East Nashville’s Five Points — so named because of the five-pointed intersection that sits at its core — is known as the home of Nashville’s annual Tomato Fest, but it was also ground zero for 2020’s devastating tornado. And while it’s since succumbed to much of the corporate gentrification that’s taken over our entire city, you can still find plenty of eclectic local restaurants, bars, and shops that keep the neighborhood’s rhythm slightly off beat.
☕ Get Caffeinated
Start your day at the East Nashville outpost of Bongo Java, Nashville’s oldest and most honored coffeehouse. They’ve been roasting and brewing in this spot since 2000, and in 2018 they supplemented their delicious brews and sammies with Game Point Café, a curated library of over 500 board games available to diners.
The shops in and around Five Points Alley are perfect places to hunt for creative local gifts. (Whitney Pastorek / City Cast Nashville)
🛍️ Go Shopping
It’s easy to shop local here, from dog treats at Wags & Whiskers to human treats in Five Points Alley and at Thunder Moon Collective right next door. Visit the new and vintage instruments at Fanny’s House of Music, snag some skates at Asphalt Beach, or pick up a unique bottle of vino at Woodland Wine Merchant — and don’t forget to visit the shop cats at Cumberland Hardware Co.
😋 Eat Your Heart Out
Whether you’re craving fish and chips from Boston Commons or a slice from Five Points Pizza, this neighborhood can match your appetite. Kids of all ages love the hot dogs from I Dream of Weenie — Nashville’s “only full-service weenery” — and Cheap Charlie’s churns out incredible gas station parking lot tacos. Bad Idea has scored national acclaim for its Laotian fine dining, but OGs know that Margot Café & Bar is the heart of the neighborhood, and one of our city’s most enduringly delicious upscale restaurants.
Beyond the Edge is an excellent neighborhood watering hole, where you're sure to run into someone you know. (Whitney Pastorek / City Cast Nashville)
🍸 Party On
But like much of Nashville, what Five Points might do best is get you tipsy. We love the 2-for-1 happy hour at neighborhood clubhouse Beyond the Edge, and the backyard bar at The Treehouse is one of the neighborhood’s best-kept secrets. Duke’s has low-key hipster vibes and a great Cuban sandwich that will absorb a lot of your choices as you pregame before dancing the night away at the 5 Spot.
