Favorite Nashville Spots

Are you moving to Nashville for divinity school? Coming to visit to see if you’d like to join us at Vanderbilt Divinity?

We put together a list of favorite Nashville spots recommended by VDS students and alumni. You want it? Nashville’s got it. This is not an exhaustive list – just a place to get you started. Many also have presence on social so check them out there, too.

Looking for something you don’t see here? Ask in the comments!

Favorite outdoor spaces

• Centennial Park – a lovely spot to walk, tour the to-scale recreation of the Parthenon, attend summer festivals, play beach volleyball, and bring your dog to play in one of the two dog parks. 1 mile from VDS. https://www.nashville.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks/Centennial-Park.aspx
• Cumberland River Greenway – If you walk or ride bikes, this will give you a breathtaking view of the Cumberland River, as well as a view of ABC (American Baptist College) and a ride through historic North Nashville. 3.6 miles from VDS. https://www.traillink.com/trail/cumberland-river-greenway/
• McCabe Public Golf Course – a great place to unwind by playing golf or walking around the perimeter trail. 3.5 miles from VDS. https://www.nashville.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Golf-Courses/McCabe-Golf-Course.aspx
• Shelby Park: Stunning, marked running trails, casual fishing. 5 miles from VDS. https://www.nashville.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Nature-Centers-and-Natural-Areas/Shelby-Bottoms-Nature-Center/Shelby-Park.aspx
• Radnor Lake State Park – Different kinds of hiking trails and an Aviary. 6.7 miles from VDS. https://tnstateparks.com/parks/radnor-lake
• Edwin and Percy Warner Parks – great hiking and mountain biking trails, equestrian center and horse trails. 10 miles from VDS. https://www.nashville.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks/Warner-Parks.aspx

Farmers Markets

Check out your neighborhood farmer’s market. Here are some notable ones.

• Nashville Farmer’s Market: Locally grown food of all kinds, not just the typical things, but has a bit of an international vibe. Also has a food hall and a plant nursery. Open all week year-round. 2.6 miles from VDS. https://www.nashvillefarmersmarket.org/
• 12 South Farmers Market: seasonal neighborhood market on Tuesdays. 2.6 miles from VDS. https://www.12southfarmersmarket.com/
• Richland Park Farmers Market: year-round farmers market on Saturdays. Held in a park, so there is usually a little kids’ soccer practice, food trucks, and a tai chi group happening at the same time. 3.3 miles from VDS. https://www.richlandparkfarmersmarket.com/

Best Food and Entertainment and Shopping Destinations

• Nashville Farmer’s Market: vegan tacos, Vietnamese, Korean, Southern barbecue, Bubble tea, Chinese, Jamaican, etc. 2.6 miles from VDS. https://www.nashvillefarmersmarket.org/
• L&L Market: Donuts, coffee, beer, Thai food, milkshakes, tacos. 2.7 miles from VDS. https://landlmarket.com/
• Hunter Station: Vietnamese, barbecue, tacos, beer, grilled cheese, etc. 4 miles from VDS. https://www.huntersstation.com/
• Plaza Mariachi: great atmosphere, delicious food, stellar events. 8.2 miles from VDS. https://plazamariachi.com/

