If you think you know downtown, think again: our city center has matured beyond belief, paving the way for nook-and-cranny neighborhoods to bubble up. Here’s a local’s guide to five walkable downtown neighborhoods—one for whatever suits your mood.
Sure, you know how to go downtown when you need to. When there’s a Preds game. When you have tickets to the bal-let or the Ryman. You know to check the Park It! Downtown website (parkitdowntown.com) to find a decent parking spot. May-be you occasionally bring visitors to Lower Broad for some Western swing at Robert’s Western World. But just as the rest of Nashville has expanded and evolved in recent years, so has downtown. There are several distinct downtown neighborhoods around the city center, each with its own history, vibe, and both new and established businesses. While you’re familiar with going downtown for special occasions or big events, we’re putting the magnifying glass on those experiences you need to discover or rediscover —these are places you can head to on any old Tuesday. And, no, parking isn’t as hard (or as expensive) as you think.Whether you’re more likely to pull on your cowboy boots or Allbirds, downtown’s sidewalks await your foot traffic.
Downtown is Nashville’s largest business district, home to hundreds of merchants, nearly 75 percent of which are locally or regionally owned.In 2020—yes, during a pandemic—thirty-five new retailers and restaurants opened inside downtown’s two-mile footprint. (That’s in between the Cumberland River and the Interstates and Jefferson Street.) Another fifty-seven new retailers or restaurants have opened or have announced that they will be since January 2021. Among those new retailers are those at Fifth and Broadway, including the Assembly Food Hall and Nashville’s first Black-owned business on Broadway, Slim and Husky’s. The Nashville Downtown Partnership has made exploring downtown better than ever with Downtown Dollars. These e-cards are a type of local stimulus for those businesses. And you get a bonus. Buy $75 in Downtown Dollars and you’ll get $100 to spend. That’s thanks to sponsorships; everything you spend (including your bonus) goes directly into the hands of the more than 130 retailers and restaurants who accept Downtown Dollars as payment. That’s cash you can spend on a treatment at the Spa by JW Marriott if you need some alone time or take the family to play The Escape Game. Afterward, sip a drink at the Grand Hyatt rooftop bar Lou/Na or feast on barbecue from Peg Leg Porker, all with your 33 percent more in bonus bucks.
Downtown Core
History: For more than a century, this part of town has been a vibrant, lively center of commerce. Since 1828, Printers Alley has welcomed print shops and professional offices. (Fun fact: Andrew Jackson’s law firm used to be around the corner.) The Arcade, which connects 4th and 5th Avenues North with a glass ceiling, has kept Nashvillians out of the rain since 1902. Second Avenue—once called Market Street—was essential for its warehouses that served boat traffic along the Cumberland River. The area is rebuilding following the Christmas Day explosion, and existing businesses, such as Mike’s Ice Cream and The Stillery, have their doors open and are serving treats, proving their #NashvilleStrong resilience and spirit.
Vibe: Bustling, cosmopolitan and storied.
What to do: Once a month, you can stroll through the art galleries along 5th Avenue North/Rep. John Lewis Way Blvd. (formerly Avenue of the Arts) and inside The Arcade after hours at the FirstBank First Saturday Art Crawl, admiring the works of local, regional, and national artists (galleries also have regular business hours if that’s not your style). Stick around for a bite to eat; you can make it casual. Local favorites, including Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant, D’Andrews Bakery and Café, and Frothy Monkey, make it easy to find a tasty snack while wandering. If you are in the mood for a little more glam, the boutique hotels on 4th Avenue North offer that and you don’t even have to stay overnight (although there’s nothing wrong with a staycation). Have a cocktail on the rooftop of The Bobby hotel, in the swanky lobby at the Noelle, and then walk to the Fairlane Hotel and get bagels to go from Bagelshop, which recently relocated from East Nashville.
Added bonus: The new Fifth and Broadway complex includes the Assembly Food Hall with restaurants of every taste from around town, and the National Museum of African American Music, an interactive tour through Black influences in every musical genre.
The Gulch
History: In 2000, MarketStreet Enterprises had a vision for The Gulch and built this 110-acre entertainment destination from the ground up. The former railroad gulch (hence the neighborhood name) is now a pedestrian-friendly zone (for both two-legged and four-legged walkers), with high rises, pocket green spaces, and rooftop decks.
Vibe: Trendy, brunchy and dog-friendly.
What to do: Take the Gulch Greenway from Capitol View, with plans to meet your friends at Pins Mechanical. You can spend hours playing bocce, foosball, ping pong, or duckpin (a kind of bowling that doesn’t require fancy rental shoes). If your friends aren’t game (pun intended), look into joining Pins’ leagues and make some new friends. Choose Gertie’s Bar at the bottom of 404 Kitchen for a renowned bourbon selection, or L.A. Jackson at the top of the Thompson Nashville hotel for thirst-quenching cocktails or opt for carbs baked into goodness at Biscuit Love. If you want to balance out the indulgences, holistic wellness is on the cacao menu at Blue Stripe. Shop for make-up for a night out at Winky Lux.
