Essential Nashville

Areas of Town

8th Avenue South

A priest and a duck walk into a bar…okay, we're not comedians, but the best comedians in the world frequent Nashville's only comedy venue, Zanies, located south of downtown in an area chock full of antique and retro furniture shops.

12South

The 12South Neighborhood (generally thought of as the areas adjacent to 12th Avenue South between Wedgewood Avenue and Gale Lane) is a delightful destination featuring wide, tree-lined sidewalks, on-street and communal parking, human-scaled lighting and an eclectic array of dining and retail establishments. The architecture of 12South is a funky mixture with its own organic integrity. Typical 1920s-style commercial buildings are pulled up right to the sidewalk, with glass windows providing lots of transparency. Strip shop fragments with a ’60s look are interspersed among bungalows with front yards. Not to be missed is the neighborhood’s wonderful Sevier Park.

The District

There’s that one little corner of downtown that is so uniquely Nashville and has so much to offer that it likes to think of itself simply as “The District.” Composed of Second Avenue, Lower Broadway, and Printer’s Alley, the District specializes in entertainment and showcases some of the best of Nashville’s history. From honky tonks to fine dining, nightclubs to dinner theater, and Victorian charm to neon lights, the District is THE place to experience the authentic flavor of Music City.

East Nashville

East Nashville is home to several historic neighborhoods that are finding themselves in the midst of a renaissance. From its development in the 1850's, Edgefield remained an independent municipality until incorporation into the City of Nashville in 1880. Although more than 600 structures were destroyed in the great East Nashville Fire of 1916, the neighborhood still boasts an eclectic mixture of antebellum buildings. The revitalization of this area has included construction of new single-family homes, zero-lot-line town homes, and condominiums for those who desire urban living with a suburban neighborhood feeling. Click here for a short (5:08) film about East Nashville’s “hard-working musicians.”

Elliston Place

Just across West End Avenue from Vanderbilt, Elliston Place is located west of Downtown and has a variety of options for nighttime entertainment. The legendary Exit/In has played host to many of today's hit-makers and future stars. This cornerstone of Elliston Place recently celebrated its 30th year and shows no signs of slowing down. You can catch great music almost any night of the week.

Germantown

Two of Nashville's historic neighborhoods are bringing people closer to town to live and play. Germantown, so named because of the influx of German immigrants in the mid 19th century, is being restored to its original grandeur. A slate of new residential developments, restaurants and businesses have helped make Germantown a desirable location for urban pioneers to live, work, eat and play. Nashville’s Farmers’ Market is within easy walking distance of Germantown.

Green Hills

An area that sports some of Nashville's most desirable homes, Green Hills also has its fair share of destinations for a night out. The Bluebird Café has a national reputation as the place to be heard in Nashville if you want to make it as a songwriter. The Mall at Green Hills is certainly one of Nashville’s most popular shopping destinations.

The Gulch

Located at the edge of the Central Business District and within minutes of West End Avenue, Music Row and Hillsboro Village, The Gulch is poised to become a thriving business community and offers loft offices, upscale office space and spacious studios. Loft apartments, studios and condominiums make up the residential component of The Gulch. This area is also home to some of Nashville’s newest — and most popular — restaurants and bars.

Hillsboro Village

Conveniently located near Vanderbilt and Belmont Universities, the quaint Nashville neighborhood of Hillsboro Village becomes a hotbed of activity when the sun goes down. Home to a number of locally owned shops and boutiques, eateries and the historic Belcourt Theatre, Hillsboro Village is not to be missed.

Midtown

Every city seems to have a midtown, and Nashville is no exception. The funny thing is, nobody here ever calls it that. If you were to ask a local where midtown is, you'd probably receive some confused looks. But if you mention places like South Street Cafe, Bound'ry or the Vanderbilt Law School, they'll be able to tell you exactly how to get there.