175 Best Restaurants in Nashville, Tennessee

8th & Roast

$ | Waverly Fodor's choice

The original location of this growing local coffee roaster serves ethically sourced coffee roasted in-house, plus seasonal treats, breakfast sandwiches, and lunch items. Lined with exposed brick, the bright space is industrial yet cozy, featuring seating for both individuals and larger groups.

Adele's

$$$ | The Gulch Fodor's choice

Fresh, open, airy, and never too buttoned-up, Adele's is a favorite for business lunches and date-night dinners alike. This high-end Southern eatery was an early part of the neighborhood's revitalization, and James Beard–winning chef Jonathan Waxman continues to dazzle with his accessible but polished cuisine.

AVO

$$ | West End Fodor's choice

AVO is the culinary jewel in the crown of a new, mindful-lifestyle district called OneCity; as such, it offers decadent vegan options, a generous afternoon happy hour, and a thoughtful waitstaff trained to offer helpful information for those with specific nutritional needs. On sunny days, diners can enjoy a locally sourced afternoon meal just minutes from downtown, and top it off with a game of volleyball on a court just off the restaurant’s patio.

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Baja Burrito

$ | Berry Hill Fodor's choice

This colorful neighborhood staple is a locally owned Baja Californian--style Mexican food restaurant, with build-your-own counter service featuring local meats, handmade salsas, and delicious fruit teas. In addition to their namesake burritos, they offer plentiful taco and salad options, all in generous portions, making this funky and fun spot a local favorite.

Barista Parlor Golden Sound

$ | The Gulch Fodor's choice

Serious coffee connoisseurs shouldn't leave the city without a visit to one of Barista Parlor's outposts. The Gulch location is housed inside a former transmission shop, 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.

Bella Napoli Pizzeria

$$ | Edgehill Fodor's choice

Bella Napoli is one of the few authentic Neapolitan pizzerias in the city, and its brick-oven baked pizzas, decadent pasta dishes, and inexpensive happy hour will send you searching for this quaint eatery tucked in an alleyway on the back end of Edgehill Village. On warm nights, you can kick back on the romantically lit patio and enjoy good food, your favorite bottle of wine, and occasional live music.

Big Al's Deli

$ | Germantown Fodor's choice

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.

Bobbie's Dairy Dip

$ | Sylvan Park Fodor's choice

This classic ice cream and burger stand feels like a blast from the past with retro decor, classic diner fare, ice cream, and milk shakes that can be enjoyed on their covered patio. This family-friendly staple embraces their throwback energy, even naming their delicious signature shake flavors after 1950s rockers.

Brown's Diner

$ | Hillsboro Village Fodor's choice

One of Nashville's oldest restaurants still in operation, the famed Brown's Diner first opened its doors in 1927. This spot, housed in a large trailer, is popular with celebrities and regular ol' locals alike, and the burger is one of the best in town.

Chauhan Ale & Masala House

$$ | The Gulch Fodor's choice

Chopped judge and beloved celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan made a splash when she announced that she would be opening her first restaurant not in New York or Chicago, but right here in Nashville. Her playful global Indian fusion is not to be missed, and although you'll find some of the best food in the city here by far, the ambience is never stuffy. Tired of the usual bacon, eggs, and waffles for breakfast? Then head over on Saturday or Sunday to check out a daring brunch menu like no other.

City House

$$ | Germantown Fodor's choice

James Beard Award–winning chef Tandy Wilson has built a Nashville institution with City House, one of the first restaurants to take hold in Germantown. The menu changes seasonally but always features thoughtful salads, unusually delicious pizzas, and creative protein options, most of which lean heavily on pork. Visitors on Sunday are treated to the special Sunday Supper menu, which changes each week.

Edley's Bar-B-Que

$ | Sylvan Park Fodor's choice

Edley’s offers a delicious taste of Southern cooking in the classic meat-and-three tradition, and their sides are just as delicious as their melt-in-your-mouth meats. Make sure to try their brisket before it sells out for the day in either taco, sandwich, or platter form, and enjoy a craft beer or a signature spiked milk shake called a Bushwacker for refreshment.

Fido

$ | Hillsboro Village Fodor's choice

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. Pro tip: try the burger.

Five Daughters Bakery

$ Fodor's choice

You know the offerings are good when the hours include a "or till sold out" proviso, and that's the case with this bakery located just off 12th Avenue South. They serve pastries and cookies, but the large, beautifully decorated gourmet doughnuts are what people talk about most. It is locally owned and named for the family's five daughters.

Five Points Pizza

$ | East Nashville Fodor's choice

A lively strip of bars wouldn't be complete without a pizza joint, and Five Points Pizza fills that void in the Five Points neighborhood, slinging slices, pies, and brews to the crowds heading to nearby 3 Crow Bar or the Five Spot. For the late-night set, Five Points offers a walk-up window for ordering slices to go. The prosciutto and basil slice is a sure bet, as are the big, greasy garlic knots.

Folk

$$ | East Nashville Fodor's choice

Chef Philip Krajeck's first Nashville restaurant Rolf and Daughters has been a runaway success since opening in 2012, and he has another success on his hands with new spot Folk, situated in East Nashville's Cleveland Park neighborhood. Seasonal salads and small plates round out a well-balanced menu.

