The food scene in Nashville is hot, and it’s not only because of the hot chicken! I was excited to return to Nashville, Tennessee after nine years to spend time with Abbie, one of my best friends that I don’t see often enough. Abbie happily went along with my food adventure plans, showing me around her foodie town and visiting so many cool places that have popped up recently. Nashville is a foodie city you want to visit. It has plenty of good eats, yet not so many that you feel completely overwhelmed or the FOMO. Here are my favorite restaurants and some of the best restaurants in Nashville!
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Yes, there will be a line, but the wait is worth it at this counter-service fried chicken spot. The small dark meat plate comes with a leg, thigh, and two sides. They have five levels of spicy, from no spice (Southern) to mouth-on-fire spicy (Shut the Cluck Up). I had the medium but probably won’t have minded more heat. Also, you don’t want to miss the Pimento Mac & Cheese! Their banana pudding is also a guest favorite.
Offering: Spicy Fried Chicken for lunch and dinner
Be sure to try: Chicken with some heat. Pimento Mac & Cheese
Address: Midtown Nashville (original location): 112 19th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203 or East Nashville: 5209 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209
Website
Five Daughter’s Bakery
Yes, this bakery is worth all the hype! The 100 Layer Donut (a croissant donut) takes three days to make. You can never go wrong with a Kouign Amaan. If you’re paleo or vegan, they have treats for you too. Go early. They’re open until they sell out. You can also find their baked goods at Barista Parlor.
Offering: Baked goods
Be sure to try: 100 Layer Donut
Address: 230 Franklin Rd, Franklin, TN 37064; (12 South) 1110 Caruthers Ave, Nashville, TN 37204; (East Nashville) 1900 Eastland Ave Suite 101, Nashville, TN 37206
Website
Barista Parlor
We were advised by a local to find the best biscuits here and they did not disappoint! This sleek, modern, and hipster coffee shop is the perfect place to wake up slowly. The Whiskey Caramel is one of their specialty drinks and great for those who want a weaker coffee flavor. The Moto Biscuit is a homemade biscuit with local cheese, egg, and sausage (or bacon, your choice). The Biscuits & Gravy definitely looked tempting too. You can get Five Daughters Bakery goods here if you want to knock out two places with one visit. If you love coffee, this is the place to geek out.
Offering: Coffee
Be sure to try: Your favorite coffee drink, Moto Biscuit
Address: 519B Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206; (Golden Sound) 610 Magazine St, Nashville, TN 37203; (Germantown) 1230 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
Website
Yazoo Brewing Company
One of the oldest breweries in Nashville, Yazoo Brewing Company has a hopping taproom and an awesome tour. You can taste multiple beers with a flight or buy by the pint. Their tour includes a 5oz glass to take home and three tastings. They brew beers of all kinds so the brewery fits groups of all tastes.
Offering: Craft Beer
Be sure to try: Hop Perfect IPA, Pale Ale, Doss Perros (brown ale)
Address: 910 Division Street, Nashville, TN 37207
Website
Jackalope Brewing Company
One of the most popular breweries in Nashville, Jackalope Brewing Company has a small yet mighty taproom and a great selection of beers. Flights are available here. On the day we went, there was live music happening. They also have tours for $7 per person.
Offering: Craft Beer
Be sure to try: Chai-Walker, Leghorn Rye IPA, Fennario IPA, Thunder Ann (Pale Ale)
Address: 701 Eighth Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee 37203
Website
The Pied Piper Creamery
This is the spot for locally made, artisan, and creative ice cream. They’ve created more than 250 ice cream flavors, though about 12-24 are at the shop at a time. Located in a house in a cute neighborhood, The Pied Piper is your stop for a sweet treat!
Offering: Ice cream
Be sure to try: Trailer Trash (Vanilla ice cream with Oreo, Twix, Butterfinger, Nestle Crunch, Snickers, M&Ms, and Reese’s Pieces)
Address: 114 South 11th Street, Nashville, TN 37206
Website
The Cupcake Collection
The cupcake tour continues! We stopped in The Cupcake Collection right when it opened and the bakery smells were so delightful. We got a four-pack with sweet potato, red velvet, blackout, and strawberry. Fans know best – their most popular sweet potato cupcake with cream cheese icing was my favorite! Can’t make it to Nashville? They ship!
