12+ Things to Do in Berry Hill | Nashville, TN
Berry Hill is one of my absolute favorite neighborhoods in Nashville. With an old-school feel, and a lot of “old Nashville” still there, Berry Hill is only a 10-minute drive to downtown Nashville. Growing up, we called this area “100 Oaks”, because it is home to the 100 Oaks Mall.
This is really a big strip mall with surrounding businesses, and it has things like TJ Maxx, Ross, Burlington, Guitar Center, and Michael’s, to name a few. Across the street from this, you will also find a Walmart and a Home Depot, so you can easily find everything you need. There’s also tons of chain restaurants in the area, including Panera, Panda Express, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, and Chipotle.
While all of that is fine and dandy, this list will focus on the more unique things to do, the more “Nashville” things to do. The restaurants in this area are some of my favorite restaurants in town, both because of the amazing food, but also because of the vibe that they have. The area definitely doesn’t look super new, but that’s what make it perfect. So have fun, and support local businesses!
1. Brothers’ Burger Joint
Okay let me start by saying that I’m not a burger person, but if they’re done right, then sign me up. Brother’s Burgers is in my top 3 of burgers in Nashville, and it might even be #1 depending on the day you ask me. Don’t let the name fool you, though, because the menu also includes many classic New Orleans dishes including po-boy sandwiches, Creole pork rinds, and jambalaya.
The place is on the smaller side, but it’s got a full bar and an outdoor patio. Just make sure you go at the right time, and you’ll definitely get a seat! Everyone has always been so friendly every time I go, and it’s a local business so gotta support. The owners went to a school closely associated with mine, and the tables are covered in newspaper clippings and old memories.
2. Sunflower Cafe
The BEST vegan food I’ve had, hands down. I haven’t had much, but I think their dishes are so easy to love for all kinds of eaters, even the picky ones.
The food is served cafeteria style, so it’s easy to go down the line and customize your order no matter what you get! They have a wide variety of options here, and I got the Bacon Ranch Potato Bowl and added their vegan queso. When I tell you I was shocked, I was. It tasted incredible.
Sunflower Cafe also has plenty of other options: burgers, sandwiches, wraps, tacos, nachos, and lots of side dishes. I’ve also gotten the fresh fruit as a side! You can get one of their many specialty drinks or even a beer if you want. Click here for more information and the menu: Sunflower Cafe Nashville.
3. Black Abbey Brewing
An often forgotten brewery, located more behind the 100 Oaks Mall is Black Abbey Brewing. Full of church pews and designed to look like an old church, this is one of the more unique breweries in Nashville.
As you’ll see with a few of the places on this list, it is located off Sidco Drive. Black Abbey has both tables inside and a decent outdoor patio space with picnic tables and even a food truck at times!
Go inside and you’ll find wooden features, games, merch, and obviously, the bar. While I don’t see Black Abbey beers everywhere I go, they have some solid choices. If you’re new to beer or to a brewery, I’ll always recommend just starting with a flight. Learn what you like, then just get more of that! For more information, click here: Black Abbey Brewing.
4. Paddywax Candle Bar
Right down the road, you’ll find the famous Paddywax Candle Bar. With locations all around the world, the one off Sidco Drive is the original location and headquarters. Inside, you’ll see all the workspaces and offices of the employees, but don’t worry, they only open after work hours or on weekends.
At Paddywax, you can actually make your own candle. This is such a fun activity with your girlfriends, for a date, or honestly by yourself! The staff are super friendly and they walk you through every step. You get to choose both the vessel and the scent, and they teach you how to take it from there.
It’s pretty simple, but it’s a solid 1-hour activity to switch up your usual activities and do something different. They also have a store and even a small bar so you can shop little souvenir items like notebooks and cute trinkets. They also have a photo wall, and yes, it is a great spot for bachelorette groups. To learn more or make a reservation, click here: Paddywax Candle Bar.
5. Regal Hollywood – Nashville
Yes, this is actually just a Regal theater. But it looks pretty!! And that’s really the only reason I mention it here. It looks like an old school Hollywood theater – hence, the name. It’s a mixture of bright colors, and at night, it lights up and looks really fun. On the inside, it is your basic Regal theater, but it’s something different to see.
6. Pfunky Griddle
These next 3 places are all included on my places to go to brunch blog post! That’s because I love them all, and they’re worth mentioning twice, at the least. Now, the Pfunky Griddle gets mixed reviews a lot. And if you don’t like the concept, then don’t go!
It is essentially a DIY breakfast spot, and you make your food right at your table. Each table has a griddle in the middle, and they provide you with everything you need. Again, people like to hate on this place because they say “why would I want to pay to have to cook my own meal?!” Well, you don’t have to buy the ingredients, and you don’t have to clean up! That’s already worth it, in my opinion.
The best thing to get here is the pancakes. They have all the toppings you could possibly want, and you basically get unlimited pancakes. Also, the batter can be gluten-free! They also have other things like eggs and potatoes that are fully customizable as well! If you’re a person who loves a good activity or just switching it up, this could be a fun option. It’s also very family friendly! Check out more info here: The Pfunky Griddle.
7. Big Machine Distillery & Tavern
Another one of my favorite brunch spots is Big Machine Distillery! Home of the Vimosa. Yes, instead of a regular mimosa, their’s are served with vodka. For just $25, you can get bottomless of any of their famous brunch cocktails. Don’t worry, they are strong.
