I've been to Retrograde a handful of times, usually around noon-3pm. Great atmosphere and seating, very nice employees, and the latte was great. On the other hand, they've ran out of bread EACH time, so haven't got to try their food. Maybe order more bread? Also, I've had lattes remade due to being luke warm, but they remade with a smile :) I'll stop by if I'm in the area, but wouldn't drive out of my way. read more

Chic modern brew house with simple menu and great tasting beverages. Nice to have a simple easy to get in and out caffeine hook up without a lot of extra thinking - menu is casually updated seasonally and offers milk alternatives suiting sweet and dairy needs. I enjoyed a healthy dose of go juice on my trip north and will look here again next time I'm in Nashville! read more

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Another hipster coffee shop in another gentrifying (gentrified?) neighborhood of Nashville. I had a cafe con leche, and my husband tried one of their lattes. Both coffees were good. I liked that there appeared to be a lot of room to work, study, meet friends for coffee (they also have bar seating, which I love - if I want to read at a coffee shop, I'd rather not take up a whole table). We stopped by in the afternoon on a Saturday and there were two other people there - otherwise empty. I enjoyed our coffees, but Retrograde didn't really stand out from other similar coffee shops in Nashville to me and was similarly pricey to what we've come to expect from Nashville hipster coffee shops. Certainly not a bad place to stop in for a coffee to go or to hang out for a while, but nothing about it would make me go out of my way to go back (but if it's your neighborhood spot, you're lucky!). read more

Retrograde Coffee - They have wine and beer too! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

4 stars just because it took a really long time to get a double shot espresso to be made. However, the sausage and egg bagel sandwich was very delicious! They must make their own bagels, because it was a bite of sourdough deliciousness. For real. It was crisp enough to bite into (without taking off the skin on the roof of your mouth,) but it was so soft and doughy inside more like bread than a bagel. Yum! Looking forward to trying their bagel and lox sandwich. Atmosphere clean, trendy, and with plenty of space to move around in. A very cute local spot. read more

Why has it taken me this long to visit Retrograde?!? Retrograde will now be my GO TO spot to get my work done. Can we talk about the fact that they have outlets at pretty much EVERY table/window seat and you don't even need an extension cord! I don't know how many times I've been to coffee shops and I cannot find a dang outlet. In regards to the food and coffee, it was pretty average pricing for the area and flavor was decent! Their menu didn't seem too expansive, but they did have wine (maybe beer??) for those wanting something a little more fun. In addition to ample outlets, there is also ample parking! I'd recommend the parking around back as the ones right in front are 15mins-1hour (besides a couple compact spots). Great place to get work done or have a meeting! Will definitely be back! read more

Retrograde Coffee - Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

As much as I think about consuming delicious food and drinks, the folks at Retrograde think about producing the best cup of coffee. They have naturally evolved into roasting and serving their own beans (which tastes amazing) but the amount of attention and thought that goes into their drinks are mind blowing. Although I oscillate between their iced coffee with almond milk and an au lait (con leche) based on the temp I'm feeling for the day, their iced coffee is the best in town hands down. Its the only drink that I will continue to take my first sip in the morning and literally smile to myself because I know I am drinking the best damn coffee I could possibly be having. It's such a satisfying feeling. We come here every day and are so lucky to be able to call this our local coffeeshop. This is the kind of place you want for your neighborhood coffee shop: kind, friendly and knowledgeable team, delicious coffee & food, and easy place to post up all day and work if you need to. read more

I'm from NJ visiting one of my local branches and discovered Retrograde via Yelp. I rely heavily upon Yelp when I travel and the reviews from other consumers. The coffee and presentation are second to none. Nathan, please consider opening a cafe in north Jersey, specifically Morristown. I will be your first and most loyal customer. read more

Retrograde Coffee - Soooo good - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Found this place while visiting Nashville. Very stylish design which I appreciate. The vibe was chill. But, the coffee menu was very limited. The coffee was decent but not anything special. The guy behind the counter was friendly enough but not overly helpful. The menu was actually on the side wall & I didn't see it at first so I felt stupid & his attitude didn't make me feel any more comfortable. The wait to get my coffee was overly long too & I couldn't see what took so long. I saw people getting breakfast sandwiches & I have to say they looked really good but I only ordered coffee so no opinion on that. My advice: go for the vibe & keep your expectations in line. read more

Retrograde Coffee - Busy morning at retrograde! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Food was delish, coffee excellent, service impeccable. Really cute restaurant and will visit again next time in Nashville.

