Best things to do in East Nashville

Best things to do in East Nashville

Just across the Cumberland River from downtown Nashville, you’ll find East Nashville. This non-touristy area has a youthful, local, laid-back vibe. The area is more residential than downtown, with old bungalow homes, and has its own unique feel. There is no shortage of cool coffee shops, breweries, bars, shops, restaurants, music venues, and parks. It is the perfect place to spend an afternoon, night, or the whole day.

Check out Bongo East and Game Point

Game Point Cafe serves up some of the city’s best coffee. In addition to great coffee, this location has a board game cafe! With over 100 board games, it’s impossible not to have fun. Due to the Covid pandemic, the café/game room is closed to indoor seating, however, you can still grab a cup of Joe and food curbside until they can safely open again.

Explore East Nashville’s food options

Mas Tacos Por Favor began as just a food truck to satisfy the late-night munchies in the popular nightlife heavy 5 points area of East Nashville. Given its popularity, it only made sense to open at its own location. This no-frills spot offers delicious and super reasonable food (only $3 per taco). It’s no wonder there is always a line out the door. I had the Quinoa and Sweet Potato Taco and the Fried Avocado and they did not disappoint!

If you’re more in the mood for burgers, across the street you’ll find Pharmacy Burger and Beer Garden. This popular joint has mouth-watering burgers, German Wursts, an old-school soda fountain, and its very own beer garden.

Five Points Pizza has delicious New York-style pizza. We tried the Spinach Gorgonzola and Vegetarian. It was some of the best crust I’ve ever had. If you’re in the mood for a hotdog, check out I Dream of Weenie. This iconic VW bus turned hotdog stand is quirky and so fun. It has become a staple in the 5 Points neighborhood. It’s not your average hotdog stand, with interesting dogs like “Flamin’ Frank” (mustard, chili, cheese, hot salsa, jalapenos, and red onions) and a “Pimento Cheese Weenie” and “Mac and Cheese Weenie.” Hotdogs are not my thing, but it was definitely worth seeing!

Also in 5 Points, Margot Cafe and Bar serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch on weekends. They have a rotating French and Italian menu. The food is very fresh and the restaurant has a great ambiance.

For breakfast, we stopped at East Park Donuts. The donuts are delicious and they also serve breakfast sandwiches and lunch.

If you’re having a hard time deciding what to eat, Hunter’s Station is East Nashville’s food hall. They house a bbq shop, a Vietnamese kitchen, “The Grilled Cheeserie'” a taco place, beer garden/pub, and more!

Shop Local

East Nashville has a variety of eclectic local shops and unique second-hand stores. Five Points Alley Shops (aka The Idea Hatchery) consists of 8 distinct free-standing locally owned “pods” and galleries. It’s a great way to support the local community in a one-stop hub!

There are also a fun variety of vintage stores, such as The Hip Zipper and Fanny’s that doubles as a music store.

Head over to Shelby Bottoms Park

On a nice day, get outdoors at Shelby Bottoms Nature Center and Greenway. The greenway is a perfect place to spend an afternoon. They have a variety of trails for walking, running, or biking and they have bike rentals. The park also has river views!