East Nashville
Notable Neighborhood Features Quick List:
One of the most pedestrian- and bike-friendly neighborhoods in Nashville.
Known for its arts and music community.
The Tomato Arts Festival is an annual highlight, celebrating the area’s artistic spirit.
Home to some of Nashville’s best restaurants and nightlife.
Shelby Park and the Shelby Bottoms Greenway offer over 1000 acres of green space to explore.
Historic overlays have preserved the Victorian and Italianate architecture still visible in the neighborhood today.
Modern development has added more multifamily housing to the neighborhood, from condos to apartments to horizontal property regimes.
An excellent place to shop thanks to the many small, local businesses.
One of Nashville’s Oldest Neighborhoods
East Nashville - 37206, is one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, tracing its origins back to the founding of Fort Nashborough. Originally granted to Daniel Williams for his service in the Revolutionary War, the land was soon sold and broken up into country estates - some of which lend their names to the sub-neighborhoods that make up what we now consider East Nashville. The independent community of Edgefield, a fashionable retreat from the bustle of Fort Nashborough, was officially incorporated into the city of Nashville in 1883. East End, an outgrowth of Edgefield, and Lockeland Springs were added soon after.
In the late 1800s, the creation of Nashville’s streetcar network spurred the development of the neighborhood as we know it today. While the streetcars have since been phased out, the walkable grid and clusters of small businesses in residential neighborhoods that define a streetcar suburb are still some of the area’s most beloved features.
In 1909, the metropolitan government purchased the former site of a casino and amusement park and built Shelby Park. In 1994, Shelby Bottoms Greenway was added to the park, and in 2011 it was expanded again with the purchase of Cornelia Fort Airpark.
Over the centuries, East Nashville has experienced several natural disasters that have changed the face of the neighborhood. Once dominated by Italianate and Victorian homes, the Great Fire of 1916 destroyed many of the stately houses in Edgefield. That year, East Park was built by the city on the land cleared by the fire. Tornadoes swept through the neighborhood in 1933, 1998, and 2020, damaging homes and businesses and, sadly, resulting in the deaths of two pedestrians in 2020.
Like many centrally located neighborhoods, East Nashville began to feel the pressures of gentrification in the 1970s. Home prices in the once affordable neighborhood have risen steadily over the decades. In 1977, Edgefield became Nashville’s first residential neighborhood to be added to the National Historic Register and became the city’s first Historic Preservation District in 1978. Lockeland Springs was added to the National Historic Register soon after in 1982.
East Nashville Today
Today, East Nashville is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in the city. The bustling, eclectic neighborhood is known for being home to artists and musicians. The Tomato Arts Festival celebrates the area’s artistic spirit with tomato-themed art, food trucks, and live music. During the festival, homes and businesses throughout the neighborhood are decked out in tomato-based streamers and flags.
East Nashville is one of the more bike and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods in Music City. In addition to a relatively even grid of sidewalks, the area is home to one of the most expansive parks in the city. Shelby Park offers over 1000 acres of green space along the Cumberland River. The Greenway includes more than 8 miles of trails and Cornelia Fort Airpark’s old runway has now become a favorite of bicyclists and runners.
History Meets Modernity
While the Great Fire and half a century of gentrification have changed much about the neighborhood, East Nashville’s historic roots are still visible along its streets. Victorian and Italianate homes from the late 1890s, often colorfully painted, can be found in the Edgefield area of the neighborhood. In the Historic East End and Lockeland Springs, you’ll find Stick Architecture, Craftsman, and bungalows.
While a historic overlay has preserved many of the neighborhood’s antique homes, there are plenty of modern housing options available. Multiple condo complexes and apartment buildings have sprouted up in the last two decades offering multifamily housing options and modern amenities. Tall-skinnies (a not entirely affectionate nickname for Horizontal Property Regimes) have sprouted up across the neighborhood - and Nashville as a whole - to the delight of some and the dismay of others. These HPRs are pairs of semi-detached homes, not quite a townhome but not quite a single-family home either. Those seeking a recently built property that isn’t a condo might enjoy making an HPR their new home.