Frothy Monkey

$ | The Nations Fodor's choice

Giant warehouse windows hearken back to The Nations’ industrial roots and shed bright light on the stylish wood-laden interior of this coffee shop and all-day café. The variety of seating options make 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.

Gabby's Burgers & Fries

$ | Wedgewood-Houston Fodor's choice

Gabby’s is where real people of all sorts go for really good burgers (grass-fed beef or vegan) and addictive sweet potato fries. The ever-present line moves quickly; eat at the tables or small counter overlooking the grill, or grab and go.

Humphreys Street Coffee Shop

$ | Wedgewood-Houston Fodor's choice

The bright, pleasant shop opened in 2018; the nonprofit enterprise behind it was established in 2008 to train and mentor students. In addition to prepared coffees, the shop sells the beans, soaps, and scrubs made by the students, as well as mugs and T-shirts bearing the coffeehouse logo. All profits support programs and scholarships for the students.

Husk

$$$ | Downtown Fodor's choice

Southern charm abounds in both decor and flavors at Husk, located in a converted historic home. With seasonal ingredients sourced from in and around Tennessee, the menu at this must-try restaurant staple (with other locations in Charleston and Savannah) is elevated and dynamic.

J. Alexander's - Redlands Grill

$$ | West End Fodor's choice

This Midtown location has a decidedly upscale feel, with dark-wood paneling and low lighting. The menu includes hardwood-grilled beef, chicken, and pork; hearty salads; and fresh seafood.

Jamaicaway Restaurant and Catering

$$ | Midtown Fodor's choice

A longtime favorite sit-down spot in Nashville’s Farmer’s Market, Jamaicaway now has an additional location just off West End Avenue, one of Midtown’s main thoroughfares. Its cozy setting, friendly owners, and scrumptious curried dishes make this dining experience feel like you’ve stepped onto the island itself, where serenity and home-cooked food abound.

Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint

$ | Belmont Fodor's choice

Martin's proudly proclaims they don't own a microwave or a freezer. They are committed to the west-Tennessee style of whole-hog barbecue, smoking their hogs for a full day and serving it until it runs out—period. This is the type of place where you may find yourself stupefied by just how much you've managed to eat.

Mitchell Delicatessen

$ | East Nashville Fodor's choice

Mitchell Delicatessen is one of the pillars of East Nashville's Riverside Village neighborhood, and 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; come back for Mitchell creations like the Turkey Apple Brie and Asian Flank Steak.

Nicky's Coal Fired

$$ | The Nations Fodor's choice

Quality ingredients and uncommon preparation come together at Nicky’s Coal Fired for a unique pizza and Italian food experience. While their coal-fired pizza—made in the only coal-burning oven in Tennessee—is their speciality, Nicky’s also offers house-made pasta, upscale antipasti with local ingredients, and delectable Italian desserts.

Otaku Ramen

$$ | The Gulch Fodor's choice

Although ramen has always been hiding in Nashville's under-the-radar Japanese spots, Sarah Gavigan returned from 20 years in L.A. and made it her mission to get more Nashvillians interested in slurping it up (and although it isn't the city's only high-end ramen shop, it is the only one that lets you take a bowl to go). Don't miss out on the limited-time bowls or the Sunday Okonomiyaki.

Party Fowl

$$ | The Gulch Fodor's choice

Most Nashville hot chicken joints are smaller grab-and-go affairs, but this spacious sports bar provides table service and full bar. Heat levels on these hot chicken dishes—you can find everything from nachos and tacos to salads—range from mild to the scary spicy "Poultrygeist."

Peg Leg Porker

$ | The Gulch Fodor's choice

Owner and longtime pit master Carey Bringle says it all in his biography: "Smoke is in my veins." The line for the lunch rush is often out the door, but many agree that the dry ribs, hickory-smoked for more than 18 hours, are well worth the wait. Peg Leg's wings—offered dry, hot, and extra-hot—also keep people coming back again and again. Standout sides include the smoked green beans and the barbecue baked beans, and as an appetizer you can prime your palate with a platter of sausage, cheese, and saltines—aka Memphis Sushi.

Prince's Hot Chicken Shack South

$ | Nolensville Pike Fodor's choice

Started in 1945 by James Thornton Prince and passed down to his great-niece André Prince Jeffries in the '80s, this is Nashville’s most renowned hot chicken spot (the original location sadly closed its doors after a fire in late 2018). If you’re a beginner, try the four-piece tenders with white bread and pickles—don’t be a hero; even the mild is plenty hot. There’s limited seating, and the plastic tablecloths aren’t out to impress anyone. Nonetheless, the food is nothing but impressive. Prince’s was even named an American Classic by the James Beard Foundation Awards in 2013.

Rolf and Daughters

$$ | Germantown Fodor's choice

Chef Philip Krajeck has devised a simple, innovative menu at Rolf and Daughters, a pillar of dining in both the Germantown neighborhood and greater Nashville. Menu staples include assorted seasonal, house-made pastas, like guest favorite garganelli verde, and creative takes on small plates and vegetable salads. Don't skip bread, either—the house-made sourdough with seaweed butter is to die for.

Nashville

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