67 Best Restaurants in Nashville, Tennessee

Tucked away in nearby Salemtown is Big Al's Deli, a neighborhood deli in every sense of the word. Owner Alfonso Hamilton serves home-cooked Southern food out of an otherwise nondescript converted house, making for a dining experience that feels like you're right at home. Seating is limited inside but the food—especially the breakfast—is well worth the wait.

Come hungry for breakfast and brunch options that include zucchini pie, avocado toast, and unforgettable fluffy and crepe-like blueberry pancakes. This restaurant exudes boho California vibes with its bright airy interior and plant-filled wood accents around the open kitchen. If you're planning to dine on peak days, take advantage of the online waitlist. There's a small outdoor dining area out front; inside the seating is a mix of stand-alone tables and cozy banquettes tucked under conservatory-like windows. If you're driving, you may be able to find parking in the restaurant's parking lot.

An early adopter of sustainable sourcing and zero-waste coffee bean roasting, Crema has introduced Nashville coffee lovers to new brews for years. Intentionally partnering with small farmers around the world, Crema advocates for living wages and also brews a fine cup of java to accompany a short list of breakfast dishes. Their specialty espresso drinks are among the most creative in town, and they also offer ground beans to go, as well as educational coffee classes.

Internationally acclaimed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten brings his thoughtful approach to regional cuisine to The Hermitage Hotel's architecturally interesting flagship restaurant. Classy but not stuffy, the kitchen serves three meals a day to hotel guests and smart Downtown denizens who know that a meal here is a surprisingly affordable indulgence—the delightful wood-fired pizzas benefit from fresh produce toppings, and the seasonal menu features the freshest and most exciting local vegetables uniquely prepared alongside premium seafood and meats. Wondering about the name? Children of the hotel’s former general manager, Drusie and Darr Hall lived at the property in the 1950s and ‘60s.

Open since 1939, Elliston Place has retained much of its mid-century decor, including vintage jukeboxes at the tables (though the boxes themselves no longer play) and a lovely soda counter, complete with a fountain. Come for great burgers, frothy ice-cream sodas, and delicious chocolate shakes—or breakfast.

Local favorite Fido is part of the Bongo Java family and has one of the coffee shop group's more extensive food menus. In addition to Fido's own take on the creatively made, ethically sourced espresso drinks found at other Bongo locations, the restaurant serves locally sourced breakfast, lunch, and dinner; try the burger.

Giant warehouse windows hearken back to The Nations’ industrial roots and shed light on the stylish wood-laden interior of this coffee shop and all-day café. The variety of seating options makes Frothy Monkey a favorite for remote workers with laptops, and their health-focused menu features locally roasted coffee, fresh pastries, and farm-sourced ingredients for all meals. There are multiple locations around the city. 

The nonprofit enterprise that runs this bright pleasant shop was established in 2008 to train and mentor students. In addition to prepared coffees and teas, the shop sells the beans, soaps and scrubs made by the students, and mugs and T-shirts bearing the coffeehouse's logo. Baked goods from a neighborhood bakery are usually also available here. All profits support programs and scholarships for the students. There's now a second location Downtown.

Mitchell Delicatessen is one of the pillars of East Nashville's Riverside Village neighborhood; having relocated from across the street to a larger space in 2014, it's one of the more spacious delis in town (with a large covered patio, to boot). Come for classics like the Turkey Avocado, and come back for Mitchell creations like the Turkey Brie and Asian Flank Steak.

Tempered Café is unlike any other café in Nashville, serving an extensive selection of handcrafted chocolates alongside a full menu of espresso drinks, breakfast and lunch plates—and yes, homemade hot chocolate and drinking chocolate. Tempered also has a full bar and offers chocolate and beverage pairings that are unlike anything you've ever tried before.

Utilizing products from local farmers and producers, this bright and airy café caters a healthy menu of all-day breakfast and lunch dishes, ranging from berry bowls, smoothies, and breakfast sandwiches to pad Thai noodle bowls and house-made hummus. Grab-and-go options include wellness shots, juice cleanses, boba tea, and specialty coffee drinks.

Look no further for a caffeine kick than 8th & Roast's ethically traded coffee with decadent flavor profiles. Small bites and syrups are made in-house, and natural light flows in through the shop’s large windows.

Since opening in 2018, this eatery has dropped \"coffee\" from its name but certainly not from its menu, which includes coffee, coffee cocktails (espresso martini!), dessert cocktails, and an extensive list of traditional cocktails. The atmosphere is that of a European café with a menu to match: pastries, panini, and desserts that are both delicious and gorgeous. Americano Lounge hosts live jazz performances and cleverly themed events throughout the year.

More than your average food court, Assembly Food Hall offers more than 30 restaurants and bars spread across two levels in two wings. Many of the restaurant stalls are outposts of favorite local establishments like Prince's Hot Chicken and Pharmacy Burger, offering limited menus of their \"greatest hits.\" With bars and live music stages on each level, the atmosphere is always lively. Another bonus is the ability for diners at a single table to order from different restaurants using their phones and then receive a text message when their food is ready. It sure beats having to stand in multiple lines.

