Nashville Unscripted · Food
Flaky layered doughnuts on West End, tested in September 2026.
The quick answer
Go if you want a doughnut with a crisp, flaky, croissant-style texture instead of the usual cake or yeast style, or if someone in your group needs a vegan, gluten-friendly, or keto option.
Plan for about $10 per person for a doughnut and a drink before tip. Two of us paid about $20 total for two doughnuts and two drinks.
Know before you go: the line can move slowly, and the savory doughnuts don’t start until 11 AM.
Address and hours: 1720 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203. Open 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM Monday through Saturday and 6:30 AM to 4 PM Sunday. Phone (629) 277-0070.
Parlor’s doughnuts don’t look like what most people picture. They’re built from laminated dough, so the outside shatters a little and the edges come out crusted in sugar, while the center stays soft. That texture is the reason to come here.
What makes Parlor different
Parlor started in downtown Evansville, Indiana, in 2019 and has since grown into a franchise with dozens of shops around the country, so this isn’t a Nashville original. What it does well is consistency: the menu calls these the “Famous Layered Doughnuts,” the box promises small batches made all day, and the case on West End held about a dozen flavors when we visited.
The regular layered doughnuts cost $4.25 each, or $3.25 each when you buy 12 or more. If you’re feeding a group or bringing a box to an office or rental, the dozen price is the move.
What we ordered and what it cost
We split our picks, and we split on the winner too. One of us went with the Cookies N’ Cream, topped with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle, and cookie crumble. It’s the richest thing in the case and eats more like dessert than breakfast. The other went with Carnival, a glazed doughnut covered in rainbow sprinkles, which lets the flaky layers do the talking. Ours came with a chocolate glaze, while the Carnivals in the case that morning had a white glaze, so yours may look different.
If you want a third opinion, the case labels French Toast as the most popular flavor, and Sandy Beach is billed as tasting like a cinnamon roll.
Our order, September 2026 prices: two layered doughnuts at $4.25 each, a medium Blue Raspberry Energizer at $4.25, and a large cold brew at $5.25.
Subtotal: $18.00. Nashville’s 9.25% sales tax on prepared food brings that to about $19.67, plus tip.
The drinks
The Energizers are the cheapest drinks on the menu, at $3.75, $4.25, and $4.75 by size, plus $0.25 to have one blended. The menu doesn’t mention it, but they’re carbonated, so expect something fizzy rather than a slushy or plain iced drink. A medium was plenty for us.
On the coffee side, brewed coffee runs $3.60 to $4.60, cold brew and Honey Cinnamon Cold Brew run $4.25 to $5.25, and lattes run $5.70 to $6.70. The specialty drinks (Mocha, Caramel Macchiato, Vanilla Bean Cream, and White Chocolate Blondie) are $6.20 to $7.20. Calories are posted for everything on the board.
The line and the service
The counter was short-staffed when we went, and the line moved slowly as a result. The people working were genuinely friendly, though, so the wait comes down to staffing, not attitude.
The ordering setup is simple once you see it. You join the line under the “Start Here” sign, choose from the case as you move along, and pay at the register at the far end. If there are several of you, have one person hold your place while the others study the case, since picking a flavor at the glass is where the line stalls. DoorDash pickup orders go to a separate spot, so ordering ahead is an option if you’re short on time.
Savory doughnuts start at 11 AM
This is the timing detail most visitors miss. Parlor’s savory doughnuts go out daily starting at 11 AM, so a breakfast visit means you won’t see them. The lineup includes Margherita, OG Pepperoni, Buffalo Chicken, Chicken Bacon Ranch, Hawaiian BBQ Chicken, and Pig & Fig, plus Parmesan minis. The sign didn’t list prices, so ask at the counter.
If you’re here in the morning and want something savory anyway, the kitchen menu covers it. The Bacon Egg & Cheese comes on an unglazed doughnut for $6.45, and there’s also a sausage biscuit with fig jam and sage butter ($6.45), breakfast tacos ($6.95 for two), a spinach pesto sandwich ($6.95), avocado toast ($8.45), and an acai bowl ($11.95). Gluten-free bread is available.
Options for dietary needs, kids, and dogs
Parlor covers more diets than most doughnut shops. The vegan and gluten-friendly doughnuts come on vanilla or chocolate bases in flavors including Carnival, Blueberry Hill, Chocolate Chocolate, Strawberry Shortcake, French Toast, and Sandy Beach, at $4.50 each. The keto-friendly doughnuts are sugar free and low in net carbs, also $4.50, in Chocolate, Vanilla, Maple, Cherry Chocolate, Cinnamon Sugar, and Powdered Sugar. If allergies are serious in your group, read the food allergy notice posted at the case, since everything comes out of the same kitchen.
For kids or anyone who wants a taste of several flavors, the minis are $0.85 each, $0.70 each for 10 or more, or $6.95 for a box of 10, in Cinnamon Sugar, Raspberry Jelly Filled, and Coconut Cream Filled, with glaze dips available. And if you’re traveling with a dog, Parlor sells special doughnuts for pups at $3.45.
The vibe
The room leans into vintage Americana, matching the eagle on the box: a black-and-white star tile floor, glass-shaded pendant lights, vintage flags, and old tin games on the walls. A wall of mugs, hats, and T-shirts doubles as the merch shelf. It’s a counter-service shop, and taking your box to go works fine.
The crowd was as mixed as Nashville itself. We waited alongside parents with young kids and groups who were clearly in town for a girls’ weekend, cowboy boots and all. With keto, vegan, and kid-sized minis on the menu, it’s an easy stop for almost any group.
Getting there
The shop sits on West End Avenue in Midtown, between downtown and Vanderbilt, which makes it an easy stop if you’re staying in the West End or Midtown hotels. We walked over from the Conrad Nashville, which sits about two blocks away on the same stretch of West End. If you’re staying nearby, walking beats hunting for parking. If you’re driving, parking options on this stretch change often, so check nearby garages before you go rather than circling.
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Parlor Doughnuts FAQ
How much does Parlor Doughnuts cost in Nashville?
Layered doughnuts are $4.25 each, or $3.25 each when you buy 12 or more. Vegan, gluten-friendly, and keto doughnuts are $4.50. Plan on about $10 per person for a doughnut and a drink before tip.
What are Parlor Doughnuts’ hours on West End?
The West End shop is open 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM Monday through Saturday and 6:30 AM to 4 PM Sunday. Savory doughnuts start at 11 AM.
What should I order at Parlor Doughnuts?
Cookies N’ Cream if you want something rich and dessert-like, Carnival if you want a classic glazed-and-sprinkles doughnut that shows off the flaky layers, and French Toast, which the shop labels its most popular.
Does Parlor Doughnuts have vegan or gluten-free options?
Yes. It offers vegan and gluten-friendly doughnuts on vanilla and chocolate bases, keto-friendly sugar-free doughnuts, and gluten-free bread for kitchen items. All are made in a shared kitchen.
Prices and hours reflect our September 2026 visit and Parlor Doughnuts’ posted hours, and can change. Nashville Unscripted paid for everything in this review. Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.