Best Neighborhoods in Nashville (2025)

The 5 Spot - Review - East Nashville - Nashville - The Infatuation

If the phrase “musical eclecticism” could be summed up as a bar/venue, 5 Spot would be it. At first glance, this spot looks like a simple dive. But it offers way more on the music front than you’d expect like T.Rex tributes, electronic mini-raves, and rock and roll Happy Hours. There are two unmissable parties, though: Sunday Night Soul, where you’ll see top soul performers put on by local artist and legend Jason Eskridge, and Motown Monday, an epic swing dance party with DJs spinning vinyl live. The Happy Day Bobby’s food truck serves up Cubans and bratwursts, but this is more of a drink-and-dance sort of place. Stick with a beer from local mainstays like Yazoo Brewing or a simple spirit/mixer combo. - Bailey Freeman

Germantown’s modern standard-bearer, known for house-made pastas, seasonal plates, and natural wine. A Bon Appétit Best New Restaurant alum and still essential, with continued acclaim from local editors and national writers.

The denim atelier that transformed a 1950s service station into 12 South’s creative heart. Featured in Condé Nast Traveler; custom fits, small-batch tees, and a design ethos that shaped the street’s indie identity.

Beloved for croissants, kouign amann, and bread that supplies top restaurants, Dozen helped put WeHo on the map and expanded to Woodbine in 2025. Multiple Best of Nashville wins and Food & Wine recognition underline its craft.

An all-day neighborhood cafe since 1996 that fuels students, filmmakers, and touring musicians. Cited by Bon Appétit and covered by Nashville Lifestyles; Bongo Java coffee, hearty scrambles, and pre-Belcourt pit stops are the ritual.

Sustainably minded, independently owned bistro with a serious wine program and a garden out front. Recommended by Eater Nashville and The Infatuation; refined French-leaning plates and The Barn for intimate gatherings.

Family-run Italian spot firing pies in Tennessee’s only coal-burning oven, with house pastas and a welcoming dining room. Highlighted on Eater Nashville’s Nations guide and beloved by neighborhood regulars.

Nashville’s cocktail benchmark, newly relocated above 8th Avenue South with a refined, speakeasy feel. A Bon Appétit Top 10 Cocktail Bar alum and James Beard semifinalist that shaped the city’s craft bar culture.

A cinder-block listening room preserving The Gulch’s roots with bluegrass seven nights a week. Celebrated by Condé Nast Traveler as Nashville’s best bluegrass club; Sunday jams often span generations.

Printer’s Alley’s storied supper club pairs nightly jazz and classic cocktails with late-night burlesque on weekends. Regularly highlighted by local critics and downtown guides; a rare downtown spot that still feels truly Nashville.