Once featured on the Food Network, the Athens Family Restaurant is a diner that has all the appearances of a classic greasy spoon but instead serves delicious Greek food for all three meals. Enjoy gyro, pitas, and Greek sides, as well as American diner favorites like burgers and breakfast sandwiches.

Serious coffee connoisseurs shouldn't leave the city without a visit to one of Barista Parlor's outposts. The Gulch location is housed on the first level of the W, and everything inside—from the wood tables and platters to the art and barista aprons—are sourced from local makers and craftspeople, so you better believe they're serious about keeping it bespoke. The coffee and food options take time, so don't stop by in a hurry, but the attention to detail is worth it.

The East Nashville location is the spot that started it all for this growing local coffee chain. Barista Parlor is known for paying almost an excruciating level of detail to its coffee beverages, so you know you're getting a quality cup every time you visit. They also sell pastries and small bites, served up in a painstakingly hip environment.

The original East Nashville Barista Parlor was such a hit that the hip shop has since expanded to several locations around town, including this spot in Germantown. Conveniently located right next to popular dinner joint City House, baristas put an extraordinary amount of care into each cup of coffee brewed; you can taste that attention to detail each time you visit.

Biscuit Love opened its first outpost in The Gulch, and the hip new breakfast spot was so popular that lines poured out the door each morning. Now the beloved eatery is open in Hillsboro Village, serving up homemade biscuits and breakfast plates until 3 pm each day. Be warned: unless you get there early, you should be prepared to wait in line.

What started as a beloved Airstream food truck is now a brick-and-mortar staple in the neighborhood that's hailed for its daily scratch-made Southern-style biscuits. There are nine different biscuit entrees to choose from, made with a variety of meats, gravies, and toppings, but there are plenty of tempting \"Without a Biscuit\" options like the surprisingly tasty egg-topped Lindstrom made with shaved brussels sprouts, hazelnuts, and shredded Parmesan. There are additional locations in Hillsboro Village and Franklin. 

The eastern outpost of the local Bongo Java empire, this location is in East Nashville's bustling Five Points neighborhood. Stop in for coffee, tea, pastries, sandwiches, and more, served up in a refreshingly unpretentious environment by a friendly knowledgeable staff. Bongo also has beer on tap and a selection of board games (thanks to a 2017 merger with Game Point Café), so it's the perfect spot to transition from daytime work to evening play.

Created as a social enterprise, The Café employs female survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction and partners with local food suppliers to create delicious locally sourced breakfast and lunch items like sandwiches, quiches, and baked goods. The Café also touts a full afternoon tea service, available by reservation. Next door, browse nourishing handmade gifts and goods at The Shop at Thistle Farms.

Convenient to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Bridgestone Arena, and Ascend Amphitheater, Café Intermezzo is a favorite preshow destination for a quick bite before a concert. Serving all three meals of the day plus an extensive specialty coffee drink program, it's also a quiet spot to catch up with friends or meet for a business discussion. The stocked pastry display case just inside the front door reminds diners to always save room for dessert.

This bright and bustling all-day restaurant fulfills all of your breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner needs with a menu that spans a number of healthy options that utilize fresh seasonal ingredients. There are more indulgent items on offer, too, like the perfectly griddled smash burger or the paprika chicken. Stop in for a house latte before heading out for a day of fun, or cozy up at the bar for dinner during live jazz night on Fridays. 

Located on the lobby level of Virgin Hotels Nashville, the cuisine at Commons Club ranges from Southern staples like the Nashville meat and three to seafood dishes and oven-fired flatbreads. Entering through the front doors, you’ll walk past an eclectic inviting lounge area with plenty to look at, but continue on to the dining room for intimate seating, a pool table, a full bar, and frequent programming including songwriter showcases.

Breakfast and lunch sandwiches made using house-baked bread, braised meats, gourmet aioli, and premium produce are the most popular items at this airy and amiable café, but the pastry case just inside the front door is the real showstopper. Get there early for the best selection of flaky croissants, delectable cookies and muffins, colorful macarons, and other baked goods. The pickings can get pretty slim after the lunch rush.

With its quiet vibe and speedy free Wi-Fi, District Coffee welcomes remote workers along with anyone who enjoys a good cup of coffee or espresso made using locally roasted beans. An eclectic menu of pastries, bagels, and New Zealand–style savory hand pies offers food choices while you work and sip.

Located on the border of West End and Sylvan Park, Dose is one of the neighborhood’s better-kept secrets, allowing it to be quieter and less crowded than larger chains closer to Downtown or Vanderbilt University. This is a good thing, because their daily fresh-baked goods, specially blended coffees, and delicious breakfast and lunch options are ones you’re going to want to keep all to yourself.

Located in East Nashville's Riverside Village neighborhood, this café serves up some of the city's finest espresso drinks. In addition to a caffeine fix, you'll find a full food menu, baked goods, beer, wine, and cocktails, making it the perfect one-stop-shop for exploring the neighborhood.

This small space is airy and bright, and it maintains a bit of its pop-up-shop origins. Serving breakfast and lunch items—including soups and sandwiches, some seasonal—the best options are the cookies and pastries made on-site and also sold at a number of Nashville eateries. There are marble-topped tables and black café chairs inside, and there's outdoor seating in warmer months. The expanded beverage menu includes several coffees, chai, and other teas.