Nashville, affectionately dubbed “Music City” for its iconic country tunes and musical heritage, also boasts a rich and eclectic coffee culture. Beyond guitar strings and Southern twang exists a scene bursting with trendy coffee shops, quaint cafés, and charming holes-in-the-wall.
From the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans to the buzz of caffeine-fueled conversation, Nashville’s cafés each blend specialty brews and distinctive atmospheres into the city’s rhythm and essence.
The Daily Role of Coffee in Nashville’s Song
Similar to the soothing twang of a steel guitar, a steaming cup of coffee plays a vital part in Nashville’s daily soundtrack.
An integral thread of the city’s character, locally roasted coffee fuels music industry creatives, powers college students through all-nighters, and brings locals and tourists together over a comforting morning ritual.
For many, the day starts, pauses, or ends with coffee in hand at one of Nashville’s beloved cafés.
Savor the One-of-a-Kind Offerings at 20 Famous Shops
What truly makes Nashville’s coffee culture sing is how each joint offers its own flair through carefully crafted drinks, small-batch roasted beans, sweet treats, and artistic ambiances.
From the iconic longevity of Bongo Java to Barista Parlor’s “Golden Hour,” the following 20 establishments celebrate coffee in their own distinct way:
1. Bongo Java – Eclectic, Electric Icon Steeped in History
Website: www.bongojava.com
Where to find it: 2007 Belmont Blvd, Nashville, TN 37212
When to go: Mon-Fri 6 am-8 pm, Sat-Sun 7 am-8 pm
What you’ll spend: $
Why it rocks: As Nashville’s oldest coffee shop, Bongo Java has an eccentric charm interwoven with creativity and history.
Its legendary “Nun Bun” cinnamon bun bears an uncanny resemblance to Mother Teresa.
But beyond quirky baked goods, Bongo Java ethically sources exceptional coffee beans to craft brews best enjoyed across two locations.
2. Barista Parlor – Golden Hour Blend and Specialty Drinks
Website: www.baristaparlor.com
Where to find it: 519 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
When to go: Daily 7am-10pm
What you’ll spend: $$
Why it rocks: Barista Parlor celebrates the art of coffee through its premium Golden Hour blend, rotating single-origin brews, and specialty espresso drinks. Its trendy, retro atmosphere also draws crowds for a great Instagram moment.
3. The Horn Coffee House – Channeling East Nashville’s Funky Vibe
Website: www.thehorncoffeehouse.com
Where to find it: 702 Main St, Nashville, TN 37206
When to go: Mon-Fri 6:30am-5:30pm, Sat-Sun 8am-5pm
What you’ll spend: $
Why it rocks: Embracing East Nashville’s creative spirit, The Horn Coffee House serves ethically sourced coffee and espresso drinks in a repurposed old service station. Its funky charm, delicious baked goods, and coffee expertise make it a neighborhood favorite.
4. Stay Golden – Embracing Minimalism in Brews
Website: www.staygoldencoffee.com
Where to find it: 966 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206
When to go: Daily 7am-2pm
What you’ll spend: $
Why it rocks: Stay Golden keeps its small-batch brewed coffees uncomplicated through a dedication to high-quality beans and ethical farming partnerships.
Its sleek, modern digs in East Nashville match this minimalist philosophy.
5. Portuguese Bakery and Café – Sweet and Savory Portuguese Treats
Website: www.portuguesebakerycafe.com
Where to find it: 1232 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
When to go: Daily 6am-8pm
What you’ll spend: $$
Why it rocks: Beyond expertly brewed coffee drinks, the Portuguese Bakery and Café crafts sweet and savory Portuguese breads and pastries that pair perfectly with its coffee menu.
It brings a bite of European flair to Nashville.
6. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream – Creamy, Dreamy Coffee Creations
Website: https://jenis.com/
Where to find it: 911 20th Avenue South, Nashville
When to go: Daily 12-10pm
What you’ll spend: $$$
Why it rocks: While not just a coffee shop, Jeni’s small-batch ice creams feature captivating coffee-based flavors that coffee connoisseurs will appreciate.
Try the Goat Cheese with Red Cherries flavor for a sweet creamy coffee treat.
7. Ugly Mugs Coffee & Tea – Quaint, Cozy, Delicious
Website: https://www.uglymugsnashville.com/
Where to find it: 1881 Gallatin Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
When to go: Mon-Sat 7am-4pm, Sun 8am-4pm
What you’ll spend: $$
Why it rocks: The perfect neighborhood watering hole, Ugly Mugs Coffee & Tea serves drip coffee, espresso drinks, and tea beverages in a charming and spacious environment ideal for catching up with friends over baked goods.
