Nashville Pastry Tour

One of my favorite ways to explore Nashville is through food, and this pastry tour might be the sweetest way to spend a morning in the Music City!

The idea is simple: grab a friend, make it a date, or bring a few people along to stop at some of Nashville’s best bakeries. Share a pastry at each stop so you can try a little bit of everything. I've mapped out the most efficient route and it only takes about 30–35 minutes of driving total, so it’s an easy and delicious morning adventure! If you visit all 6 bakeries, this entire experience will likely take around 2.5-3 hours depending on how long you linger at each spot. Since a few of these bakeries close early, this works best if you start between 8-10am.

To get the most out of this tour without hitting a sugar wall, try to stick to one treat per stop and think of this as a "tasting menu" for the city. Because these bakeries offer such distinct styles, sharing allows you to appreciate the nuances of each without feeling overwhelmed.

Stop 1: Dozen Bakery

First up is Dozen Bakery. They open bright and early at 7am. Dozen Bakery is beloved for its incredible sourdough breads and seasonal fruit tarts. If you’re splitting pastries, grab a tart and something flaky to share. If you start right at 7, I'd suggest staying for a coffee since Little Gourmand and Baked on 8th don't open until 8.

Stop 2: Little Gourmand

Next up is this charming French bakery known for its croissants and macarons. The pastries are baked fresh daily and include classics like croissants, pain au chocolat, fruit tarts, éclairs, and macarons. They also serve savory items like quiche, baguette sandwiches, and espresso drinks. In addition to the fresh made items, they also sell imported French goods like chocolates, mustards, and specialty treats.

Stop 3: Baked on 8th

This local favorite is famous for its scratch-made pop-tarts, but their counter is also filled with everything from cookies and brownies to seasonal muffins and scones. Keep in mind that Baked on 8th is strictly a grab-and-go spot. Since there’s no indoor seating, plan to snag your treats and enjoy them on the road! Since the Gulch is our next stop, you can always enjoy your treats at Noble Park. It's the perfect outdoor pit stop before hitting Five Daughters.

Stop 4: Five Daughters

You can’t do a pastry tour without stopping for their legendary 100-layer donut. There are multiple locations, but based on this route the Gulch location is the most efficient stop and easiest to find parking! The main garage and lot are free for 1 hour. Think croissant meets donut, with rotating flavors that make it hard to choose just one. Luckily, they have minis of most of the options! This is definitely one of the richer stops on the tour, so it works well right in the middle.

Stop 5: Babychan

This Japanese bakery brings something a little different to the tour. This bakery was started by the owners of the Japanese Restaurant, Kisser. Some of the popular items to try are the curry onigiri, sesame swiss roll, and the cinnamon roll. It's technically not a pastry, but I personally love the Strawberry Sando. It's made with Japanese milk bread. Babychan is located in the beautiful Neuhoff District in Germantown. If the weather is nice, you can sit by the river!

Stop 6: Sift

End the tour at this small-batch bakery, but be sure to plan ahead because they close at 2 PM. They are only open Friday-Sunday. Their pastries are made in limited quantities, which makes them feel even more special. Sift was created by the team behind Dose, so it’s no surprise the pastries here are worth the stop.

Whether you’re a Nashville local looking for a new weekend adventure or visiting the city and hoping to explore beyond the usual tourist spots, this pastry tour is a fun (and delicious) way to spend a morning.