225 Best Restaurants in Nashville, Tennessee

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.

If you're looking to pack a picnic lunch or grab a few things to eat on the go, stop by this neighborhood market for homemade bread and pastries, daily sandwiches, and other pantry items. There's a carefully curated wine, beer, and cider selection as well.

This deli specializing in bagel sandwiches serves breakfast all day. In addition to bagels, the café offers granola, baked goods, coffee, and smoothies.

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; there's even a prosecco bar to get the day off to a festive start. In addition to their beverages, seasonally inspired breakfast and lunch options are available.

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.

A city that can party all night needs hangover recovery options, and that’s where Sun Diner comes in, with Southern favorites and breakfast food options until late afternoon. Located steps away from the music of Broadway, the diner takes its name from legendary rockabilly and country record label Sun Records from Memphis.

Celebrity chef and actor Billy Dec has brought his Chicago-based Sunda to Nashville, and the neighborhood is all the better for it. Characterized as Southeast Asian fusion, you can find a menu of shareable plates that includes twists on classic Filipino dishes, a full sushi bar, dim sum, and quite a few expertly cooked pork dishes. Don't miss their unique weekend brunch.

Welcoming and straightforward, Sunflower Cafe feeds the vegans, vegetarians, and gluten-free eaters of Nashville with mouthwatering veggie burger options, vegan barbecue, ample salads, potato bowls, and enticing daily 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.

Atlanta-based chef Ford Fry has brought a location of his popular Tex-Mex chain to the Gulch, and the neighborhood is all the better for it. Customizable queso fundido makes for an ideal appetizer, and the tortillas are all made in the restaurant, taking their three different styles of tacos—street, al carbon, and traditional Tex-Mex—to new heights.

Diners at Tailor have the pleasure of enjoying one of the city's truly unique dining experiences. Chef Vivek Surti creates seasonally rotating menus inspired by his South Asian heritage that are served prix fixe over the course of a lively but leisurely two-and-a-half hours, with optional wine and beverage pairings for an additional cost. Reservations are required and tables tend to book quickly, so plan ahead.

Although the street view isn't much, jewel-toned hanging lanterns, cozy wraparound booths, and upbeat tunes await inside one of Nashville's top spots for Chinese fusion. The Chinese roasted 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 lobster fried rice or kung pao cauliflower.

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.

Big on visual presentation and earning high marks in overall aesthetics, The 404 Kitchen is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a sumptuous evening. The menu is focused on elegant yet hearty Southern dishes like catfish and fried chicken, and everything is carefully laid out to ensure that every order lives up to the kitchen's high bar for quality. Fair warning: there's no on-site parking, so prepare to pay for valet or a spot in a local garage.

Created as a social enterprise, The Café employs female survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction and partners with local food suppliers to create delicious locally sourced breakfast and lunch items like sandwiches, quiches, and baked goods. The Café also touts a full afternoon tea service, available by reservation. Next door, browse nourishing handmade gifts and goods at The Shop at Thistle Farms.

If you're looking for a dinner menu that won't necessarily break the bank, check out this stripped-down, rock-and-roll-inspired intimate restaurant, which is centered around hearty well-seasoned proteins paired with the freshest possible local produce. This is upscale American that delivers. The space is anchored by a chef's counter, so you'll be able to see each part of your meal as it's prepped and get to know the attentive staff.

A trip to Nashville isn't complete without a stop at this Nashville-based bakery that makes gourmet cookies with real ingredients and recipes that have earned the brand national recognition. Their Germantown bakery now boasts a storefront where you can pick up a variety of cookies, milk, coffee, and Christie-branded goodies.

You can’t miss the bright red facade or the window where you can order the signature chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin cookies; sometimes there's a tray of samples at the window. This location opened in 2018, but the bakery has been around since 1985. Tins of these cookies are familiar and beloved holiday and celebratory gifts.

This locally beloved cupcake shop serves a variety of tasty creative cupcakes at their storefront; preorders are also welcome. Classic flavors like red velvet and chocolate are always on hand, while seasonal cupcakes pop up throughout the year. Who doesn't love a good cupcake?

Despite its name, this eatery challenges diner conventions by occupying six stories of a Downtown building and serving upscale entrées like steaks, oysters, and sushi until the wee hours on weekends. Each luxe level features a different focus like fresh seafood or cocktails, and the rooftop view is one of the best in the city.

Asian fusion entrées, Thai curries, and sushi come together in a stylish setting at The Eastern Peak. Enjoy well-priced lunch specials on the covered porch, or pair a cocktail with a sushi combo for happy hour.

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.

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.

For a melting pot of global flavors, head to Food Network–featured chef Brian Riggenbach's playful modern diner. Start with the famous tatchos (nachos with tater tots) and then take a short trip around with world with Filipino sisig (a pork dish that's a bit sour), Korean-style bulgogi steak, and barbacoa (slow-roasted short ribs) smothered in adobo. The brunch offerings are just as varied and fun, with an added bonus of some very refreshing cocktails. 

A little inner child indulgence is encouraged at this playful ice cream shop that also serves up cocktails, boozy milkshakes, scoops and cones, espresso drinks, and eight different varieties of hot chocolate. Sundaes with toppings like brownies, marshmallows, and cinnamon rolls are the focus, and there's also a banana split with all the fixings. Quick breakfast bites are also available every morning.

Serving burgers nearly as big as their iconic neon sign, The Nations Bar & Grill keeps it real with substantial pub-style favorites that run the gamut from wings and Reubens to loaded tots and patty melts. Formerly an auto-repair shop, this no-nonsense neighborhood spot won’t leave anyone hungry or thirsty; just leave room for the daily fried hand pies.

The original Hillsboro Village location opened in 1961, but this newer SoBro location brought the Pancake Pantry's signature scratch-made breakfasts—pancakes, omelets, and waffles—closer to the Downtown masses. Don't miss the irresistible homemade maple syrups; if you're not in the mood for breakfast, there are a range of sandwiches and salads, too.

One of the city’s most inventive brunch experiences puts you in control of your pancakes and more with an in-table griddle set up for a DIY menu. In addition to creative toppings for the all-you-can-eat pancakes, you can also griddle-cook your own grilled cheese sandwich or order from the kitchen if you aren’t up for the task of making your own.

Serving a wide variety of barbecue, burgers, Tex-Mex-inspired appetizers, and some of the best catfish in Nashville, this counter-serve spot is a great place to watch a game or celebrate happy hour. Located in a converted Sylvan Park house, the restaurant's excellent down-home cuisine is backed by its many cooking competition accolades that adorn the walls; don't miss a stop in The Attic Bar for a cocktail or two.