Eat, Shop, Tour and Drink

Nashville is growing fast so there are lots of things that are always changing and lots of places to eat and drink with so many breweries.  I have eaten at most of these places for 5-20+ years.   All times are referenced from downtown Nashville to each of the things below.

Nashville Areas

Where to Stay

  • Downtown – Expensive but if you want to crawl the bars and places to eat it is the best place and worth the money.  There are lots of options but staying one night in a multi-day stay can be worth it.
  • Near the Airport – is a good option if you not staying to long if you flew in there are a couple Ok Hotels around but most of the “good” ones are downtown.
  • Southbound – Staying south of town is a great way to see that part of town and it is much more chill and local but with local feel comes local problems like traffic especially if it is the morning or afternoon.  There are hotels in Brentwood in the middle and Franklin\Cool Springs further south on I65.

Highways

  • I40       Main Highway through the middle of town East to West
  • I440     South Beltway that goes to Green Hills and West End (Parthenon) and bypasses part of Nashville
  • 155        Briley Parkway     A Northern Bypass to go toward Opry Mills or Head to the Corvette Museum or want to get to one side of town to the other without going into the belly of the beast
  • I65       Main North and South Traffic, goes through downtown, this is used to go to Brentwood and Franklin.
  • I24       Another NW to SW route that goes to Murfreesboro and to Chattanooga and then North towards Clarkesville.
  • I840     Main Southern Bypass of the whole City, easy way to go around downtown if coming from the East and Wet of Nashville. It is longer but you may not touch your brakes and get to see some of Horse Country.

Eat

There are lots of places not on this list but that doesn’t mean they are bad, I have ate at almost every place in Nashville but these are my top in each category.  There are lots of things downtown that you will not see because I don’t Honkey Tonk any more.

Top 5 Local

  1. Arnolds – Famous Meat and Three, rotating menu daily for the meats and the sides.  If you go you have to try the Bread Pudding (Not on Menu, local only) it is amazing.  Then if you like collard greens they have the best in Nashville. It is downtown and can get busy with lines and trying to find a place to eat (small place) (5 Mins)https://www.arnoldscountrykitchen.com
  2. Pharmacy – Handmade Sodas like an old pharmacy and good burgers and farm to table food.  Great local town vibe, this is a couple minutes from downtown but worth the drive to see the other side and not the tourist side of Nashville.  They have a huge beer select along and an outside seating area which is great when the weather is nice, and it is their Bier Garden.  Root Beer Float, Farm Burger. (15 Mins)https://thepharmacyburger.com
  3. Joey’s House of Pizza – The best Pizza in Nashville in my opinion Outside of downtown near the industrial area of Nashville.  It is an order at the line New York style by the slice place.  Get there early it can get very busy.  I suggest if two people are going is to get one slice of the Gladiator (Meat and Cheese and Meat and Cheese (Peperoni overload) and then a normal slice or Calzone their Cannoli’s are great too. (10 Mins)http://www.joeyshouseofpizza.com
  4. Coco’s Italian Market –  This is the best small town good Italian place in Nashville.  It has a great market to buy ingredients if you want.  They have great meatballs and other Italian items.  They are great for Desert because they have lots of house made Gelato but the best, they have is they have a Cheesecake call Chocolate Eruptions.  Great for small kids they have a play area for them and then Bocce Ball for all ages  (Picture a Chocolate mouse cake with chunks of Cheesecake in it and then more chocolate on it) (10 Mins)http://www.italianmarket.biz
  5. Farmers Market – All kinds of great local restaurants from Jamaican, Indian, Pizza, Cajun, Ice Cream, American, BBQ and a couple others.  It is a great place to eat and shop, super local parking can be a little crazy sometimes, if you see school buses there just pass in most cases (Big Nashville school field trip place). (5 Mins)http://www.nashvillefarmersmarket.org
  6. Hugh Babys – Great Local Burger Place with Shakes and Smoked Bologna Sandwich is my favorite.  We eat there a lot and it is a hit with the family. (10 Mins)https://www.hughbabys.com

Top 3 Fancy

There are other places in Nashville that are more expensive, but I don’t think they are that much better than these for the money.  Jeff Ruby’s and Catbird Seat are great places to eat but more of an anniversary dinner instead of what I would consider a normal dinner for the money.

Most of the fancy places involve steak here in Nashville.