Added bonus: Few neighborhoods are as rich with street art and exterior murals as The Gulch. There may be lines around the What Lifts You Wings, but here’s a tip: check out the “Guide” feature on The Gulch Instagram page (@thegulchnashville) for a comprehensive map of off-the- beaten-path murals to behold, including colorful mosaics and guitars.
Capitol View
History: Since the 1870s, this area of town has been active, a home to European immigrants and freed slaves, and later to industrial businesses. In 2017, a joint venture between Northwestern Mutual, Boyle Investment Company, and Northwood Ravin launched Capitol View as a new thirty-two-acre multi-use urban district, which now is teeming with folks who live and work in the area, as well as those who come down to play, shop, and enjoy one of the city’s best parks.
Vibe: Fun, lively and spacious.
What to do: Capitol View is designed to be a walkable community, with lots of shopping, restaurants, bars, green space, and even a Publix grocery store in a connected area. Pop in to find a new dress at Vici Boutique, followed by a relaxing Massage LuXe, and a blowout at Dry Bar. The burgers and beers (or Bloody Marys) at M.L. Rose are legendary and will give you the energy to play at Frankie Pierce Park, a bright city park with a dog park, a sand volleyball court, impressive playground, and educational murals.
Added bonus: It is an easy urban walk along the Gulch Greenway from Frankie Pierce through the North Gulch and on to the heart of The Gulch. Enjoy taking in city sights from a paved path that also keeps you and your kids and dogs away from city traffic. One more perk? Parking is free in Capitol View, so you can park once and wander and explore.
Sobro
History: This area, so named for its geographic locator South of Broadway, once was the design district, lined with fabric, antique, and framing businesses. The area was transformed after the Music City Center opened in 2013 and catalyzed major development on these streets. Visionaries of today’s SoBro include the Pinnacle at Symphony Place, which opened in 2010, was the first LEED- certified office tower downtown, and the Encore condo building, home to the acclaimed and favorite-to-locals Etch restaurant.
Vibe: Good-time entertainment melting pot.
What to do: Locals know to grab a blanket to sit on the grass for a show at Ascend Amphitheater, but being downtown doesn’t have to be a special-occasion kind of thing. You can head to the beautiful Liberty Common for a pre- or post-show bite or make the eating and drinking the main event. The Register is a private social club, with the first level open to the public. A bright yellow, arch-shaped doorway and bookshelf frame this cozy bar space, making it perfect for a date, a catch-up with friends, and a great selfie. Bar Sovereign is easy to miss from the outside, but step inside for a cozy vibe where you can choose between intimate seating areas or a welcoming bar stool. If you prefer the feel of nineteenth century Vienna, Café Intermezzo is a coffee shop with pastries that satisfy. The River House in the Bridgestone building, which is owned by the same folks who own local-favorite BrickTops, is the business-casual choice for area office workers. Blow off some steam playing games or trivia at Headquarters Beercade, or cornhole at 6th and Peabody’s sprawling beer garden while you order from the Prince’s Hot Chicken food truck.
Added bonus: More than anything else, Nashville is a songwriter’s town, and you can appreciate that by listening to in-the-round acoustic sessions. That’s the idea behind the Listening Room Café, a reliable option for a mellow night hearing songwriter stories.
Rutledge Hill/Rolling Mill Hill
History: This downtown neighborhood is just south of Korean Veterans Boulevard. It first got its boost with the redevelopment of the historic Trolley Barns in 2011.
Vibe: Historic, charming and interesting.
What to do: Locals flocked here to bowl, splash, eat, and drink at Pinewood from the day it opened. Other draws include the incomparable Southern cuisine at Husk Nashville, a caffeine boost from Crema Coffee Roasters, and saucy- heavy satisfaction from Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint. The area holds both the old—the Nashville Children’s Theater is the oldest continually operating professional theater for kids in the country and the new—Peabody Plaza opened in 2020 as one of the first of several new buildings in the mixed-use neighborhood. Get a glimpse of the days of yore at The Hermitage Café when you belly up to the retro lunch counter for breakfast serviced all day. Park once, play twice: Park here, walk down the hill to SoBro, explore and walk back up at the end of the night.
Added bonus: Rutledge Hill/Rolling Mill Hill offers one of the city’s prettiest vantage points over the Cumberland. Take it, and the skyline in, sometimes with the sounds from Ascend Amphitheater as a backdrop.