Every time I tell anyone I’m from Tennessee, they instantly, without fail, tell me, “Nashville! I’ve always wanted to go there!” But what they don’t know is that the real treasure is… Franklin! Just 20 minutes south of my beloved “Nashvegas,” on I-65, you’ll find the friendliest, most adorable, historic Downtown Franklin. I love it so much, but you know what I love more? Their coffee scene! Here are some of the best local coffee shops in and around Downtown Franklin.
Coffee House at Second and Bridge
Y’all, this is the place of coffee shop dreams for me! It’s in an old house, just a couple of blocks off of Main Street, and each room is decorated a little differently. It’s ecclectic in all the best ways. And their porch! It’s so sweet, and if I lived here, I could definitely see myself sitting out there with a gigantic coffee while I write my next book.
So what coffee did I get? It was hard to choose! Ultimately, I couldn’t turn down their Toffee Coffee Latte. It was the perfect thing to sip on drizzly, chilly Saturday morning! They also have amazing crepes, as well as breakfast and lunch. I’m a fan, and I’ll definitely be back on my next trip to Franklin!
Are you a coffee connoisseur? Check out my post about Coffee Around the World!
Honest Coffee Roasters
This one is located in the popular “Factory,” which is about a mile outside of downtown and is a repurposed manufacturing plant full of indie shops, local favorites, and a farmers’ market on Saturdays! My cousin Drew, a Franklin native and coffee connoisseur, highly recommended it. And when I saw “The Roosevelt” on the menu (a latte made with housemade simple syrup), I knew I had to get that on behalf of my brother Jared, who is Teddy Roosevelt’s biggest fan!
High Brow Coffee and Tea
Just a little to the west of downtown Franklin, you’ll find High Brow Coffee and Tea. It’s also just steps away from Bound Booksellers, where my books are sold! They source their coffees, pastries, and other ingredients from the South whenever possible, and they are so friendly! I got the Dolce de Leche iced coffee, and I recommend you do, too!
Frothy Monkey Coffeehouse
This is a Nashville chain that has ventured into the “fancy food” industry without losing its coffeehouse charm! I stopped in for an iced coffee after a run, and I was wowed by their variety of menus. I opted to create my own thing, of course, and ended up with a banana-caramal iced latte! I’ll be back for dinner when I’m wearing something other than running shoes!
More here: What and Where to Eat in Nashville
Coffee and Coconuts
This shop is a little bit south of Franklin’s iconic downtown, but it’s worth a little trip! You know I’m a fan of island vibes, so this little spot gave me just the fix I needed. Their coffees range from classic to unique. Can you guess which way I leaned? Their honey-lavender-vanilla latte was just what I needed as a pick-me-up after our flight from D.C.!
More coffee? Check out my World Foods Page!
Merridee’s Breadbasket
If you went to Franklin, but you didn’t eat at Merridee’s Breadbasket, you need to go back and try again! This is a Franklin icon as far as I’m concerned! They’re open for breakfast and lunch, and Thursday-Saturday, they have a dinner menu, too! They have the most beautiful and tasty pastries, but the real winner for me was their Snickerdoodle latte! They also have a cinnamon roll latte, marble mocha, gold rush (which is a honey and vanilla concoction!), and more! Come hungry, leave full and caffeinated!
This is the only place I went to twice on our four-day trip (one of my travel “rules” I generally follow is to never eat at the same place twice!), and I’ll go back again on my next trip to Franklin!
What did we eat here? Check out Where to Eat in Franklin to find out!
McGavock’s Coffee Bar and Provisions
You know I’m a fan of all things old, original, historic, and meaningful. However, when a company goes to great lengths to create something new that fits seamlessly with the historic vibe of a town like Franklin, I can’t help but gush a little bit. McGavock’s Coffee Bar in the recently-opened Harpeth Hotel (from the Hilton Curio Collection) does just that.
It’s modern, but not out of place. Also, it’s named for one of the most prominent Nashville and Franklin families (this is not the only “McGavock” reference you’ll find!). I can totally get on board with that. I got on board with a mocha!
More here: Common Travel Planning Mistakes (and how to avoid them!)
Do you have a favorite local coffee shop? Comment below!
Want more? Check out all my Franklin and Tennessee posts on my United States Page!
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YES! They’re the absolute best! What’s your favorite local coffee shop where you live or from your travels?