219 Best Restaurants in Nashville, Tennessee

One of the early restaurants to open in the now-bustling Germantown neighborhood was Germantown Café. Now a pillar of the neighborhood, this popular dining spot offers inventive takes on an eclectic Southern menu, serving up meals for lunch, dinner, and brunch (on the weekends). Don't miss the bar's happy hour, either, as it's one of the city's most generous.

A standout in the pocket of international eateries clustered around Nolensville Pike, Gojo Ethiopian Cafe serves authentic dishes in a cozy brightly colored building. The lunch buffet is a favorite of both vegetarians and meat-eaters. The staff is known to be helpful to beginners having their first Ethiopian food experience.

Long before The Grilled Cheeserie opened a brick-and-mortar shop, it was one of Nashville's most beloved food trucks, slinging grilled cheese and tater tots to long lines of eaters who often tracked the truck down. Now, though, it's easier to indulge in some melty goodness at the restaurant's first permanent location. You can't go wrong with a grilled cheese, but don't sleep on the homemade soups and desserts, either.

True Cajun favorites are notoriously hard to find outside of Louisiana, but two Louisiana State University alums have brought an authentic slice of New Orleans to The Gulch. Four different variations of gumbo are the main draw here, but alligator, catfish, and high-piled po'boys made with bread shipped in directly from the Big Easy all deserve nods as well. The decor has the casual feel of a neighborhood haunt with cozy booths, a long wooden bar, and a slightly more upscale back room for larger parties. Come hungry and ready to indulge in some fried delights.

Pop into this bright friendly space to satisfy your munchies, get a caffeine fix—or better yet, do both. The woman- and family-owned shop boasts a wide array of specialty coffee drinks, going out of their way to cater to visitors with food sensitivities by including menu items like gluten-free bread, alternative milks, and optional plant-based cold foam. The food menu is more extensive than that of most coffee shops, making it a great place to recharge while exploring the east side. That it's also connected to The Bookshop, another local favorite, is a sweet plus, as you can grab a book or two to read while you sip.

Blink and you could miss the narrow 9-foot-wide storefront of Headquarters, which serves locally roasted coffee, seasonal lattes, and locally sourced snacks. It's small in size but not personality; relax in the cozy interior or head outside to the inviting back patio and deck area.

Located off the lobby of the Kimpton Aertson Hotel, this stylish restaurant and bar serves up New American cuisine like country-fried oysters, pea tortellini, and smoked chicken in a Gatsby-inspired interior (see the pair of emotive eyes artistically fashioned above the full bar). Cocktails here are worth the price, especially during weekday happy hours, and live music often accompanies.

Since opening in 2016, Henrietta Red has quickly become a Germantown staple, thanks to its creative menu and its hip airy digs. The project of chef Julia Sullivan and sommelier Allie Poindexter, the menu features vibrant seafood offerings (don't skip the raw bar!) alongside a carefully curated bar menu, as well as one of the area's best brunches.

Hopdoddy Burger Bar has been popular in Texas for some time now, but the new Hillsboro Village location marks its first outpost in Nashville. The restaurant serves up a variety of freshly made burgers, as well as thick creamy milkshakes and perfectly crisp fries. Long line? No worries! The Hopdoddy team regularly hands out free samples of beer, fries, and shakes to folks waiting for a table.

Made-to-order diner classics—some with a Southern twist—are served in a retro-style space at Hugh-Baby’s. Burger patties ground fresh every day are joined by topping-laden hot dogs and barbecue sandwiches on the family-friendly menu.

Patti Myint's original incarnation of International Market fed thousands of diners during its initial run from 1975 to 2019, serving fresh Thai food and Asian-inspired dishes in a friendly grocery setting. Myint's son, the restauranteur and acclaimed drag queen Arnold Myint, kept his late mother's legacy alive by opening a new International Market across the street from its old location, retaining many of the elder Myint's original recipes, like Patti's Pad Thai, while adding some of his own, including creative takes on curry and stir-fries. Pro tip: call ahead and preorder the perfectly crispy Hatyai Thai Fried Chicken.

Jeni's has become such a popular presence in Nashville that many people—locals included—forget the string of ice-cream shops is actually based in Ohio. No matter, though, as the colorful shop and its artful flavors of ice cream and sorbet fit right in here in Music City, particularly in East Nashville. Stop by for dessert after dinner at Rosepepper, which is conveniently located just across the street.

Sean Brock's culinary influence is all over Nashville, but nowhere is the famed chef's playfulness more evident than at Joyland, his friendly colorful spot for quick and easy comfort food. Relish a bit of nostalgia while enjoying a JoyBurger, a no-frills burger reminiscent of fast food fare but far more delicious (and available in a vegetarian option). Still hungry? Add on a Joystick, a strip of fried local chicken thigh served with the dipping sauce of your choice, or a side of fries. Their crinkle fries are gluten-free.

