I just spent seven days highly caffeinated. My mission was simple. I wanted to skip the crowded honky tonk bars and find the absolute best specialty coffee in Music City.
Nashville is famous for country music and spicy fried chicken. However, a massive local coffee culture is brewing right beneath the surface. I packed my laptop and visited tiny neighborhood cafes, massive industrial roasting spaces, and hidden espresso bars.
What surprised me the most was the sheer quality. Local cafe owners are not just pouring generic dark roast into a paper cup. They are roasting their own beans, making house syrups from scratch, and building spaces that actually bring the community together.
If you are planning a trip to Tennessee or looking for a new spot to open your laptop, this guide is for you. Here is everything I learned after drinking my way through the city.
What Are the Best Coffee Shops in Nashville?
The best coffee shops in Nashville include Crema Coffee Roasters for exceptional house roasted beans, Elegy Coffee for creative seasonal lattes, and Surefire Coffee Co. for a quick downtown espresso. Frothy Monkey is the top choice for a full breakfast menu, while Matryoshka Coffee offers the most colorful and unique atmosphere.
Here is why these top spots stand out from the crowd:
- Fresh Roasting: The best shops roast their beans locally to control the exact flavor profile.
- House Made Syrups: Top tier cafes completely avoid artificial pumps and boil their own vanilla and caramel syrups.
- Neighborhood Culture: These cafes serve as community hubs rather than just quick stops for tourists.
Why Nashville Has Become a Premier Coffee Destination
If you visited Nashville ten years ago, finding a great pour over coffee was a difficult task. Today, the city is a paradise for third wave coffee lovers.
Why did this happen so fast? The answer comes down to the local creative culture. Nashville is packed with musicians, songwriters, and remote workers. These people do not sit in traditional offices. They need comfortable spaces with strong internet to write and collaborate.
This demand forced local cafes to step up their game. To stand out, shop owners began sourcing high quality beans directly from farmers. They joined the Specialty Coffee Association to learn advanced roasting techniques. This intense local competition created an amazing environment where the coffee gets better every single year.
My Favorite Coffee Shops in Nashville Ranked
During my week long trip, I visited dozens of highly rated spots. Some were just average. Others completely blew my mind. Here are the locations that actually lived up to the hype.
Crema Coffee Roasters
When you ask an expert where to go, they will always point you to Crema Coffee Nashville. Located just outside the busy downtown district, this spot is universally celebrated by locals.
They win my top spot because of their quality control. They roast all their beans in house. Why does this matter? When a shop roasts its own beans, they control exactly how light or dark the coffee gets. This brings out the natural fruity or chocolate flavors hidden inside the coffee cherry.
- The Vibe: Clean, intentional, and minimalist industrial.
- What I Ordered: A beautifully crafted pour over and a Cuban coffee.
- Best Feature: They have an incredible outdoor patio with a view of the city skyline.
Elegy Coffee
Elegy Coffee completely surprised me. They operate a few locations, but the Elegy Coffee Nashville spot in East Nashville is my favorite. They focus heavily on creating fun, approachable drinks that still use high end espresso.
- The Vibe: Modern, bright, and highly welcoming.
- What I Ordered: The honey cinnamon latte. The sweetness was perfectly balanced with the strong espresso.
- Best Feature: They have a fantastic walk up window if you are walking your dog.
Frothy Monkey
Frothy Monkey is a Nashville institution. Located in the popular 12 South neighborhood, this spot is always buzzing. It is much larger than a typical espresso bar.
- The Vibe: Cozy neighborhood energy.
- What I Ordered: A classic cappuccino and a massive breakfast sandwich.
- Best Feature: They serve a robust food menu from breakfast all the way to dinner.
Cafe Babu
This spot looks like it belongs in a high end design magazine. Cafe Babu features a gorgeous adobe style interior. They serve incredible coffee by day and switch to craft cocktails at night.
- The Vibe: Warm, trendy, and incredibly photogenic.
- What I Ordered: The signature Babu Latte. They make it with homemade cardamom syrup.
- Best Feature: They serve a crispy mini baklava triangle with their signature drinks.
Matryoshka Coffee
If you hate boring, quiet coffee shops, you need to visit Matryoshka Coffee. This colorful micro cafe prioritizes extreme fun and hospitality. The owners created a space that feels joyful the second you walk inside.
- The Vibe: Bright, colorful, and wild.
- What I Ordered: The Confetti Cuban latte. It is just as fun to look at as it is to drink.
- Best Feature: The unmatched friendly customer service.
Surefire Coffee Co.
Finding a great cup of coffee near Broadway is tough. Surefire Coffee Co. saves the day. It is located right in the middle of the action.
- The Vibe: Casual, fast, and friendly.
- What I Ordered: A simple drip coffee with their custom campfire syrup.
- Best Feature: It is the absolute best spot for tourists exploring the downtown area.