Their lovely patio offers outside seating too.
8. Portland Brew East – Sleek Shop for Coffee Snobs
Website: https://www.portlandbrewcoffee.com/
Where to find it: 918 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206
When to go: Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat-Sun 8am-6pm
What you’ll spend: $$
Why it rocks: With an ultra modern, black-and-white palette and expert baristas, Portland Brew East caters to hip East Nashvillians serious about specialty coffee.
Their concise menu ensures only the highest quality beans curated that week make it into customers’ hands.
9. CREMA – Serene Shop Known for Exceptional Espresso
Website: https://crema-coffee.com/
Where to find it: 15 Hermitage Ave, Nashville, TN 37210
When to go: Mon-Fri 6:30am-6pm, Sat-Sun 7:30am-6pm
What you’ll spend: $$
Why it rocks: CREMA has earned a sterling reputation for its exceptional espresso drinks by paying meticulous attention to timing, water temperature, and sourcing exceptional beans.
Its peaceful, plant-filled atmosphere encourages customers to sit and savor that magic in each sip.
10. Red Bicycle Coffee & Crepes – Parisian Twist with Southern Hospitality
Website: https://www.redbicyclecoffee.com/
Where to find it: 700 Fatherland St, Nashville, TN 37206
When to go: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm, Sat-Sun 8am-4pm
What you’ll spend: $
Why it rocks: At this European-inspired coffeehouse, espressos and lattes arrive alongside sweet and savory French crepes.
The French press coffee explores floral and fruit-forward flavor profiles not found elsewhere in Nashville.
11. Steadfast Coffee – Avant-Garde Drinks in a Minimalist Space
Website: https://www.steadfast.coffee/pages/nashville-tennessee
Where to find it: 603 Taylor St, Nashville, TN 37208
When to go: Mon-Sun 7am-2pm
What you’ll spend: $$
Why it rocks: Focusing on innovative preparation methods, Steadfast Coffee serves single-origin pour-overs and espresso-based classics reimagined with housemade syrups.
Their stark, modern digs let the sophisticated coffee take center stage.
12. 8th & Roast – Quality Focused Coffee in a Bustling Area
Website: https://8thandroast.com/
Where to find it: 2108 8th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
When to go: Mon-Sun 7am-5pm
What you’ll spend: $
Why it rocks: Just steps from Nashville’s pulsing 8th Avenue, 8th & Roast remains dedicated to sourcing and roasting high-quality coffee beans in an often chaotic, tourist-filled environment.
Locals appreciate its chill vibe and craft beverages.
13. Fido – Restaurant Blending Food with Coffee
Website: http://fido.restaurant
Where to find it: 1812 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212
When to go: Mon-Fri 7am-10pm, Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 9am-4pm
What you’ll spend: $$
Why it rocks: More than just a coffee shop, Fido infuses coffee culture into a full restaurant concept blending exceptional cups of coffee with fresh, locally sourced brunch and dinner.
The artsy and welcoming space features local artisan goods, ample seating, and even a hidden upstairs café. Food, coffee, and community come together wonderfully here.
14. High Brow Cat Café – Adorable Adoptable Cats + Coffee
Website: https://www.highbrowcatcafe.com
Where to find it: 901 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206
When to go: Weds-Mon 11am-7pm
What you’ll spend: $$
Why it rocks: Cat lovers can cozy up with adoptable felines in a comfortable lounge while enjoying ethically sourced coffee drinks, tea, wine, and snacks.
It’s the purrfect place to unwind with cuddly creatures and quality coffee.
15. Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Co – Artisan Coffee and Chocolate Factory
Website: https://oliveandsinclair.com
Where to find it: 1400 51st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209
When to go: Weds-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm
What you’ll spend: $$
Why it rocks: The aromatic scents of small-batch chocolate making and coffee roasting intertwine at Olive & Sinclair’s impressive factory, café and store in Charlotte Park.
Their signature chocolate bars pair splendidly with their specialty coffee and espresso drinks for a sweet caffeine kick.
16. Lucky Bamboo – Chinese Herbal Teas and Kung Fu Movies
Website: N/A
Where to find it: 5810 Charlotte Pike #101, Nashville, TN 37209
When to go: Mon-Sat 10:30am-9pm, Sun 10:30am-8pm
What you’ll spend: $
Why it rocks: For an Asian twist on coffee culture, visit Lucky Bamboo for Chinese herbal loose leaf teas, boba milk teas, coffee from local roasters, and even medicinal drinks said to cure ailments.
