The Top Restaurants in Nashville, TN
Nashville, TN is a city known for its sound – it’s called Music City after all. And even though millions travel to the city for an auditory experience, the other four senses have plenty to enjoy. With a charming downtown, hip neighborhoods and colorful characters there’s lots to see in Nashville. Between smoky barrooms and beautiful BBQ smokers, you’ll have lots to smell on your visit. Wonderful microbreweries and great dance halls give you plenty to feel. And finally, with world-class restaurants and Nashville specialties like Hot Chicken, there’s enough taste to last a lifetime.
To start, let’s focus on where you’re likely to find the most out of towners when visiting Nashville… Broadway. The iconic strip in the heart of downtown Nashville is home to numerous bars and restaurants, all featuring live music that can be heard from the streets. In a town known for iconic musicians like Dolly Parton, Jack White, Sheryl Crow, and others, the Broadway strip is where the next icons rise to the top.
There’s more to Nashville than the main strip, however. Up and coming neighborhoods like The Gulch and East Nashville have seen a rise in hip, young people coming from cities all around the country to settle in this up and coming city. It’s estimated that over 100 people per day are moving to Nashville from bigger cities like Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. As more and more folks have brought their big city experiences and tastes to Nashville, the restaurants and bars have been more than ready to match the demand. Check out this page to find out what our top 10 favorite restaurants are in Nashville, TN!
1. The Pub
400 11th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 678-4840
This classic pub is serving up all of your favorites from fish and chips to welsh dip, but even better than that is they serve brunch daily from 10 AM to 3 PM! We accidentally came across this place and boy are we glad we walked in. You can’t go wrong with a single thing on this menu. Start off with a delicious brunch cocktail and maybe some pub spring rolls. For the main course, the chicken and biscuits was beyond tasty, and filling too. Other great options here would be the drunken waffles or “the cure” sandwich, the quickest way to get over a hangover.
![chicken and pasta dish from bourbon steak by Michael mina in nashville](https://american-eats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Bourbon-Steak-by-Michael-Mina-900x600.jpg)
2. Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina
201 8th Ave S 34th floor, Nashville, TN 37203, United States
(629) 208-8440
You will have a 360 view of the Nashville skyline when you dine at Bourbon Steak in The Gulch. Their deeply satisfying dishes are paired with the perfect selection of wine. Market fresh salads and award-winning beef are very popular here. Their signatures include Maine lobster pot pie, brick chicken, rainbow trout, and hickory-smoked and pastrami-spiced beef short rib. Their grilled plates are a must-try as well. It won’t be a full experience until you sample their wine list. Eating with a view is exceptional, especially when the quality of the food matches. The ambiance they’ve created and the modern decorations bring everything together just perfectly.
![glasses of beer from fat bottom brewing in nashville](https://american-eats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Fat-Bottom-Brewing-Co.-900x600.jpg)
3. Fat Bottom Brewing Co.
800 44th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 678-5715
The taproom of Fat Bottom has an industrial chic vibe. They offer specialty ales as well as an ever-changing list of seasonal beers. As you’re exploring the beers by the pint, you can also order burgers and such from their kitchen. When the weather is nice, you can head outside to the picnic tables as well as play cornhole. This is the kind of place you can bring the whole family. And brewery tours can be booked in advance of your visit, too.
![Neapolitan style margarita pizza with sausage from Desano in nashville](https://american-eats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Desano-900x600.jpg)
4. Desano
115 16th Ave S Nashville, TN 37203
615-953-1168
Pizza comes in all shapes and sizes and when you want to try something different than your typical American slice, go for their Neapolitan style Margherita pizza. This is one made with mozzarella, basil leaves, and tomatoes that make for an explosion of flavor. Pizza bakeries such as Desano in Tennessee have mastered the authenticity and history of the Neapolitan style. They have another location at the Assembly Food Hall as well.
