Hamlet the Pig Hoofs It to Nashville’s Pet-Friendly Hot Spots — and You Doughnut Want to Miss It!

Credit: Melanie Garcia

Hamlet the Pig Hoofs It to Nashville’s Pet-Friendly Hot Spots — and You Doughnut Want to Miss It!

If you think Nashville is all country music and honky-tonks, there’s a pig out there who could change your mind — one vegan doughnut at a time. The Insta-famous cutie Hamlet — who has more than 300,000 Instagram followers — and her BFF, Pumba the dog, know where there’s always a warm welcome for four-legged friends and a tasty treat for hog and human alike. When the 4-year-old ham (which is, quite literally, the best way to describe her) isn’t playing dress-up or snuggling in bed at home, she can be found eating al fresco in Music Row or strutting her stuff past Nashville’s iconic murals. Scroll down to read all about the therapy pig’s favorite pet-friendly spots to hang in Us Weekly's VIPet Scene series.

Credit: Melanie Garcia

Hamlet the Pig Hoofs It to Nashville’s Pet-Friendly Hot Spots — and You Doughnut Want to Miss It!

If you think Nashville is all country music and honky-tonks, there’s a pig out there who could change your mind — one vegan doughnut at a time. The Insta-famous cutie Hamlet — who has more than 300,000 Instagram followers — and her BFF, Pumba the dog, know where there’s always a warm welcome for four-legged friends and a tasty treat for hog and human alike. When the 4-year-old ham (which is, quite literally, the best way to describe her) isn’t playing dress-up or snuggling in bed at home, she can be found eating al fresco in Music Row or strutting her stuff past Nashville’s iconic murals. Scroll down to read all about the therapy pig’s favorite pet-friendly spots to hang in Us Weekly's VIPet Scene series.

Credit: Melanie Garcia

Five Daughters

All the treats at this adorable shop are organic and non GMO, and made daily from scratch with locally sourced goods — which we assume means zero guilt, right? Still, Hamlet took it easy and had just a taste of their vegan doughnut (as you can see from the pic, doughnut-induced hypnosis is real). 

“Five Daughters is known for their 100-layer doughnut,” says Hamlet and Pumba’s owner, Melanie Garcia, who moved to the city in March. “This unique bakery has a great pet-friendly outdoor patio with fun doughnut-themed murals and games.”

Credit: Melanie Garcia

Frothy Monkey Coffeehouse

You’ve gotta love a place that hearts pets as much as their people do. “Everyone is super pet-friendly, always super warm and welcoming to Hamlet [in Nashville],” says Garcia, who previously called L.A. home. 

This self-described “breakfast-through-dinner coffeehouse” has a stunning patio and a shady front picnic table, which is perfect for a little sun protection. “Hamlet particularly loved their front grass area,” Garcia adds. “The outdoor patio had many water bowls. The staff was very friendly and loved having four-legged visitors.”

Credit: Melanie Garcia

The Slider House

Just like good friends who gossip over lunch, Hamlet and Pumba noshed on salad at this gourmet slider joint that has, Garcia says, “great veggie slider options.” Options are always good for a pet owner who tries to watch her meat intake on account of her best buddy. 

“Unfortunately, I cannot be vegan. I have epilepsy and anemia. I have tried to be vegetarian and vegan in the past but my neurologist strongly advised against it,” she says. Hamlet’s regular diet includes pig pellets and also veggies, but she’s happiest when fruit — such as watermelon and strawberries — is on the menu. She also goes bananas for bananas!

Credit: Melanie Garcia

12 South Neighborhood

Any Instagram feed can benefit from the pop of color you get when strolling through 12 South. “You can grab coffee or a bite to eat and snap a couple cute photos in front of the iconic Nashville murals,” says Garcia, who likes to plan a pitstop in “beautiful,” nearby Sevier Park with her sidekicks. 

“Hamlet loves the rich, watery and delicious grass in Nashville,” she says. “I don’t know what’s in it, but sometimes, it is hard for us to get her to come [inside]. She hated the rain when we lived in California. In Nashville, she will try to stay outside even if it is raining or snowing. It’s so crazy. This city pig has gone country.”

Credit: Melanie Garcia

Two Bits

There are tons of choices on the Demonbreun Street strip where Hamlet recently went for a pub crawl, but this family has found a favorite in Two Bits thanks to its super-accommodating staff, who offered up — score! — a pet-friendly salad. “Two Bits even has arcade games, a giant Jenga and Connect 4 to entertain the humans,” Garcia says. 

Nashville truly is a slice of paradise when you have pets who like to go where you do. “Hamlet and I love all the pet-friendly options for her,” she adds. “There are so many outdoor patios and events geared towards animal lovers.”