
Whether you need a caffeine buzz, a bite to eat, or a temporary place to call your office, Nashville has an abundance of coffeehouses to keep you buzzin’, grubbin’, and workin’. These are the top locally owned and operated coffee shops in Nashville based on atmosphere, food, and coffee (obviously).
Nashville’s Best Coffee Shops
Café Intermezzo
Café Intermezzo is one of Downtown Nashville’s most sophisticated places to enjoy coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails, and desserts. This European-inspired coffee destination offers everything from French press coffee-infused at your table to coffees with alcohol like the Café Salzburg (espresso, milk, chocolate, vanilla, and Tuaca Vanilla/Herb Liqueur). For a relaxing atmosphere off-Broadway, this is your place.
- Neighborhood: SoBro / Downtown
- Coffee: Batdorf & Bronson
- Best For: Elevated coffee and a calm environment
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Parking: Parking garages
- Serves Alcohol: Yes
8th & Roast
After seeing success from its first coffee shop, 8th & Roast opened its second location on Charlotte Avenue in 2018. The West Nashville location is much bigger and more modern but maintains the energy Nashvillians have grown to love. For a more intimate outing, venture to the original location on 8th Avenue South across from Zanies Comedy Club. The inside is warm and cozy with community tables, bar seating, and a calm atmosphere.
- Neighborhood: 8th Avenue South | Sylvan Park
- Coffee: Craft coffee
- Best For: Meetings or concentrated work
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Parking: Parking lots
- Serves Alcohol: Yes
Barista Parlor
Barista Parlor is a top-notch coffee shop with locations in East Nashville, the Gulch, Hillsboro Village, and Germantown. It’s a popular work spot and hangout for many locals. With bright interiors, incredible woodwork, and attention to detail, each location offers a clean, minimalistic atmosphere. The East Nashville location has a covered patio with some outdoor seating if you’d rather chill outdoors.
- Neighborhoods: East Nashville | Gulch | Hillsboro Village | Germantown
- Coffee: Barista Parlor (Nashville)
- Best For: Upbeat vibes and conversation
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Parking: There is parking behind the building in East Nashville and small dedicated lots in the Gulch, Germantown, and Hillsboro Village. Street parking is also available.
- Serves Alcohol: No
Frothy Monkey
Frothy Monkey has four primary Nashville coffee houses in 12 South, The Nations, East Nashville, and Downtown. There is ample seating at the main locations, especially two-top tables for freelancers and students. When the weather is nice, the 12 South patio has a great front patio. If you’re seeking more space, head to The Nations location.
- Neighborhoods: 12 South | East Nashville | The Nations | Downtown
- Coffee: Frothy Monkey Roasting Co.
- Best For: Robust, tasty food menu
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Parking: 12 South: there is a small parking lot around the back and street parking throughout the area. Downtown: street and garage parking. The Nations: free parking lot and street parking. East Nashville: street parking
- Serves Alcohol: Yes
Falcon
Falcon is a small coffee shop located in Wedgewood-Houston with space for about a dozen people. The menu is plant-based and healthy if you’re in need of a good breakfast or lunch with your coffee. You can also grab a cup of coffee or a bite at the to-go window and take a seat on the patio.
- Neighborhoods: Wedgewood-Houston
- Coffee: Osa Coffee
- Best For: Quiet workspace and plant-based healthy meal
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Parking: Street parking
- Serves Alcohol: No
Bongo Java
Bongo Java is considered Nashville’s oldest coffee company and the first Nashville-based roaster to provide organic, Fair Trade brews. You can find Bongo Java coffee in almost all of the retail stores around Nashville, so it’s hard to miss this brand. There are two primary Bongo Java locations on Belmont Blvd (the original location) and in East Nashville. There are also smaller operations inside the Omni Hotel and the Johnny Cash Museum. Bongo Java on Belmont Boulevard has a large patio and an upstairs theater, making it a good spot for socializing, studying, or entertainment.
- Neighborhoods: Belmont Blvd | East Nashville
- Coffee: Bongo Java (Nashville)
- Best For: Outdoor patio and neighborhood feel
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Parking: Street parking
- Serves Alcohol: No
Sump Coffee
Sump Coffee is off the beaten path in the OneC1ty development between West End and Charlotte Avenue. Sump offers something different by specializing in the perfect pour-over. This is the place for you if you take your coffee very seriously.