From Fine Dining to Dive Bars
East Nashville is home to some of the city’s best bars and restaurants. Five Points Pizza serves up large, foldable slices and draft beer to both sit-down patrons and passersby at their to-go window. The beloved pizza spot has since opened a second location on the west side of town. Up the hill, Drifter’s BBQ serves house-smoked BBQ and live, local music on a spacious, dog-friendly patio. Across the street, Margot Café & Bar has brought a taste of France to Tennessee for the past twenty-two years. In addition to their rotating seasonal menu, Margot often serves themed dinners and frequently partners up with local non-profits.
Main Street/Gallatin Ave, the neighborhood’s central thoroughfare, is a foodie’s dream. Butcher & Bee serves up inventive, seasonal menus inspired by modern Middle Eastern fare. In addition to dinner, B&B serves up a can’t-miss brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Up the road, Dino’s Bar & Grill has been East Nashville’s favorite dive bar since the 1970s. Don’t be fooled by the dive bar vibes; their food has been featured in publications like Food & Wine Magazine and Bon Appetit, with their burger even receiving a James Beard nomination.
Eastland Ave (and its somewhat ironically named West Eastland branch) is home to even more good eats. To the west, Mas Tacos Por Favor has been serving up tacos and award-winning chicken tortilla soup since 1974 - first out of a Winnebago and now out of a brick-and-mortar restaurant. To the east, Rosepepper Cantina, which went viral for its creative signage, serves up Nashville’s best (and possibly most efficient) margarita and Sonoran-style Mexican cuisine.
For sweet treats, foodies can enjoy a gourmet donut at Five Daughters on Eastland or pick up some locally-made chocolate (including some truly spectacular duck fat caramels) at Olive & Sinclair on Fatherland. Across the street, coffee lovers can enjoy a seasonal latte at Frothy Monkey or head down to Bongo East in Five Points for a coffee and board game with friends.
The Legacy of the Streetcar
Like many former streetcar suburbs, East Nashville’s residential areas are dotted with little clusters of shops that have been a boon for small businesses and shopping enthusiasts alike. Fatherland Street is home to the Shoppes on Fatherland which has served as a small business incubator for over a decade. Visitors can browse boutiques selling everything from locally made stationary to bespoke embroidered Western Wear to vegan biscuits. Farther north on Woodland Street, the Five Points Alley Shops is an open-air mall dedicated to small local businesses including a bookshop that specializes in out-of-print books and a vintage store that has styled artists like Lana Del Rey and Maren Morris.
Bikes to Bands and Everything Inbetween
Along with an abundance of shops and eateries, there’s no shortage of entertainment and activities in East Nashville. Music lovers have their pick of venues; The Basement East hosts larger, nationally touring acts as well as rising local musicians while fans can catch local bands or show off their dance moves at The Five Spot. Just down the road, Drifter’s BBQ hosts local songwriters and bands on their porch during the warmer months. If you prefer taking the stage yourself, the Lipstick Lounge is a beloved neighborhood landmark. The brightly colored building on the corner of Woodland and 14th Street has housed this “bar for humans” for the past 21 years. Their all-are-welcome attitude has been bolstering the confidence of karaoke singers for decades.
Even with all of its urban conveniences Shelby Park and the adjoining Shelby Bottoms Greenway hug the eastern edge of the neighborhood, following the bank of the Cumberland River. The 300-acre park features ball fields, golf, a boat launch, tennis courts, two playgrounds, and a large dog park. Picnickers are a common sight during the summer, with many taking advantage of the park’s rentable picnic shelters. The Shelby Community Center hosts events like indoor skating, community sports, and playtime for toddlers and homeschooled families. The Shelby Bottoms Greenway, which has entrances both in Shelby Park and throughout the neighborhood, offers another 900 acres of green space and over 8 miles of trails for pedestrians and cyclists to explore. At the Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, park-goers can view rotating art exhibitions by local artists, attend guided walks and hikes, and more. Closer to Downtown, East Park stands on the site of the Great Fire of 1916. The park houses the East Park Community Center and hosts the East Nashville Farmers’ Market from April to December.
If you’re looking for a walkable neighborhood with plenty to do, East Nashville might be your new home. Artists, musicians, and, increasingly, tech professionals and young families are making the area their home. Whether you’re looking for a place with plenty of trails for your bike or the convenience of an urban neighborhood, East Nashville has what you’re looking for.
If you’d like to buy a home in the area reach out and we’ll be sure to show you around and help find the right home for you.