Our Favorite Breakfast Spots in Nashville
This city’s breakfast game is strong enough to make even the most dedicated night owl willingly crawl outta bed before noon. Whether you’re nursing a Broadway hangover or just cravin’ some Southern comfort to start your day, I’ve rounded up the breakfast spots that’ll have you settin’ your alarm clock with actual enthusiasm.
1. Biscuit Love
This place turned the humble biscuit into an art form, and we’re all better for it. What started as a food truck is now a full-blown breakfast empire where people line up like they’re givin’ away free money.
The East Nasty—their fried chicken biscuit with gravy—should be illegal in at least 12 states for being too damn good. The wait might be longer than some relationships I’ve had, but unlike those relationships, this one’s worth every minute.
Order this: “Bonuts” (fried biscuit dough with blueberry compote) and thank me later.
2. Barista Parlor
Not your average coffee shop, honey. Barista Parlor is where Nashville’s cool kids and visitors who did their homework hang out. The original location in East Nashville feels like it was designed specifically for your Instagram, but the food ain’t just pretty—it’s ridiculous good.
Their breakfast sandwiches come on these buttermilk biscuits that’ll make your grandma jealous. The coffee is so fancy you might feel intimidated, but the baristas are actually nice about explainin’ things without makin you feel like a dummy.
Order this: The sausage, egg and cheese biscuit with a side of their house-made jam. And whatever coffee the barista recommends—they know their stuff.
3. Pancake Pantry
This joint is Nashville royalty. It’s been around since the 60s, and there’s still a line every. single. day. When locals are willin to wait in line alongside tourists, you know it’s legit.
They’ve got 23 diffrent types of pancakes, and each one is like a fluffy cloud sent from breakfast heaven. The sweet potato pancakes with cinnamon cream syrup might change your life—I’m not being dramatic, just honest.
Order this: Sweet potato pancakes and a side of their perfect bacon. And get there early unless you enjoy standin on the sidewalk for an hour.
4. Sky Blue Cafe
Tucked away in East Nashville, this tiny spot has a big personality. It’s cozy as hell—you might end up sittin close enough to strangers to become friends by the time your coffee’s refilled. The staff treats everyone like they’re regulars, even if it’s your first time.
Their eggs benedict game is strong, but the real star is the Stuffed French Toast—basically a peanut butter and banana sandwich dipped in egg batter and fried. Elvis woulda been a regular.
Order this: The “East Nasty Bowl” with home fries, eggs, and all the good stuff mixed together in a beautiful breakfast mess.
5. Loveless Cafe
Yeah, it’s technically outside the city and yeah, it’s full of tourists. But there’s a reason this place has been servin up breakfast since 1951. Those biscuits ain’t famous for nothin’.
The Loveless is worth the drive. It’s like eatin at your Southern grandma’s house—if your grandma had a secret recipe for biscuits that made people drive from other states just to try ’em. Everything is made from scratch and tastes like it.
Order this: Country ham with red-eye gravy, eggs, and at least four of them biscuits with homemade preserves. Diet starts tomorrow.
6. Proper Bagel
Nashville ain’t New York, but Proper Bagel is bringin legit bagels to Music City. The owners are actually from New York, so they know what they’re doin. It’s a bright, minimal space that’s usually packed with people who look like they have interesting jobs.
The cream cheese selection is bonkers—everything from birthday cake to sriracha. And the bagel sandwiches are stacked so high you’ll need to unhinge your jaw like a snake.
Order this: The “Proper Lox” on an everything bagel with all the traditional fixins. It’s so pretty you almost don’t wanna eat it. Almost.
7. Monell’s
If you want an authentic Southern breakfast expereince, drag yourself to Monell’s. It’s family-style seatin, which means you’re elbow-to-elbow with strangers passin around platters of food like you’re at a family reunion.
The food keeps comin until you beg for mercy—fried chicken (yes, for breakfast), biscuits and gravy, cheese grits, bacon, scrambled eggs, corn pudding… it’s like Thanksgiving breakfast. And it’s all-you-can-eat, so maybe wear your stretchy pants.
Order this: You don’t order here—you just sit down and they bring everything. Just keep sayin “yes” when they offer more food.
Nashville’s breakfast scene is almost enough to make me a mornin person. Almost. Whether you’re after fancy avocado toast or down-home biscuits and gravy, this city’s got you covered better than sausage gravy on a hot biscuit. Now set that alarm and get eatin’!
