Nashville has swiftly garnered a reputation for being the bachelorette party capital of the South, if not the whole United States. The rise of an Instagram culture that sees fleets of women zig-zagging across the city for photo ops at landmarks and murals has created a situation where otherwise quiet neighborhoods are affected by out-of-towners in vacation mode. As Anne Peterson outlines in a recent Buzzfeed article “How Nashville Became One Big Bachelorette Party,” this phenomenon is a complicated boost for the local economy at best and, at worst, a problematic contributor to the city’s rising housing prices and loss of local identity. 

Once popular local spots for shopping and dining have become teeming centers of commerce where an hour-long wait is always expected and crowds overwhelm any sense of individual experience. In some parts of town like The Gulch, SoBro, and 12 South, scores of bachelorettes spill into the street and jaywalk to their heart’s content. Local business owners will assert that the uptick in traffic is not all bad, and in many ways, they would be right. 

While there’s no clear answer as to how and when this phenomenon will evolve into something more sustainable for the people who call Nashville home, there are parts of town that remain untouched by it, and there’s reason to believe they’ll stay that way.

Belmont-Hillsboro

Photo courtesy of PM Cafe

Although Nashville’s historic Belmont-Hillsboro neighborhood is located mere blocks from the aforementioned 12 South shopping district, it has maintained its quiet neighborhood feel. With local favorites like Bongo Java and PM Cafe catering to the area’s more quirky, homespun energy, there’s almost an invisible barrier between the long stretch of Belmont Boulevard and its bustling neighbor. When it comes to quiet strolls during which one can literally stop to smell the roses, Belmont Boulevard can’t be beat with its two mile stretch of sidewalk reaching from the Belmont University campus all the way to neighboring Green Hills. 

Sylvan Park

Richland Creek Greenway photo courtesy of Rex Hammock

The west side is perfect for avoiding wild bachelorettes as it’s just far enough from downtown to maintain its organic, neighborly feel. Understated local barbershop Scouts serves area residents of all ages and genders in their Sylvan Park location, and just next door at Answer, there are indulgent flavors and signature cocktails. 

Within walking distance locals can venture down to the main drag on Murphy Road and grab some fresh, local fare at Produce Place or enjoy one of the best, most intimate Italian restaurants in town, Cafe Nonna. After a wonderful meal, Richland Creek Greenway is a serene setting for walking off a long day. 

Germantown

Photo courtesy of Slim & Husky's

Just north of Nashville’s city center is Germantown, a neighborhood that has experienced a renaissance in the last few years and now boasts some of Nashville’s most prized dining, drinking, and coffee shops as well as a rich culture derived from its proximity to historic Fisk University and other key centers during the fight for civil rights in the 1960s.

Slim & Husky's, otherwise known as “Nashville’s hottest pizza joint,” is a welcome addition to the landscape in the Buchanan Art District and the brainchild of natives Emanuel Reed, Clint Gray, and Derrick Moore. Patrons can enjoy signature, customized pizzas as well as a host of local craft beers before stopping by the company's sister establishment just down the street, The Rollout, for dessert.

Wedgewood-Houston

Photo courtesy of Arts & Music at Wedgewood/Houston

One of Nashville’s most beloved, emerging art communities is Wedgewood-Houston. Hidden in plain sight on the south side of town, this neighborhood is known for hosting the “best renegade art crawl” in the city, and the moniker is well-deserved. Lined with high-end art galleries and avant garde performance spaces, Wedgewood-Houston is just far enough out of the mainstream to keep the pedal taverns at bay.

The newly-opened FCC Group beautifully encapsulates the dynamic between hard-working artists and the good life. Commonly known as the Falcon Coffee Bar by day, this converted Baptist church at 509 Houston St. doubles as the semi-formal Flamingo Cocktail Club by night.