The Original Monell’s in Germantown

The Historic Germantown Neighborhood is located just to the north of downtown Nashville. It was first home to the wild animals that were drawn to the sulfur spring and salt lick located close to where the neighborhood now stands, and later to the Native Americans who hunted them. As the area made its transformation from agricultural to urban, many of the families moving into the neighborhood were German (thus the name Germantown) and included skilled craftsmen, tradesmen and business people. Germantown was incorporated into the Nashville city limits in 1865. The district is one of Nashville’s most architecturally beautiful neighborhoods, containing a significant concentration of Victorian building styles. It has been designated as a city Arboretum by the Nashville Tree Foundation and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

The original restaurant location, Monell’s Nashville ~ Germantown, was built in 1905. The stately home was constructed in the Victorian style and the interior still features many of the original architectural features such as the transom windows and fireplaces. Murals painted on the restaurant walls by local artisans depict scenes of prominent historical neighborhood buildings. The Victorian garden adjacent to the restaurant allows guests a relaxing respite before or after meals and is often the site of special event photography, such as proms, weddings, reunions and other family events.

Every year the neighborhood celebrates Oktoberfest, an enormously popular street festival, which features the culture of the neighborhood’s German heritage with food, music, dancing, and of course, German beer.  Historic Germantown is part of Nashville’s Capitol District, which is home to the state capitol, Bicentennial Mall State Park and the Farmer’s Market. The beautiful architecture, brick sidewalks and over 100 varieties of trees in the neighborhood make Historic Germantown a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.