Barista Parlour, Nashville, USA

With a cab virtually waiting downstairs to take me to Nashville airport, I've just got time to say a few rushed words about an amazing coffee shop in The Gulch region of Nashville, TN. 

Established in 2011, there are three Barista Parlor outlets in Nashville offering artisanal coffees in a hip environment. The one I visited was located just off of Division Street at 610 Magazine Street in an area known as The Gulch.

One word descirbes Barista Parlour – 'cool'

The Gulch is about 20 minutes on foot from Nashville’s downtown and it’s full of decent restaurants and bars as well as a rather hip hotel called the Thompson. 

Barista Parlor came highly recommended by somebody I met in the equally cool Tailgate Brewery on Demonbreun Street (another fine establishment in this great city). I memorised the directions from my hotel and decided to hot foot it down there to have breakfast before flying to Dallas and then back to London.

Barista Parlor is cool. There is no other word to describe it. First it has a record player and on the turntable is Beck. Brilliant. Second it has two Royal Enfield motorcycles on display and third there’s some high quality chocolate, some excellent-looking pastries, some really decent coffees and some merchandise, although the teeshirts were a little pricey at $30, which is a shame because I wanted one.

There are two espresso machines located centrally and once you order your coffee you’re given a number and your order is brought to you. All you have to do is chill and listen to the music.

Breakfast at Barista Parlour – fantastic, especially with Beck on the sound system

I ordered breakfast of scrambled egg, sausage, black coffee, a scone with jam) and it cost me $14. It arrived well presented on a rectangular white plate and I enjoyed every bit of it, and likewise the coffee, which arrived on its own small trade, just a mug and a jug.

For me Barista Parlor represents the kind of America I like; it's akin to the vibe that emanates from places like the Ace Hotel in Portland, Oregon, and why oh why did I think that sitting in the Starbucks reading my book, Hotels of North America by Rick Moody, with an English breakfast tea and an almond croissant, was in any way a good thing when no more than 50 yards away was Barista Parlor. All week I had been unaware of its existence.

Sadly, I committed a cardinal sin: so carried away was I with the greatness of this excellent place I clear forgot to tip the guy behind the counter, but hopefully there will be another occasion in the not too distant future.