Nashville, Tennessee – a city after all our hearts. This sprawling southern city is known for its vibrant country-music scene, warm hospitality, and, of course, delicious food.

You’d be hard-pressed not to get a good meal in Nashville. From classic Southern-comfort eateries to the lavish fine-dining restaurants, this city has it all. We’ve created a list of our top places to eat and drink in Nashville so you can make sure you’re well-fed and watered while you’re here.

Butcher & Bee

A sister to the Charleston restaurant in name only, the Butcher & Bee Nashville restaurant is entirely unique. Open for brunch and dinner, this is one of the best Nashville farm-to-table restaurants.

Stop by for brunch and you could be treated to some sweet French toast topped with honey crisp apples and smooth caramel sauce. If savory is your thing, we’d recommend the mushroom breakfast tacos loaded with crunchy potatoes, green tomato salsa, scrambled eggs, and a dollop of spiced crème fraiche.

Every dish from the evening menu is served family-style, so you and your party can pick and choose as you munch. The beef tartare and the roasted pork loin are always a popular choice, but the cider-braised lamb shack with saffron couscous is particularly special.

Honky Tonk Central

We already know that some of Nashville’s best attractions are its music venues, so spend an evening listening to up-and-coming musicians while enjoying the city’s other great love – food.

Honky Tonk Central is situated on Lower Broadway in the Downtown neighborhood. It’s a live music venue as well as a good place to eat in Nashville, meaning you’re in for a good night all around. The venue is available for private parties, or you can simply stop by to join in the fun. Music is served throughout the day and well into the night, and so is the extensive menu. While you watch the performers, snack on loaded nachos and buffalo wings or take your pick from one of the many juicy burgers.

The Catbird Seat

If you’re looking for a wonderful taste of fine dining in Nashville, The Catbird Seat won’t disappoint. This popular restaurant is small in size yet huge in its flavor variety.

Take a seat at one of the tables laid out in a U shape around an open-show kitchen. Watching chef Brian Baxter do his magic is as much part of the experience as tasting his delectable plates. Using largely locally-sourced ingredients, with some herbs grown in the garden around the back, you can expect rotating Southern dishes with an elegant flair.

Pelican & Pig

We would always recommend meat-eaters to reserve a table at Pelican & Pig when in town. A cozy, dark, and rustic venue, it’s one of the best places to eat in Nashville.

This meaty-haven dedicates all its passion and time to evening meals, where the atmosphere of inside matches that of the night outside. Expect tantalizing platters of woodfired frenched pork chop with gooseberry relish or ember-roasted swordfish with popcorn rice. For a sweet finish to your meal, we would recommend the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, served with a unique milk jam.

Pastaria

Pastaria serves exactly what you would expect – pasta and pizza. This restaurant offers a simple range of dishes that will suit even the fussiest of eaters.

All pasta options are organically made, and range from the classic tomato Pomodoro spaghetti dish to the more interesting braised pork ragu with mushrooms. The pizzas are probably the restaurant's main draw, especially because diners can watch their pizzas being pulled straight from the wood-fired oven.

Expertly baked to thin and crispy perfection, each slice offers a delightful bite. There is, of course, a classic Margherita option, but we’d recommend something with a little more oomph. The wild mushroom pizza comes with a homemade sofrito sauce and is topped with creamy fontina cheese. If you prefer something with a kick, the nduja is wonderfully spicy, subdued only slightly by a generous drizzling of honey.

Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar

You’ll see Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar from a mile away thanks to its bright neon sign and strings of lights connected between the outdoor balconies. One of the more fun places to eat in Nashville, it serves as both an eatery and music venue.  

Grab a seat and tuck into flavorsome platters of Cajun and Creole food stemming from classic Louisiana cuisine. You can order some small bites like the alligator bites or deep-fried okra to nibble on while listening to live music or go for something a little heavier. Some burgers on the menu are set, like the chicken sandwich and the shrimp burger. However, if you’re up for experimenting, you can build your own ultimate burger with the listed ingredients.

They don’t skimp out on the drinks either, offering an extensive cocktails list. We recommend the Big Easy Hurricane, a rum-based beverage mixed with orange and pineapple juice. If you’re not into the sweet stuff, there are also plenty of craft beer options.

Big Al’s Deli

Big Al’s Deli specializes in heaping helpings of Southern comforts, blending warm hospitality with passionate homestyle cooking. It’s one of the best lunch places in Nashville, but also boasts a generous breakfast menu.

If you visit when the sun begins to rise then you’ll be starting your day right. As well as classic pancake platters and sweet French toast topped with bacon, Big Al’s serves plenty of biscuit breakfast options. Take your pick of sausage, egg, cheese, and gravy to top your warm biscuits and feed your stomach and soul.

Lunch is a different ball game, with plenty of roast chicken and fried pork chop options for every day of the week. The Southern Californian shrimp and grits are spicy and flavorful, and the deep-fried catfish is simply delicious. Add a side of mashed potatoes and okra rice to enjoy the taste of pure Southern delicacies.

Casa de Montecristo

As every good evening in Nashville should end, we’re finishing off our list by focusing on where to drink…and smoke.

Casa de Montecristo is the finest cigar lounge in Nashville, boasting an extensive offering of premium-rolled stogies. It’s also known for its lavish bar, from which you can order a stiff whiskey of your choosing or a flamboyant cocktail. If you’re not used to cigars, don’t worry – the lounge staff are, so they can suggest which cigars would best suit your unique taste. They’ll even suggest which drink to pair with your chosen cigar, which will be hand-plucked straight from the cedarwood humidors. It’s an elegant lounge with a fully-stocked bar, so don’t be surprised if you spend most of your evening here.