219 Best Restaurants in Nashville, Tennessee

Ugly Mugs is a neighborhood coffee shop on the edge of East Nashville's Lockeland Springs neighborhood. For those staying in the area, it's a great spot to grab coffee, breakfast, or a simple lunch or dinner. It's also a popular hangout for local musicians, so you never know who you might run into.

Located on the site of a former car wash, Urban Grub is now a sophisticated dining space serving seafood and locally sourced meat that's cured in-house. Wait times can soar to two hours, so reservations are strongly encouraged, especially if you're coming with a large group, but there is also seating available at the bar and oyster bar. The patio and beer garden are popular spots when the weather is nice; the oversized outdoor fireplace is used for cooking during some special events.

Fresh locally sourced ingredients are front and center at The Urban Juicer, which focuses on fresh juices, smoothies, and superfood-laden bowls. Whether grabbing a breakfast sandwich and made-to-order juice or signing on for a cleanse, the helpful staff will guide you through their health-food options.

The best place to go for a lively night of cocktails and inventive sushi rolls, step inside Virago's new location with an updated sprawling modern interior and get ready for some of the freshest fish you can find in the entire landlocked state. Make a reservation if you're smart, and be sure to follow the business-casual dress code.

While Nashville has a range of Vietnamese food options, VN Pho & Deli is a standout for its baked goods selection and emphasis on traditional ingredients and preparation. The pho in this plainly decorated, family-owned, cash-only joint is a must-try.

Von Elrod's Beer Hall & Kitchen was a welcome addition to the Germantown neighborhood when it opened in 2017. Housed in a large group-friendly space, the restaurant offers a casual alternative to the neighborhood's more-elevated offerings, serving house-made sausages and sides alongside a truly extensive beer menu. As a plus, it's right next to First Horizon Park, making it the perfect spot for dinner before a baseball game.

Follow the gravel drive to the back of the Wedge building and you’ll see a large covered deck and a huge mural of a pizza slice—the pizza here is delicious. The space inside is both cavernous and cozy, with comfy seating areas and a reading area stocked with books, which are great places to enjoy salads, wings, and other typical pizza-restaurant fare such as breadsticks, dessert wedges, and New York–style cheesecake. A row of dartboards lines one wall, and there is a pool table and other diversions. The Wedge hosts dart tournaments, trivia contests, live music, and Nashville SC watch parties.

This rooftop restaurant and bar is known for its picture-perfect all-pink ambience, including a giant sculpture of Dolly Parton’s face. The menu features spunky cocktails like the Grey Goose and Campari Anti Hero or the smoky mezcal Fixin to Leave, shareable bites like a grazing board or classic crudité, and mains like caviar (even if it's not a special occasion), marinated mussels, and smoked chicken.

Acclaimed chef Tony Mantuano has brought his talents from Chicago to Nashville with this elegant Italian restaurant that offers a changing tasting menu focused on different regional Italian cuisines. À la carte options inspired by dishes from across Italy are also available. The wine list features Italian bottles rarely seen at other local restaurants, and the pastry program is top-notch. Adding to the ambiance, entire wheels of aged Parmesan serve as both ingredients and decor, separating the dining area from the kitchen.