Nashville is a foodie paradise with days upon days of local restaurants to try. You could be there for weeks and not have to return to the same place twice- but there are several spots that you will want to return to! My favorite thing to do when I travel is strike up some conversation with a few locals here and there and find out some of their favorite spots for grub.
Check out my favorite spots for breakfast/brunch, cocktails, or lunch/dinner below.
Note: many of the Nashville restaurants are packed, especially in the summer and require reservations in advance- consider making them even before you arrive in Nashville!
Breakfast/Brunch
You know the saying, "ask and you shall receive"? Just when I was I was searching for the best brunch places, I met Quiana, a host of the podcast Bitches Love Brunch and she had some incredible brunch recommendations!
Poindexter (located inside the Graduate Hotel Nashville)
The ambiance here was truly perfect- the bright prints, high ceilings and eclectic touches really make this place unique. I recommend the coconut yogurt bowl, cinnamon toast biscuit, or the smashbrowns are the crispiest tot wannabes I've ever tried! No reservations are required but seating in the cafe area is a free for all.
Fenwick's 300 was a great sit-down place with all of the great basics and a few unique menu items like the bacon and egg fried rice. This was also the place where I sampled my first ever grits, as they offer a jalapeño cheddar grits dish and it was delicious! This restaurant is right next door to Sinema (below).
Recommend: Bacon and Egg Fried Rice, Cheddar Jalapeno Grits, Basic Breakfast
The creme de la creme of brunch places as recommended by local Quiana of the podcast Bitches Love Brunch, Sinema ABSOLUTELY requires brunch reservations in advance. The restaurant is housed in an old theater and offers full service mimosas to your table and bottomless brunch in a fine dining setting. Both indoor and outdoor seating in the warmer months. Highlights for me were the cinnamon roll pancakes (pictured above), and the Lamb Hash. The menu does have some seasonal changes.
Recommend: Short Stack Cinnamon Roll Pancakes, Lamb Hash, Fried Chicken
The Grange (located inside the Grand Hyatt Downtown)
I had low expectations for this hotel restaurant at the Grand Hyatt but I was pleasantly surprised by their breakfast! This savory monkey pull-apart bread was amazing and they offered several light and fresh egg scrambles.
Recommend: Savory Monkey Bread, Omelet, Tofu Scramble, Coffee.
Blue Stripes Cacao Bar never seemed to have a line of people flowing outside of the shop but that's one of the beauties of this place! It hasn't been discovered! They have a specialty healthy cacao bread recipe (gluten-free) and offer rich cacao in many of their recipes. This is not your typical milk chocolate, this is antioxidant-filled cacao. You'll leave this place feeling like you did something good for your body.
Recommend: Avocado Tartine on Cacao bread.
Other honorable mentions for breakfast and brunch that people enjoy are Biscuit Love, Mockingbird, Sunflower Bakehouse (gluten free).
Cocktails/Happy Hour
Nashville is teeming with rustic yet sleek cocktail bars and just any place to take the edge off! Wander in and out of any of the bars on the main drag in Nashville or check out some of these great spots!
White Limozeen (located inside The Gradate Hotel Nashville)
This was HANDS-DOWN my favorite cocktail bar in Nashville. It is located on the top floor of the Graduate Hotel and reservations are required- think 2 weeks in advance! They have an outdoor pool area or an intimate indoor bar where they serve cocktails and small bites. Dolly Parton inspired decor and furniture make this spot a legendary photo opportunity in Music City. If you can't get reservations, walk-ins are available but try to arrive at 2:30pm before they open or after 9:30 pm.
Recommended Cocktail: A Lesson in Romantics, Frites
This cocktail bar is located on the outskirts of Nashville with dark speakeasy vibes. It was impossible to spot from the street and the only door is in the back of the building, away from the street. The hot chicken hummus will be something you remember forever and the bartenders will gladly whip up any cocktail you are craving! They also offer to-go cocktails.
Recommend: Busy Bee Cocktail, Hot Chicken Hummus
Other bars worth mentioning on the main strip of Nashville are: Honkytonk Central, Loser's Bar, Whiskey Row, Nudie's Rooftop Bar.
Lunch/Dinner
I am from the Pacific Northwest and I did notice a difference in the type of fare that you see in droves across Nashville. Fried chicken and southern staples are prominent, but there are some restaurants that are branching out and even offering some gluten free items!
Absolutely the best food I had in Nashville and I ordered it for take-out! I can't vouch for the service or the ambiance at the restaurant but the food was INCREDIBLE. You cannot miss this restaurant on a visit to Nashville. It was so good I didn't even get a photo, I just scarfed it all down!
Recommend: Mojo Pork Carnitas rice bowl, Spiced Chicken Verde, side of pineapple with lime, spicy cucumber salad.
Mockingbird is a trendy, cute local place with a consistent flow of visitors craving their unique cocktails and accompanying food. They are known for their Capri-Sun inspired cocktail (served in a bag with a straw) that would be dangerously refreshing on a hot summer day! A down-side: there are limited gluten-free and nut-free options at this restaurant.
Consider getting a ride to this restaurant as there is limited parking and the parking lot directly next to the restaurant charges $40.
Recommend: kale salad, roasted fingerling potatoes, pasta la vista, brussel sprouts with blueberry jam. Cocktails: Punchin' Bag, Jen & Juice.
Hattie B's Hot Chicken (multiple locations)
A Nashville staple. No trip to this city would be complete without at least one trip here. I highly recommend ordering food for pickup because the lines at this restaurant stretch for blocks! By ordering takeout you skip the lines!
Recommend: Chicken strips, baked beans, potato salad.
Whether traveling solo or with friends and family, this spot can be enjoyed with bar seating or table seating. Amazing tacos, chips and salsa and the string lights made it for me at this place.
Recommend: Cilantro Lime Steak Tacos
This restaurant is an extra cool spot inside what feels like a warehouse. It has bowling lanes attached but don't let that fool you into doubting the food at this prime date spot. The staff are extra friendly and super attentive. Park in the paid lot next door and Pinewood Social will validate it for you! Also of note: they serve breakfast and weekend brunch as well.
Recommend: Crispy Tots, Herb Roasted Chicken.
Let's just say the food isn't the main reason that you go to the Listening Room. This dinner-and-a-show type place offers a menu and full bar along with live music several days a week featuring local Nashville artists and up and coming songwriters. Order tickets online ahead of time as many shows sell out prior to show date! Typically it is only about 5-10 dollars to reserve your tickets, but get there early as they seat the venue on a first-come, first-serve basis. It is an intimate venue though, so almost every seat in the house is a great one!
There are so many spots to listen to live music in downtown Nashville but this is your spot if you prefer more of a sit-down place as opposed to the casual bar scene. Definitely get a ride to this spot as parking is limited or pay for valet on-site.
Recommend: BBQ Platter
June 2021.
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