Where to Brunch in East Nashville

Bagel Face Bakery

Located just off I-65 in East Nashville, Bagel Face Bakery uses only natural ingredients (aka no gelatins, no dough conditioners) for their sammies and schmears. Step into a whimsical world of friendly bagel faces painted across the walls of their shop on Main Street. But that isn’t the only place to purchase; you can find the holey creations at Crema, Frothy Monkey 12th South and the Hermitage Hotel.

What to order: Shuckman’s Lox (on an “everything x93 bagel, cream cheese, tomatoes, capers, and red onions) or their specialty bagel of the week
Brunch Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 7 a.m.-1 p.m.
700 Main St, Nashville, TN 37206; 615-730-8840; bagelfacebakery.com

Barista Parlor

Thanks to a constant stream of national press, Barista Parlor remains a rave-worthy Eastsider hub, especially on the weekends. When the weather is nice, their bay of garage doors are open and the patio is full. Folks from all over the city come to chill with a high-quality espresso and Porter Road Butcher biscuit.

What to order: Scratch-made buttermilk sausage biscuit or the house made pop tart
Brunch Hours: Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
519 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206; 615-712-9766; baristaparlor.com

The Family Wash/Garage Coffee

After their recent relocation to Main Street, the Family Wash is a super convenient spot serving up breakfast all day. As a bar, live music venue, and now coffee shop with a real-deal chef, this is the type of place that can cause your hangover…and then cure it the next morning.

What to order: Fried Green Biscuit sandwich with a cortado from the Garage Coffee bar
Brunch Hours: Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-midnight
626A Main St, Nashville, TN 37206; 615-645-9930; familywash.com

Little Octopus

Unearthing a gluten-free breakfast in Nashville is like finding a needle in a haystack. And yet, Sarah Gavigan and Daniel Herget’s East Nashville restaurant—which, like the name implies, is heavy on seafood dishes, both hot and cold—does just that. The duo aims to change the mentality of what breakfast food should be by moving away from heavier options. Instead, they make it satiating and fulfilling without immediately putting you back to bed.

What to order: The Octopus with jerk spice, served with grits made from ground bamboo rice and cooked in coconut milk
Brunch Hours: Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
604 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206; 615-454-3946; littleoctopusnashville.com

Mad Donnas

Night or day, you’ll find a lively crowd at Mad Donna’s, on the corner of Woodland and 14th Street North. They have an incredible build-your-own Bloody Mary Bar with options like bacon-infused vodka and an extensive brunch menu that includes a breakfast burger—topped with bacon and a fried egg, of course.

What to order: The Big Don or The Captain’s French Toast
Brunch Hours: Saturday 9 a.m.-12 a.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
1313 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206; 615-226-1617; maddonnas.com

Marche Artisan Foods

Situated in the heart of historic East Nashville, Marché is part bakery, part market, and part bright, bustling European café. The cuisine is seasonal, but some menu favorites (like the croissant French toast) can be found year-round. Need a savory start? Look no further than the vegetable hash, topped with Parmesan and a fried egg. For something lighter, the fruit tartine combines apples, brie, and honey balsamic on raisin sourdough for the perfect sweet and salty bite. If you’re in a rush, swing by the bakery up front and grab an almond croissant or a cinnamon roll scone from chef Tom Huber’s stash of breakfast pastries.

What to order: Fruit tartine
Brunch Hours: Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
1000 Main St, Nashville, TN 37206; 615-262-1111; marcheartisanfoods.com

Mitchell’s Deli

Now at its new location in Riverside Village, Mitchell’s Deli has been curing, smoking and making their meats, sausages and roast beef in house since 2008. Patrons love their fabulous patio space almost as much as they love the deli’s custom sandwiches and locally sourced ingredients.

What to order: Choose from classics at the hot breakfast bar: scrambled eggs, bacon, grits, french toast, biscuits and gravy…
Brunch Hours: Saturday 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
1306 McGavock Pk, Nashville, TN 37216; 615-262-9862; mitchelldeli.com

Nashville Biscuit House

This family-owned East Nashville favorite is all about no-nonsense, down-home breakfast dishes ranging from omelets and breakfast sandwiches to the prodigious Lumberjack Plate (two pancakes, three eggs, sausage and bacon, grits or home fries, and toast or a biscuit). If that’s not enough to power a day of heavy axe work, you can augment the platter with a six-ounce pork chop or rib eye. Bonus: They serve breakfast and lunch all day, so no matter when you’ve got a hankering, Nashville Biscuit House is there to serve.

What to order: The Hap Townes with two eggs, a half order of country ham or country fried steak, home fries or grits, and toast or a biscuit
Brunch Hours: Saturday 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
805 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206; 615-228-4504; nashvillebiscuithouse.com

Pied Piper Eatery

This colorful Inglewood haunt has one of the city’s best tot-sized selections on their kiddie breakfast menu—which means even the pickiest eaters will find something worth diving into. Plus the hilariously named dishes: Johnny Cash Onion Rings of Fire, Soup! There it is!, and Fleetwood Mac ’n Cheese will keep everyone in good spirits.

What to order: The Kitchen Sink: a monster omelet with toast, bacon, and hash brown casserole with additions of your choice
Brunch Hours: Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
1601 Riverside Dr, Nashville, TN 37216; 615-228-2795; piedpipereater.com

The Post East

Offering gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan dishes, this juice/smoothie bar is a quiet spot to get away from the work-week hustle.

What to order: Breakfast Empanada
Brunch Hours: Daily, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
1701 Fatherland St, Nashville, TN 37206; 615-547-2920; theposteast.com

Sky Blue Café

No matter how long you sleep in, Sky Blue will still be serving it sunny side up. Stroll around the historic Edgefield neighborhood after sampling local coffees such as Drew’s Brews and omelet dishes, pancakes, or french toast. There’s even a sandwich (the “Chadwich x93) named after owner Chad Stuible.

What to order: The Eggs Benedict—poached eggs, an English muffin, Canadian bacon, home fries and fruit
Brunch Hours: Daily, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
700 Fatherland St, Nashville, TN 37206; 615-770-7097; skybluecoffee.com

The Wild Cow

Who knew healthy could taste this good? Casual and creative, the menu offers vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options on the east side of town. Stuffed with tofu scramble and an assortment of tasty seasonal veggies, the breakfast tacos are a top recommended dish. For off-the-menu daily specials, check out The Wild Cow’s social media pages—the Tofuevos Rancheros and Bollywood Breakfast Burrito (complete with chickpea masala and curry tofu scramble) are two of our recent favorites.

What to order: Breakfast tacos
Brunch Hours: Daily, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
1896 Eastland Ave, Nashville, TN 37206; 615-262-2717; thewildcow.com

>> Where to Brunch in 12 South

>> Where to Brunch in Germantown