Food

• Sitar: Indian food, yummy and close to campus. 0.6 miles from VDS. https://www.sitarindiannashville.com/
• Martin’s BBQ: Great tasting BBQ, with several locations. The closest is a mile from VDS. https://www.martinsbbqjoint.com/
• Slim and Husky’s Pizza Beeria: Black-owned local pizza joint with multiple locations. The closest is 1.6 miles away but parking is a bear. https://slimandhuskys.com/
• Helen’s: World Famous Hot Chicken. You can always stop for hot chicken before or after visiting Fisk. Multiple locations, but the one by Fisk is 2.1 miles away from VDS. https://www.helenshotchicken.com/
• Chaatable: Delicious Indian food! 2.7 miles from VSD. https://chaatablenashville.com/
• Thistle Farms Café: Delicious! AND supporting a great organization that employs and supports women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. You can also shop their body products. Founder Becca Stevens is a VDS alumna and a priest. 3.5 miles from VDS. https://www.thecafeatthistlefarms.org/
• Bobby’s Dairy Dip: Throwback vibe, country music through the speakers, great food. 3.6 miles from VDS. https://nashvilleguru.com/businesses/bobbies-dairy-dip
• Big Al’s Deli: southern comfort food! 3.8 miles from VDS. https://www.bigalsdeliandcatering.com/
• Porta Via!: They have the best gluten free pizza. 4.1 miles from VDS. https://eatatportavia.com/
• Vui’s Kitchen: Vietnamese food, multiple locations. The first (original) location is 4.4 miles from VDS. https://www.vuiskitchen.com/
• Siam Café: great Thai food. 5.6 miles from VDS. https://www.yelp.com/biz/siam-cafe-nashville-2
• House of Kabob: great Kurdish food. Nashville is home to the largest population of Kurds in the United States. 6.2 miles from VDS. https://www.yelp.com/biz/house-of-kabob-nashville
• Tacos y Mariscos El Amigo: best tacos on Nolensville Rd. 8 miles from VDS. https://www.yelp.com/biz/tacos-y-mariscos-el-amigo-nashville
• Bangkokville: amazing owners, great Thai food. 10 miles from VDS. https://bangkokvillenashville.com/
• Tacos Lopez: 11.6 miles from VDS. https://www.yelp.com/biz/tacos-lopez-nashville?start=20
• Semper Sliders: vet owned, great food. 13 miles from VDS. https://www.sempersliders.com/home.html
• King Solomon’s Gyros. 4.5 miles from VDS. https://www.yelp.com/biz/king-solomons-gyros-nashville

Bakeries

• Baked on 8^th: Delicious pot pies & baked goods. 1.7 miles from VDS. https://www.bakedon8th.com/
• Dozen Bakery: Their chocolate chip pecan cookie is stellar. 1.9 miles from VDS. https://www.dozen-nashville.com/
• Cupcake Collection: Some of the best desserts in town and Black owned. 2.8 miles from VDS. https://www.thecupcakecollection.com/
• Little Gourmand: fresh croissants on Saturdays, French grocery store. 3.3 miles from VDS. https://littlegourmand.us/

Coffee

• 8^th & Roast: best oat milk lattes, great coffee, multiple locations. Do NOT expect the best from the airport location. Closest location is 2.1 miles from VDS. https://www.8thandroast.com/
• The Horn Coffee Shop: started by a family from Somalia, serving traditional Somali street food. 3.9 miles from VDS. https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-horn-coffee-nashville
• District Coffee: best black coffee and fair/direct trade. 5.1 miles from VDS. https://districtcoffeetn.com/

Music

There are too many music venues to name, but here are a couple notable ones.

• The Ryman, 1.7 miles from VDS https://ryman.com/
• Grand Ole Opry, 12.4 miles from VDS https://www.opry.com/
• American Legion Post 82: Honky Tonk Tuesday Nights. 7 miles. https://www.facebook.com/honkytonktuesdaynights/

Art

• Frist Art Museum – a variety of great art and family-friendly. 1.3 miles from VDS. https://fristartmuseum.org/
• Fisk Gallery on the camps of Fisk University: Georgia O’Keefe Collection and art at Jubilee Hall, Library, Administration Building. 1.7 miles from VDS. https://www.fisk.edu/galleries/

Books

• Nashville Public Library – hands-down an incredible resource. Also, VDS alumna Klem-Mari Cajigas works here as the Family Literacy Coordinator. Read about her work in this article when she was named one of the Library Journal 2021’s Movers & Shakers: https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=klem-mar%C3%AD-cajigas-movers-shakers-2021%E2%80%93community-builders&fbclid=IwAR26xpeCHdZi-dY8NAn1awGx_IXdANuEnUyMMrKtr73vdf32DAooGrHDPuM and the link to the library: https://www.library.nashville.org/
• Parnassus Books: Excellent local bookstore. 3.1 miles from VDS. https://www.parnassusbooks.net/
• McKay’s Book Store: Used books, music, games, etc. You can find something you didn’t even know you were looking for. 10.9 miles from VDS. https://www.mckaybooks.com/

Other

• Soul of America (soulofamericatours.com): African American themed tours of Nashville. https://soulofamericatours.com/
• Wild Heart Meditation Center https://wildheartmeditationcenter.org/