If you're craving artfully marbled cuts of meat, then Kayne Prime boasts one of the best selections in town, with top-notch cuts from some of the best ranches in the United States and abroad. The huge interior is filled with raw wood planks, private leather booths, and three different bars, and the starters consistently win top marks from diners. For those serious about their grilled meat, this acclaimed steak house has a strip steak made with Australian Wagyu beef.

High-quality beans are the focal point of this airy and upscale coffee shop located on the ground floor of the Thompson Hotel. The friendly and professional staff serve up a rotating selection of specialty and seasonal lattes that keep things interesting along with sweet and savory breakfast bites.

Inspired by taco culture in Austin, Texas, this bustling eatery specializes in breakfast and lunch tacos—both served all day—featuring brisket, avocado, and other fillings; vegetarian options and a kids' menu are available. The coffee menu has a nice selection of lattes and espresso, and Mexican Coke, Topo Chico, and house-made watermelon agua fresca are also available. The outdoor tables are nearly always full when the weather's nice. Inside, the large open space is spare, with a warm rustic feel. There’s a decent-sized parking lot or street parking. A second location is planned for East Nashville.

True to its name, Layer Cake offers a different drinking and dining experience on each of the restaurant's four levels. Intentionally designed to attract social media–savvy diners, there's something to enjoy (and photograph) in almost every corner of Layer Cake, from the subterranean Cherry Room and its VIP table service to the mix-and-mingle vibe of the street-level Wonder Room. The food menu offers a wide variety of elevated bar food as party fuel.

Once you turn onto Lindell Avenue, look for picnic tables and a brightly colored mural on the white Wedge Building and you'll find this local gem whose Grumpy Hour (8 to 10 am) gets you a free coffee with any breakfast order. The salads are huge, the sandwiches are delicious, and the staff are super nice. If all the tables are taken inside, head down a short flight of stairs for more tables and couches.

Equipped with a wood-burning stove, a smoker, and a garden of fresh vegetables, Chef Hal Holden-Bache gets down to business preparing some serious down-home cooking at his popular neighborhood restaurant, which serves comfort-gourmet food in a relaxed setting. Don't miss their cocktail menu, which features seasonal-inspired mixed drinks.

Find Lou tucked into a repurposed house in Riverside Village, a dining and shopping destination in the Inglewood neighborhood of East Nashville. Grab a cozy dinner of fresh seasonal vegetables and creatively prepared protein, or enjoy a chocolate and maple buckwheat pancake during weekend brunch service. Lou has a robust natural wine program, so ask your server for the perfect pairing for your meal.

New York restauranteur Anthony Scotto has opened his latest Italian-American fine-dining destination right in the heart of The Gulch. Diners will be transported to the Amalfi Coast, with whitewashed interiors accented with bright blues and yellows, generous bowls of house-made pastas, and protein-focused entrées centered on classic Mediterranean flavors.

This fun pizza place is where all ages gather for deep-dish pizzas made in an open kitchen. Beyond pizza they serve meatballs, sautéed spinach, and salads—and for dessert, cannoli of course.

Authentic New York–style Italian food is the name of the game at Mangia Nashville, and they bring it to a new level with their reservation-only weekend Italian Feasts. With multiple courses served family-style to the table and lively Italian music playing in the background, don't be surprised if guests push back their chairs between courses to dance and sing along—spontaneous conga lines have been known to break out. The kitchen is particularly responsive to gluten sensitivities, so it's a great place for diners who share those concerns.

In 2001, when Nashville native Margot McCormack brought her Culinary Institute of America/New York City café–pedigree back home to establish Margot Café, she sparked a food revolution that has since swept through East Nashville. Her local dining institution consistently offers a delightfully inconsistent menu, with Southern-influenced rustic Italian and French dishes served daily. Ingredients are seasonal and always fresh, and fish, chicken, and meat dishes are prepared in an accessible gourmet-meets-comfort-food style.

Southern seafood is no joke: where the Northeast focuses on lobster and clam, the South emphasizes fried Gulf oysters, shrimp, and gumbo. At Marsh House, they elevate these Southern staples to beautiful heights while also offering up a raw bar to behold and their signature seafood towers; now with daily brunch, you can choose a more low-key experience until 2 pm.

Burgers, beer, and pub food done right are the focus of this classic Sylvan Park establishment. Its brick interior feels vaguely European while the plant-filled outdoor patio looks out onto the neighborhood’s main business intersection.

If you love a decadent late breakfast or a sumptuous meal before heading out for a night on the town, then Midtown Cafe is the perfect place to stop for everything from soups to desserts. The café also offers diners a shuttle service to some of Nashville’s premier performing arts venues, including the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, TPAC, and Ryman Auditorium.