Best coffee in East Nashville. And the breakfast sandwiches are to-die-for. We always love coming here. It's tucked in a building next to a wood shop. The whole aesthetic of the place is fantastic. Grab a coffee, a cookie, and go explore the handmade wooden goodies next door. read more

Retrograde Coffee - 16oz drip coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

3.5 Potential, so I'm rounding up. There's a lot of potential here at Retrograde, in Cleveland Park, and across the street in East View.* I'll try not to pin the evolution of the city on the back of this coffee shop but there's a lot to that point of view. I mean, even three years ago, would you have considered having an expensive cup of coffee at this exact location? No. No you wouldn't have. A large part of the Retrograde appeal is cosmetic. The store is gorgeous and incredibly Instagrammable. The floors, windows, seating, and cups all lend themselves to wish-you-were-here digital photography. And in this landscape, that's a huge part of the battle for customers. But before you can take in the photo op, you need to park. Parking is a bit of a challenge on the first go 'round. A large number of the spots in front are timed (hour parking) and were taken up by people who weren't patrons of the coffee shop. This required me to park in back. If you're headed northwest on Dickerson, go past Retrograde to Eastmoreland, turn right and park back there. From there, walk up the wooden steps and into the shop. None of this was particularly intuitive so I'm here to help out. Once I was inside, the divide between picture and real life started to take shape. While the place was decently full with people, many of the tables were dirty which wasn't the first impression for which I'd hoped. I made my way to the cleanest table - which was topped by someone's possessions. I asked the neighboring table if it was theirs. Turns out, it was one of the baristas. #concernedface They moved their items and I was able to sit (with my coffee/business date). The female barista couldn't have been nicer: smiling, clearing the table, making small talk. The fellow behind the counter was the yin to her yang. He was dour, curt, unfriendly, and not helpful. But for committing to being at the shop, I would have left. He was that off-putting. I needed to maintain a facade of control, so I leaned in to the experience and worked around him but, yeah: no bueno. I ordered the shagbark latte and my guest ordered a smoothie. The kind female barista brought the latte to our table. The smoothie was readied without so much as a 'smoothie up!' It sat there until I thought to look/ask about it. Sigh. The latte was nice. It wasn't an entirely new drinking experience but it was pleasant. I would have liked it to have been a touch hotter, as it was almost lukewarm when it reached me. My friend enjoyed her smoothie, so that's a win. Retrograde offers a small amount of baked goods but were out of gluten-free options by the time I made my way to the counter (1115 am on a Friday morning). If that's a make-or-break, plan accordingly. I can see myself returning. I like that the shop is here, from an aesthetic point of view. I hope that it can incorporate more of a (native) neighborhood feel as time goes on. I'd also love to see the shop step up in terms of cleanliness and overall customer service. There's potential here. I hope it's fully realized. *The name made a lot more sense before the interstate decimated so much of it. read more

Well appointed coffeehouse with superb espresso drinks and atmosphere. I had two drinks and loved them both: 1. Espresso with chocolate and seltzer water 2. Shagbark Latte The espresso is hardcore coffee drinking. But, the coffee Retrograde uses and way they make it takes out the bitterness from the espresso shot leaving a flair of coffee flavor. Drink with a nip of chocolate in your mouth and you'll be in love. Shagbark syrup makes for a sweet latte with a smokey flavor. It's a flavor unto its own! The baristas tell me it is made locally in middle Tennessee. For atmosphere, this shop has the seating to accommodate many with feeling crammed yet retain an intimate cafe scene. Whether working on a paper, arriving with a group or a table for two, it will work here. Subtle sophisticated music played. Enjoy! read more

