165 Best Restaurants in Nashville, Tennessee

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, and the burger is one of the best in town.

Casual healthy dining that is easy on the wallet is Calypso Cafe’s focus, making it a popular laid-back lunch spot. The menu features Caribbean influences, with an emphasis on chicken and fresh produce, creating tropical flavor combinations like their Lucayan salad and famed corn muffins that easily satisfy nutrition-focused eaters and those with dietary restrictions.

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.

James Beard–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.

Internationally acclaimed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten brings his thoughtful approach to regional cuisine to The Hermitage Hotel's architecturally interesting flagship restaurant. Classy but not stuffy, the kitchen serves three meals a day to hotel guests and smart Downtown denizens who know that a meal here is a surprisingly affordable indulgence—the delightful wood-fired pizzas benefit from fresh produce toppings, and the seasonal menu features the freshest and most exciting local vegetables uniquely prepared alongside premium seafood and meats. Wondering about the name? Children of the hotel’s former general manager, Drusie and Darr Hall lived at the property in the 1950s and ‘60s.

Edley’s offers a taste of Southern cooking, 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 milkshake called a Bushwacker for refreshment. There are also locations in East Nashville and 12South.

It's rare that a fine-dining restaurant is best known for an appetizer, but this is definitely the case for Etch's legendary roasted cauliflower dish, a work of art on a plate with browned florets atop a palette of three colorful and flavorful sauces. It's an ideal representation of the food at Etch, full of internationally-inspired flavors and artfully plated with precision. A seat at the chef's bar looking into the kitchen offers the opportunity to see the talented kitchen staff at work as they execute a menu of elegant dishes that draw inspiration and flavors from cuisines across the globe.

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; try the burger.

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 Duke's or The 5 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.

Chef Philip Krajeck's first Nashville restaurant Rolf & 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 of wood-fired pizzas, locally sourced proteins, and vegetable-forward dishes.

Look no further than Hattie B's Lower Broadway location to get your Nashville hot chicken fix. Customers pick their level of heat (from no-heat "Southern" to "Shut the Cluck Up!!!"), chicken (bones or no bones, dark meat, white meat, or wings), and sides (pimento mac and cheese to black-eyed pea salad), and delicious platters are delivered to your table. Leave room for dessert. 

One of four Nashville Hattie B’s locations, the Melrose Hattie B’s provides the hot chicken hookup, often with less of a line than at the other outposts. Enjoy hot chicken of varying heat levels, wash it down with a sweet tea or craft brew, and finish off your meal with a delicious Southern-inspired side or two like Southern greens, bacon-cheddar grits, or pimento mac and cheese.

Southern charm abounds in both the 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.

A longtime favorite sit-down spot inside the Nashville Farmers' Market, Jamaicaway has a cozy setting, friendly owners, and scrumptious curried dishes. This dining experience makes you feel like you’ve stepped onto the island itself, where serenity and home-cooked food abound.

This bustling brewpub serves more than 90 varieties of craft beer, focusing on local and regional brews and seasonal flavors in a warm setting featuring an ivy-covered back patio with picnic tables. Their food is simple pub food done well, with a focus on juicy burgers and waffle fries.

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

Barbecue in the South is a very regional cuisine, with fans of each variation claiming their favorite to be the best. Martin’s offers up authentic Tennessee Bar-B-Que with in-house prepared dry rubs and a massive whole-hog cinder-block pit that perfumes the air with the scent of hickory and pumps out delicious pork after a 24-hour slow cook. A stop here will allow you to decide for yourself if Tennessee does it best. 

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

Occupying the space left by longtime Italian restaurant Pomodoro East, Noko serves creative, Asian-inspired wood-fired dishes, bringing an array of new flavors to the east side. Outfitted in sleek decor with wood accents, Noko also has a lively beverage program, including expertly made and supremely refreshing traditional Japanese highballs.

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. Start with either a salty clear shio broth or a richer shoyu, then choose one of three protein options plus additional toppings like burnt miso butter. There's another location in East Nashville. 

Most Nashville hot chicken joints are smaller grab-and-go affairs, but this spacious sports bar provides table service and a full bar. Heat levels on these hot chicken dishes—you can find just about everything from a half bird to tacos to salads—range from mild to the scary spicy "Poultrygeist." All-day happy hour takes place on Tuesday and Sunday.

Owner and longtime pitmaster 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, as are Peg Leg's wings which are offered BBQ, dry, or hot. Standout sides include the smoked green beans and barbecue baked beans; as an appetizer, you can prime your palate with a platter of piled-high nachos.

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

What started as a beloved nomadic pop-up has now become Nashville's premiere destination for Sicilian cuisine, most notably Sicilian-style pizza—each pizza starts with a handmade focaccia base and is brought to life with toppings like rich tomato, potato, and lemon or a four-cheese blend with pistachio. Shareable plates of veg rotate according to the season, and a choice selection of desserts and drinks make this a great choice for a chill and intimate evening. Seating is quite limited, so it's best to book ahead or saddle up at the bar and watch the magic happen in the open kitchen.

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 mac and cheese, and entrées that range from fried catfish to barbecued ribs, this family-owned restaurant is the place to be.