12 South is one of the best brunch neighborhoods in Nashville. It’s also one of the most crowded on weekend mornings, which are related facts.
The concentration of serious brunch spots in a half-mile walk is unusually high. Butter Milk Ranch, Urban Grub, Bartaco, Frothy Monkey, Wanna Spoon, and Five Daughters Bakery all sit within easy walking distance of each other. This is not a strip of grab-and-go options and mediocre eggs — these are restaurants that treat brunch as an actual meal worth executing properly.
The Contenders
Fonda (2316 12th Ave S, open since May 2024) now occupies the space that housed the beloved Josephine for a decade before it closed in December 2023. Chef Roberto Santibañez’s Mexican restaurant serves brunch on Sundays — elevated, not heavy, with dishes like guacamole made to order and inventive small plates. It’s a different energy than Josephine was, but worth knowing about.
Hearts is an Australian-inspired eatery with a second Nashville location in 12 South offering breakfast, brunch, and dinner alongside a strong coffee and cocktail program.
Butter Milk Ranch is the neighborhood’s most talked-about pastry spot. The croissants are enormous and worth the line. Weekend waits are real — showing up right at opening gives you the best chance of avoiding a long wait, or you can order from the bakery counter and grab outdoor seating without waiting for a table.
Urban Grub does a weekend brunch with a bourbon selection that puts most places to shame. The patio is among the best outdoor seating in the neighborhood. Slightly more expensive than the average brunch spot, but the quality tracks with the price.
Frothy Monkey (2509 12th Ave S, open since 2004) is where locals start before the crowds arrive. Coffee, breakfast dishes made from locally sourced ingredients, a bakery that produces everything in-house. Lower-key than the dedicated brunch destinations and better for it.
Five Daughters Bakery is about donuts, specifically the 100-layer variety. It is not a sit-down brunch destination but it is a mandatory stop if you have a functioning sweet tooth.
The Honest Warning
Weekend morning 12 South is crowded. The Butter Milk Ranch line can stretch outside before the doors open. Urban Grub fills up by 11am. If you want a table at a specific restaurant, either arrive early (before 10am) or put your name in and walk around for a while. The neighborhood accommodates wandering well while you wait.
Weekday brunch exists and is dramatically more relaxed. If your schedule allows a Wednesday morning instead of a Sunday, you’ll see the neighborhood in a completely different mood.
Sources
- The Infatuation, “The 12 Best Restaurants In 12 South” (December 2025): theinfatuation.com/nashville/guides/best-restaurants-12-south-nashville
- Nashville Lifestyles, “Where to Brunch in 12 South”: nashvillelifestyles.com
- Seeing Tennessee, “A Local’s Guide to the Best Restaurants in Nashville’s 12 South”: seeingtennessee.com
- StyleBlueprint, 12 South Neighborhood Guide: styleblueprint.com