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What a great little coffee shop. Friendly and informative staff and some great coffee. The atmosphere is modern, trendy, and very well lit. I had an almond milk (sorry lactose) cappuccino that was thick and foamy. It had notes of dark chocolate and blueberries without being too overwhelming. Would definitely get again. My only complaint is that the size is pretty small for the price. Other than that, a great little coffee shop! read more

Retrograde Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Beautiful place. Service was great. Person who took our order explained drinks & waiting patiently for us to decide. I ordered an espresso made with naturally washed Ethiopia beans, tasted like toasted blueberries. Served with cold club soda & a piece of chocolate. Amazing. Also ordered a shagbark lattte, which was a latte sweeter with shagbark hickory syrup. Smoky, maple flavor. Fantastic. My wife ordered an Equinox, which was espresso served with sugar, a toasted sweet potato marshmallow, and soda water with shagbark bitters! She also ordered a regular latte. Amazing drinks. We loved the coffee. The barista who made our drinks took the time to chat with us about ingredients & bean sourcing, and recommended a couple of other local coffee shops to check out during our visit to Nashville. Can't recommend this place enough. read more

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So glad to have more coffee shops in east Nashville and on this side. It'll be great for Dickerson to grow some steam so the appeal of what's down Gallatin and Dickerson can be avenues of where people want to eat and hang out. This little establishment is quaint and next to a cool wood shop. Their staff is nice and the setup is pretty standard but there's ample seating if you want to do some work or hang out with friends. They have the usual espresso drinks and pour overs but they have their specialty lattes if that tickles your fancy as well. I love the old school feel to the place and the tones of the spot. The place gets plenty of light as well so it makes the cafe feel very open. I wish they were open a little later, at least til 8 and open at 6 so I can stop by on my way to work or after work but the hours make sense for its location and for what they do. read more

I love that more development is coming further up Dickerson. This coffee shop is a great addition to the neighborhood. They have additional parking in the back, which makes the shop very accessible, compared to trying to find parking at some downtown spots or other coffee shops. The inside is beautifully decorated in a mid century modern style with lots of green and gold accents. I have never tried the food, but all the coffees and lattes I have had have been delicious. However, it is priced on the higher end of the coffee spectrum. I got iced coffee the other day and it was basically $5. That's a little steep for a coffee. However, everything else about this place is great read more

The atmosphere is stunning- a mix of retro and modern style. The baristas were very down to earth, warm, welcoming, & skilled at their craft. We consider ourselves coffee snobs (I.e. coffee connoisseurs), and this coffee was phenomenal. We ordered a traditional macchiato (2shots with a splash of milk), and a cortado (2 ounces of espresso, two ounce of milk or cream). The chocolate-y notes in the espresso were on point. We also splurged and got a chocolate croissant- and it was absolutely phenomenal! We had them warm it up, and it literally melted in our mouth. Do yourself a favor and check these guys out! read more

Retrograde Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Super cute little place, the sandwiches were soooo yummy. I thought my coffee was good, my husband is a coffee connoisseur and he didn't like his coffee, but he prefers a dark roast and they don't have that so maybe that's why but we still lived our sandwiches and the vibe. We were just traveling thru and found on Yelp so figured we would try. Super cute. read more

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The Epitome of Pretension: I asked if they served macha - to which the barista sarcastically responded, "This is a real coffee shop - we don't serve 'macha' here buddy" I was genuinely stunned at him insulting me at an innocent question of being in a macha rather than coffee mood. -- I know this isn't a Starbucks, tough guy - I'm not a soccer mom trying to ruin your day w her daily venti triple macchiato w vry light foam. There are better coffee shops than yours that also serve macha. I was a barista in Seattle when you as the trend that now pays your bills was starting. I could come behind that bar and sling circles you. I've travelled the country twice over already this year trying better coffee shops than you'll probably ever stepped into. -- this internal response would have been out loud had I not been in the presence of my colleagues. When we handed him our yeti mugs, he condescendingly asked, "Oh, you want me to make drinks in these?" to which I nearly retorted out loud, "Nah, just wanted you to wash them for us, bruhhhh" Not sure if he was having a terrible day or being a prick just comes natural -- perhaps his music career in Nashville didn't pan out or maybe he just can't wait to get home to his xbox & continue wasting his life away. Regardless, this guy has no business speaking to customers and I'd be surprised if mgmt isn't aware. Back in my days of managing coffee shops in the big leagues this guy would have been fired without hesitation. Will return for another perfectly adequate latte in hopes that management has resolved this issue. read more