  1. Sperry’s – Small Steak house that has great food and a great ambiance.  They have a great Salad Bar with a huge bucket of bacon at the end.  If you go you want to get the Bananas Foster’s because they make it at your table, and it is awesome!  I recommend the Belle Meade Location to see that side of Nashville and using OpenTable to get a reservation. (15 Mins)https://sperrys.com
  2. Kayne Prime – This is one of the best Steak Houses in Nashville because of the variety, atmosphere. If you order some high end meats, you will like it.   Great sides too. Another side note is every M Street Restaurant is good for each of its categories Mexican, Italian, Japanese and Whiskey Kitchen; if you drive to one you can walk to them all they have Valet too. OpenTable is your friend here too.  (5 Mins)https://www.mstreetnashville.com/kayne-prime
  3. Etch Restaurant – Very good contemporary southern place with all kinds of food and a contemporary atmosphere. Good Services and very create dishes.  I have eaten most of their menu and suggest if you have never tried Venison to give it a try here. (5 Mins)http://www.etchrestaurant.com

Experience Eating

These are places that may have good to amazing food but are staples of Nashville and the coolest ambience and setting that set them apart from the others.

  1. Loveless –This is an old local hotel outside of Nashville, but it is worth the drive for the great food.  Biscuits with homemade jellies and all kinds of great southern food options.  Worth the drive, it can get crowded if it is almost anytime near the weekend.  If you go in the middle of the week you can get in and out without a reservation.  OpenTable is your friend if you near the weekend.  Amazing Pie selection, if you are Pie Person you will be in a southern pie heaven. (30 Mins)http://www.lovelesscafe.com
  2. Monel’s there are more than one location, I would recommend the one by the airport on Murfreesboro Road since it is in a period mansion.  This is a Family style restaurant that you will be seated at a table with other strangers and it is pass to your Left kind of place.  No Cell Phones at the table and have a great time meeting people and talking about the food.  They are famous for their fried chicken and their Peach Preserves that will be at your table, it is very dark looking but it is worth trying and you may have to buy a jar on the way out. (15 Mins)https://monellstn.com/at-the-manor/
  3. Jimmy Kelly’s – One of Nashville’s oldest restaurants in Nashville.  It is like time traveling back into a plantation house in the 1800’s.  Great food but even better service.  Everyone is dressed in white while serving you and people have their favorite waiters that they go there for.  It is a cool thing to do. (5 Mins)https://jimmykellys.com

BBQ

  1. Peg Leg Porker – Trendy and best vibe.  Great BBQ and Sauces.  Not really any parking, Lyft there and or you will have to hunt for a spot.  If you go you must get a fried pie (Chocolate, Peach and Apple). Good Ribs and Sausage, BBQ Nachos are great thing to get and share along with their Pimento Cheese and Kool-Aid Pickles.  Can get crowded sometimes. (5 Mins)https://www.peglegporker.com
  2. Martins and Edleys – These are the Top 2 competing chains and all of them are just as good as the others.  Martins I think has the better Wings with their white sauce.  I think Edleys can get better because they have Banana pudding.  (10-15 Mins)http://edleysbbq.com
  3. World Famous Texas – Small place in the old area of Nashville. Cool come in buffet with Meat and Three options.  If you like BBQ, then just come in and say you want the “Combo” and then you will have two choices with Regular and Sweet Hot (Not that hot).  Very Local and small place. Smoked Bologna and Sausage are great, sometimes I get just those two. (10 Mins)http://texsworldfamousbbq.com
  4. Jack’s – Good little local joint with multiple locations.  Great everything and with a location downtown and there are two others.  Charlotte has parking and downtown will require a downtown parking spot.  Trinity Lane is the rougher of the three locations, it is safe but in an outside area of Nashville.  (10-15 Mins)http://www.jacksbarbque.com
  5. Back Alley BBQ – The furthest drive but if you are heading west for any of the other attractions if you want to have the best Ribs (Friday\Saturday Only), I have ever had then this is the place for you. Amazing Brisket and Pork (Burnt Ends Mixed in). Small town family owned place in Dickson outside of Nashville but their BBQ is my favorite. This is off the town square of Dickson and it is a snapshot back in time. They are good people too.  (40 Min)http://www.backalleybbqdc.com

Hot Chicken Tour

  1. Hattie B’s – Hot Tenders are the focus with other cuts of chicken too.  I suggest their Banana Pudding and their Pimento Mac and Cheese.  Hot is great nose draining, not painful, anything past Damn Hot gets crazy , depending on the time of the day Hots may be hotter than other days. (10 Mins)https://hattieb.com
  2. Princes – Amazing Chicken with great sides.  They focus on Whole to Quarter Chicken instead of tenders like Hattie B’s.  Hot is great nose draining, not painful, anything past XHot gets crazy. (10 Mins)http://princeshotchicken.com
  3. There are others but these are the main two and the other places that have “good” hot chicken most of them do others food items.  There are some that are off the beaten path that have some great chicken so don’t be afraid of trying other places.

