Sky Blue Cafe

Sky Blue Cafe has held down its corner of Fatherland and South 7th since March 2010, in a small storefront in the Historic Edgefield district that set the tone for East Nashville's café scene before the neighborhood became a full-blown dining destination. It's stayed small and stayed put while a lot has changed around it, and that scale is part of the appeal — this reads as a genuine neighborhood spot rather than a brunch destination built for volume.

The menu covers the full range of comfort breakfast: 'The Classic' plate of eggs, toast, hash browns, and bacon sits alongside French Toast Pancakes stuffed with eggs and bacon or bananas and Nutella, plus a solid run of vegetarian and vegan options including a Greek omelet and house-made vegan chili. Sake cocktails are the unexpected twist on an otherwise straightforward comfort-food menu, giving weekend brunch a little more edge than the classic mimosa-and-Bloody-Mary formula.

Because the space is small, Sky Blue doesn't take reservations or call-ahead seating, so it runs on a walk-in, first-come basis — outdoor seating helps on nice mornings when the inside fills up. It's kid-friendly, quick-paced, and a good match for anyone who wants an easy, unpretentious East Nashville breakfast rather than a production.