The 12South Neighborhood in Nashville, TN, is a bubbling utopia of unique chic boutiques, eclectic and delectable restaurants, on-the-go snack options, and more! Known as one of Music City’s hottest neighborhoods, 12South is a favorite place to spend your day whimsically wandering from storefront to bar front. Embrace stylish locally-owned clothing boutiques, charming coffee shops, vintage guitars, craft beer, and other special delicacies. Here is our ultimate guide to how to spend your time exploring the 12South Neighborhood in Nashville!
Discover our Playlist Properties homes in the 12South Neighborhood in Nashville and enjoy exploring this one-of-a-kind area of Music City!
Dining
Urban Grub
There are a variety of tempting 12South Nashville restaurants, and one of our favorites is Urban Grub. Fresh fish and fine aged meats are the best ingredients at this fantastic eatery. Enjoy an ethnic, healthy, casual restaurant in opposition to upscale dining. You will relish the warm and inviting ambiance, with indoor and outdoor bar and seating areas. A combination of southern traditions await with fresh shucked oysters, smoked meats and veggies, and cantina-style handhelds. An on-site curing room provides the best dry-aged hand-cut steaks and incredible charcuterie board options.
Burger Up
With a menu sourced from sustainable and humane local farms, Burger Up is a favorite restaurant of the 12South Neighborhood in Nashville. This community-driven hotspot features some of the most unique and delectable burgers you can experience! Try the pimento cheeseburger with a jalapeno bun, truffle aioli, and bacon for some southern charm. The sausage burger, turkey burger, lamb burger, and bison burger all offer individual flavors of their own, while the Classic or Woodstock will give you a simple yet mouthwatering taste.
Josephine
Modern American cuisine and wine are available in a stylish, contemporary space with tufted leather banquettes and exposed ductwork. Josephine is the name of this higher-end restaurant in the 12South Neighborhood in Nashville. Elegant without the fuss, Josephine features simple, classically composed recipes accompanied by a selective but divine wine list. Begin with buffalo cauliflower or chicken skins with orange and smoked onion. Then, indulge in hazelnut ravioli, duck breast, swordfish, or steak for your entree. Afterward, satiate your sweet tooth with a dark chocolate mousse or almond sponge cake with cranberries and cream cheese.
12South Taproom
The 12South Taproom in Nashville is the quintessential friendly neighborhood hangout. With 22 different beers on tap and an eclectic menu, this restaurant has some delicious food as well as a great lineup of live music. From flatbread pizzas to lamb tacos and brisket quesadillas, the food is fresh and savory. Cherish the decor, from Hatch Show Poster motifs to wall designs fashioned from beer bottle caps. You’ll also love the unique artwork painted on table tops and the refreshing outdoor patio.
Snacks On-the-Go
Frothy Monkey
Looking for a pick-me-up during your shopping adventures? Grab a coffee at Frothy Monkey, one of the best coffee shops in town and a clear favorite in the 12South Neighborhood. Along with a campfire latte or hazelnut white mocha blend, you can also find some delicious breakfast, lunch, or even dinner treats at this shop. From baked brie to a braised beef sandwich, with an architect omelet and housemade hummus in the mix, this menu is one you will love for a yummy bite.
Las Paletas
12South is a great area for some quick bites on the go if you don’t want to sit down for a full meal. This is ideal as you are shopping and adventuring in this unique neighborhood. One great place for a snack is Las Paletas. This authentic Mexican popsicle shop has a daily menu, and popsicles can go fast, so it can change throughout the day. Some favorite flavors include honeydew, strawberry blackberry, chocolate chocolate chip, banana cream, and avocado. Yum!
Sprinkles Cupcakes ATM
For an emergency sugar craving, 12South features a truly unique staple: the Sprinkles Cupcakes ATM. The world’s first of its kind, this cupcake ATM dispenses freshly baked cupcakes and cookies 24 hours a day! Talk about a sugar rush.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
To cool off a hot summer day, visit Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. This popular ice creamery is not uncommon to feature a line out the door! The scoop shop is conveniently located near Burger Up, and it is the perfect follow-up to a tasty burger. The unique flavors here are to die for! Thai curry pumpkin, sweet potato eclair, sun-popped corn, and watermelon buttermilk are just a few options. For the chocolate lover, don’t worry! Darkest chocolate pairs amazingly with salty caramel, while green mint chip complements the wildberry lavender.
Shopping
Draper James
12South Nashville shopping is tied to a variety of locally-owned chic boutiques. A celebrity favorite is Draper James, owned by Reese Witherspoon. This women’s lifestyle brand features whimsical floral dresses, boho rompers, and a blend of fun, fresh patterns. Try on faded pink tortoise sunglasses, striped tweed skirts, and other clothing and accessories approved by Witherspoon herself!
Corner Music Store
For the music lover, there is no better store than Corner Music in the 12South Neighborhood in Nashville. Established in the 1970s, this store features the best musical instruments around and some knowledgeable experts to help explain all their bells and whistles. This is also a great place to find amps, pedals, and other music accessories if you need to want to pick one up from an authentic Music City shop.
White’s Mercantile
A general store for the modern day tastemaker, White’s Mercantile is another popular place to shop in 12South. Owned by singer/songwriter Holly Williams, daughter of Hank Williams, this shop features her unique style that has a stamp of approval from gal pal Gwyneth Paltrow. Find the perfect gift or souvenir among other knick-knacks, bath products, and quirky items.
Imogene + Willie
With stylish attire for both men and women, Imogene + Willie is a favorite place to shop for the fashion-forward Nashville crowd. Discover textiles, jewelry, vintage tees, leather jackets, indigo denim, and other fresh finds. A free denim repair service is also offered here for clothing purchased in-store within the year. So, if you end up visiting Nashville again during the calendar year, stop in and refresh your worn, beat up, and beloved jeans!
Stay in the Trendy 12South Neighborhood in Nashville!
Playlist Properties has two amazing featured homes in 12South that you will love during your Nashville vacation. The Urban Hotspot Stage A and Urban Hotspot Stage B are great adjacent homes, each sleeping 10. You can also combine the homes into one rental to sleep a larger party of up to 20. This is a huge deal, since a Nashville city ordinance only allows 12 people per home. The Urban Hotspots share a front porch, allowing for plenty of group communication between parties! Or, if you just need one home, that is fine too. When you stay here, you will be within walking distance to almost all of the places mentioned as highlights of the 12South Neighborhood in Nashville. You can view our other Nashville properties here!