A Coffee Tour of Nashville
First of all, hello everybody! I’m Alex, a new writer for Inside ‘Dores, and I can’t wait to share the details — good, bad, and completely embarrassing — of my time here at Vanderbilt with you all.
As a college student, one of the most important things in my life is caffeine. I have a bit of a reputation at the Commons Munchie Mart for ordering a latte before class every single day. However, there are days when I need an extra kick, so for my first post, I thought I’d share with you all my favorite Nashville coffee shops for studying, conversing, and picking up a fresh brew. I will say that I’m a bit of a self-proclaimed expert in this field: last semester I wrote a twelve page paper about different cafes around music city, so clearly I take this subject very seriously.
First, a personal favorite of mine: Cafe Coco. If you’re looking for a place with a no-frills atmosphere that has food and a wide selection of coffee, this is definitely the cafe for you. There are a couple other things that make Cafe Coco unique — for one, it’s open 24 hours so you can literally gratify any craving of yours no matter the time, and secondly, it’s on the Vanderbilt meal card. If you need further incentive, sometimes musicians and performers will come to Cafe Coco and use the stage located in the back room, which adds an ambiance like no other.
Another great stop for the particularly artisanal coffee lover is Barista Parlor. Located in East Nashville, this coffee shop features some amazing pour-over brews from across the globe. While great for doing work or catching up with friends, there is one thing I’ve found wrong with Barista Parlor so far: I’m too much of a dork, and definitely not hip enough to hang with the crowd there. Nevertheless, it’s definitely a must-try for the Nashville connoisseur.
If you step on to Vanderbilt’s campus and ask about coffee, it’s likely that the first place mentioned to you will be Fido. Located in Hillsboro Village, Fido is within walking distance from campus and is there to meet the brunch, coffee, and dessert needs of Nashville natives. With seasonally crafted coffee drinks and a number of other beverages as well, Fido’s selection does not disappoint (not to mention, there are a ton of other shops nearby to explore if you want to make a day of Hillsboro Village).
Lastly, I’d recommend to those of you who love coffee in a cozy, ambient location 12 South’s The Frothy Monkey. Similarly to Fido, The Frothy Monkey has seasonal coffees filled with any array of herbs, spices, fruits, and syrups which are absolutely delicious. Plus, they have all-day brunch, which is impossible not to enjoy.
So, for those of you who love coffee as much as me, here’s a list to get you started on your coffee tour of Nashville. Luckily, these cafes make up only a small portion of the total population here, so there’s plenty of exploring to be done (and let me know if you find one you love)!