- Neighborhood: West End
- Coffee: Sump Coffee
- Best For: Coffee connoisseurs
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Parking: Street parking
- Serves Alcohol: No
Crema
Crema has two Nashville locations. The SoBro location is just a short walk from the hustle of Lower Broadway. The East Nashville location is situated on Duke Street. This growing operation is serious about its in-house coffee program, and its passion is contagious. They are even teaching coffee classes, which we think is awesome. Make sure to try the coffee soda.
- Neighborhood: SoBro | East Nashville
- Coffee: Crema (Nashville)
- Best For: Coffee enthusiasts
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Parking: Sobro: there is gravel parking along the side and a few spots out front. East Nashville: street parking
- Serves Alcohol: No
Americano Lounge
Whether you need a caffeine fix or a spirited cocktail, Americano Lounge offers both in a New York-style lounge that was literally built by the owner, Cody Pellerin. Pellerin, with the help of his operations manager, Graham Riddle, completed all of the construction, buildout, design, woodwork, lighting, and painting. The hard work doesn’t stop there, though—they also create everything in-house, from the pastries to the coffee to the sodas. If you respect high-quality coffee and a tough team, visit this destination in Wedgewood-Houston.
- Neighborhood: Wedgewood-Houston
- Coffee: Estate, single-origin, AA, organic rainforest-certified coffee (Honduran, Peruvian, Microlot)
- Best For: Lounge atmosphere, high-quality coffee, and cocktails
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Parking: Street parking and parking lot near Jackalope
- Serves Alcohol: Yes
Fido
If you haven’t been to Fido, you might be one of the few. Fido, Bongo Java’s sister location, is probably the most popular coffeehouse and eatery in the metro area located in the heart of Hillsboro Village. With a location so close to Belmont and Vanderbilt, Fido has an eclectic crowd of youthful creatives. Fido is pretty roomy, but it can fill up pretty quickly at peak hours. People usually discover that the food is just as good as the coffee.
- Neighborhood: Hillsboro Village
- Coffee: Bongo Java (Nashville)
- Best For: Small and large groups who don’t mind a lively ambiance
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes, but off during peak hours (be prepared to use your phone’s hotspot)
- Parking: There is a parking lot around the back, but spots are hard to come by. Your best bet is along Acklen Avenue or 20th Avenue
- Serves Alcohol: Yes
Humphreys Street
Humphreys Street is a spacious coffee shop on a mission to give back to the local community. The huge windows allow for a lot of natural light. This is a great environment to work or have a meeting. Humphreys Street roasts its own coffee and 100% of profits benefit Harvest Hands CDC.
- Neighborhoods: Wedgewood-Houston
- Coffee: Humphreys Street Coffee
- Best For: Working
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Parking: Street parking
- Serves Alcohol: No
dose.
dose. has two locations in Sylvan Park and East Nashville. They offer alternative coffee selections including Counter Culture Coffee plus rotating regional and national roasts. After tasting their coffee options, most people line up at dose. instead of Starbucks during their morning commute.
- Neighborhoods: Sylvan Park | East Nashville
- Coffee: Counter Culture Coffee + rotating regional/national roasters
- Best For: People on-the-go
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Parking: Parking lot, but spaces are limited
- Serves Alcohol: Yes
Ugly Mugs
Cheers to drinking out of ugly mugs! Ugly Mugs offers a clean, friendly vibe along with really unattractive coffee mugs that you might expect to see on the clearance rack at Goodwill. The ugly mugs add a fun flavor that you won’t find anywhere else. There are a variety of seating options, from couches to a window bar.
- Neighborhood: East Nashville
- Coffee: Drew’s Brews (Nashville)
- Best For: Reading and chilling
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Parking: You can usually grab a spot in the parking lot without any trouble
- Serves Alcohol: No
Steadfast Coffee
Steadfast Coffee is located in the bustling Germantown neighborhood off Taylor Street. They roast their own coffee and have a full lunch, dinner, and cocktail program, too. Important note: it’s tucked away behind the ProVita building, so you won’t see it from the street.