The smoked latte was just okay imo. AWESOME galettes. They have a nice atmosphere too.

Best coffee IMHO on the north side of Nashville (off-East Nash). My wife and I live off of Dickerson and we need access to a decent coffee shop that offers a good space to get some work done. The food available is about average for this size of coffee shop, they carry Hi Fi cookies which are a great treat, some nice local teas, and a fine rotating selection of brews for those looking to wind down. We come here often for the good seating, decent parking, and great open ambiance. Can't recommend enough! read more

the bagels and breakfast sandwiches are great, but jeez... the staff is incredibly aloof and slow. We ordered 2 bagels - it was not even that busy and it took nearly 20 mins waiting. This has happened multiple times. If you don't hanging out and waiting go for it , but if you're in a rush, id avoid. read more

Love this place! It's one of my favorite coffee shops in Nashville. They've got a killer coffee program and are always changing up the coffees featured for pour overs which allows you to experience different coffee and flavors from different regions. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable about the constantly changing offering. I've been here quite a few times but on the most recent visit I spent about half the day here getting some work done and so I got to experience a fair amount of the menu. [Pro Tip: If you're going to hang out for multiple hours at a coffee shop then you should be buying things and supporting the business ;) ] In addition to a pour over and espresso (coffee staples), I ventured out into the food menu. It was a simple offering but super tasty. We got the a grilled cheese (pick two cheeses) and went with goat and cheddar. It was oozing with cheese when it hit the plate and had a wonderful crispy crunch to the rye bread, just the way I like it. Since we were here into the afternoon we got a chance to try some of the beer and cider options too. It was a short list of drafts and cans that were nicely curated. Retrograde is "firing on all cylinders". Head over and experience it for yourself. read more

The coffee here is great! Be sure to ask what milk is in your latte if you have allergies, as my coffee was supposed to have pistachio milk in it, which I am allergic to. It was not marked on the menu read more

Enjoyed the coffee here. Also had a blueberry muffin. It was just okay. The coffee was the standout. Very cool vibe and great service!

Coffee was good; the bagel sandwich was nothing special. The day old cookies were my favorite and only $1! However It took quite a long time to get 3 coffees and two bagels but it looked like they were doing the best they can with a short staff. The inside was very nice looking and overall we enjoyed our time there and would return! read more

Retrograde Coffee - Egg bagel sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Hey guy at the counter yesterday afternoon - sorry your music career didn't work out and everything, but that doesn't mean you have to be a dick when your customers don't know advanced barista terms. Coffee was decent, service was snobby. read more

Good cup of coffee. A bit too bright and grassy for my taste (I think I had the Ethiopian), which is not the shop's fault as much the roaster. Great atmosphere, clean, friendly staff. Great visit. EDIT: Had an interaction with the staff on the way out that pushed this to 5-stars. Super nice and extremely hospitable and welcoming. Can't wait to come back next time I'm in Nashville. read more

Landed here for breakfast during a quick trip to Nashville. Wish I'd had more time to enjoy the coffee but had to keep moving and didn't ask for it to go. The bagel with cream cheese was great. Service was fast and friendly enough. Super strange location, though- hopefully people can find it and take advantage of a good breakfast spot! read more

I ordered my usual nonfat iced vanilla latte and it was amazing. It may be one of the top 3 best I have ever had, but given how many places I've been it's hard to say. My wife ordered off their menu and got a mocha (can't remember which one) and it was not good, maybe a 3/10. I offered to change drinks with my wife but she let me keep that amazing work of art while she struggled through hers. I want to give this place a 5 so bad but my wife's drink was flat out terrible...I would put it in the running with day old gas station coffee. If you go order a latte, you can never go wrong with one. read more