![rooftop restaurant called rare bird in nashville](https://american-eats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Rare-Bird-Yelp-900x600.jpeg)
5. Rare Bird
200 4th Ave N Top Floor Nashville, TN 37219
(615) 649-5000
This rooftop restaurant overlooking downtown Nashville is the go-to place for unwinding after a long day of hard work. Their signature cocktail collection is great. Their Riviera Spritz, Madison Peach, and Sangria are some popular choices. They also have a variety of crafted beers to rinse down your delicious burger. The general atmosphere is youthful, fun, and vibrant. This restaurant is also ideal for group cocktails and special date nights.
![hot chicken sandwich from princes hot chicken in nashville](https://american-eats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Princes-Hot-Chicken-South-1-900x600.jpg)
6. Prince’s Hot Chicken (South)
5814 Nolensville Rd Ste 110 Nashville, TN 37211
(615) 810-9388
One of three locations, Prince’s South is well-known for its long line of devotees waiting their turn at one of the best hot chicken spots in Nashville. This counter service location fries up notoriously hot sauces but even the bread has a kick to it since it is soaked in the hot seasoned oil. Order up exactly what you want here because at Prince’s, everything is a la carte, perfect for serving a big bunch. Visitors here rave about the coleslaw and mac and cheese, but the greens taste just like you wish mama had always made them.
![breakfast plate with eggs and ham from Elliston place soda restaurant](https://american-eats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Elliston-Place-Soda-Restaurant-900x600.jpg)
7. Elliston Place Soda Restaurant
2105 Elliston Place Nashville, TN 27203
(615) 327-1090
Elliston Place Soda Shop is a diner and old-fashioned soda shop with your classic checkered floors and red bar stools. It opened in 1939 and has been remodeled over the last few years. It’s located near Vanderbilt University so it’s the perfect spot for students, locals, and visitors to the area. They serve breakfast all day, lunch, and dinner. You will find anything you might be craving from tasty appetizers to soup, sandwiches, meat plates, salads, dessert, and more. Try a classic milkshake or ice cream sundae to really soak in all those vintage vibes. For some real tasty classic southern food and a cool atmosphere, stop in to Elliston Place Soda Shop.
![roberts western world bar in nashville](https://american-eats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Roberts-Western-World-900x600.jpg)
8. Robert’s Western World
416 Broadway # B
(615) 244-9552
Robert’s Western World is where the music scene and foodie culture collide in perfect harmony. The Honky Tonk Grill at Robert’s is famed for its burgers, sandwiches, wings, fries, onion rings, and fried pickle spears. There’s also the world-famous fried bologna sandwich that’s meant to be washed down with a moon pie and cold beer. Robert’s list of premium and domestic beers hits just right regardless of what you order. The stage is alive every night of the week with up-and-coming performers from the Nashville music scene. Between the good food and live music, this is the perfect late night spot.
![interior of the Hampton social in nashville](https://american-eats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/the-hampton-social-yelp-900x600.jpeg)
9. The Hampton Social-Nashville
201 1st Ave S Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 622-7772
The Hampton Social is a fantastic restaurant that offers a beautiful brunch, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s a great place to go if you are meeting up with friends before you go out for the night. The food is so tasty, and there are plenty of options for everyone to find something to enjoy. The vibes are great here and the whole restaurant is very picturesque.
![fried chicken, dessert and sides from Arnolds country kitchen in nashville](https://american-eats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Arnolds-Country-Kitchen-900x600.jpg)
10. Arnold’s Country Kitchen
605 8th Ave S Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 256-4455
At almost 40 years old, Arnold’s is one of the mainstay soul food restaurants in Nashville. The family’s hospitality is evident throughout the experience here so thoroughly that you might feel like you dropped into a friend’s home for some southern soul food (who also happened to be a fantastic chef). Locals love choosing the roast beef, brisket and pulled pork alongside some honestly tasty greens and green beans among other daily rotating choices when they pass through the cafeteria line to fill up their meat-and-three meal.