175 Best Restaurants in Nashville, Tennessee

Nations Bar & Grill

$ | The Nations

Serving burgers nearly as big as their iconic neon sign, the Nations Bar & Grill keeps it real with substantial pub-style favorites and a full bar. Formerly an auto repair shop, this no-nonsense neighborhood spot won’t leave anyone hungry.

Nectar Urban Cantina

$$ | Donelson

Half café (pressed juices, coffee, and wraps) and half restaurant (tacos, burrito bowls, and a full bar), Nectar Urban Cantina is great whether you’re in a hurry or have more time to kill. Inside an updated Tudor-style house, they offer fresh Mexican-inspired cuisine in a bright, casual space. If the weather’s nice, check out their beer garden and outdoor margarita bar.

Pancake Pantry

$ | Hillsboro Village

A Nashville institution, Pancake Pantry is the place to go for breakfast. It's a favorite with locals, students, and celebrities. Breakfast is the specialty, with 20 kinds of pancakes (sweet to savory) and homemade syrups. There are good soups and sandwiches for lunch—or you can stick with the pancakes, which are served till closing in late afternoon. Get there by 8:15 weekdays to avoid lines, but be prepared to wait on weekends.

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Park Cafe

$$$ | Sylvan Park

Park Cafe serves rich entrées, a selection of small plates, and a full wine program in Sylvan Park. In addition to their dinner service, they also feature an enticing happy hour.

Phat Bites

$ | Donelson

Maybe it’s the graffitied walls, maybe it’s the local bee pollen honey, but this crunchy-sandwich shop inside a converted garage is undeniably cool. Come any time, morning or night, and you’ll find a goat cheese–smothered waffle, a hummus-stuffed veggie wrap, or a late-night cocktail that will suit your needs.

Proper Bagel

$ | Hillsboro Village

Some say you can't get a proper bagel outside New York City, but Belmont Boulevard's Proper Bagel makes a good argument otherwise. Each day, the small eatery prepares a variety of freshly made bagels alongside numerous flavored cream cheese options. Pair your bagel with one of their many side items, like pasta salad, and a dessert (try a black-and-white cookie!) and you're all set.

Puckett's Grocery and Restaurant

$$ | Downtown

If you're walking near 5th and Church downtown, you'll probably pick up the aromas from Puckett's before you see it: Puckett's is an in-town version of the popular Lieper's Fork Puckett's, a Tennessee eatery and music venue. Here you'll find new twists on Southern favorites, including barbecue sliders and "redneck burritos" of pulled pork, baked beans, and slaw, as well as salads. Puckett's also serves breakfast and features live music most nights.

Puckett's Grocery and Restaurant

If SunDrop and fried chicken set your heart aflutter, this Southern grocery store/restaurant combo is not to be missed. The cherrywood smoker out back churns out piles of pork, chicken, and brisket every day, and you can buy their signature barbecue rub and sauce at the register. On your way out, after you’ve polished off a slice of fruit cobbler with homemade ice cream, shop the produce section for local eggs, milk, and greens. There’s live music every night of the week except Sunday.

Red Bicycle Coffee & Crepes

$ | The Nations

More than just a coffee shop, Red Bicycle offers a wide selection of sweet and savory crepes, beer, wine, sandwiches, and tacos. A variety of seating options in the large space, including outdoor tables in the Astroturf yard, make this a popular meeting place and work space.

Red Bicycle Coffee and Crepes

$ | Germantown

There are a lot of coffee shops in Germantown, but only Red Bicycle has an extensive menu of sweet and savory crepes. The neighborhood café also serves a variety of sandwiches, tacos, pastries, and small snacks, all complemented by a menu of seasonally rotating coffee and espresso drinks and served by one of the friendliest staffs in town.

Red Pony

$$$

This sophisticated eatery serves innovative Southern cuisine in an upscale environment, for a dining experience that’s elegant without compromising on fun. The menu changes six times a year to keep up with the freshest ingredients, and their award-winning wine menu shouldn’t be overlooked; there’s bar seating on both the first and second floors, but for a table, a reservation is your best bet.

Ri'chard's Cafe

$$ | Whites Creek

Drive out to beautiful Whites Creek for live music and authentic New Orleans favorites: po’boys, muffulettas, crawfish étouffé, and (of course) Abita beer. If it isn’t too busy, Ri'chard himself will join the band for a couple of songs on guitar. This place offers laid-back fun for the whole family, and you’ll need your whole family’s help to finish all that fried okra.

Rosepepper Mexican Grill

$$ | East Nashville

Even if you haven't been to Rosepepper, it's possible you've seen a photo of the restaurant's front sign, which features humorous comments like, "We love margaritas as much as Kanye loves Kanye." Luckily for guests, the food and drinks, which span classic Mexican fare like tacos as well as Americanized hybrids like the Mexican Caesar salad, are as good as the restaurant's sense of humor. They have a great outdoor space, too, so visit when the weather's nice.

Saint Añejo

$ | The Gulch

For those who are serious about tequila and mezcal, head to this modern Mexican cantina with à la carte taco options like Korean barbacoa, hot chicken, and jerk shrimp. Sugar skulls adorn most surfaces, and the giant mural in the main dining room is just begging for a photo op; if the wait seems too long downstairs, head to the lounge upstairs known as the Tequila Library for quick service, strong drinks, and a quieter atmosphere.

