Your Guide to Nashville’s Cutest Coffee Shops, Affordable Brunches, and Restaurants Actually Worth Leaving Campus For
Being a college girl in Nashville means there are way too many places saved in your TikTok favorites and somehow never enough ideas when the group chat asks, “Wait, where should we go?”
Between the coffee shops that look cute on Instagram but aren’t actually worth the $8 latte, brunch spots that require a reservation three weeks in advance, and dinners that can absolutely destroy a college budget, finding somewhere that checks all the boxes can be harder than it should be.
That’s where The It List comes in.
We’re narrowing down the Nashville spots that are cute, social, actually good, and most importantly worth leaving campus for. Whether you need somewhere for a study date, Saturday brunch, a birthday dinner, or just an excuse to get off campus with your friends, consider this your starting point.
☕ For the Coffee + Matcha Run
Sometimes you don’t need a full plan. You just need a cute coffee shop, your friends, and approximately two hours to talk about something that could have been explained in ten minutes.
The best coffee spots are the ones that can do both: somewhere you can bring your laptop when you actually need to be productive, but cute enough that a quick coffee run can turn into an entire afternoon.
On The It List: Blue Hound Brew
Blue Hound Brew, located on Music row, is a Nashville coffee shop that specializes in cold brew and nitro drinks served straight from the tap, giving them an extra smooth and creamy finish. The menu has fun signature flavors, matcha, and plenty of options for the friend who wants something a little more exciting than her usual iced latte. Plus, the cute dog-inspired branding and cozy atmosphere make it an easy spot for catching up with friends or getting some work done. I’d like to think it is La La Land style drinks without the 2 hour long wait.
🥐 For the Saturday Brunch
There are few things more Nashville than deciding that brunch is the main event of your Saturday.
The ideal college brunch spot has a fun atmosphere, food everyone can find something they like on the menu, and prices that don’t make you immediately regret ordering a coffee and an entrée.
Bonus points if there’s somewhere nearby to walk around or shop afterward. If we’re leaving campus, we might as well make a day out of it.
On The List: Milk & Honey
Located in The Gulch, Milk & Honey is one of those Nashville brunch spots that checks basically every box: cute atmosphere, coffee, fresh juices, pastries, and a huge breakfast and brunch menu. Their menu has everything from avocado toast and breakfast sandwiches to chicken & waffles, plus their warm honey butter biscuits are one of the signature picks.
This is definitely the spot for when you and your friends want brunch to be the actual plan for the morning. One thing to know: go early. Milk & Honey is first-come, first-served and can get busy, so an early breakfast is the move if you don’t want your entire morning to become waiting for a table.
🍝 For Dinner With the Girls
You know the dinner: everyone wants somewhere cute, no one wants to choose, and suddenly 47 restaurant TikToks are being sent into the group chat.
For a girls’ dinner to make The It List, the vibe matters almost as much as the food. We’re looking for places that feel special without requiring a special-occasion budget,
somewhere you can dress up a little, split something for the table, and stay long enough to catch up on everything.
On The List: Virago
Located in The Gulch, Virago is the move when you want dinner to feel like a full girls’ night. It’s moody, elevated, and known for its sushi and Asian-inspired dishes, with everything from crispy rice and bao to signature rolls and fried rice. Virago
This one is definitely more of a special-occasion pick than an everyday college dinner, but there’s a trick: go on Monday. Virago’s Maki Sake Monday offers half-price sushi and appetizers, making it a much more college-budget-friendly way to experience one of Nashville’s trendier dinner spots.
💸 For When the Budget Is Budgeting
Going out in Nashville adds up fast, and having fun in the city shouldn’t require spending $50 every time you leave campus.
Some of the best finds are casual neighborhood spots, quick lunches, coffee shops with actual food, weekday specials, and places where you can get something good without turning dinner into a financial event.
The It List will always be looking for that sweet spot: cute enough to want to go, good enough to go back, and affordable enough to text your friends immediately.
On The List: Verna Cafe
Going somewhere cute in Nashville doesn’t always have to mean spending $30 on brunch. Verna Café & Bar is the perfect middle ground when you want a spot that still feels fun and aesthetic without making your bank account hate you. With creative coffee and matcha drinks, breakfast and lunch options, and a cozy-cool atmosphere, it’s an easy choice for a casual morning or lunch with friends.
💌 So…Where Are We Going?
Nashville has hundreds of places to eat, but you don’t need a list of hundreds. You need the places that are actually worth knowing about.
That’s the whole point of The It List Nashville.
We’ll keep trying the new openings, finding the hidden gems, and narrowing down the endless Nashville options. You just need to decide who’s coming with you.
And the next time someone drops “What should we do?” in the group chat?
You know where to look.
xx, The It List Nashville
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