I am very much a morning person and spend most of those early mornings at our Concierge desk. One consistent question I receive on a regular basis is ‘coffee?’ I usually don’t even get an entire phrase, the question 9 times out of 10 is a mumbled ‘coffee?’ I’m happy to help you perk up. Hutton’s very own Java Bar can prepare any type of coffee beverage you would like (along with homemade pastries from our fabulous pastry Chef) and we have excellent baristas on staff; however, if you want to leave the hotel, I have plenty of recommendations for you, no matter what your “coffee style” may be.
Humbly, Frothy Monkey started in the 12th S neighborhood and quickly expanded rapidly due to its popularity. Our guests frequent the location downtown on 5th Avenue of the Arts when they’re downtown and stop by the 12th South location while perusing Nashville’s favorite shopping district. Frothy Monkey actually makes one of their own coffee blends in Nashville over in the hidden Nashville neighborhood of Pie Town. They also serve wine, make their own breads, and do a full service dinner. Yet, perhaps the most important aspect is that they have some of the best Froth artists in the city. When you order you favorite foamy, frothy hot coffee drink, if you ask politely, they just might add a beautiful picture on top. One late fall I asked for a picture on top of my latte and they delivered it with a beautiful turkey, feathers and all, atop the delicious drink.
They even have froth artist competitions open to the public. Speaking of fabulous froth artist, check out Three
Brothers Coffee connected to Cumberland Transit. They’re ranked highly for me due to the fact that they open earlier than some of theother shops on this list (6 a.m.) so I can stop in to get coffee and a breakfast treat on my way to work.
Fido is a local favorite and one of the original Nashville coffee shops. It also uses to be Jones Pet Store decades ago. The Pet sign shop is still out front. They serve a variety of coffees. It’s so popular, when the retail space next store became available, they purchased that as well, expanding their dining room space and adding a grab and go limited menu, aptly naming the extension Fetch.
They serve Bongo Java Coffee and display rotating art work throughout the shop.
In addition to the famous Fido in Hillsboro Village, off the edge of Vanderbilt University and just over a mile from Hutton Hotel is Bongo Java. It is in Belmont University area, around the corner from Vanderbilt University. Bongo Java serves the same amazing coffee with a slightly more limited menu.
With two locations, Crema serves excellent coffee in Nashville. My favorite location is on the top of Rolling Mill Hill overlooking downtown.
It can be described as just a coffee shop, because they focus on the drinks and do not include a large food selection, but I assure you, they are not just a coffee shop. Their coffee is well above average and quite delicious. They keep plenty of board games around for patrons to enjoy and the space makes for an excellent office space if you need a desk away from your normal desk or just like to work for coffee shops. They even have an onsite training lab!
Crema also have a location in the cool hang out spot Pinewood Social. Pinewood Social is a cool hangout space where they also serve amazing eggs (for more information on my love of eggs please consult the eponymous blog post on the subject.)
Barista Parlor has three locations. The original is in East Nashville and the closest to the hotel is Barista Parlor Golden Sound on a side street in the Gulch.
Confession: I always have to walk around the entire outside of the coffee shop to find the door to get inside. I spend more time looking for the door than getting coffee, but I digress…
Now, these baristas take their coffee seriously and take their time to create the perfect cup. Please banish some of your usual requests before entering because they will not appease you. They do not offer skim milk as an option and I personally think they add extra caffeine to the non-caffeinated coffees, but I can’t be sure. They also maintain a breakfast menu and while they don’t serve a traditional breakfast, they do have popular breakfast sandwiches.
Eighth and Roast, a short drive from the hotel, is not too far away. It’s popular with the locals because you can stop in and buy growlers to take with you and they’re one of the few places that roast their beans on-site.
I hope with all this talk about caffeine you are awake now because I want to mention some of our true neighborhood coffee shops and want to make sure they get the proper recognition.
I’m constantly sending guests to lovely neighborhood joints like Headquarters, a small narrow coffee shop on Charlotte Ave. It gained notoriety when Taylor Swift stopped by but I think it deserves the notice it gets with or without pop star patronage. Taylor, thank you for helping put this place on the map, it’s a well-deserved nod.
Dose Coffee has two locations, but the original is on Murphy Road on the edge of the Sylvan Park. It is one of my favorites. It is also the perfect place to stop if a friend is driving through time. They have met you just off the interstate and experience how locals spend their time. The newer location is in East Nashville.
J&J’s Coffee & Market is very close to the hotel and hidden behind a bodega with great snacks. The slow drip coffee options are tucked away in the back, along with rotating art and an eclectic mix of furniture plus board games.
Atmology is about four blocks from Hutton Hotel. They don’t make their own coffee, but the do serve a variety of coffee drinks, healthy snacks, and have small meeting spaces to reserve by the hour for a business meeting, song writing session, or group gatherings.
Last and certainly not least, The Jam Coffee House has a retro feel and serves coffee and teas. They are owned by the Newton sisters that worked with us at Hutton Hotel before following their dreams of opening this favorite local establishment. In addition to coffee and tea, their panini sandwiches are seriously delicious and the space makes a great office away from the office.
Recently, Travel and Leisure named Nashville as a top coffee city and I hope these descriptions start to paint the picture why that accolade was warranted. I myself was a New Yorker before becoming a Nashvillian and sometimes miss the days when I wasn’t a caffeine addict and only ate coffee flavored ice cream, but I made the move to Nashville and that all changed. Please feel free to stop by our Concierge Desk so we can help you find your new favorite local coffee shop.
Safe Travels,
Laura
Frothy Monkey – 2509 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
Three Brothers Coffee – 2813 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203
Fido/Fetch – 1812 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212
Bongo Java – 2007 Belmont Blvd, Nashville, TN 37212 // 364-, 386 5th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
Crema – 15 Hermitage Ave, Nashville, TN 37204
Barista Parlor – 610 Magazine St, Nashville, TN 37203 // 1230 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208 // 519 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
Eighth and Roast – 2108 8th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
Headquarters – 4902 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209
Dose – 3431 Murphy Rd, Nashville, TN 37203 // 1400 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN 37216
J&J’s Coffee & Market – 1912 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
Atmology – 2320 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203
The Jam Coffee House – 1210 Wedgewood Ave, Nashville, TN 37212