Had enough of Honky Tonks? Head across the Cumberland River. There’s no shortage of East Nashville things to do. It’s where you’ll find the city’s creative and hip , drawn to the area’s diverse culture, eclectic energy, and those charming old homes that whisper Victorian tales.
The area became a culinary hotspot in the early days , and you can still take a bite out of that legacy today. While you’re at it, add coffee, chocolate, and craft cocktails to the mix for good measure—it’s all in the cards in East Nashville!
Five Points
First stop, Five Points! See what happens when creativity, community, and cool collide. The only thing that will harsh your mellow here is trying to pick from the myriad of trendy restaurants and bars. Might as well hit a couple. In between, you can hop between eco retailers and creative hubs, or go mural hunting!
Here are a few local favorites you just don’t want to miss:
- Five Points Pizza for a slice of heaven
- Edley’s Bar-B-Que for some finger-lickin’ goodness and one of our favorite bbq spots
- Hunters Station for a culinary adventure and those who want options
- Noble’s for its unique vibe
- I Dream of Weenie for a quirky hot dog food truck experience
- Margot Cafe & Bar for a taste of local gastronomic artistry
Chocolate Tour
Whether you’ve just polished off a latte or a Long Island Iced Tea, there’s no better chaser than gourmet chocolate. Beyond the creative confectionery you’re bound to see in the local cafes, the east side of the Music City is home to two chocolatiers.
First stop? Olive and Sinclair, where chocolate is crafted with love and a dash of southern flair. The factory tour here is anything but ordinary. Go behind the cocoa curtain and witness firsthand how they blend antique melanguers (fancy stone mills) with modern European techniques to craft mouthwatering bars. Don’t worry, a delicious cascade of samples is guaranteed on your journey.
If your sweet tooth is still not satisfied, head a bit further east to Colts Chocolates. Started by former “Hee Haw honey” Mackenzie Colt, Colts has been a chocolate institution since the mid-80s. The Colts Bolts are the talk of the town—a divine concoction of chocolate, creamy peanut butter, and whole-roasted almonds. This spot offers factory tours Wednesday through Saturday, so you can see the magic happen.
Mural Tour
What Nashville neighborhood worth its whiskey wouldn’t have a bunch of cool murals to snap selfies with? East Nashville is just as much a canvas as any other part of this colorful town, and you’ll be hard-pressed to see every work of art decorating its walls.
To make the most of your day, we recommend teaming up with Vivian from VGB Photography. She’s a true local gem, known for her expertise in bachelorette, portrait, lifestyle, and branding photography.
Her goal? To help you create lasting memories! Her curated tour is not just about sightseeing but about experiencing the heart and soul of the area.
Here’s what it entails:
- Duration: About 45-60 minutes of exploration.
- Route: A 0.75-mile loop around the Five Points neighborhood, starting and ending at Hunter’s Station.
- Professional photography: Vivian captures your moments with her professional equipment, ensuring high-quality, candid shots.
- Customized props: Props from Party City add an extra layer of fun, personalized for your specific celebration – be it a birthday, bachelorette weekend, or just a casual day out.
- Photo delivery: Participants receive an online gallery of their photos within 2-3 days, ready to print and share.
Speakeasies
Alcohol may be legal, but you can certainly don a fedora and pretend like it’s not, and these popular East Nashville spots make that fun and easy.
- The Fox: a cozy library, only this one serves award-winning cocktails!
- Urban Cowboy Public House: this local favorite combines great cocktails, fantastic food (shoutout to Roberta’s Pizza), and heartfelt hospitality. With eclectic decor and an inviting outdoor patio, it’s a perfect spot to unwind after a day of exploring.
- Martha My Dear: you’ll be singing “remember me” before happy hour is over. The Besito and Aperol Spritz come highly recommended.
- Tiger Bar: East Nashville’s new speakeasies, an early 19th-century circus-themed gin joint, as they say (don’t worry, they have many other options besides gin), is slowly becoming a local favorite. Spin the wheel to get a mystery drink made by their expert bartenders. Note they have a strict dress code and will not let you in if you violate it.
Parks & Golf
If you love a good bit of greenery, head to Shelby Park. It’s a 300-acre sanctuary with over a century of public service under its belt, complete with 18 holes (perfect for a bachelor party), a fenced off-leash park for Fido, playgrounds, walking paths, and other parky goodness.
It’s also just a short walk from Shelby Bottoms Natural Area—an even bigger nature escape along the Cumberland River with stunning river views and tons of bird life (bring your binocs).
Restaurants & Coffee Shops
Despite everything you just read, the REAL draw when it comes to East Nashville things to do is… food! After all, the culinary scene is what put this neighborhood on the map, and it packs a punch, both in terms of flavor and diversity.
Here are some of our favorite spots for places to eat in East Nashville:
- Pelican & Pig
- Redheaded Stranger
- Kisser
- Lockland Table
- Butcher & Bee
- Audrey
- Hawkers
- Spicy Boy’s
- Graze
- Lou
But it’s not just about one-of-a-kind dining. After all, in a place like this, with so much good coffee to choose from, you might find yourself drinking it all day long. And that’s okay, because this is East Nashville. Go paint a mural if you get the jitters.
These are our top picks for where to get lifted:
Festivals
Attending an artsy celebration is a fantastic way to get a feel for this vibrant area. See the streets come alive and witness local creators doing what they do best.
First, there’s the quirky Tomato Art Fest—a festival where tomatoes are the stars of the show! This annual event is a mosaic of art, music, food, costumes, shopping and, of course, tomatoes. The best part is it helps support the Friends of Shelby Parks & Bottoms. Yay nature!
Shifting gears from tomatoes to the silver screen, we have the NashFilm Festival, where movie lovers can experience independent cinema from around the world, with everything from shorts to docs. And since it’s Music City, expect a harmonious blend of film and music.
And, saving the spiciest for last, there’s the Music City Hot Chicken Festival! The name says it all: it’s a culinary celebration of Nashville’s signature dish. If you haven’t tried it yet (shame on you) this is the place for a hot chicken hot take! Simmer the day away with dinner, cold beer, live music, and other fun events.
Are you cool enough?
Art-filled streets, culinary delights, caffeinated… coffee, vintage shops, craft cocktails, the list goes on! Don’t miss East Nashville for the real Music City deal. But it’s just one of many vibrant areas in this amazing city, so be sure to put Nashville at the top of your bucket list. Nashville Luxury Stays has the perfect vacation rental ready for you. Cheers!