- Neighborhood: Germantown
- Coffee: Steadfast Coffee
- Best For: Socializing and relaxing
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Parking: Street parking
- Serves Alcohol: Yes
Pinewood Social
Though it’s not strictly a coffee joint, Pinewood Social has the ideal atmosphere for your morning or late-night caffeine intake. Lounge on the sofas or knock out some emails at the community desk. Everyone flocks here for meetings, too. To top it off, coffee drinks are prepared by Crema, which has its own section in the restaurant.
- Neighborhood: SoBro
- Coffee: Crema (Nashville)
- Best For: People-watching, lounging, meeting
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Parking: Parking lot or valet
- Serves Alcohol: Yes
Coffee Shops Within Hotels
Natura
Hotel coffee shops have been very popular lately among locals and visitors alike. Whether you’re actually staying at a hotel or just want to feel like it, these are the top options for coffee shops within hotels in Nashville.
- Moonshot Coffee Bar (TownePlace Suites)
- Poindexter (Graduate Nashville)
- Stompin’ Grounds (JW Marriott)
- Café at Bobby (Bobby Hotel)
- Drug Store (Noelle Hotel)
- Killebrew (Thompson Hotel)
- Natura (Dream Hotel)
- Barista Parlor (W Nashville)
If your favorite coffee shop is missing from the list, tell us in the comments section below!
cafe coco is open 24-7 great for writers and best prices compared to the rest mentioned.
All of these are great! Also, The Well is quickly rising to my top coffee shops in Nashville list. I spent a year going to almost fifteen coffee shops around Nashville to find my favorites. Edgehill Cafe is pretty popular among my friends, and my wife and I loved Garage Coffee, even though I don’t hear about it as much. You can get a different view of the skyline from inside Garage Coffee. Portland Brew is great for a relaxing read or quiet study environment. The noise level has always been peaceful.
The Well near Lipscomb should be on this list. Their Fireside is my new favorite latte. Plus I love that my coffee purchase goes toward well-building & global outreach. Great make-a-difference products offered out front also.
I have become very fond of Aymology… In an old house on West End with lotscof nooks and crannies. Small (and large) rooms to rent as well. Creative smoothies, juices, treats and small meals in addition to tea and coffeehouse coffee. My favorite is their new morning espresso drink… espresso with steamed cream and a bit if sugar topped with fresh orange zest served in a groovy little espresso shot cup.
Barista Parlor in East Nashville may be trendy, but it is absolutely not a good place for any type of concentrated work. It’s one of the loudest places I’ve ever been purely from the music alone, and I actually had to head over to Ugly Mugs to get any work done. I like the hustle & bustle of people around, but I felt like I was in a nightclub in there.
I really like the Just Love Coffee on Music Row. Single origin espresso beans, hand brew chemex and a really quirky menu. Great wifi. Dose is good too but I like that Just Love roasts its own beans and they are sweeter in general.
Definitely think Sump should be on this list. The coffee they serve on their Ground Control unit is devine.
The Donut + Dog!!!! Has INCREDIBLE organic coffee, the horchata one is my absolute favorite. Plus if you order the smoked caramel latte, they make a normal caramel latte and then ~smoke~ it in this little glass compartment thing and you get to open it up and it smells like campfire and tastes amazing and is just super fun. Plus they have some of the best donuts in Nashville.
Retrograde Coffee is a relative newcomer but are doing really creative things, have a great vibe, and feature off-the-beaten-path roasters in addition to their preferred roaster, Onyx Coffee Lab
White Bison Coffee!! The locations off of 12th S and Centennial are the best place to study in the area.
Sorry. Gotta give Headquarters some love too! Amazing small operation, producing great coffee.
Pit Stop Coffee Company is a mobile coffee shop that you can find around Nashville at food truck festivals and other events! Great coffee served from a retro teardrop trailer!
The walk up Osa coffee bar on Edgehill Ave is our favorite by far. The downside is no seating, but their coffee is San Francisco quality. I believe their coffees are also featured in locations around town including Falcon mentioned above.
Taylor Street coffee is a must visit. Top notch coffee and top notch service. Iced house latte is amazing. Located inside the 100 Taylor Street warehouse in Germantown, this is truly a hidden gem. Cool artsy vibe with lots of other vendors inside. Comfortable spaced out seating makes great study spot. Go here if you really want to feel like a local.
Red Bicycle – Best Vanilla Latte in town!