Walking distance from Nashville’s infamous "16th Avenue - Music Row" sits a quiet little house with a sign in the yard with a painted rooster and the words, Alektor Café  - Door to Paradise Books.

This unassuming, quaint café  is a real find!  It is frequented by writers, editors, musicians, contemplatives, artists, and business folk seeking not only a good lunch, but a bit of a respite during an otherwise hectic work day as well. 

From the freshly picked flowers on the tables to the purposely chosen gentle music in the background, your experience is sure to help usher you, in both mind and spirit, to a more tranquil place the moment you set foot over the threshold to the café and bookstore.

Still unknown to much of the Vanderbilt "yuppie" crowd, the Alektor Café is ideal as an informal, out-of-the-way spot to meet with a friend or business associate. 

Operating hours Tue-Fri, are 9am-4pm, making it an ideal place to take client, or a co-worker, for a private chat during a morning or mid afternoon tea or coffee break.  (Also open Sat. 12 noon till 5:00 pm, but closed on Mondays and Sundays.)

The owners, Father Parthenious Turner, a Greek Orthodox Priest, and his wife Marion, an EA, ("Enrolled Agent," which means she is certified to represent people before the IRS) work together cooking, preparing and serving each meal.  The Alektor Café is a real family affair, and you may even be served by one of their now grown children, providing they are in town during your visit. 

Referring to the Alektor Café, Nashville's Tennessean newspaper, reported, "One of Nashville's best kept gastro-spiritual secrets is a little cafe/bookshop near Vanderbilt.  It offers the ambiance of Eastern Orthodox Christianity — calming ancient Russian hymns, walls of wooden icons — with a menu of sandwiches, hummus plates and espresso."

The Best Nashville Lunch Restaurants Top 10 Best Restaurants Review rates the Alektor Café as #5 out of their Top 10!  Their review rightly suggests, "This hidden gem...better for smaller groups of two to four, serves lunch classics like the tuna melt, chicken salad and smoked turkey and cheese. Other options good for vegetarians include the spinach lasagna, Portobello mushroom sandwich and a gourmet goat cheese special."  

Prices are more than reasonable with the most expensive item on the menu being $7.95. This is good because there are icons, jewelry, and interesting artifacts from various countries that you can buy.  Or you may choose from a wide variety of Greek Orthodox CD’s or books that are available for purchase.  

Those who frequent this quiet little café will find the food excellent and freshly made each day, and the atmosphere not only inviting, but relaxing, tranquil and yes...almost a spiritual experience in itself.  

It will not take long before you realize that what is written on the sign out front is not actually the whole truth.  Not only are the books a door to paradise…the entire Alektor Café experience is a bit of paradise in itself! 

Whether you live in Nashville or just visiting this fine city, the Alektor Café is an experience you do not want to miss.  Hope to see you there!