Nashville Neighborhood Spotlights
Throughout this website, I often refer to areas such as “12South” or “Germantown.” Unless you’re familiar with Nashville neighborhoods, that may not be very helpful. For many visitors, Downtown = honky tonks but not much more. Perhaps you’re staying in Midtown but don’t know what’s nearby. I created these Neighborhood Spotlights to provide a deeper dive, introducing you to nearby entertainment, restaurants, and activities. Use these posts to get more out of each neighborhood you visit.
Once a middle-class retail district, this area has evolved into a vibrant promenade, where visitors now outnumber locals. Anchored by Sevier Park at the south end, it boasts two iconic murals: “Nashville looks good on you” behind Frothy Monkey and “I Believe in Nashville” near Draper James.
You’ll find a lot to love in Germantown/Bicentennial Mall neighborhood–and most is pretty tightly compressed. Park for free adjacent to Farmers Market and set out.
Fifty years ago, downtown Nashville was mostly frequented by workers and occasional Grand Ole Opry visitors. Today, it’s a bustling destination where tourists flock, particularly those who explore beyond Broadway to discover its vibrant music venues, restaurants, and attractions.
Centennial Park in Nashville’s West End is a 132-acre urban retreat featuring a full-scale Parthenon replica, lush gardens, and vibrant cultural events. The surrounding area blends modern dining, historic landmarks, and a lively atmosphere, making it a must-visit spot for both locals and tourists. Diagonally across the street is the beautiful Vanderbilt University campus–great for cultural events and sports.
Bustling like Lower Broadway but with a very different vibe, Midtown is hopping with young professionals and college students. It’s also visitor-friendly with a number of quality hotels nearby. TIP: It’s a bit more affordable than downtown lodging but easily accessible on foot, by scooter, and bus. Midtown is adjacent to Music Row, so named for the number of record labels, recording studios, and publishing houses in the area–NOT because it’s a live music zone.
Once a industrial no-man’s-land, today The Gulch is a vibrant mix of hotels, restaurants, boutiques, and offices. Its main thoroughfare roughly forms an L along 12th Avenue and turns at Division Street. No walkable section of town boasts more refined international dining than The Gulch. (Pictured: the lowly Station Inn surrounded by towers)
Bordered to the north by Broadway, SoBro (that’s South of Broadway for you newcomers) is a highly developed area that’s home to Music City Center (our convention hall) and the Country Music Hall of Fame as well as dozens of hotels, restaurants, and a handful of noteworthy nightspots.
Nestled between Vanderbilt and Belmont universities, Hillsboro Village began as a streetcar community with a grocery, a pet shop, a department store, and a Woolworth’s. These days restaurants and clothiers dominate this three-block district with additional businesses on the side streets.
Three things characterize East Nashville: rockin’ little music venues, trendy dining destinations, and the city’s highest concentration of cool thrift stores/boutiques.
Gallatin Pike used to be considered the Main Street of East Nashville but, as that moniker has grown more hip, Dickerson Pike is now included considerably widening the definition of East Nashville.