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The Gulch is another downtown neighborhood in Nashville boasting a robust nightlife, bar and restaurant scene and lots of high-rise lofts with incredible city views.
Hip young professionals mingle with tourists drawn by the country music scene for which the downtown is so revered. Expensive fine-dining establishments hang out next to dive bars and tiny ramen shops. The Gulch is a place teeming with diversity and action!
Where is The Gulch?
Nestled in between downtown and Music Row, The Gulch has everything you need for living your best life – if you can afford it. People watching is epic here, and most restaurants have patios. Hang out long enough, and you’ll probably spot a celeb or two.
History
Like its sister neighborhoods downtown, the Gulch has a rich history. Before the Civil War, it was a busy railroad yard but fell into disrepair after WWII and rested virtually abandoned for decades. In the early 2000s, it began its much-talked-about revitalization, and today boasts 110 acres full of upscale urban living.
Lifestyle
Young professionals and DINKs primarily inhabit The Gulch, so it’s not the most ideal place to raise a family. It’s an area of movin’ and shakin’ metropolitan sophistication.
What to Do
Culture and history abound in the Gulch area, and there is plenty to see and do there in addition to fine dining and nightlife.
The Frist Art Museum opened in 2001 and hit the ground running by exhibiting some of the most famous touring collections in the art world and their award-winning in-house exhibitions. They rotate out every couple of months, so you’ve got to pay attention and visit frequently to see what’s exciting and new! The museum hosts a fully immersive exhibit for children where they can learn, create and play on the top floor and a café where you can enjoy a sandwich or salad for lunch on the abundant green space behind the building.
For more than 40 years, the Station Inn music venue has hosted roots, Americana and bluegrass music every night of the week. It’s a dive, so unless you secure your spot early, you’ll be sipping your longneck standing up. The music starts at 7!
Right up the street from The Station, enjoy authentic live jazz at Rudy’s Jazz Room every night of the week except Tuesday and Wednesdays. If you’re peckish, they’ve got a great menu and plenty of craft cocktails to satisfy any taste.
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In addition to wine and spirits shops and the Turnip Truck grocery store, there are many upscale and specialty shops that call The Gulch home. Grab yourself a pair of sturdy boots, visit one of the quaint boutiques or shop for fashionable home dĂ©cor – there’s something here for everyone.
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Of note is the Nashville institution Two Old Hippies, where you can find all kinds of fun and quirky stuff! Its 8,000 square foot retail space features one-of-a-kind gifts, shoes, jewelry, clothing, home décor, music memorabilia and books. They even sell a premium selection of guitars. It’s a truly unique and entertaining shopping experience. Oh, and they host live music five nights a week. (Only in Nashville, amirite?!)
Where to Eat & Drink
There are so many noteworthy restaurants and bars in The Gulch. From rooftop dining establishments to cozy pubs, from biscuits for breakfast to seductive upscale dining, it’s impossible to give them all a shout-out here. So we’ll try to narrow it down a bit.
Kayne Prime
While it’s known as an award-winning steakhouse, Kayne Prime is more of an experience than a restaurant. It features multiple bars and lounge spaces for dining and five private dining rooms for intimate dining events. They even have the SOMM Room – a private dining experience focused on wine and wine pairings.
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Moto
What do you get when you combine an award-winning wine list with cutting-edge interpretations of Italian cuisine? You get Moto, one of the best restaurants in The Gulch, if not all of Nashville. The ambiance is perfect for date nights or gathering with friends. Be sure to make a reservation, it fills up fast in there.
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Tansuo
At Tansuo, you’ll find contemporary Chinese cuisine in a gorgeous atmosphere. They’ve got an excellent sidewalk patio for people watching and a Sunday brunch with Dim Sum cart service and bottomless cocktails for $15! If that doesn’t make you want to try it out, we don’t know what will!
The Chef and I
Want a unique experience? The Chef and I features an open kitchen with guests invited to sit around the chef’s counter and talk while watching their meal being prepared. It’s a casual and fun place where you can experience all the benefits of fine dining. They offer brunch seven days a week and happy hour daily, so be sure to check them out.
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Moving to The Gulch
Real Estate Snapshot
Nashville’s average rent comes in at about $1,428 per month. After learning about all it has to offer, it’s probably no surprise that if you’re looking at The Gulch apartments, you’re looking at about $500 more than the Nashville average.
While average rent in The Gulch runs about $1,920 per month, many who live in the area say the amazing metropolitan nightlife juxtaposed with the community vibe makes the extra cost well worth it. People who live in The Gulch often run into each other while grabbing a cup of coffee or making a grocery run to the Turnip Truck, making it a very tight community socially.
Transportation
Transportation in The Gulch is best left to walking or public transport. While there are garages available for parking in the many high-rise apartment buildings, they’ll cost you. Which is fine – it’s close enough to walk to the downtown and SoBro areas, and the city bus has a stop on every corner to take you anywhere you need to go within the city limits in 30 minutes or less.
Schools & Employment
While it’s not exactly a family-friendly environment, if you do choose to move there with the kiddos, there are plenty of private schools surrounding the area, as well as Hume-Fogg magnet high school, one of the highest-rated schools in the city.
Huge employers in the area include the corporate offices of Bridgestone Americas, Amazon and dozens more.
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Florentina Sarac is a creative writer, editor, and researcher for RENTCafé. She covers a variety of topics, from real estate trends, demographic shifts, housing industry news and multifamily construction to homeownership, smart-home technology, personal finance and business. With a 9-year background in the real estate industry, Florentina has also penned articles for publications such as Multi-Housing News, Commercial Property Executive and the National Apartment Association Magazine. You can connect with Florentina via email.
Florentina’s work and expertise have been featured in several major U.S. and international publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bisnow, The Mercury News, Curbed, The NY Post, CBS News, Business Insider and Realtor.com. She holds a B.A. in English and Spanish, as well as an M.A. in Multilingual and Multicultural Communication, which serve as a testament to her love of literature and language.
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