Welcome to Germantown + Salemtown
Historic charm & urban amenities minutes from downtown Nashville
Elegant Victorians, converted warehouses, and trendy restaurants make Germantown + Salemtown the place to be in Nashville. Just a four-minute drive from downtown, Germantown is often considered the city’s first suburb, founded in the 1850s by the European immigrants that gave the area its name. Salemtown, which is located just North of Germantown — a whopping five-minute drive from Downtown — is known for being home to the Fehr school, an important site in Nashville’s civil rights movement.
Today, Germantown and Salemtown rank #2 and #3, respectively, on Niche’s “Best Neighborhoods to Buy a House in Nashville.” It might be the hip, urban ambiance or the historic buildings — or maybe it’s the many, many trees (over 100 different species) — that make the Germantown + Salemtown area such a popular place to visit, live, and play.
What to Love
- 5 minutes from Downtown
- Trendy, urban vibe
- One of Nashville’s Historic Districts
- Incredible coffee, food, and shopping
- A mix of beautiful Victorians and contemporary townhomes
Local Lifestyle
With its bountiful entertainment options, easy walkability, and proximity to Downtown, the Germantown + Salemtown area attracts a number of young professionals and families. Residents are highly educated, with a large majority holding either a bachelor’s degree or higher.
The neighborhoods provide a mix of Historic Victorian and brick townhouses, as well as charming, contemporary 2-3 story townhomes. The area also has a high concentration of apartment buildings running the gamut from sleek, new construction builds to industrial-styled historic renovations.
Another draw? The friendliness — residents report feeling connected to their neighbors and part of a community.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Foodies and shopaholics, rejoice! The Germantown + Salemtown area is flush with fantastic dining and shopping opportunities.
There’s Butchertown Hall, which serves up wood-fired Tex-Mex dishes and an assortment of cocktails in a stylish, industrial ambiance. They also have a cozy brick patio, where you can dine al fresco under string lights. A staple of the neighborhood for twenty years, Germantown Café is back in business after tornado damage forced a renovation. Now, residents and visitors can once again tuck in for an upscale, Southern-inspired meal in the iconic brick building.
Monell’s is a Nashville staple and the original restaurant is actually located in Germantown in a 1905 Victorian home. The menu is the definition of Southern Comfort Food, serving up delicious meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Did we mention they cater, too?
The shopping scene in Germantown is just as exciting. Trendy boutiques like Alexis + Bolt and ABEDNEGO sell stylish clothing in industrial, boho settings. You can stop into The Golden Slipper for a range of eclectic home goods in a shop that’s both whimsical and chic.
Things to Do
There’s plenty to do in the Germantown + Salemtown area besides dining and shopping. Nashville pays homage to the community’s German roots by hosting an annual Oktoberfest. The event has been held since 1980 and features a 5k bier run, dachshund derby, and brat eating contest.
First Horizon Park, home of the Nashville Sounds Baseball team, offers family-friendly fun. In addition to baseball games, the park also hosts soccer games and concerts.
Just past Jefferson Street, which marks the southernmost edge of Germantown, is Bicentennial Capitol Mall & State Park. The 19-acre green space features fountains, an amphitheater, and a World War II monument. It is also home to the Nashville Farmers Market, which showcases local and regional goods all year long.
Schools
Germantown + Salemtown is served by the Metro Nashville Public School District. Private schools and prestigious universities are also nearby. Top educational opportunities include:
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Fisk University, private HBCU, oldest university in Nashville & ranked #3 in Tennessee for job placement
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Vanderbilt University, four-year university, highly selective private research university
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Lipscomb University, private liberal arts college, nationally ranked business and nursing programs