Now and Then Coffee
Now and Then Coffee Nashville is a wonderful addition to the local scene. They focus heavily on community connection. You will see people chatting for hours instead of just staring at their phones.
- The Vibe: Relaxed, unpretentious, and comfortable.
- What I Ordered: A smooth flat white.
- Best Feature: The warm atmosphere makes it a great place to meet a friend for a long conversation.
Which Nashville Coffee Shop Is Best for Remote Work?
Working from a cafe requires specific tools. You need fast internet, comfortable seating, and access to power outlets. If you are searching for the best coffee shops in Nashville to do work, here are my top recommendations.
Headquarters Coffee
Located in The Nations neighborhood, this is a tiny local favorite. It is consistently voted as having one of the best straightforward cups of coffee in the city. It is quiet, making it perfect for answering emails or reading a book.
Silver Fox Coffee Lounge
Located right on Music Row, this spot was built for professionals. The vibe is sophisticated and elevated. They offer plenty of table space for your laptop. You can sip artisanal in house roasted beans while finishing your next big project.
What Are the Best Coffee Shops in Downtown Nashville?
Many visitors stay in hotels right on Broadway. You want to walk to get your morning caffeine fix without dealing with traffic. If you are looking for the best coffee shops in Nashville downtown, you have a few stellar options.
Searching for coffee shops Nashville downtown usually leads to massive corporate chains. However, Crema Coffee Roasters sits just on the edge of the downtown area known as SoBro. It is well worth the short ten minute walk from the main tourist strip.
If you need something directly on Broadway, Surefire Coffee Co. is your best bet. They offer fast service, phenomenal fresh roasted drip coffee, and an escape from the loud tourist crowds.
What Are the Best Coffee Shops in East Nashville?
East Nashville is the creative heart of the city. Naturally, it holds some of the most unique cafes. To see a full map of the local neighborhoods, you can explore the Visit Music City neighborhood guide.
Forevermore Coffee, Matcha & Goods
This is a chic hidden gem tucked inside a stylish retail boutique. They use exceptional multi roaster beans. If you do not like coffee, they offer a stellar matcha bar.
Middle Grounds Coffee
Located near Five Points, this highly community centric hub actually evolved out of an old hardware store. They serve locally roasted custom espresso blends and amazing house made syrups.
Where Locals Actually Go for Coffee in Nashville
If you want the real truth about a city, you check what the locals are saying online. I dug through the best coffee shops in Nashville reddit threads to see where actual residents spend their money.
The consensus is clear. Locals actively avoid the highly commercial spots located on the main tourist strips. Instead, Reddit users consistently praise places like Dose Coffee and Killebrew Coffee. They love these spots because the baristas remember their names, the prices are fair, and the quality of the espresso never changes.
Nashville Coffee Shop Comparison Table
Are you having trouble deciding where to start your morning? Use this quick chart to find your perfect match.
| Coffee Shop | Best Known For | Neighborhood | Work Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crema Coffee Roasters | House roasted pour overs | SoBro / Downtown | Moderate |
| Elegy Coffee | Honey cinnamon lattes | East Nashville | Yes |
| Frothy Monkey | Full breakfast menu | 12 South | Moderate |
| Surefire Coffee Co. | Quick downtown access | Downtown | No |
| Matryoshka Coffee | Fun confetti lattes | Wedgewood-Houston | Yes |
| Silver Fox Lounge | Quiet professional space | Music Row | Highly |
| Now and Then Coffee | Relaxed local community | Various | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions About Nashville Coffee Shops
What is the most popular coffee shop in Nashville?
Crema Coffee Roasters and Frothy Monkey are arguably the two most popular spots in the city. Crema wins for pure coffee quality, while Frothy Monkey wins for its cozy atmosphere and robust food menu.
What coffee shop do locals recommend in Nashville?
Locals highly recommend escaping the tourist areas to visit neighborhood spots like Elegy Coffee, Headquarters, and Middle Grounds Coffee. These locations offer better prices and a quieter atmosphere.
Where can I work remotely in Nashville?
Silver Fox Coffee Lounge on Music Row and Headquarters in The Nations are fantastic for remote work. They offer strong Wi-Fi, ample seating, and a professional environment suited for long stays.
What is the best coffee shop downtown Nashville?
Surefire Coffee Co. is the best option located directly downtown on Broadway. If you are willing to walk just a few blocks south, Crema Coffee Roasters offers the highest quality coffee near the city center.
Is Crema Coffee worth visiting?
Yes. It is absolutely worth visiting. Coffee experts consider Crema to be the standard for specialty coffee in Tennessee. Their dedication to sourcing beans and roasting them in house creates an unmatched flavor experience.
Which Nashville coffee shop has the best latte?
If you want a creative, flavorful latte, visit Cafe Babu for their signature cardamom syrup drink. If you prefer a classic, unflavored latte where the pure espresso shines, go to Crema Coffee Roasters.
