Tucked away in East Nashville’s Inglewood neighborhood, Riverside Village is just far enough from the beaten path to retain its old-school charm, despite some significant transitions in the last half-decade. If you’re looking for a chill destination on a beautiful day but your group can’t decide what to eat, it’s got a little bit of something for everyone.
🌮 Breakfast of Champions
When the gentrification gods conspired to tear down beloved record/vintage shop Fond Object five years ago, East Nashville shuddered with grief — but at least we got some decent breakfast tacos out of the deal. The cheery Ladybird Taco offers “Austin-inspired” food and bev options thru 4 p.m. every day.
Ladybird Taco anchors the new construction on the northwest corner of Riverside and McGavock. (Whitney Pastorek / City Cast Nashville)
🍕 Visit the Neighborhood OGs
In Nashville’s ongoing pizza wars, one stalwart is consistently overlooked: Castrillo’s Pizza of Inglewood, an old-school hand-tossed joint whose red-checkered tablecloths hearken back to the parlors of this writer’s youth. Next door, you’ll find Riverside Village Pharmacy, an independently-owned compounding pharmacy whose retail shelves are packed with essential oils and other great-smelling stuff.
☕ Grab a Cuppa
On the southeast corner of Riverside and McGavock, find your new favorite “co-working space” at a table inside Dose Coffee & Tea, where they’ll make you just about any classy espresso drink imaginable. Keep an eye on their parking lot for local vendors: Ice and Bones is popping up out there with popsicles through the end of September.
The welcoming porch and patio of neighborhood mainstay Village Pub are both dog-friendly. (Whitney Pastorek / City Cast Nashville)
🥨 Enjoy a Life-Changing Pretzel
If you’ve never tried the corned beef Reuben on a pretzel bun at Village Pub, drop everything and go there now. Rated “best place to take your dog when you’re hangry” by me, and known for their assortment of mule cocktails with fun names (I’m fond of the Mexican Burro), it’s a perfect East Nashville hang.
😋 You Cannot Eat Everything in One Day
I regret to inform you that you’ll need to come back, as the sheer volume of excellent eateries at this compact corner boggles the mind, whether you’re in the mood for truly excellent sandwiches (Mitchell Delicatessen) or a classy farm-to-table Sunday roast (lou nashville). While we may sometimes miss what used to be (love u always Rudie’s), this intersection remains a vital culinary destination.