Big Machine in Berry Hill has a decent-sized patio as well as tons of indoor seating. They have live music, and they are dog friendly! They also have delicious brunch foods, complete with the southern twist people love here.
When it’s not brunch, something I’m dying to do here is go to SINGO. Instead of normal Bingo, it’s with songs! That is on Tuesday nights, and they do trivia on Thursday nights. They also have a lunch and dinner menu and honestly, the prices are great. When it comes to drinks, what they are obviously famous for, everything will have that vodka twist. To read more, or just stare at the mouth-watering pictures, click here: Big Machine Distillery & Tavern.
8. Stay Golden
I only just discovered this place a few months ago, and I immediately said it was one of the best breakfast meals I’ve ever had in Nashville. I don’t know if I was just super hungry or what, but I got the American Breakfast, and wow. It comes with all the basics: eggs, bacon, potatoes, and a biscuit. They also have lots of other breakfast options as well as some salads and sandwiches! And you can see into the kitchen, so you know the food is going to be prepared well.
Also located in the same strip mall as Paddywax, it feels bright and airy, despite being in a big industrial building. The white walls and the bright lighting definitely wakes you up, and there is way more seating than it looks like from the outside.
When you walk in, you simply get your drink order from the cashier, and she will give you a number to go to a table. Then you find your number on one of the tables, and you order from your phone! I wasn’t sure how that was going to go, but it was super simple for everyone to place their orders when they were ready, and the food came out super fast. We were also there early on a Saturday morning, and by the time we were leaving the line was almost out the door! For more info and to see the menu, click here: Stay Golden.
9. House of Blues’ Wall of Fame Murals
Obviously, Nashville is well-known as Music City. Well, tucked away in Berry Hill are some pretty famous music studios where lots of people have recorded over the years. Near this, you’ll find some amazing murals and an entire fence full of famous people painted on it. I’ve really not seen many people visit here or even know about it.
I happened to go with some friends who were recording there, and we stumbled upon all this incredible artwork at the time. This is definitely a more unique place to take pictures. You also get to see the more local music studios and how different it can feel compared to downtown!
10. The Iris Motel
When my friends came in town for my birthday, we decided to get a hotel room just to have fun. While not the nicest place you could stay in Nashville, it definitely served its purpose, and it was close to lots of things we were going to be doing! It is a boutique motel, and it is essentially fully contactless. There is no front desk or lobby, and everything is digitized to get into the rooms or get what you need.
They market themselves as being a minimalist stay, so it just has the basics of what you need from a place to stay. And hey, they are walking distance to lots of things on this list! It has plenty of parking out front, and there’s not much else to say about it.
They have both a King bed room and a 2-Queen room. The price was decent, but I had points on Expedia so it made it almost free. Also, the staff was super nice, because they have a virtual team that communicates with you beforehand, which I thought made it feel more unique and personal. To read more about it or book a room, click here: The Iris Motel.
11. Sam + Zoe’s Cafe
After staying at The Iris Motel, we ventured on over to Sam + Zoe’s Cafe. This was just a quick walk in the morning, and I had a giant, delicious bagel. If you’re looking for a local spot to stop for a quick breakfast, lunch, or just a coffee, this is the place for you.
While they have some tables inside, there are also lots of tables under a covered patio outside! This would be a great spot to get some work done, as it’s not too crowded most of the time. I’m not a coffee drinker, so I can’t speak on that, but I did know I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast bagel and smoothie. I also looked at their lunch menu, and the sandwiches sound so, so good.
To see more, definitely check out their Instagram. There you can see when they also have after-hours open mic nights! This place could definitely be underrated, but why not support local? To see their menus, click here: Sam + Zoe’s.
12. Hugh Baby’s
Last, but not least, is a Nashville classic – Hugh Baby’s. Okay, okay, they now have a location in Charleston, South Caroline, but the other 3 locations are all in Nashville! They have one in East Nashville, off Charlotte Ave towards West Nashville, and obviously, the one in Berry Hill. I’ve only been to the one on Charlotte, but I thought it was pretty good for what is basically a fast food restaurant!
It is technically a BBQ and burger shop, but I got the fried chicken sandwich, and I’m not mad about it. I definitely know I have to try the BBQ next time, though. I also got a side of chili cheese fries, and I was surprised by how big the portion was. It was pretty good, and for being so quick, it was definitely good!
The menu isn’t huge, but this is a great place to get a quick burger, some BBQ, and fries. Instead of hitting up the Wendy’s across the street, why not check out a more local option? Click here to see their menu and locations: Hugh Baby’s.
Other:
Mofongo Cafe
A place for authentic Caribbean food – I’m not a Caribbean food expert, so I couldn’t even begin to tell you what foods they serve, but it has been on my list to try! Check them out here: Mofongo Cafe.
Nashville Jam Co.
Selling local jam and serving up some classic southern dishes in their cafe. To shop their jam or see the menu, click here: Nashville Jam Co.
Vui’s Kitchen
With 3 locations, one in Berry Hill, they serve all the Vietnamese classics. To see the locations and the menu, click here: Vui’s Kitchen.
For More:
To read more guides about Nashville, click here: Best of Nashville.
For my favorite brunch spots all around Nashville, click here: 20 Fun Places to Get Brunch or Breakfast in Nashville.
To read about where to get the best desserts in Nashville, click here: 10 Dessert Spots in Nashville to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth.
