and Nashville’s many other delightful neighbourhoods, visit https://www.visitmusiccity.com/explore-nashville/neighborhoods
