Best Things To Do in East Nashville

The moment you step out of Drift Nashville, you’ll find yourself at the foot of the city’s most electric neighborhood. Keep going. From Five Points to Shelby Bottoms, East Nashville is a walker’s wonderland. Staying at an East Nashville hotel puts you in the center of it. Historic architecture, art, music, restaurants, and bars thrive at every corner, and Nissan Stadium, home to the Tennessee Titans and Nashville’s biggest concerts, is just a ten-minute hike from Drift Nashville through the East Bank. Grab your hat, go for a stroll, and get to know Nashville’s good side.

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Dive In

All great trips start with a refreshment. Grab a brew, or two, on an afternoon bar crawl. First stop: Wilburn Street Tavern. You’ll find outdoor seating, DJs that go beyond the Top 40, and tricked out hot dogs at this McFerrin Park favorite. Next, head to Gallatin Avenue for East Nashville’s oldest dive bar, Dino’s Nashville, where the burger is as beloved as the drink specials. Continue east for crisp martinis and a laid-back crowd at Schulman’s Bar, a friendly dive named after the legendary bar owner and creator of Nashville’s famous Skull’s Rainbow Room, David “Skull” Schulman. Round out the tour with a visit to Mickey’s Tavern. Mickey’s proudly advertises that it has no DJs, bands, or karaoke. It does have the love of East Nashville’s locals. (Plus, foosball, pool, darts, grilled cheese sandwiches, and a great deck out back where you can enjoy a beer with a breeze.)

Beyond Broadway

Nashville’s famous live music scene is alive and well east of the Cumberland River, too. When it’s time for music, skip the honky-tonk crowds on Broadway and take the road less traveled for a chance to experience East Nashville’s sound. From blues to dance to soul, find live music every night of the week at The 5 Spot, a local favorite in the center of East Nashville’s bustling Five Points neighborhood. Fans of touring acts should take a look at The Basement East’s lineup. In between Emo nights and Jerry Garcia tribute concerts, artists like Orville Peck, Jessie Baylin, and Jet fill the schedule.

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On the Waterfront

While East Nashville is one of the buzziest neighborhoods in the city, it’s also the best place to experience nature in Nashville. Spanning three miles of Cumberland River waterfront and almost 1,000 acres, Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Park forms East Nashville’s eastern border and offers some of the city’s most expansive river views. Hike, bike, bird watch, or forest bathe on its trails when you need a break from the bustle. As a hotel near Nissan Stadium, we have to mention our mutual neighbor, Cumberland Park. It boasts views of both the Shelby Street Bridge and Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge and is great for kids, with its splash pads and stone climbing wall.

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One-Stop Shoppers

Find all of East Nashville’s best local makers and designers in one place in the Fatherland District. From vintage and antiques shops, to pet stores, The Shoppes on Fatherland is home to an eclectic collection of small businesses selling Made in Nashville goods, from cowboy boots to handmade jewelry.

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Wine + Dine

East Nashville is known for its inventive food and bar scene. From brunch to lunch to dinner, you’ll find inspired takes on dishes throughout the neighborhood, from the chicken katsu at Kisser, a no-reservations neighborhood comfort food restaurant serving up salutes to Japanese classics, to the build-your-own rice noodle bowls at East Side Banh Mi. Even East Nashville’s all-day restaurants put a twist on the classics. At Cafe Roze, dig into broccoli melts with pickled pepper slaw and stout waffles with mascarpone any day of the week. For a big night out, East Nashville’s dinner menus don’t disappoint. Walk-in to Frankie’s Pizzeria for Nashville's best pizza studded with Bianco DiNapoli tomatoes and Pecorino-Romano, or make a reservation at it’s sister restaurant, 925 Spuntino, for Italian-American classics. Try something new at Audrey, from acclaimed Chef Sean Brock, with dishes that pay homage to Brock’s Appalachian roots, like an Appalachian-spin on sourdough bread and Audrey’s signature chicken and dumplings. For natural wine and an outdoor hang, stop into Folk, a casual dinner favorite where you can snack all night on fresh focaccia and olives, or settle in for a dry-aged rib eye.

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