These are Nashville’s Oldest, Most Historic Restaurants
There’s no shame in embracing Nashville’s trendy food scene. We all love checking out the hottest new thing in town. However, getting the vibe of Nashville in your bones means knowing how to find the city’s oldest restaurants. Nashville has a collection of timeless restaurants dating back to the 1800s. We’re sharing the best places to eat for people looking for Nashville’s oldest, most historic restaurants.
Geist
311 Jefferson Street, Nashville
(615) 920-5440
Housed in a brick-clad building from 1886, Geist has been voted one of the 13 most beautiful restaurants in America. This historic gem is home to Nashville’s only year-round champagne garden! We loved the way the mix of American and European fare matched the aged, elegant interior of this restaurant. Starting with burrata, rock shrimp, and tuna crudo was a great introduction. The braised lamb shank, grilled hanger steak, and pan-seared salmon were the standout entrées.
Loveless Cafe
8400 TN-100, Nashville, TN
(615) 646-9700
We found plenty of reasons to love Loveless Cafe. Serving up real Southern food since 1951, Loveless Cafe offers what are considered by many to be the best biscuits in Nashville. The cooks arrive every morning at 3:00 a.m. to make them from scratch. The fried chicken platter here is truly out of this world! This classic eatery also serves up a full breakfast menu, dinner platters, sandwiches, and meats from the smoker.
Wendell Smith Restaurant
407 53rd Avenue, Nashville, TN
(615) 383-7114
Don’t expect frills at Wendell Smith Restaurant. Opened during the 1950s as an eatery for the neighborhood’s blue-collar workers, this burger joint is something we might have overlooked if someone hadn’t mentioned that it’s the place to get the best sweet tea in Nashville. This humble restaurant gets more than 500 customers on the average day. In addition to a huge breakfast menu, there’s also a dinner menu with meat plates, sandwiches, and amazing Southern sides.
Skull’s Rainbow Room
222 Printers Alley, Nashville, TN
(615) 810-9631
Skull’s Rainbow Room has been the place for dining, dancing, drinks, and burlesque in Nashville since 1948. While people come for a mix of glitter and history, it’s actually the incredible menu that keeps this place popular year after year. In addition to a world-class drink menu, Skull’s Rainbow Room serves up prime rib, New Zealand rack of lamb, New York strip, diver scallops, crawfish gnocchi, and many more incredible dishes. The lobster bisque made with Maine lobster and cognac is a perfect starter for getting in the mood for an elegant night of dining and entertainment!
Varallo’s
239 4th Avenue, Nashville, TN
(615) 256-1907
Varallo’s holds the title as the oldest restaurant in Tennessee. The doors to this beloved eatery first opened in 1907. We really loved the way this self-proclaimed chili parlor and Southern grill put authentic Southern tastes on display. The menu features chili mac, chili pie, chili fries, and classic chili bowls. While trying the chili is a must, it was also fun to nibble the famed French toast and hash browns here. Breakfast is served all day.
The Whiskey Shot
209 Printers Alley, Nashville, TN
(615) 891-1708
The Whiskey Shot is situated inside a lovely building dating back to the late 1800s. The claim to fame of this restaurant is that guests get to play adult “laser tag” in an ultra-sophisticated setting. While the setting is antique, the menu is full of modern American fare that hits the spot for all types of tastes. The Whiskey Shot burger featuring caramelized whisky onions was a perfect option to match the fun, relaxed vibe, inside this beautifully restored restaurant. The cherry smoked wings should not be skipped when splitting a starter with friends! Finally, we were happy that we had the fried moon pie and banana pudding to finish off the meal.
Bobbie’s Dairy Dip
5301 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN
(615) 864-5576
Bobbie’s Dairy Dip has been around since 1951. This eatery serves up classic Americana right alongside its menu full of burgers, hot dogs, sundaes, and milkshakes. Of course, we came with Bobbie’s classic hand-dipped cones on our mind! We started with a dinner of a bacon cheeseburger with hand-cut cheese fries after being told that this was the best meal on the menu by several people. The food here is fresh, hot, and delicious. However, it’s the famous ice cream that makes this restaurant truly irreplaceable.
The Standard at the Smith House
167 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard, Nashville, TN
(615) 254-1277
Built during the late 1840s, the Smith House stands as the only grand townhouse remaining in downtown Nashville. Dining here is an elegant treat that makes you feel like you’re stepping into a living part of Nashville’s history. The Standard offers a fine menu featuring an appetizer list with lump crab bisque, filet mignon tartare, lobster dip, and calamari. The dinner menu shows off some of the best cuts in Nashville. We were overwhelmed by the extravagance when trying to choose between bone-in pork chop, grilled rack of lamb, Chilean sea bass, New York Strip, and prime boneless ribeye. The Jack Daniel’s cheesecake and chocolate torte should not be skipped after dinner!
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