Nashville’s primary beverage of choice is definitely not coffee, but the city’s scene is incredible! Riding on the tails of my beloved Anchorhead Coffee closing (rip Honey Bunches of Cold Brew), I decided to make a list of all the other fantastic options in the city to cheer myself up.
8th and Roast
I only came here once and I regret it everyday. Living in Nashville, you see their bulk bags EVERYWHERE in grocery stores. After seeing them for the millionth time, I figured I’d give their brick and mortar a visit. There are two locations in the city and one in the airport. I had a heavenly Fruity Pebbles Cold Foam coffee:
I know it sounds horrendous, but it was SO good. Unfortunately, it was a seasonal drink, but I’d be curious to try the other seasonal drinks they have. Friends Ed and Q created this space as a welcoming third home and support sustainability by connecting directly with producers. Coupled with delicious coffee, it’s a win-win!
Frothy Monkey
Fittingly for a coffee shop themed after a monkey, Frothy Monkey specializes in what they call ‘Monkey Lattes’ at their four locations around the city. It’s a banana latte. I don’t know about you, but this sounds like the absolute worst thing ever to me. Personally, I would have targeted the Havana Latte (condensed milk, espresso, vanilla and cinnamon) but for some reason only chose cold brew on my one visit here! Regardless, the food is pretty good and you honestly can’t go wrong with any of their concoctions.
Elegy Coffee
Bordering the northern edge of East Nashville, Elegy Coffee is a small shop behind the famous Grimey’s Records. Since I left the city, they’ve also opened two more locations: Downtown and Germantown. Can you guess where the downtown location is? YES! ELEGY MURDERED MY BELOVED ANCHORHEAD AND STOLE ITS SPACE! Anyways, their coffee is pretty good. It had to be to get me on the Ellington Parkway. I can’t remember what I got, but after scanning the menu, I can deduce it was a seasonal drink. It was dark black.
I think it was some type of S’mores drink with marshmallow foam? I remember the color only because I spilled it all over myself and stained my shirt. Currently, the seasonal is an intriguing ‘Garden Party Latte,’ with blackberry, mint, rosemary and honey.
Barista Parlor
Barista Parlor wins the award for the most expensive latte I’ve ever had. Everyone cheer for Barista Parlor! Yay! Ok, back to business. Their flagship ‘Golden Sound’ location in The Gulch is what made this incredibly overpriced drink worth a few visits:
The coffee is not only consistently ranked as the city’s best, but also some of the best in the country. Their alcohol flavored syrups are inventive (Bourbon Vanilla and Whiskey Caramel) and their biscuit sandwich was something I can only hope is served in heaven. I was always intrigued by their CBD-based drinks, but never took the plunge to get one.
Bongo Java
Bongo Java has set up a few shops around Nashville. What they lack in creative drink mixes is made up with good coffee and friendly service. A few of their coffee houses have unique concepts expanded from solely selling coffee, like Fido and a vegan cafe. I won’t lie, I’m a bit biased on this coffee shop. I lived next door and would go all the time. There’s about eight locations around the city, including one at BNA. I also knew a ton of people who worked at the location inside the Omni Hotel, go say hi!
Fido
“Maple Lattes” was the secret phrase hidden in the lyrics of Taylor Swift’s All Too Well song in the Red album booklet. Legend has it that the lattes from this pet shop turned coffeehouse inspired the singer’s smash hit about a doomed relationship. Here she is:
Swift has long called this place her favorite coffee shop in the city, so it should definitely be on your radar. Serving Bongo Java, the sleek space has a ton of material left behind by the pet store. There’s brick walls, old signs advertising dog products and lattes inspired by different animal things. The Milkbone, for example, is a honey/vanilla latte! Sometimes they have special drinks, like the Chocolate Chip Pancake Latte I loved. Fido also has quite a few food options outside pastries.
Three Brothers Coffee
This could be the only coffee shop I’ve ever been to that’s connected TO an outdoor store. Unfortunately, this means I also spilled my coffee a lot when I got excited after seeing something cool at Cumberland Farms. After parking in the Vanderbilt-owned lot, weave by the ‘No Selfies’ sign and into the shop. The dirty chai lattes are incredible, savoring it with the studying Vandy students is a must.
Red Bicycle
I was conflicted on whether to include this little cafe for its crepes in my food article, or the coffee in this. I decided to put it in both! Germantown is a cute little neighborhood, but breakfast al fresco on the patio of Red Bicycle is one of my favorite things in the city. Go early enough to avoid the heat and wake up by people watching the joggers and commuters. One time, my car broke when I had plans to go to Red Bicycle. I love this place so much, I walked the two miles EACH WAY.
If you visit any of these, let me know which is your favorite!
Turquoise Skies 