Offering: Cupcakes
Be sure to try: Sweet Potato Cupcake with Cream Cheese Icing
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm, Closed Saturday, Sun 11am-4pm
Address: 1213 6th Avenue N., Nashville, TN 37208
Website
The Loving Pie Company
As some see it – you’re either a cake or a pie person. I lean towards the cake but I wouldn’t pass up a good slice of pie. We swung by The Loving Pie Company right before they closed to try their pies. Surprisingly, I got to indulge in pie AND cake in my slice of their special “Pie wanna dance with somebody” pie. It was layers of cream cheese ganache, carrot cake, and cream cheese whipped cream. Abbie got the chocolate chip peanut butter pie, and it was so good! They also have classic pies like chess and pecan for all you purists.
Offering: Sweet and Savory Pies
Be sure to try: Check their daily specials
Address: 2806 Columbine Place, Nashville TN 37204
Website
The Patterson House
This upscale bar with speakeasy vibes serves craft cocktails with a smile. While we had to wait a bit to get in, the low-key atmosphere at the bar gave our laid-back night the cherry on top. Not to mention – the bartenders know their stuff and will help you find your next favorite cocktail, even if you don’t know what all the ingredients are.
Offering: Fancy cocktails
Address: 1711 Division St. Nashville, TN 37203
Website
Far East Nashville
This was the best vermicelli bowl I have ever had! I had the Bun Fareast with Vietnamese BBQ pork and it came with vermicelli, crispy egg roll, shredded lettuce, bean sprouts, Vietnamese pickled daikon and carrot, sliced cucumber, basil and cilantro. We also started with the tofu fresh rolls, and Abbie got the pork banh mi. One of my favorite meals!
Offering: Vietnamese cuisine, including bun, banh mi, and pho
Be sure to try: Bun Fareast
Address: 1008 Fatherland St, Nashville, TN 37206
Website
Fox’s Donut Den
Good ole classic donuts. Because sometimes you don’t need crazy toppings or combinations. You want a classic glazed or a blueberry cake donut. We picked up a few donut holes – the chocolate cake and blueberry cake donuts were the best! This place also sells gigantic, sheet-cake-sized donuts that serve as an alternative to a birthday cake.
Offering: Donuts
Address: 3900 Hillsboro Pike #2, Nashville, TN 37215
Website
Frothy Monkey
Frothy Monkey is one of the most popular coffee shops in Nashville with five different locations. Three of the locations include their full coffee and food menus (one of these locations is in Franklin) while two have abbreviated menus. Their Monkey Mocha is a signature drink and is a mocha with banana syrup.
Offering: Coffee; Full breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus
Be sure to try: Your favorite coffee drink
Website
Bakery by frothy monkey
As the name suggests, Bakery by frothy monkey is a smaller location focusing on sweet and savory baked goods. They do have a short list of their coffee drinks available. Their snickerdoodle cookie was humongous and tasty. Crispy on the edges and cakey on the inside.
Offering: Smaller menu from Frothy Monkey, baked goods
Be sure to try: Snickerdoodle Cookie
Address: 1010 Fatherland St, Nashville, TN 37206
Website
Juice Bar
This local Nashville juice shop opened in 2013 and is quickly expanding to 15 other states! They have six locations in Nashville with two more on the way. If you need a pick-me-up or a healthy boost, stop by Juice Bar! I enjoyed their Ginger Greens juice with ginger, apple, kale, spinach, cucumber, parsley, and lemon.
Offering: Juices and Smoothies
Be sure to try: Ginger Greens
Address: See locations here
Website
I can’t wait to go back to Nashville and try the places I didn’t get to. Here are some recommended places:
- The Painted Cupcake – cupcakes
- Mas Tacos Por Favor – tacos
- Otaku – ramen
- Catbird Seat – tasting menu
- Arnold’s Country Kitchen – Southern cuisine
- Loveless Café – Southern cuisine
- Marche Artisan Foods – European-style eatery
- Biscuit Love – brunch and biscuits
- Pinewood Social – American food and bowling
- The Treehouse – American cuisine
- The Pharmacy – burgers
- City House – rustic Italian
- Las Paletas – popsicles
- Vui’s Kitchen – Vietnamese
- Nashville Farmers’ Market – local goods
What are your favorite restaurants in Nashville? I’d love to know for my next trip!
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