Deserts

  1. Five Daughters Bakery – Doughnuts and Pastries. There are now multiple locations around the Nashville area to make them an easy destination depending on where you’re at. They are famous for their 100-layer croissant doughnuts which are an amazing treat  https://fivedaughtersbakery.com/
  2. Crumbl Cookies – Cookies. If you love amazing fresh cookies with some wild toppings where they become almost a meal, then this is the place for you.  There are now multiple locations in Nashville to make it easy to find them. https://crumblcookies.com/
  3. Gracie’s Milk Shake Bar – Milkshakes and Frozen Teats. If you want an over-the-top milkshake then this place is for you! https://www.graciesmilkshakebar.info/
  4. Bobbie’s Dairy Dip – Ice Cream and Milkshakes. This place is an amazing local ice cream joint if you like milkshakes and ice cream.  There can usually be a line but it’s worth the wait and its right beside a Hattie B’s so it can help cool down the fire after some hot chicken. https://www.facebook.com/bobbiesdairydipcharlotteave/
  5. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream – Ice Cream and Frozen Treats. There are multiple locations around Nashville to make it more convenient and they always have new flavors coming and going.  They are more mainstream but still a great option https://jenis.com/
  6. The Cupcake Collection – Cupcakes. So many awesome flavors and options and they are a great add-on treat to any meal. https://www.thecupcakecollection.com/
  7. Gigi’s Cupcakes – Giant Cupcakes. They have Minis and Giant cupcakes with amazing toppings.  If you love frosting, then this is the cupcake place to go because you will have your fill for sure. https://gigiscupcakesusa.com/

Others

  1. Chauhan Masala House – Best Indian food in Nashville.  Parking lot across the street, heavy construction in the area but super worth it. (5 Mins)https://chauhannashville.com
  2. Chaatable Nashville – Another great Indian restaurant outside of downtown so its little easier to get in and out. https://chaatablenashville.com/
  3. Virago – Best Fancy Sushi part of the M Street(5 Mins)https://www.mstreetnashville.com/virago-menu/
  4. Saint Anejo – Best Fancy Mexican with a huge tequila selection.  The Guacamole and Salsas are great and fresh and they change it up. (5 Mins)https://www.mstreetnashville.com/saint-anejo
  5. Pucketts a great place with a couple locations, very close to Loveless and Monell’s on the type of food. They have locations in Nashville and Franklin (5-30 Mins)http://puckettsgro.com/nashville/
  6. Amy’s Ethiopian Restaurant – If you have never had Ethiopian food this is a great local place to try it. If you are a fan of coffee, you will love their blends.  They also have a small grocery section to get some TN honey, their coffee and other food related items.

Breakfast Places

  1. Loveless – You can get Breakfast at any time.  Those Biscuits and Homemade Jellies and Pancakes with bacon make a great breakfast. (30 Mins)http://www.lovelesscafe.com
  2. Monell’s – Family Style Breakfast, come hungry.  I suggest getting there early to get the freshest food and you won’t need lunch that day. (15 Mins)https://monellstn.com/at-the-manor/
  3. Biscuit Love Gulch – If you are already downtown and near the Gulch this is a great place, super trendy so it gets very crowded very quickly and can have long lines.  I think they have cool breakfast options with southern flare with hot chicken and waffles.  I still think Loveless is the biscuit King\Queen of Nashville, but this is good too. (5 Mins )https://biscuitlove.com
  4. There is a place called Pancake Pantry there some people go crazy for, but the lines are crazy, and I don’t think their food is that much better than any of these other three, if you love breakfast then you may want to try it after these three.

Shop

  1. Downtown Franklin – High End to many local spots from shopping to places to eat and watch movies in a historic theater.  Civil War sites around it.  (30 Mins)http://downtownfranklintn.com
  2. The Factory Franklin – Local Non-Chain Stores, couple places to eat and have treats from Ice Cream to a Croughnut (Best Doughnut Variation Ever! 100 Layer Croissant turned into a doughnut)   Very Chill and not crowded and there can be music events there too. (30 Mins)https://factoryatfranklin.com
  3. Opry Mills – Tons of name brand stores from budget to some luxury items.  Lots of food options from Bier Garden, Mexican, Southern and a couple others.  Biggest mall in our area.  Can be crowded depending if it is near the holiday season.  Has a Bass Pro Shop which may be an attraction itself to see all the things in it. (15 Mins)https://www.simon.com/mall/opry-mills
  4. American Pickers If you’re a fan of their show then you will like looking around.  It can be pretty pricey but is neat to connect the dots from a TV show.http://www.antiquearchaeology.com/locations.php
  5. Cool Springs Galleria – Cool mall with a good blend of normal and luxury.  There are lots of things around it from a place called Kings Lane to go bowling and restaurants and all the major shopping options.  Not usually crowded. (25 Mins)  http://www.coolspringsgalleria.com
  6. Green Hills – Mall Richy Rich Mall, cool to see the cars and shops there.  Apple Store is there. (15 Mins) https://www.shopgreenhills.com

