Proper Bagel on Belmont Boulevard in Nashville opened 2017 with New York-style hand-rolled, kettle-boiled bagels. Family from New York; 45 years of baking heritage.
Tip: Everything bagel with whitefish is the order; second-best move is the lox platter with sliced Gaspe Nova.
Address: 2011 Belmont Blvd, Nashville, TN 37212
Yeast Nashville's Woodland Street counter in East Nashville bakes Czech-style kolaches with sausage, cheese and fruit fillings since 2014. Cash and card; small queue.
Tip: Closed at noon every day. Mornings only. Sausage and cheese is the canonical order; cherry kolache is the sweet move.
Worth the queue: Sausage and cheese kolache
Biscuit Love's Gulch biscuit counter in Nashville opened 2012 and pioneered the city's all-day biscuit sandwich format. Now ships nationwide via Goldbelly.
Tip: Bonuts are the order; East Nashville location at 1024 Woodland gets through the queue faster on Saturdays.
Worth the queue: Bonuts (biscuit doughnuts with lemon curd)
Claire Menelly's Dozen Bakery in Nashville moved to Grandview Avenue in February 2025, a five-times larger space with full cafe service and a wood-fired oven.
Tip: Sourdough loaves go fastest; arrive by 09:00. The morning bun and country biscuit are the bakery's signatures.
Worth the queue: Sourdough miche
Five Daughters Bakery's 12 South flagship in Nashville opened 2015 with its 100-layer three-day doughnuts, expanded to four city locations and Goldbelly shipping.
Tip: 100-layer doughnuts are the order; classic glaze is the marquee. They run out by 13:00 most weekends.
Worth the queue: Original glaze cronut
