Nashville, Tennessee is a city that offers a wide variety of dining experiences. From the bustling downtown area to the quaint neighborhoods, there is something for everyone. But if you're looking for the best places to eat in Nashville, you'll want to explore some of the city's most popular neighborhoods. Unlike most urban centers, where the city's best restaurants are located downtown, Nashville's downtown area north of Broadway rolls up the sidewalks at dusk.
However, it is still the best area to party, with restaurants such as Skull's Rainbow Room and Merchants offering a great selection of Scotch whiskey to accompany a steak. Acme Feed & Seed and The Southern Steak & Oyster are also popular with both tourists and locals. Melrose is a neighborhood that has quickly earned a reputation as a fun and modern place to live. Famous restaurants such as Sinema and The Smiling Elephant have made it a popular destination for dining.
Unfortunately, it is not an especially walkable area, so you'll need to plan ahead if you want to go from bar to bar. Pick a favorite spot like The Hook or M. L., and be prepared for a long ride until it's time for an Uber. For those looking for a more walkable strip of dining destinations, 12South is the place to go. Located just one mile away from downtown Nashville, 12South offers plenty of great options along the way.
Enjoy Mediterranean delights at Epice or modern Pennsylvania bistro food at Josephine's. Edley's and Urban Grub are also great places to start your culinary journey. The Gulch neighborhood is another great option for dining in Nashville. Once an area filled with ravines dug under the main avenues of the city to trace railroads through the center without interfering with car traffic, it has now become one of the most vibrant residential and dining areas in the city. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks at several great options along the slopes.
Biscuit Love, Otaku Ramen, Prima and The 404 Kitchen are all excellent choices. The South Eighth Avenue area was once home to Melrose Billiards and Melrose Pub as its only drinking options. Now, with the beautiful renovation of the historic Melrose Theater building, new restaurants such as Sinema and The Sutler have opened up. Higher up on 8th Avenue is 101 Bottle Shop & Tasting Room for beer lovers and The Urban Juicer for all your healthy needs. The Smiling Elephant offers some of the best pad Thai in town while Love Peace & Pho serves up some of the best pho in town.
Eighth & Roast is ideal for coffee lovers while Douglas Corner Café offers a glimpse into Nashville's music history. Mafiaoza's was one of the first restaurants to open in 12South when it wasn't yet the pleasant shopping and dining destination it is today. Its success caused a chain reaction that led other restaurateurs to open fashionable places such as Urban Grub, Josephine and Epice. Enjoy caffeine before shopping at Portland Brew or Frothy Monkey, have lunch at Burger Up, Edley's Bar-B-Que or Sloco and finish with a frozen Mexican treat at Las Paletas. For happy hour drinks, head over to 12 South Taproom for local beer lovers or grab your beer in a pitcher at The Filling Station. Germantown is another great neighborhood for serious culinary activities.
In addition to being one of the best neighborhoods in the city for coffee lovers, Germantown is also famous for its farmers market and historic houses. East Nashville is located east of downtown Nashville across the Cumberland River. It is quieter than downtown but still centrally located so you can quickly reach most neighborhoods in Nashville from here. You'll need a car if you're planning to stay in East Nashville.
