175 Best Restaurants in Nashville, Tennessee

Slim and Husky's Pizza Beeria

$ | Germantown Fodor's choice

Slim and Husky's Pizza Beeria was one of the first new restaurants to open in the burgeoning Buchanan Arts District neighborhood. Owned and operated by neighborhood residents, Slim and Husky's serves a variety of freshly made pizzas, and also offers the option to design your own. They serve an eclectic array of local beer and also offer up homemade cinnamon rolls, which guests can take home in large batches at the operation's nearby retail store, the Roll Out.

Sunda New Asian

$$$ | The Gulch Fodor's choice

Celebrity chef and actor Billy Dec has brought his Chicago-based Sunda to Nashville with the recent splashy opening of this new sister restaurant, and the neighborhood is all the better for it. Characterized as "Southeast Asian fusion," you can find a menu of shareable plates that includes twists on classic Filipino dishes, a selection of dim sum, a full sushi bar, crispy rice topped with tuna, and quite a few expertly cooked pork dishes. Don't miss their unique weekend brunch.

Swett's Restaurant

$ | McKissack Park Fodor's choice

Nashville is known for its meat-and-three-style restaurants, and Swett's is one of its most famous; past patrons run the gamut from presidents to pop stars, and everyone in between. If you’re looking for Southern staples like collard greens, baked macaroni-and-cheese, and entrées that range from fried catfish to barbecued ribs, this is the place to be—you might even find the owner out in the dining room with a group of friends, enjoying his meal as much as you will.

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Tempered Café and Chocolate

$ | Germantown Fodor's choice

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.

Tennessee Brew Works

$ | The Gulch Fodor's choice

An official Music City Live Music Venue, Tennessee Brew Works Tap Room features bands and solo acts Thursday through Saturday, and on Sunday it's vinyl night. Enjoy a finely crafted brew with menu items such as their Five Beer Burger, crawfish ragout, Southern grill cheese, and more; there are beer pairings for each dish, and Tennessee Brew Works offers brews across the flavor spectrum with truly unique blends. Try their Basil Ryman with Thai basil sourced from a local farm. Their brewing process is masterful—employing the talents of an in-house chemist Ph.D—and soulful, with a passion for creating inventive, locally sourced craft beers. Brewery tours are offered Saturday and Sunday.

The Pharmacy

$ | East Nashville Fodor's choice

If you have a hankering for good burgers and good beer, look no further than the Pharmacy to cure what ails you. The outdoor beer garden is hard to beat for both its size and ambience, and the food itself is fresh, locally sourced, and thoughtfully served. Though burgers are the name of the game, there are vegetarian-friendly options. Be sure to try The Pharmacy's house-made phosphates (sodas) and milk shakes.

Vui's Kitchen

$ | Berry Hill Fodor's choice

Chic yet inviting, the fresh Vietnamese fare at Vui’s Kitchen includes favorite dishes like pho and bun garnished with local greens, as well as a seasonal selection of local beer and wine. Their counter is one of the few places in Nashville where you can find a fresh coconut, which is best enjoyed in their ample outdoor seating area.

12 South Taproom & Grill

Part of the 12 South scene before there was one---and still a favorite with a large, covered street-facing patio and small performance space inside---12 South Taproom has a menu that's surprisingly large with seemingly endless variations of quesadillas (rib-eye!), tacos, salads with vegetarian options, and a kids' menu. Your fellow diners will include families, couples, friends, local college kids, and visitors. Enjoy the walls papered in Hatch Show and other concert posters.

417 Union

$$ | Downtown

You wouldn’t guess from its understated, antique-looking exterior that the restaurant opens up into a bit of an antebellum relic on the inside. This restaurant envelopes you in rich woodwork common in old Southern homes, featuring fireplaces original to the building, white tablecloths, waiters in white coats, and chandeliers, while also serving traditional Southern cuisine.

51 North Taproom

$$ | The Nations

With a menu nearly as broad as its beer selection, the entrées featuring lamb, seitan, and goat cheese alongside more traditional pub food favorites will surprise anyone who imagines 51 North Taproom to be a run-of-the-mill bar and grill. With ample options for vegans and vegetarians, there is something for everyone, plus beer to go with it.

55 South

Named for Interstate 55, which cuts through the Mississippi Delta toward New Orleans, this Gulf-inspired restaurant pulls out all the stops: gumbo, po’boys, jambalaya, shrimp and grits, oysters (char-grilled, fried, or in the shell), and even fried green tomato–shrimp rémoulade. Tables are first come, first served, but it’s worth the wait—especially for weekend brunch: Their build-your-own-Bloody-Mary bar has all the fixings for the hair of just about any dog. And their daily cocktail menu, including gems like Honey Hush and the Garden District, drips with Southern twang and Southern flavor.

