Midtown
Welcome to Midtown. Zip Code: 37203.
If you’re looking for the urban center of Nashville, Midtown is the place to explore. It’s a varied and action-packed neighborhood, containing within it Centennial Park, Vanderbilt University, several of the largest medical centers in Nashville, and some of the best nightlife in town - not to mention a decent chunk of Music Row.
Centennial Park with it’s famous Parthenon is the crowning jewel of Midtown. Originally constructed for the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition, the park grounds were filled with other Classical Greek inspired buildings in reference to Nashville’s nickname, the Athens of the South. Today, the Parthenon is the only remaining Classical building but it is no less impressive. The monument contains an art museum on the bottom floor, including a central room dedicated to local artists, and a speculative recreation of the original interior of the Greek site it is modeled from - including a 42 foot tall gilded statue of Athena that was featured in the 2010 movie, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.”
The Parthenon isn’t the only attraction in Centennial Park, however. The grounds also house a sports complex, gardens, dance pavilion, arts center, dog park, and outdoor stage which play host to festivals, Shakespeare In The Park events, and weekly swing dancing nights during the warmer months. Residents will find many of the city’s biggest events happening in their own backyard, not to mention the day-to-day benefits of having access to a well-kept park replete with paved biking and jogging routes.
Midtown is also one of the best spots for nightlife and dining, with hip bars and innovative restaurants less frequented by tourists than the honky-tonks on the other end of Broadway. This is one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Nashville with decent access to public transportation and downtown, making it a great option whether you like to enjoy your designer cocktails responsibly or are trying to minimize your carbon footprint.
The Vanderbilt campus and it’s accompanying students keep the area young and lively, and add to the energetic nature of this neighborhood. They also account for the some of the excellent services you can find, from state-of-the-art medical centers staffed by Vandy graduates to the music venues where you can catch the newest talent before they get famous to the cafes and boutiques on Edgehill Ave.
Although prices for non-student housing can be a bit steep and are largely apartment or condo style units, it’s a great location for young professionals or those looking for an urban living experience in what is otherwise a largely suburban city. This is the perfect location for those who love to be in the thick of things.