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This Nashville Bakery Began As A Holiday Pop-Up, And Now It’s A Citywide Hot Spot

Published: October 4, 2025

What started as a simple holiday cookie pop-up in 2009 has transformed into one of Music City’s most beloved artisan bakeries, and locals couldn’t be happier about Claire Meneely’s change of heart.

Located in the Woodbine neighborhood, Dozen Bakery has grown from a one-woman operation shuttling baked goods around in a Subaru to an expansive 11,000-square-foot space that feeds both neighborhood regulars and Nashville’s top restaurants.

When you step through the doors, the aroma of fresh-baked sourdough and buttery pastries hits you immediately. The bakery officially opened on Groundhog Day 2015, and it’s been baking everything fresh daily ever since.

Using only organic flours and sugars alongside locally-sourced ingredients, Dozen has earned its reputation as a cornerstone of quality in Nashville’s food scene.

The move to their current Grandview Avenue location in early 2025 brought five times more space than their original spot, complete with separate kitchens for breads, pastries, and savory items.

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Pastries Worth The Trip

The Croissants: You’ll find layer upon layer of impossibly flaky pastry here. The chocolate croissants are particularly stunning, with visible lamination that gives you that perfect crackle with each bite.

The almond croissant gets raves for its rich almond paste filling and crunchy toasted almonds on top, while seasonal variations like pistachio chocolate and blueberry lime keep things exciting throughout the year.

The Legendary Ginger Cookie: This might just be the item that steals the show. Chewy, intensely gingery but never overpowering, these cookies have earned cult status among visitors.

They’re packed with real bits of ginger that give them an authentic punch of flavor you won’t find in your typical bakery cookie.

Scones and Muffins: The cherry corn scone hits that sweet spot between sweet and savory, with just the right moisture level. Berry-packed muffins and seasonal scones rotate regularly, ensuring there’s always something new to try alongside the classics.

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Galettes and Pies: Seasonal fruit galettes showcase whatever’s fresh, with buttery, flaky crusts that don’t overshadow the fruit.

The cream pies have been described as ethereal, and specialty flavors like blueberry chess pie feature perfectly crisp yet flaky crusts that crumble just right. Seasonal options like rhubarb pie and lemon lavender pie appear when ingredients are at their peak.

The Cookies: Beyond the famous ginger cookies, you’ll encounter snickerdoodles, chocolate chip pecan cookies, and seasonal specials. The bakery even hosts annual Cookie Weeks featuring exclusive flavors dreamed up by their talented team, from dulce de leche crinkles to black sesame earl grey.

Bread & Savory Items

Sourdough Breads: The French country sourdough and baguettes are consistently praised by visitors who’ve lived in France. You’ll get that chewy crust with big, airy holes in the middle that signal proper fermentation and technique.

The umami sourdough loaf brings an unexpected savory depth, while herb variants add aromatic complexity to the standard loaf.

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Breakfast Sandwiches: The focaccia breakfast sandwich stands out for its uniqueness. Fluffy focaccia gets a honey glaze and black sesame seed topping, then gets filled with eggs and a distinctive spread.

Scrambled egg sandwiches come on your choice of focaccia, baguette, or wheat bread, each bringing different textures to the table.

Tartines and Toasts: Daily tartines showcase seasonal ingredients beautifully. The corn buttermilk ricotta version balances creamy, sweet, and savory notes with fresh heirloom tomatoes, jalapeños, and basil creating a light yet satisfying dish.

Soups: The mushroom soup garners consistent praise for its depth of flavor, while the cucumber gazpacho returns each summer as a refreshing seasonal staple. With their new tilt-skillet equipment, the kitchen can now produce larger batches of these popular offerings.

Atmosphere & Experience

The Space: Clean white walls meet warm wood accents and abundant natural light, creating an inviting modern aesthetic. The new location accommodates 50 seats inside and another 50 outside, giving you plenty of options whether you want to linger over coffee or grab your goods to go.

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Outdoor Patio: The spacious patio area provides a relaxed spot to enjoy your pastries and coffee. It’s kid-friendly and perfect for Nashville’s mild weather months, offering a comfortable setting to watch the neighborhood bustle by.

The Vibe: The atmosphere strikes that perfect balance between hip and approachable. It’s modern without being pretentious, welcoming both neighborhood regulars and first-time visitors.

The minimalist design keeps the focus where it belongs: on the beautiful baked goods displayed behind the counter.

Display Case: The pastry case itself becomes part of the experience. Watching the selection of golden croissants, colorful fruit tarts, and rustic loaves creates an irresistible visual appeal that makes decision-making delightfully difficult.

Things To Know

Pricing: You’ll find prices sit in the moderate range for a quality artisan bakery. Most pastries run in the reasonable range, breakfast items typically fall in the mid-tier, and loaves of bread offer good value for the quality.

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Expect to spend around $10-20 per person for a satisfying breakfast or brunch visit. The organic ingredients and daily-fresh baking justify the pricing for most visitors.

Timing Your Visit: Weekdays, especially mornings, offer the smoothest experience. Weekends bring lines that can stretch out the door, particularly on Saturday mornings. Arriving early ensures the best selection, as popular items tend to sell out.

The bakery aims to do afternoon bakes with fresh baguettes every couple hours, so timing a mid-afternoon visit can score you bread still warm from the oven.

Coffee: Crema coffee serves as the house roaster, providing excellent locally-roasted beans. The coffee leans toward the bold and slightly bitter side, which serious coffee drinkers appreciate. While you won’t find elaborate latte art here, the quality espresso holds its own.

Parking: The new location offers improved parking compared to the original spot, with both a gravel lot and street parking options available. It’s significantly easier to access than the old Wedgewood-Houston location.

Menu Changes: Seasonal rotating menus mean you’ll encounter different soups, tartines, and pastries throughout the year. This commitment to using peak-season ingredients keeps the offerings fresh and aligned with what local farms are producing.

Alcohol Program: The expanded space now includes beer, wine, and mimosas, with special afternoon pricing that makes post-3pm visits particularly appealing.


Dozen Bakery
📍 2522 Grandview Ave, Nashville, TN 37211

Writer: June Holloway
Contributor

June Holloway is a lifelong Tennessean who grew up in the shadow of the Smokies and now writes from her home just outside of Gatlinburg. She has a deep love for winding mountain roads, American barbecue joints, and stories passed down on front porches.