Retrograde Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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The coffee was good. The atmosphere was clean and comfortable. Plenty of windows. The service was great. read more

Retrograde Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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The person taking our order was completely rude and not helpful. When asked about gluten-free options they were annoyed. The whole process was unorganized and slow. And their cleanliness could have been a lot better. I won't be coming back to this coffee shop and I am not very hard to please. The food and coffee was pretty good. That's the only positive I have for this place. -Nashville Resident read more

I don't drink coffee, so my 5 stars are for the temperature (not cold), atmosphere (comfortable and lots of windows), pastries (6 stars), parking (available), location (a welcome addition to Dickerson Road), friendliness of staff and owners (definitely, but not overly), and decor (how others described it). I've only had the sausage and cheese pastry, which is yummy. I don't think working here will be much less caloric than Shugga Hi, but it's great to have options! read more

This place is clearly run by coffee fanatics. I think the barista cried a little after I asked for cream in my coffee. These are the kind of people that think measuring coffee in grams might not be accurate enough. Seriously good coffee. Cool atmosphere. Cool music. Friendly staff. But to put them over the top, they have some really freshly baked pastries. Sounds like they make bagels in house. Outstanding! read more

A friend sent me a message asking if I had tried Retrograde yet. After all, it had been open for 3 whole days... But I had just returned from the road and hadn't heard of it, so I did a little digging. They had me at "serving Onyx Coffee Lab coffees." Onyx, based out of Fayetteville, AR, is one of my favorite US roasters. On my first visit to a coffee shop, I often order the drip coffee just to see what's happening there. I've heard some people say they judge a Thai restaurant by the quality of their Pad Thai. I don't know about all of that, but Retrograde's drip was excellent. Not to mention, it was free... Pretty sure that's a 'week one perk only' type of thing, but was a pleasant surprise nonetheless. The space itself feels great - I stayed for about an hour and did some work. The hardwood floors are beautifully refinished, and the design felt warm and good blend of modern and throwback. Parking out front was completely full when I arrived. Tip: there's a lot in the back (almost feels like alley access off Douglas & Joseph) and then a stairwell up to the left hand side that takes you right into Retrograde. I'll certainly be back. read more

I wish I could give more than five stars! The coffee is outstanding; you can tell the baristas really take pride in what they're doing, especially with their pour-overs - it is truly an art watching them do their work. Try the almond milk cappuccino, and you will not be disappointed, and the drip coffee is great too. The space itself is bright and clean, staff is nice, good parking, and outdoor seating. I've not tried the food, but it looked good, and my friend said the everything bagel was one of the best he's ever had. Keep killing it, Retrograde! read more

It was my first time and I was not disappointed. I've actually been trying to go for a couple of weeks but haven't been able to fit it in my afternoon schedule so I decided to go in this morning. The staff there was very kind and the guy help me pick out a coffee just for me The staff there was very kind and the guy help me pick out a coffee just for me. I ordered Shagbark latte. Retrograde is a great place for reading and for meetings. The ambience is not very loud, casual, business-like. If you're looking for a good spot to get some work done in Nashville I would recommend this coffee shop!! read more

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I am so thankful for an amazing coffee shop close by finally! The decor is modern and so attractive. The coffee is great and there is plenty of seating. We will be regulars. read more

Retrograde Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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One of the best new Coffee spots to open in Nashville in awhile. Great knowledge of coffee. Super talented baristas. Great atmosphere. Fast wireless internet. The only place in Nashville to buy Onyx Coffee Labs coffee beans. They'll be building a patio soon, and I'm looking forward to being able to bring my dog! read more

I come to this coffee shop whenever I need to get work DONE. There are plenty of seating options, large tables, and did I mention fantastic coffee! The hours are great, staff is friendly, and this is possibly my favorite coffee shop in Nashville. 10/10 would recommend. read more