There’s no other way to say it—Berry Hill is charming. Although it’s technically a city of its own (one of six Nashville satellite cities within Davidson County), it’s geographically the smallest. Its population is also tiny compared to other cities like Belle Meade, Goodlettsville, and Ridgetop. It’s important to understand the character of Berry Hill as a smaller, almost experimental community in order to fully appreciate its unique, quirky culture.

Nashville’s Quirkiest Neighborhood

A community of tree-lined streets and 1940s era cottages, Berry Hill is best known for the small businesses that choose to settle along its winding paths.

If a newcomer were to drive through, it would seem as though the funkiest collection of shops one can imagine (e.g. pet stores, a pancake house, vintage boutiques, and a scuba diving business) all descended on a sleepy little community and made it their own. Wildly colorful signs and murals imbue the neighborhood with a refreshing joyfulness. 

What It’s Like to Live Here

In spite of its relatively small geographic footprint, Berry Hill is home to four city parks with covered picnic areas, vast jungle gyms, and greenspace for residents who want to walk their dogs. It’s a testament to the city’s values that the parks are placed prominently in the center of the community.

Along many of the city’s winding streets, visitors will see a network of fence murals depicting music legends—from Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson to Jimi Hendrix and Amy Winehouse. The music culture of Berry Hill is almost as robust as it is in areas like Music Row with recording and mastering studios dotting the neighborhood. Perhaps the most prominent is the House of Blues Studios, which is comprised of eight buildings and a grand total of five fully operational recording studios. 

While the beating heart of Berry Hill is the coalition of small, local businesses that call it home, residents can find big-box stores just across Thompson Lane from the quieter, greener parts of the neighborhood. Alongside the more mainstream establishments is the One Hundred Oaks Vanderbilt Health Center, which offers women’s health, pediatric care, and a variety of other resources to meet the medical needs of the community.

Local Flavor

Nashville’s best kept coffee secret is Sam & Zoe’s on Heather Place. It’s not a minimalist, subway-tiled, Instagram-friendly spot. It’s not going to take 20 minutes for a cup of coffee, and it’s not going to break the bank. Sam & Zoe’s originally opened in 1998 and has been a staple of the community ever since. It’s the prime spot for locals to have breakfast meetings, and their takeout window always has a line around the building.

Another beloved breakfast spot, albeit better suited for weekend brunches, is the iconic Pfunky Griddle “where the customers are the cooks.” This Berry Hill treasure is a restaurant with a simple premise—every table has a griddle in the center where guests can cook their own pancakes, hash browns, and eggs. Pfunky is a hit with kids of all ages, and there’s no denying that even adults get a kick out of the novelty.

For every other meal of the day, foodies across the city enjoy Sunflower Vegetarian Cafe, south Nashville’s destination for delicious meals that cater to people with dietary restrictions. Their vegan barbecue and mock “crab” cakes demonstrate the restaurants culinary prowess and imaginative approach to vegetarian dining. 

Buying a Home in Berry Hill

Easy access to main thoroughfares like Franklin Pike and Interstate 40 make Berry Hill a community that many Nashvillians pass through on their way to work. In true south Nashville fashion, Berry Hill is a more affordable alternative to neighborhoods like 12 South, Green Hills, or East Nashville with a median sale price in the low $300s. 

While condominium development looms on the horizon, the area offers almost exclusively single-family homes in a mid-century bungalow style. Last year’s purchase of the 1970s style Twelve Oaks Motel for a reported $2 million also indicates that Berry Hill is on the move to becoming more relevant than ever in the coming years.