Tour

Nashville Proper

Outside Nashville

  • Andrew Jackson Hermitage – Great History and a cool way to step back in time. (30 Minutes)https://thehermitage.com
  • Belle Mead Plantation and Cheekwood – Each one is cool; one has a lot of history and a beautiful building and the Cheekwod is the same with lots of gardens and areas around it.  If you go to one, head to both. (20 Minutes)https://cheekwood.orghttps://bellemeadeplantation.com
  • Belmont Mansion – Cool short tour that relates to the Civil War and it is neat to hear about. https://www.belmontmansion.com/tour-options
  • Jack Daniels Distillery – Lynchburg TN 1.5 Hours away, there are bus tours that take you there and bring you back.  Cool to go because it is a Dry county and that you can only get Special Edition boxed drinks.  Cool Food and Tours available.  If you are fan of Whiskey, then you want to go. https://www.jackdaniels.com/en-us/visit-distillery
  • Corvette Museum – If you a fan of Corvettes or GM this is the place for you, it is worth the day trip.  If you time it right, you can get on their Race Track for certain events.  (1.25 Hours)https://www.corvettemuseum.org
  • Chattanooga is a fun day trip and worth staying downtown also.  If you’re doing more than one or two things stay for another night.
    • https://www.chattanoogafun.com
    • Lookout Mountain (Multi-State View)
    • TN Aquarium (Great Aquarium, Salt and Fresh)
    • TN Choo Choo (Cool train ride)
    • TN Valley Railway Museum (Cool Tour Rides)
    • Ruby Falls (Cool underground waterfall)
    • Rock City (Cool Rock formations)
  • Memphis as a day trip if you want, staying on the East side is recommended for all the amenities vs downtown.  If you are fan of Elvis it is worth it but otherwise many things are a clone of Nashville.  Central BBQ is a good local joint.
  • Mammoth Caves – Worth a Day trip if you like Caves it is huge and has town of tours and options and other things around it. https://www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm
  • Lots of great Parks and Lakes that you could rent a boat and have fun at.

Drink

So many places.  Great from Honky Tonks, to pure bars and everything in between.  These are all the Downtowns

  1. Tootsies is a must andI would recommend heading to the roof for some cool views but if you want a quieter spot then just stay on the second floor on the way up and you will have your own bar and bartender and be able to talk.  To get to the stairs to head up  you will have to go between the people and head to the back right corner to a door and then head up from there.  http://www.tootsies.net
  2. Buffalo Billiards if you like games and to hang outhttps://www.buffalosnashville.net
  3. Acme Feed and Seed –  cool place to hang out.https://www.theacmenashville.com
  4. HQ Beercade if you want to drink and play some arcades and pinball, not to small.http://www.hq-nashville.com
  5. Whiskey Kitchen – Drink and Eat Combo.  Lots of Whiskey’s and Bourbons. (5 Mins).https://www.mstreetnashville.com/whiskey-kitchen
  6. The Pour House – Local Downtown drinking with tons of options on tap.
  7. There are all Pub Crawls and Pedal carts to do to.

Breweries

  1. Jackalope Brewing Company – My favorite for a couple years with the best brews there and varieties and it is in a cool location and vibe.  (5 Mins)https://jackalopebrew.com
  2. TN Brew Works – Lots of different local beers plus their special brews.  (5 Mins)https://www.tnbrew.com
  3. Yazoo – Big Name brand here in Nashville for Tours and some cool special brews, in the Gulch so easy to get to also. (5 Mins)https://yazoobrew.com

Events

There is going to be someone playing in Nashville or a Shindig going on.

Good Place to see what is coming, not everything but a good snapshot.  Then of course there is always something downtown on Broadway.

https://www.nashvilleticketsandevents.com

  • Ryman – Classic and great acoustics with all the wood and lots of great people there.
  • Grand Ol Opry – Near the Opryland hotel which is a cool place to stay one night.  Great spot to shop and hang out with the whole area.
  • Ascend Theater – Super Cool Venue, Great Acoustics and Chill with kids with lawn seating and good food.
  • Bridgestone – All the big names come here, and you will have the Predators depending on when you are here.
    Exit Inn – Smaller Venue lots of famous people have been there, good rotation of local bands.
  • Bluebird Café – Is a small dive but has a lot of music history with lots of famous people playing there.
  • Nashville Symphony – All kinds of things all the time, tickets are cheap, and it is a great evening when paired with a dinner.
  • Nashville Sounds – If you like some good baseball and some good times then this is a great thing to do while in town.
  • Nashville Soccer Club – This is just starting up again and is a good time.
  • Cars and Coffee – If you love cars and you’re hear on a Saturday then this is the place to go. Between 8-11AM every Saturday (Not raining or snowing) then you want to drop by and see some amazing cars. The first Saturday of each month is the big event but you will love seeing Lamborghini’s to Bel Air’s.