Enjoy these alongside dim sum snacks and Kung Fu movies playing on loop. It’s a one-of-a-kind Nashville coffee shop merging Eastern traditions with local community.
17. Dose Coffee & Tea – Caffeinating the Gulch District
Website: https://dosecoffeeandtea.com/
Where to find it: 110 11th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
When to go: Mon-Fri 6:30am-6pm, Sat-Sun 7:30am-6pm
What you’ll spend: $$
Why it rocks: Serving specialty coffee and made-to-order tea drinks, Dose infuses caffeinated energy into Nashville’s trendy Gulch neighborhood.
Their rotating single-origin beans and quality roasts fuel meetings over wi-fi or quick to-go orders.
18. Three Brothers Coffee – Small-Batch Roasters Filled with Character
Website: https://threebroscoffee.com/
Where to find it: 2601 Lavern Cir, Nashville, TN 37211
When to go: Mon-Fri 6:30am-2:30pm
What you’ll spend: $
Why it rocks: As the name hints, three brothers passionately operate this energetic coffee roasting hub offeringSPECIALTY brews, espresso drinks, and rotating food trucks. Despite rapid growth, it retains a familial charm and quirky personality through the brothers’ vision and values.
19. Elixir Coffee Roasters – Striking, Sleek Interior and Exterior
Website: https://www.elixrcoffee.com/
Where to find it: 975 Main St #4, Nashville, TN 37206
When to go:Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat 8am-4pm
What you’ll spend: $$
Why it rocks: Lauded for perfecting the balance between bitter and sweet notes through diligent roasting practices, Elixir crafts specialty lattes and award-winning cold brews for discerning coffee lovers.
Beyond quality joe, their renovated garage-turned-café dazzles with hanging Edison bulbs and hand-painted details.
20. Living Waters Brewing – Coffeehouse Meets Brewery
Website: https://www.livingwatersbrewing.com/
Where to find it: 2211 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, TN 37215
When to go: Tues & Weds 3-10pm, Thurs 12-10pm, Fri 12-12am, Sat 11am-12am, Sun 12-8pm
What you’ll spend: $$
Why it rocks: Breaking convention, Living Waters Brewing fuses artfully made coffee drinks with a rotating lineup of craft beers and ciders. Their weekly open mic nights (aka “Worship Nights”) create an inclusive arts community over outstanding drinks.
It’s a one-of-a-kind coffeehouse meets brewery.
More Than a Buzz – Coffee’s Role in Bringing Locals Together
Beyond providing daily fuel, coffee serves as a vital lifeblood bringing the Nashville community together.
Locals and visitors alike gather over steaming cups not just for caffeine, but to catch up with friends, host meetings, work on laptops, or simply people watch.
The convivial din of conversation and connection flows as steadily as the coffee pouring into mugs.
In many ways, coffee shops like Ugly Mugs and Bongo Java function as Nashville’s community centers – places to congregate, collaborate, and nurture relationships over shared interests.
Regulars banter with talented baristas who know their names and usual orders. Strangers become friends, business partners become mentors, and creatives turn daydreams into careers.
Through the buzz and brews, coffee culture connects Nashville across socioeconomic, racial, and generational lines.
These cafes welcome anyone seeking superb drinks, sweet treats, or like-minded folks to unwind with. In Music City, a good cup of coffee is never just a good cup of coffee – it brings people together.
Experiencing Coffee Culture Unmasks Nashville’s Charm
Beyond guitar twangs and Southern fare, visiting Nashville’s coffee shops unveils the city’s inviting spirit, vibrant diversity, and contagious creativity bubbling under the surface.
Tourists merely seeking a quality cup of joe soon uncover that coffee stands at the heart of what makes Nashville such a beloved destination.
Its cafes, often with rich backstories steeped in family tradition or serendipity, reveal Nashville’s quintessential charm.
And its baristas – talented musicians, budding entrepreneurs, opinionated foodies – colorfully capture Music City’s captivating essence through conversation. By sipping and savoring Nashville’s coffee culture first-hand, visitors tap into what truly makes this city’s rhythm ring out.
A seasoned aviation enthusiast combines technical expertise with a conversational writing style offering readers an insightful and engaging journey through the interesting world of aviation and flights.
