Downtown Specialty

This is the best place in Nashville to grab a cold-pressed juice. They have smoothies, nut milks, salads, and wraps, too.

The menu here changes seasonally, and everything is worthy: sandwiches on fresh-baked bread, genoises topped with fresh fruit, cream puffs, and buttery, flaky croissants. They were nominated for a James Beard Award in 2024 (we were not suprised).

These specialty coffee roasters (they roast their own beans in the back of their shop) can be found all over Nashville, but their brick-and-mortar is more than worth a visit. The bright, white-washed cafe is outfitted with free WiFi and the requisite hip crowd, and there's also a wide front porch that offers an excellent view of the downtown skyline. All of the espresso drinks are excellent, as are the avocado and ricotta toasts. It's a no-brainer if you need a cozy desk to hunker down with your computer for a few hours.

Historically, Downtown Nashville is the farthest thing from a gourmet destination, but Southernaire Market is looking to change all that. This elevated grocery store stocks its shelves with all sorts of artisanal edibles as well as a butcher counter, seafood case, and fresh, locally-sourced produce. Also nice: A small but very good to-go menu (gumbo, salad, panini), and great coffee.