Must-see restaurants in Nashville

  • Bastion

    Nashville

    Behind a nondescript sliding door hides this choose-your-own-adventure foodie dreamland. Chef Josh Habiger (Catbird Seat, Patterson House) has cultivated…

  • Catbird Seat

    Nashville

    For the 22 lucky diners perched around an open kitchen, chefs Will Aghajanian and Liz Johnson choreograph an unforgettable 10- to 12-course dining…

  • Pepperfire Hot Chicken

    East Nashville

    Since 2010, East Nashville’s Pepperfire has been slinging spicy bird to heat seekers who appreciate a creative twist on classic hot chicken. A thin,…

  • Hattie B's

    Nashville

    When it comes to hot chicken supremacy, based on sheer numbers, Hattie B's reigns supreme in Nashville. The ultra-popular fried chicken spot serves up…

  • Wild Cow

    East Nashville

    Looking for a fresh and flavor-packed meal in East Nashville? Then hit up this small but inviting vegetarian eatery, where photos of happy livestock beam…

  • Husk

    Downtown & the Gulch

    Set in a Victorian house overlooking downtown and the river, Husk provides an authentic, farm-to-table Southern food experience. It offers a daily…

  • Smiling Elephant

    Nashville

    Arguably Nashville’s best-known and -respected Thai restaurant, the Smiling Elephant is a treasure not to be missed. This homey little joint welcomes…

  • Rolf & Daughters

    Nashville

    The epicenter of Germantown's foodie revival is this stunning kitchen run by Belgian chef Philip Krajeck. His earthy pastas, rustic sauces and seasonally…

  • Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint

    Nashville

    The redneck taco? It's pulled pork stuffed in cornbread (called a hoe-cake) and topped with slaw and BBQ sauce. It's also a beloved choice at this packed…

  • Epice

    Nashville

    For an inviting and delicious respite from exploring the shops of 12South, pop into this bright and sparkling Lebanese bistro. The highlight at lunch? The…

  • Gabby's Burgers

    Nashville

    In a joint that's just a cow's tail bigger than a shack, the hard-working Gabby's crew cranks out grass-fed-beef burgers, which many say are Nashville's…

  • Etch

    Downtown & the Gulch

    Well-known Nashville chef Deb Paquette's Etch serves some of the city's most inventive cuisine – comfort food whose flavors and textures have been…

  • Edley's Bar-B-Que

    Nashville

    This barbecue joint, with its simple, down-home decor and some seriously great aromas wafting from the kitchen, is a Nashville staple. The pork platter is…

  • City House

    Nashville

    This brick building in smart Germantown hides one of the city's best restaurants. The food, cooked in an open kitchen in a former art studio space, is a…

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    Loveless Cafe

    Nashville

    Stop at the landmark Loveless Cafe, a 1950s roadhouse famous for its biscuits with homemade preserves, country ham and ample portions of Southern fried…

  • Lockeland Table

    East Nashville

    Playing to the chic-yet-casual demographic of this quiet, residential side of East Nashville, Lockeland Table offers a seasonal menu of local, carefully…

  • Five Points Pizza

    East Nashville

    The best place to get authentic New York–style pizza on the east side of town. It's available by the slice, or you can order whole classic or specialty…

  • Chauhan Ale & Masala House

    Downtown & the Gulch

    Namaste and Nashville collide at celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan’s Gulch eatery that showcases inventive Indian fusion on a global scale. Typical Desi fare…

  • Mitchell Delicatessen

    East Nashville

    An East Nashville favorite, this authentic full-service deli in the Riverside neighborhood offers made-to-order classic sandwiches. Natural ingredients…

  • Sinema

    Nashville

    With a seasonal menu of gluttonous meals and an art-deco feel straight out of a noir flick, an evening at Sinema will have you seeking the nearest…

  • Slim & Husky's Pizza Beeria

    Nashville

    Slim & Husky's is the real pizza deal, turning out impeccably toasted oblong pizzas made with fresh ingredients, creative sauces and a house-made cheese…

  • Dozen Bakery

    Nashville

    Since opening in Wedgewood-Houston in 2015, this modern and airy bakery has earned some deservedly positive buzz. Owner Claire Meneely's passion for bread…

  • Graze

    East Nashville

    Hungry vegans and vegetarians flock to this animal-friendly eatery. Starters include the mind-bendingly 'cheesy' choriqueso, a house-made cauliflower…

  • Wendell Smith's

    Nashville

    With all the fuss about 'authentic' experiences, it's easy to forget what the word really means. You'll be reminded at Wendell's, a beloved diner where…

  • Otaku Ramen

    Downtown & the Gulch

    Angle for a seat overlooking the open kitchen at this spare but stylish ramen joint. Behind the counter, efficient cooks stuff duck confit into pillowy…

  • Prince's Hot Chicken South

    Nashville

    If you're looking for the heat that started the hot-chicken craze in Nashville, make your way to Prince's. Take your pick of heat, then sit back and let…

  • Monell's

    Nashville

    In an old brick house just north of downtown, Monell's is beloved for down-home Southern food served family style. This is not just a meal – it's an…

  • King Market Cafe

    Nashville

    An authentic Southeast Asian cafe set inside an Asian grocer in the Antioch Pike area – an east Nashville suburb where the city suddenly seems much less…

  • Margot Café & Bar

    East Nashville

    This small but chic eatery does rustic French and Italian cuisine with great sophistication – think goat's cheese ravioli, pan-seared scallops, and…

  • Legendairy Milkshake Bar

    Downtown & the Gulch

    Glittering jewels of creamy, delicious goodness are served in giant glass jars with extra wide straws. The signature shakes are a gravity-defying mess of…

  • Peg Leg Porker

    Downtown & the Gulch

    This good-time Gulch addition serves affordable old-school Memphis-style barbecue. It's pretty much pork ribs (wet with sauce or dry-rubbed) and succulent…

  • Five Daughters Bakery

    Nashville

    The famous 100-layer doughnut (it's actually 144, but who's counting?) is a sight to behold. Part doughnut, part croissant, this $4.50 beauty is rolled in…

  • 5th & Taylor

    Nashville

    Chef Daniel Lindley sent the Nashville scene abuzz when he announced plans to build a restaurant in the chic Germantown neighborhood. Housed in a sweeping…

  • AVO

    Nashville

    Just a few miles from Downtown, but light years away from traditional Tennessee food, this vegan restaurant is an unexpected but welcome addition to the…

  • Bolton’s Spicy Chicken & Fish

    East Nashville

    Incinerate your palate on fiery deep-fried poultry or fish at Bolton’s, where the heat quotient hits twofold: a dry rub is dusted on before serving and a…

  • Mas Tacos Por Favor

    East Nashville

    Mas Tacos started out as a roving taco dispensary in a 1974 Winnebago, but in 2010 it became one of East Nashville’s most beloved brick-and-mortar…

  • Old School

    Nashville

    Philanthropy, fresh food and fun times collide in this 1936 red-brick schoolhouse in Bells Bend, 10 minutes west of Nashville. The nonprofit restaurant…

  • Saint Añejo Cantina

    Downtown & the Gulch

    Whether it's Friday dinner or a weekend brunch, this local eatery is always buzzing. Festive lights create a welcoming space, supported by a well-stocked…

  • Treehouse

    East Nashville

    The hospitable folks running this farm-to-table eatery concoct a host of sophisticated dishes but never take themselves too seriously. For starters, there…

  • Bartaco

    Nashville

    With its cool surf-shop decor, Bartaco is the kind of place to be seen on a beautiful spring day. The popular taco bar specializes in inventive fillings,…