All About East Nashville
There’s always a place where you will find historic, thriving, electric, and hip – and that is East Nashville, which has become one of Nashville’s most desired areas to play and live. East Nashville is the largest of Nashville’s urban communities, which is made up of various neighborhoods that span 3 different zip codes.
With ease of access to I-65, Briley Parkway, Ellington Parkway, Gallatin Avenue, and Dickerson Pike, the east side of town features some of the best connectivity in the city - making it especially attractive to new residents in recent years.
As more and more people move to the area, local businesses and residents are thriving in a walkable, true-to-its-roots “Nashville” environment.
East Nashville’s Origins
Located across the Cumberland River from Downtown Nashville, East Nashville is bounded by the Cumberland to the south and east, Briley Parkway to the north, and I-65 to the west. The neighborhood is mostly residential with commercial properties located along the major thoroughfares and sparsely peppered within residential streets.
East End started in 1876 as an outgrowth of the trendy Edgefield community. The area was originally referred to as East Edgefield, but became known as East End since it was situated on the eastern edge of the city.
After the turn of the century, the population of East End was growing rapidly. Many families built homes that showcased Victorian love of intricate design, craftsmanship, and countless decorative elements.
In the early 20th century, the neighborhood developed into a picturesque and conveniently situated inner-city neighborhood. East End residents have done a wonderful job preserving the neighborhood and its beautifully visual historic appeal.
The east side was the original “Belle Meade” of Nashville at its peak. The wealthiest Nashville families, including Percy Warner, lived in mansions and maintained land on this side of town.
The Great Fire of 1916 changed that rather quickly, though. as it destroyed 35 blocks of mostly residential property. Shortly thereafter, many of Nashville’s affluent families moved south to establish estates along the Belle Meade Plantation.
In 1998, a tornado ripped through the Five Points area, devastating many homes and businesses. However, the reconstruction sparked new life and interest in real estate in East Nashville, helping it become the trendy, entrepreneurial edge of Nashville.
East Nashville’s Neighborhoods
Below, we’ve highlighted some of East Nashville’s most popular neighborhoods, along with popular bars, restaurants, and retailers in the area.
Cleveland Park
Undergoing a massive influx of new development, Cleveland Park is one of East Nashville’s most up-and-coming.
Nestled between Ellington Parkway and Dickerson Pike, this urban neighborhood is highly walkable with neighborhood commercial emerging.
A recent overlay allows every house to support a detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU, read: short-term rental), which has significantly increased property values in the area.
East End
Bordered by the fashionable Five Points area, this neighborhood is one of East Nashville’s most prominent neighborhoods.
East End is one of East Nashville’s most walkable districts, with homes in quick walking distance of Five Points Pizza, 3 Crow Bar, and Bongo Java East, to name a few.
Many houses here are historic, although some were refurbished and remodeled after the tornado in 1998.
East Hill
East Hill is conveniently located between Douglas Avenue and East Trinity Lane, which offers quick accessibility to Ellington Parkway.
Here, you will find different styles of cottages and new construction.
Many new businesses are moving into the area, since the commercial property here is more affordable. Of note are Cycle Haus and 1767 Designs.
Eastwood Neighbors
Convenience is king for Eastwood Neighbors, which is bordered by Porter Road and Gallatin Avenue.
This historical neighborhood is a hub of local music, arts, craft beer, award winning dining and amazing homes.
Some of East Nashville’s favorite local shops can be found here, including Rosepepper Cantina, Southern Grist Brewing, and The Nashville Biscuit House.
Much like nearly every neighborhood in East Nashville, Eastwood Neighbors is pedestrian friendly and an easy walk to the many shops on Eastland or the Eastland Park.
Five Points
While technically not a neighborhood, Five Points has defined the culture and style of East Nashville.
Situated on a five-point junction, this area is an easy to walk and a compact hotspot loaded with the most popular restaurants and bars in Nashville.
Here, you can find live music at The Basement East, have date night at Treehouse, or grab a drink at one of my personal favorites: Rosemary.
Historic Edgefield
Situated nearest to downtown, Historic Edgefield is home to many of the Victorian homes that give East Nashville its uniquely colorful and historic vibe.
While much of the district is residential, the neighborhood envelopes most of Five Points and East Park.
Charming and beautiful, this neighborhood offers some of the most luxurious East Nashville homes in addition to being walking distance to neighborhood amenities like Turnip Truck, Yeast Nashville, and Crying Wolf.
Inglewood
Encompassing the entirety of northeast East Nashville, Inglewood is the urban suburb of the east side.
Homes here are largely “newer” than the mostly historic homes in the southern half of East Nashville and are largely ranch-style.
Inglewood is popular for its Riverside Village wherein you will surely enjoy Village Pub and Beer Garden, Dose Coffee, Mitchell’s Deli and so much more.
Lockeland Springs
Bordered by Five Points and Shelby Golf Course, Lockeland Springs boasts multiple parks and is highly walkable thanks to it’s well-laid out grid streets.
The neighborhood is home to some of the most historic homes in all of East Nashville, as well as Nashville’s oldest fire hall on Holly Street.
Residents here are walking distance to the world famous Dino’s, Lockeland Table, and Urban Cowboy.
McFerrin Park
McFerrin Park is one of the most rapidly developing neighborhoods in the urban core of Nashville.
The affordability of residential real estate here combined with some of Nashville’s most eclectic restaurants - such as Folk, Redheaded Stranger, and Sean Brock’s soon-to-be, currently unnamed, east side restaurant.
Keep an eye out for new developments at the Roxy Theater, too.
Rolling Acres
Rolling Acres is tucked between Porter Road, Riverside Drive, and Shelby Park - not a bad place to live!
Homes here are walking distance to the Shelby Golf Course and the Shops at Porter East, home of Pomodoro East, Apple and Oak, and Montessori East.
West Greenwood
West Greenwood, or simply Greenwood, is home to one of Nashville’s hidden gems: Mas Tacos.
Proximity to Ellington Parkway (and therefore downtown Nashville) as well as two larger apartment complexes has turned this neighborhood into a highly walkable district with a Walgreens, Krogers, and Aldi all at one intersection.
Don’t forget to stop by my favorite dinner spot in town - Peninsula - and grab a beer at The Pharmacy.
Honorable Mentions
For a complete list of businesses in East Nashville, please visit our friends at the Historic East Nashville Merchants Association.
About The Author:
Tyler Cauble, Founder & President of The Cauble Group, is a commercial real estate broker and investor based in East Nashville. He’s the best selling author of Open for Business: The Insider’s Guide to Leasing Commercial Real Estate and has focused his career on serving commercial real estate investors as a board member for the Real Estate Investors of Nashville. Learn more at www.TylerCauble.com
East Nashville-based investor, Tyler Cauble, has acquired another commercial building on the Eastside.