Belmont Blvd Nashville is a tree-lined stretch between Belmont University and Green Hills where cafes, historic homes, and a 19th-century mansion sit within a few walkable blocks. Come for a slow morning at Bongo Java, tour Belmont Mansion, and finish with a film at the Belcourt in Hillsboro Village. This guide covers what to eat, what to see, and how to get here.
Key Highlights
- Belmont Mansion, the largest home built in Nashville before the Civil War, offers guided tours for $18 for adults most days of the week.
- Bongo Java at 2007 Belmont Blvd has poured coffee here since 1993 and calls itself Nashville’s oldest coffeehouse.
- The boulevard runs from Belmont University toward Green Hills, about 3 miles south of downtown Nashville.
- Hillsboro Village and the Belcourt Theatre, opened in 1925, sit a short walk from the boulevard.
- WeGo bus routes 7 and 17 connect the area to downtown in about 30 minutes for $2.
The Story of Belmont Boulevard
Belmont Boulevard grew up around one house. Between 1850 and 1860, Joseph and Adelicia Acklen built Belmont Mansion as a summer garden estate on what was then open land south of the city. The Italianate villa, with its gardens, art gallery, and outbuildings, was one of the grandest homes in the antebellum South. During the Civil War it served briefly as a Union army headquarters, and after the war the estate passed through several hands before becoming a girls school and seminary. Belmont University, founded in 1890, grew from that school, and the neighborhood around it filled in with the brick homes, churches, and corner shops you still see today.
The mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, and the boulevard kept its residential character even as Nashville grew around it. The wider Belmont-Hillsboro neighborhood is now one of the city’s most walkable pockets: students, professors, and longtime residents share sidewalks with visitors who come for the coffee, the mansion, and the theater. Mature trees shade the street, and most of what is worth seeing sits within a half-mile walk.
Belmont Mansion: What to Expect
Belmont Mansion stands on the Belmont University campus at 1900 Belmont Blvd. A visit starts with a guided tour led by a historical interpreter, then leaves you free to keep exploring the house and grounds. Plan on 45 minutes to an hour for the tour itself, and up to two hours if you linger in the gardens and the museum shop.
General admission is $18 for adults and $17 for seniors aged 65 and over, according to Visit Music City, the city’s official visitor bureau. Children under 6 enter free, and youth and child tickets are sold at lower rates. Book online in advance when you can, since tour groups fill the morning slots on weekends.
The mansion is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am and Sunday from 11 am, with the last guest admitted at 3:30 pm and doors closing at 4:30 pm, according to the mansion’s official site. Check the event calendar before you go, since holiday hours change. If you visit between late November and late December, look for the Christmas Tours, which run November 27 to December 29 in 2026 and dress the house in Victorian holiday decorations.
Inside, the tour covers the Acklen family’s story, the house’s Civil War years, and the lives of the free and enslaved people who built and worked on the estate. An on-site exhibit, “Upon the Toils of Many,” tells that last part in detail. The house holds original furnishings and artwork, and the grounds are free to walk after your tour.
Where to Eat and Drink on Belmont Blvd
Bongo Java is the anchor. Nashville’s oldest coffeehouse has served the Belmont neighborhood since 1993 from its spot at 2007 Belmont Blvd, and it stays open daily from 7 am to 3 pm. Order at the counter, take a seat on the patio, and expect a student-heavy crowd in the mornings. The all-day breakfast and the house pastries are the safe picks.
Proper Bagel sits nearby and makes New York-style bagels fresh each day, with inventive toppings that draw a brunch line on weekends. Get there early if you want a table. For something different, International Market serves Asian dishes a short walk down the boulevard, and Chago’s covers Southwestern plates with a long menu. Martin’s BBQ Joint, a short walk from campus, is the pick for pulled pork, brisket, and ribs when you want a proper Southern meal rather than a snack.
Brunch is the busiest meal on the boulevard. Arrive before 10 am on Saturdays or expect a wait at the popular spots. Most cafes here close by mid-afternoon, so plan lunch early and save dinner for Hillsboro Village or 12 South.
Shopping and Hillsboro Village
Walk west from the boulevard and you reach Hillsboro Village, the commercial strip along 21st Avenue South between Vanderbilt and Belmont. The Hillsboro Village shops mix bookstores, boutiques, and restaurants, and the whole strip is easy to cover on foot in an hour.
The Belcourt Theatre is the main draw. The nonprofit film center at 2102 Belcourt Avenue opened in 1925 as the Hillsboro Theatre, a silent movie house with the largest stage in the city at the time. The Grand Ole Opry broadcast from its stage from 1934 to 1936. After a major renovation, it reopened in July 2016 and now shows independent, documentary, and repertory films, with about 190,000 visitors a year. Check the schedule before you go, since evening screenings sell out on weekends.
Pancake Pantry and Fido are the classic Hillsboro Village breakfast stops, and both draw lines on weekend mornings. Between them, the village has enough small shops to fill an afternoon: gifts, records, clothing, and a bookstore worth browsing even if you buy nothing.
