Nashville City Guide: East Nashville
East Nashville, Tennessee
Bringing fire, innovation and quirky vibes to the city is East Nashville. I think of it as having a dual personality: a hipster who also has a sharp eye for modern design. Featuring a conglomerate of thriving bar scenes, showy street art and offbeat shops, East Nashville is the hippest area to explore. Located along the Cumberland River with the Nissan stadium at one edge and modern restaurants in the midst, East Nashville possesses soulfulness that embellishes the electricity of new growth.
Where to Dine:
This district's boho spirit tactfully marries the city's friendly ambiance with an upbeat funk. The Post East, for one, stands for locally sourced menu items crafted with love. Here, expect nothing short of organic, healthy fare in a rustic setting featuring classic wood tables and industrial lighting. Everything here is based on sustainability and fresh ingredients that you can taste. On the modern end is Cafe Roze which greets you with innovate, modern American fare in the epitome of a designer's dream interior. Minimalistic and airy with hints of pale pink adorn marble surfaces by day and fade into a warmly lit nighttime vibe. This all-day cafe is fueled by a NYC chef who serves dishes like dairy-free yogurt for breakfast, grain bowls midday, and cozy cocktails by night. If you're looking for local coffee shops, East Nashville has you covered. Sought after favorite, Barista Parlor, features artsy lattes in a quaint setting. Coffee gurus can sit and sip here knowing their cup has been crafted locally and ethically.
Shops with Dreamy Decor
Quirky shops, like Apple & Oak beam with similar features — neutral tones set the stage in a bright store where forthright wording on items remind you that you're in the eccentric area of Nashville. Offering a range of candles, small gifts, and sustainable clothing, Apple & Oak brings modern to Nashville in a profound way.
Instagram worthy shop, Lemon Laine, upholds its reputation throughout — this small shop houses an array of skincare, health, and beauty items, perfect for everyone's preferences and taste. This forward shop is adorned by natural beauty and wellness products in a setting that would make Joanna Gaines' jaw drop. Imagine pink velvet chairs, abstract wall prints, white interior, and a beauty counter surrounded by rattan chairs featuring red and white mesh. From there, various displays separate the beauty items from the wellness items to ensure an effortless shopping trip. The pale pink door that reads, "Who run this mother? GIRLS" is a clear nod to the progressive culture of Nashville. Honestly, it completely resembles Glossier, 100%.
Abundant Hip Murals
One of the best features of Nashville is the countless photo ops available to you on each corner and nook. Murals line city streets ranging from a minimalistic black and white mural that reads "East Nashville" to vibrant paintings of psychedelic flowers. Walk along Main Street and you'll find both the infamous "Stay Tuned" mural, a multi-colored, block style mural with Nashville written in cursive and the simplistic "East Nashville" mural. Olive & Sinclair, Nashville's signature local, hand-crafted chocolate shop is located right across the street from The Post East on Fatherland Street and houses a classic mural — it's like a scene you'd find in downtown London, resembling the Lindt chocolate commercials: A white-washed brick wall has been artfully transformed to display a 3D mural of a chocolate bar with the Olive & Sinclair brand name written in classic vintage block letter font. It's both a place to step into and smell the irresistible chocolate and take home a piece of Nashville and take a picture in front of.
Gallatin Street houses a gold mine of murals too — there's a delicate mural of two birds perched on a sign that reads, "Out East" and "Nashville" on the bottom. On the corner of Gallatin and Litton is a vibrant blue mural with a city sketch and guitar that reads "It's Your Town." Gallatin also houses another "East Nashville" mural, just like the one on Main Street. There are countless noteworthy murals tailored for anyone and everyone, and you'll stumble upon one after the other just on your way out of lunch at places like the local favorite, Mitchell Deli.
For the Culture
Nashville just wouldn't be Nashville without the iconic music shops. Vintage music shops, like Fanny's House of Music, a favorite of Taylor Swift's, is located in a restored Victorian house and offers musicians the option to buy, sell and rent anything from instruments to guitar straps. Here, there's a notable welcoming vibe, fully intended by the store owner to make every single person feel welcome to step inside and check it out. And if you're searching for genuine Nashville native culture, Found Object Records is your go-to — Stocked with rare vinyl records, retro decor and vintage tees. Although I didn't get to pop in myself, Two Sons is the definition of chic minimalism. Candles, perfume, suede sandals, and bags are available in iconic sand-colored tones in an airy shop — perfect for feeding your simplistic nature and shopping local.
For your nature-loving side, take a morning run or afternoon stroll in Shelby Park located at the Cumberland River's edge, just down from the Nissan Stadium. You're sure to be surrounded by a peaceful lake and breathtaking fall foliage in the autumn and vibrant picnics in the warmer months.
No doubt, East Nashville is filled to the brim with artsy and adventurous things, perfect for everyone. While I didn't have the time to visit every single one of these recommendations, I was able to experience most and loved them all! I can't wait to go back to Nashville and visit the places I didn't get to. If you liked my Nashville blog, stay tuned for my new post in this Nashville City Guide series where I'll be talking about a different area of Nashville next time!