Sam & Zoe's

$ | Berry Hill

This pleasantly low-key coffee shop is decorated with quirky local art and is typically quiet, making it a relaxing place to work or chat. In addition to coffee, Sam & Zoe’s offers tea, breakfast food, salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and desserts.

Sambuca

$$$ | The Gulch

If you're looking for bold elegance with a dash of drama, the deep plush seating and wrought-iron candelabras and chandeliers at this acclaimed, three-story eatery are sure to hit the spot. For those who prefer to take in a show with dinner, you can catch live music each night starting around 6:30, and if you're more of an early riser, you can opt for some tunes with your brunch instead.

Sassafras Market & Deli

$ | Wedgewood-Houston

A small specialty grocery, Sassafras also has a window-filled deli space with great views of the fast-changing neighborhood from its corner location; picnic tables out front are a warm-weather seating option. The menu features sandwiches and breakfast items, including a number of vegetarian and vegan options.

Sidekicks Cafe

$ | Madison

This country café in Madison, Tennessee, has a home-cooked appeal. Try a loaded biscuit for breakfast or a pimento cheese--and-- bacon sandwich for lunch, and don’t forget to check the cabinet for a daily selection of house-made pastries and desserts. By the time you leave, the staff will know you by name.

Sinema

$$ | Melrose

With upscale American dining featuring elevated entrées, inventive cocktails, and a bottomless brunch, Sinema is housed in the stylish setting of a former movie theater, with screens inside that still play classic movies. The design of the dining room, lounge, and even the restrooms is eclectic yet elegant, much like the menu.

Sitar Indian Cuisine

$$ | West End

Locals and visitors pack this popular West End/Vanderbilt area restaurant for the lunch buffet that includes favorites like chicken tikka masala and sag paneer (spinach, cheese, and spices). The lively midday atmosphere becomes more sophisticated for evening meals.

Smokin Thighs

$ | Wedgewood-Houston

Lots of chicken—wings, quarters and, of course, thighs—all smoked or grilled using a signature applewood blend, is served here; they also offer salads and chicken burgers and tacos. The restaurant gets especially crowded at lunch.

Sperry's Restaurant

$$$$

A reconstructed English Tudor–style building in Belle Meade is home to this elegant steak and seafood house. This is steeplechase country, and the framed paintings hanging among the lush draperies in the dining room show equestrian themes. A double fireplace separates the bar–lounge area from the columns, wood paneling, and wall hangings in the banquet room. Choose from no fewer than seven fresh fish entrées nightly, plus Alaskan king crab, lobster tail, steaks, and chops galore; there are also gluten-free options. Reservations are recommended but not required. The setting is upscale, but the dress code isn't; business casual or even jeans will do just fine.

Star Bagel Cafe

$ | Sylvan Park

This deli specializing in bagel sandwiches serves breakfast all day. In addition to bagels, the café offers granola, baked goods, coffee, and fresh-pressed juices from their in-house partner, Nashville Roots.

Stay Golden

$ | Berry Hill

Founded by veterans of the Nashville coffee scene, Stay Golden is a stylish and sophisticated spot to sip on single-origin coffee and teas, try a craft cocktail, or check out local brews on draft. In addition to their beverages, seasonally inspired breakfast and lunch options are available.

Steadfast Coffee

$ | Germantown

Germantown's Steadfast Coffee offers up the usual assortment of espresso drinks and café-style food options, but they also have some tasty menu items you'll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Their coffee soda, for example, is an unusual blend of espresso, soda water, and orange peel, and has to be tried to be understood, while their "rested" coffee drinks bring out new flavors in old classics.

Sun Diner

$ | Downtown

A city that can party all night needs all-night food options, and that’s where Sun Diner comes in, serving Southern favorites and breakfast food 24 hours a day. Located steps away from the music of Broadway, the Sun Diner takes its name from legendary rockabilly and country record label Sun Records from Memphis.

Sunflower Cafe

$ | Berry Hill

Welcoming and straightforward, Sunflower Cafe feeds the vegans, vegetarians, and gluten-free eaters of Nashville with mouthwatering veggie burger options, vegan barbecue, ample salads, and enticing happy hour specials. The menu features both Southern staples and international-inspired flavors, providing many options for diners who are used to feeling restricted by other menus.

Tànsuo

$$ | The Gulch

Although the street view isn't much, jewel-toned hanging lanterns, cozy wraparound booths, and upbeat tunes await inside Nashville's top spot for Chinese fusion. The Peking Duck is can't-miss, but order ahead or prepare to settle in and have a few cocktails while it's being prepped. Shorter on time? You can't go wrong with speedier mains like pork belly fried rice or spicy, ginger-laden short ribs.

Taquería La Juquilita

$ | The Nations

This classic mom-and-pop taqueria serves Oaxacan-style favorites full of flavor at irresistible prices. Surrounded by traditional Mexican decor, diners can expect a menu in Spanish, and hefty portions of freshly cooked items served on disposable plates.

Thai Kitchen

$ | Berry Hill

Don’t let the spartan appearance of this hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant trick you: their authentic dishes are anything but plain. With an extensive curry menu, multiple dishes featuring duck, and a range of sushi choices, your taste buds and wallet will be pleased with the well-priced entrées.

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