Living in North Nashville: Guide to Food, Entertainment, & Real Estate

About North Nashville

This large neighborhood just to the northeast of downtown is a steward of Nashville’s diversity and artistic roots. For many years it has been home to one of Tennessee’s most distinguished African-American communities. Tennessee State University, Fisk University, and Meharry Medical College — all Historically Black Colleges — serve as foundations of a locale known for its artists, intellectuals, and professionals. Alongside these cultural hubs, neighborhoods like Germantown and Buena Vista have become some of Nashville’s most fashionable urban oases. Essentially, North Nashville offers everything to love about the city with less hassle and more authenticity. The education, arts, and public spaces contained within its blocks are a microcosm of all that Nashville holds dear.

Where Is North Nashville Located?

As the neighborhood name implies, North Nashville borders downtown Nashville on the north end, tucked into a bend of the Cumberland River. North Nashville is just north of Fisk University and is northwest of the I-65/I-40 interchange. This area includes Buena Vista Heights, Jones Buena Vista, Osage, and North Fisk. This up-and-coming area is also just west of the established and highly sought-after areas of Germantown and Salemtown.

How’s The Vibe In North Nashville?

North Nashville is a transitioning area that offers residents a chance to live just beyond the limits of Nashville’s exciting downtown. This area hosts authentic historic homes alongside brand-new builds, making it a great choice for professionals who work downtown. Homes range in size and price, making this area excellent for new families that want to be able to experience city life but also have a yard.

What’s The Food + Nightlife Scene Like In North Nashville?

When it comes to fun nights out with friends, family, or your spouse, there are plenty of choices in the North Nashville area and nearby. This neighborhood has an eclectic mix of classic American and Southern fare along with international cuisines. As for nightlife, some of Nashville’s most lively bars are in North Nashville.

Locals love The Original Kabob Gyros, a mainstay for the best gyros in town and an excellent choice for the entire family.

The Southern Engine Deli offers an unbeatable lunch with fresh cold cuts, fresh-baked bread, and more. It’s one of the area’s best-kept secrets for great service and great food, run by a local family.

For comfort food and country fixins’, The Southern V is top of the neighborhood’s list of go-to gathering places. If you wind up here, you have to try local favorites like the chicken and waffles and the impossible burger.

M.L. Rose Craft Beer & Burgers is an excellent choice for a night out with your spouse or friends. This is one of three locations in the Nashville area and each offers its own unique Nashville atmosphere with more beers on tap than you can count.

For a cocktail, conversation, and ever-changing menu, locals recommend the relaxed and authentic Willie B’s Kitchen & Lounge. Minerva Avenue offers a more upscale evening out or date night.

What Are The Top Things To Do In North Nashville?

This neighborhood is one of the best social spots in the city, and choosing between the many restaurants might be the hardest decision you have to make as a resident. Jefferson Street, Buchanan Street, and Germantown all have long-established restaurant districts brimming with highly-rated options. Whether you’re looking for morning coffee, dinner, or a great bar, it’s usually a short walk down the street. Of course, there’s also plenty to see and do when you aren’t testing out the latest foodie fare.

Just across Jefferson is the Bicentennial Mall State Park, with the Nashville Farmers Market alongside. Buena Vista Park, which connects to a riverside greenway and the Ted Rhodes Golf Course, bookends the neighborhood to the north. For sports fans, Nashville’s minor league baseball team, The Sounds, plays right in Germantown’s backyard, and TopGolf is just a pitching wedge over the Cumberland River. Of course, if you ever do run out of things to do, Downtown Nashville is just a few blocks away.

How’s The Real Estate Market In North Nashville?

North Nashville’s diverse real estate market offers an impressive range of properties only minutes from Downtown. Each neighborhood within North Nashville has its own distinctive style of living, with housing options to match. Just north of the statehouse grounds, Germantown and Salemtown are full of elegant highrises and condo complexes that usually range from the low-$300,000s to well over $1,000,000.

Sprinkled amongst these options, in areas like Buena Vista and McKissick, are many of the most conveniently-located townhomes and detached single-family homes available in the entire city, many of which are new construction. While single-family homes in these areas might fetch upward of $800,000, prices diminish as you move further from downtown. Outside of I-65, neighborhoods consist largely of two or three bedroom homes on small lots with a median sales price of $500,000 over the past 12 months.

The rental market is robust and competitive, especially in the most affordable areas like Hadley and Watkins Park. In Germantown, where there are more available rental properties, rent often climbs into the $2,000 - $3,000 per month range. Rental options are normally confined to condos and apartments, as the few available detached homes tend to be snatched up quickly. Whatever your preference and budget, however, there’s likely an ideal housing option within this broad expanse of residential properties.

As areas like East Nashville and West Nashville become more crowded and expensive, North Nashville is providing an increasingly attractive lifestyle option. It’s currently in the midst of a real estate transformation as small homes built decades ago make room for new construction that’s more in line with the wish lists of modern homebuyers. That transformation may still be a work in progress, but home values are already seeing impressive rates of appreciation. Values increased by 20.9% over the past year, and are projected to continue to increase moving forward. For those looking to rent out their property, North Nashville’s optimal location keeps both demand and prices high. Whatever you choose, based on the neighborhood’s positive direction, it’s likely to be financially sound.

PRO TIP: See homes for sale in North Nashville

How’s The Cost Of Living In North Nashville?

The lifestyle North Nashville boasts comes at a premium. While less expensive than more established areas, like Sylvan Park or The Nations, this neighborhood is anything but inexpensive. With new housing going up all the time and active gentrification, North Nashville housing prices have quickly risen. This price tag does come with the convenience of being close to downtown and in a hip and happening area, though.

How Is Transportation In North Nashville?

North Nashville is just a five-minute Uber downtown and is connected to the public bus system in Nashville. While many residents choose to drive, you could take a bus or two to most places in Nashville's metro area or bike downtown.

What Are The Top Schools In North Nashville?

North Nashville’s top schools include John Paideia Elementary Magnet Schools, Moses McKissack Middle School, and Saint Vincent de Paul School.

What Are The Best Parks In North Nashville?

Because North Nashville hugs the Cumberland River, this neighborhood hosts some excellent green spaces (especially when considering how close it is to downtown). Many young professionals go for a walk or run to unwind after the workday at the Cumberland River Greenway Metro Center Levee or the Ted Rhodes Trailhead. For team sports, most residents enjoy the Ted Rhodes Fields and Metrocenter Tennis Courts.

Is North Nashville A Safe Place To Live?

Most residents feel comfortable and safe throughout the North Nashville area. The neighborhoods that make up this region have gone through quite a few changes over the past few years and are still becoming fully established as top choices for families. That being said, like most other regions, being proactive will prevent most incidents. Most crime in the area is petty, so lock your vehicles and don’t leave valuables in plain sight.

Pros To Living In North Nashville

• North Nashville is a hop, skip, and a jump from downtown and offers some great historical homes along with hip places to grab drinks and hang out with friends.
• Many locals love the small family-owned eateries that have been in the area for decades and appreciate the changes they see in the neighborhood.
• Because North Nashville is up-and-coming, the value for housing is better than in nearby neighborhoods like Salemtown and Germantown. Many people appreciate the range of housing types in the area, making it more accessible to singles and those on a budget.

Cons To Living In North Nashville

• While North Nashville is a great place for young professionals and working families, it may not be the best choice for retirees looking for serenity.
• Its proximity to downtown comes with a slightly elevated crime level and a bit more overall activity.
• This neighborhood is also not the best for those seeking massive yards or top-ranked public schools.