Parks and Outdoor Time
The boulevard itself is the walk. Wide sidewalks, shade trees, and front gardens make it one of the pleasantest strolls in Nashville, and the flat terrain suits all ages. Start at the Belmont University end, walk south past the cafes, and loop back through the residential side streets to see the historic homes up close.
Fannie Mae Dees Park, known locally as Dragon Park for its large dragon sculpture, sits a short walk away near Hillsboro Village and works well for families with kids. Sevier Park, about a mile east in 12 South, covers 20 acres with a playground, walking paths, and a farmers market on Tuesday afternoons from May through October. Both parks are free and open during daylight hours.
Getting There and Getting Around
Belmont Blvd sits about 3 miles south of downtown Nashville, roughly a 10-minute drive outside rush hour. From downtown, take 21st Avenue South or 12th Avenue South and follow the signs toward Belmont University. Nashville International Airport (BNA) is about 8 miles away, around 15 minutes by car or rideshare.
Parking is street parking, and spots near Belmont University fill fast on weekdays. Arrive early, or park a few blocks south where the residential streets have more open curb space, and walk in. Read the signs carefully, since some blocks have time limits during the school term.
Without a car, take a WeGo bus. Route 7 (Hillsboro) runs from downtown to Hillsboro Transit Center about every 15 minutes, and Route 17 runs via 12th Avenue South to the same terminal. Either trip takes about 30 minutes. A ride costs $2 for two hours, with a $4 daily cap, so a round trip from downtown costs no more than $4. Once you are here, walk: the boulevard, Hillsboro Village, and the mansion are all within a half mile of each other.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and fall are the best seasons for Belmont Blvd. The trees are at their best, the sidewalks are comfortable for walking, and the patios are full without being crowded. Summer is quieter on campus while students are away, which means shorter lines at the cafes but fewer university events.
Weekday mornings are the calmest time to visit the mansion, while Saturday mornings belong to brunch crowds. If you want the Christmas Tours at Belmont Mansion, book ahead: they run November 27 to December 29 in 2026 and sell out on December weekends. The Belcourt programs films year-round, so a rainy day is a good excuse to catch a screening instead of walking the boulevard.
Practical Tips for Visiting Belmont Blvd
Start at Bongo Java before 9 am to beat the brunch rush, tour Belmont Mansion late in the morning, then walk to Hillsboro Village for lunch and a Belcourt matinee. That order puts you at the mansion before the 3:30 pm last admission and leaves the afternoon free for shopping.
Bring cash or a card; most spots take cards, but the farmers market vendors in nearby Sevier Park sometimes prefer cash. Wear walking shoes, since the best way to see the area is on foot, and the sidewalks are uneven in places. If you are visiting with kids, the mansion tour holds the attention of older children best, while younger ones do better at Dragon Park and the cafes.
If you are still planning where to stay, the Nashville neighborhoods guide compares these areas side by side so you can pick the base that fits your trip.
Nearby Things to Do
Belmont Blvd works as a base for a wider day out. 12 South is about a mile east, with murals, shops, and more restaurants along 12th Avenue South.
Music Row sits a short drive north of the boulevard, and Vanderbilt University is a few minutes west. Both are worth a detour if you have a full day, and neither needs more than an hour or two.
The Green Hills shopping district is a few minutes south of the boulevard, an easy add to the same day without moving your car far.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Belmont Blvd in Nashville?
Belmont Blvd runs south from Belmont University toward Green Hills, about 3 miles south of downtown Nashville. The main stretch sits between the university campus and Hillsboro Village, and most cafes, shops, and the Belmont Mansion are within a half-mile walk of each other.
How much does Belmont Mansion cost?
General admission is $18 for adults and $17 for seniors aged 65 and over, according to Visit Music City. Children under 6 enter free, and youth and child tickets cost less. Booking online in advance is recommended, especially for weekend tours and the Christmas Tours in December.
What are Belmont Mansion’s hours?
Belmont Mansion is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am and Sunday from 11 am, with the last guest admitted at 3:30 pm and doors closing at 4:30 pm. Holiday hours vary, so check the mansion’s official site or event calendar before your visit.
What is Bongo Java known for?
Bongo Java is known as Nashville’s oldest coffeehouse, serving the Belmont neighborhood since 1993 from its spot at 2007 Belmont Blvd. It pours organic coffee, serves all-day breakfast and pastries, and stays open daily from 7 am to 3 pm.
How do I get to Belmont Blvd without a car?
Take a WeGo bus: Route 7 (Hillsboro) or Route 17 via 12th Avenue South, both running from downtown to Hillsboro Transit Center in about 30 minutes. A ride costs $2 for two hours with a $4 daily cap, and the boulevard, mansion, and Hillsboro Village are all walkable from the stops.
Is Belmont Blvd worth visiting?
Yes, if you like neighborhoods more than crowds. Belmont Blvd gives you a mansion tour, a historic coffeehouse, a century-old cinema, and a walkable village in half a day, without the noise of Broadway. Pair it with 12 South or Music Row for a full day out.
Go for a slow morning: coffee at Bongo Java, a tour of Belmont Mansion, then lunch and a film in Hillsboro Village. Check the mansion’s hours and book your tour before you set out.