Nashville Best Of 2026 · Best Nashville Donut Shop
Fox’s Donut Den
Glazed donuts, apple fritters, and a glowing neon sign Nashville refused to let go. Owned by the same man for more than 50 years, Fox’s Donut Den is our pick for the best donut shop in Nashville.
The Verdict
Best Nashville Donut Shop: Why Fox’s Earns the Title
Nashville has plenty of trendy donut shops with over-the-top toppings, but Fox’s proves that classic still wins. Since 1973, this Green Hills institution has turned out tender glazed donuts, crispy apple fritters, and rich cake donuts, made fresh every day and priced so you never regret ordering a dozen.
Only In Your State recently named Fox’s the best donut shop in all of Tennessee, pointing to its remarkable five-decade run under a single owner. It’s open from early morning into the evening, so you can grab a donut on the way to work or after dinner, and the retro red, blue, and yellow shop feels like a childhood Saturday morning.
1973
Founded by Norman Fox
50+
Years With the Same Owner
$1,200
Paid for the Famous Neon Sign
5 AM
Doors Open on Weekdays
What to Order
Build Your Perfect Dozen
The cases are stacked high with choices. Start with these favorites.
Apple Fritter
Crispy on the outside, tender inside, and studded with cinnamon apples. Regulars rave about it, and in the fall, look for the pumpkin version too.
The Classic Glazed
Light, tender, and just sweet enough. It’s the donut that has kept Green Hills coming back for more than half a century.
Cake Donuts & Éclairs
Round out your box with rich cake donuts, cream-filled éclairs, and iced star-shaped donuts. Fox’s also bakes muffins and bagels.
The Story
The Neon Sign Nashville Saved
In 1973, recent Lipscomb University graduate Norman Fox bought a piece of a Memphis franchise called Harlow’s Honey Fluff Doughnuts. His wife suggested he name the shop after himself, and Fox’s was born. In 1977 he moved to Green Hills, bought Harlow’s neon sign with its dancing donuts for $1,200, and had it trucked across the state.
In 2009, a property company remodeling the shopping center took the sign down so every storefront would match. Green Hills pushed back, and the sign came home, where it still glows today. More than 50 years later, Norman Fox still owns the shop and can often be found in the building.
“Nashville has fancier donuts. It doesn’t have better ones.”
Nashville Best Of Editors
Plan Your Visit
Donuts in Green Hills
Fox’s sits on Hillsboro Pike across from the Mall at Green Hills, in the same shopping center as Parnassus Books. Just look for the neon sign.
Location
3900 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 2
Nashville, TN 37215
(615) 385-1021
Look for the dancing donuts on the neon sign. Make a morning of it: Parnassus Books, owned by our Best Author pick Ann Patchett, is in the same shopping center.
Hours
Mon–Fri: 5 am – 9 pm
Sat–Sun: 6 am – 9 pm
Fresh donuts from sunrise to after dinner.
Good to Know
Feeding a crowd? Call the shop to place your order ahead of time. Early mornings bring the biggest selection.
Grab a Dozen on Your Way
Swing by Green Hills for a warm glazed, or call ahead to order dozens for the office.
More of the Best of Nashville: Best Nashville Ice Cream · Best Nashville Candy & Chocolate · Best Nashville Brewery