5th and Taylor

$$$ | Germantown

Housed in a large, artsy space, 5th and Taylor is a culinary playground for chef Daniel Lindley to push the boundaries of modern American cuisine. The menu often includes a number of Southern favorites, like tomato pie and beer can chicken, all elevated by Lindley's finesse and knowledge of flavor. The center sculpture, which serves as a focal point in the dining room, is a depiction of General Francis Nash, for whom the city is named.

Americano Coffee Lounge

$ | Wedgewood-Houston

Opened in fall 2018, this Houston Station coffee shop, or rather, lounge, has baked goods made fresh in its tiny kitchen, a large selection of syrups that are used in its house-made Italian sodas, and, of course, hot and iced coffee. The atmosphere is old-school cozy, even more so on Saturday afternoons when there is live jazz.

Answer

$$ | Sylvan Park

This chef-driven restaurant, with its relaxed yet upscale feel and menu full of character, fits seamlessly into the Sylvan Park neighborhood that surrounds it. Their laid-back Sunday brunch has familiar favorites with thoughtful touches, and their dinner entrées tout flavors that can satisfy even refined palates.

Athens Family Restaurant

$ | Berry Hill

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.

Bakersfield

$ | Downtown

One of the better options for a casual meal, Bakersfield specializes in Mexican street food that is authentic and quick. The bar also serves more than 100 types of tequila, so that you can get the full experience. A great place for lunch or a late night bite after dancing on Broadway.

Barista Parlor

$ | Germantown

The original East Nashville Barista Parlor was such a hit that the hip shop has since expanded to several locations around town. One of those is in Germantown, conveniently located right next to popular dinner joint City House. Barista Parlor puts an extraordinary amount of care into each cup of coffee it brews, and you can taste that attention to detail each time you visit.

Barista Parlor

$ | East Nashville

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

bartaco

This open yet cozy space, with woven baskets as light fixtures, serves upscale bites influenced by the street food and beach cultures of Southern California, Uruguay, and Brazil. Tacos and rice bowls dominate the menu, as well as fresh-squeezed juice and cocktails.

Bastion

$$ | Wedgewood-Houston

Opened in February 2016, this small restaurant (and bar) seats only 24 diners (RSVPs are encouraged; walk-ins are welcomed when space is available). Parties of four to six are offered a five-course, prix fixe meal; smaller groups may order à la carte from a selection of American fare.

Biscuit Love

What goes better with buttermilk biscuits than a historical Queen Anne Victorian home? This one, affectionately known as the Corn House (after the Corn family who lived there from 1920 to 1980), is home to some of the best Southern brunch around, from the traditional (biscuits and sausage gravy with a side of cheese grits) to the unconventional (a biscuit burger with pimento cheese and tomato jam).

Biscuit Love

$ | Hillsboro Village

Biscuit Love opened its first outpost in the Gulch, with the hip new breakfast spot so popular that lines poured out the door each morning. Now the popular 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, be prepared to wait in line.

Biscuit Love

$ | The Gulch

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 sandwiches 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.

Blue Moon Waterfront Grille

$$ | Charlotte Park

This floating restaurant and bar is on a secluded marina, tucked away in a combination neighborhood and industrial area in true Nations fashion. The dockside dining options include many seafood options, large salads, and shareable appetizers.

Bongo Java

$ | Hillsboro Village

The Belmont Boulevard location of Bongo Java is a popular hangout for Belmont students. Accordingly, its food menu is more college-centric (think breakfast sandwiches) than Fido's, though in recent years the local coffee favorite has expanded its menu (and remodeled its building) to suit the needs of the rapidly growing neighborhood.

Bongo Java East

$ | East Nashville

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.

Burger Republic

$ | The Gulch

For those craving a burger that's a cut above the rest, Burger Republic offers up 15 different variations—like a fancier version of the In-N-Out classic or a Southern-inspired burger with a pimento cheese--stuffed patty—with a focus on locally sourced meats and ingredients. For the full artery-clogging experience, order a handmade shake spiked with your choice of booze.

Burger Up

A comfortable neighborhood hangout (there’s a second location in east Nashville) serving—you guessed it—burgers, as well as soups and salads, Burger Up is popular with all ages, including young families. Beef and other meats are sourced from a local farm and butcher shop; some desserts feature Nashville-made Pied Piper ice cream.

Butcher and Bee

$$ | East Nashville

Though it only opened in 2015, Butcher and Bee is already a Nashville culinary mainstay. The restaurant is convenient both to downtown and to East Nashville's Five Points, and offers guests a variety of dining options, from a casual weekend brunch to an elegant dinner of small, shared plates, all of which find the middle ground between Middle Eastern and Southern American influences. The whipped feta is a must-try.

Caffe Nonna

$$ | Sylvan Park

A long-standing staple of Sylvan Park, Caffe Nonna serves Italian dinner in an inviting and intimate café setting. Pizzas are baked fresh in a brick oven, pasta is served with house-made sauces, and the wine list rounds out the experience.

Nashville

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