Food + Travel
A Food Lover’s Guide: The Best Places to Eat in Nashville
by Lindsey
Nashville, Tennessee is home of country music, great barbecue, fun nightlife and the famous ‘Hot Chicken Sandwich.’ As soon as I stepped foot in this Country Music Paradise, it immediately hit the top of my ‘favorite cities’ list.
Not only is Nashville an absolute blast to visit, it’s also a city that offersfantasticrestaurants on literally every street corner. For a foodie like myself who loves to try new places, I couldn’t wait to go out and eat in Nashville.
I visited this gorgeous townas a tourist on a girl’s trip with one of my closest friends,and I was lucky enough to have lists and lists of local favoritessent to me from wonderful people who call Nashville home.Because of them, we ate like queens on this vacation and I felt compelled to share our foodie finds with you!
1. Five Daughters Bakery
You guys. This is decadence at its finest. I kind of want to cry just thinking about how amazing Five Daughters Bakery is. These are, without a doubt, the fluffiest, crispiest and most divinedonuts I’ve ever tasted. The flavors change monthly, giving you more variety than you could ever dream, butMaple Glaze,Chocolate Sea Salt,Maple BaconandVanilla Sugarare menu staples – and for good reason. Whatever you do, don’t skipthis place!
fivedaughtersbakery.com
2. Pancake Pantry
This hot spot opened its doors in 1975 and has been feeding pancake fanatics ever since. If you visit Pancake Pantryon a weekend morning, you should expect to wait in line with all of the locals. But let’s be honest, what good thing isn’t worth waiting for? Try their famous (and for good reason)Sweet Potato PancakesorBanana Bread Chocolate Chip Pancakes. If you’re craving something slightly more traditional, there are 21 other satisfyingpancake options to choose from.
3. Frothy Monkey
This popular coffee shop is known for more than their coffeehouse drinks like theWhite Monkey MochaandRosemary HoneyLatte. They also offer tasty sandwiches, oatmeal, soups, salads and omelettes. One of their most popular menu items isThe California: two eggs atopsourdough bread with avocado, sprouts and homemade salsa.
4. Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
You’re going to see a small theme throughout this post, because Nashville really loves their ‘Hot Chicken’! Itis their signature dish and is served at many of the restaurants in the city, but Hattie B’s takes the reign for some of the hottest and the tastiest. From Southern (no heat) to Shut the Cluck Up (burnnotice), you’re bound to find the perfect level of heat to suit your cravings. Try their Hot Chicken Sandwich or a Chicken Thigh Plate with a side ofRed SkinPotato Salad or Pimento Mac & Cheese. Finish off this unforgettablemeal with Hattie B’sfamous Banana Pudding.
draperjames.com
5. Biscuit Love
We orderedtheBonutsat Biscuit Love and they werelife-changing. This is what it really means toeat in Nashville. Bonuts are delicious balls offried biscuit dough rolled in sugar on top of blueberry compote. They are served with a lemon mascarpone on top and are bound to make your mouth water even before the first bite.
The huge plate of deliciousness directly next to the Bonutsis thePrincess: A biscuit sandwich with Nashville’s signature hot chicken, pickles, mustard and honey. Weird combination, right? I thought so too – until I tasted it. It was one of thebestsandwiches I hadever had.
6. Jeni’s SplendidIce Cream
There are four of these ice cream shops throughout Nashville which attests to how much people love to eat it. The atmosphere is fun and comfortable and the ice cream is always on point. They offer the traditional ice cream flavors as well as some that might cause you to do a double take.TheBrambleberry Crisptastes like a warm homemade cobbler while theQueen City Cayennepacks a little heat. Try theWildberry Lavender,Riesling Poached Pear Sorbetor theSun-Popped Cornto bring a little bit of diversityto your day.
7.Nashville Farmer’s Market
If you want to eat in Nashville, and eat fresh, The Nashville Farmers’ Market isa must-see while visiting. You won’t get any more ‘fresh’ thanthese farm-direct products. Spend the morning tasting and talkingwithdairy farmers, cheese-makers, bakers and food artisans. Make sure to take somehoney, jams and jellies home with you!
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8. Pinewood Social
This place offers food & fun! Take a dip in the pool or go old-school bowling while tasting some of Pinewood Social’s delicious food and drinks! Start off withtheHoney Sriracha Wingsappetizer(served with a delicious dill yogurt for dipping), then feast on the richLobster Rolland finish your meal off with the melt-in-your-mouthOatmeal Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie.
9. Proper Bagel
When you walk in the door of Proper Bagel, you’ll findthat it’s not just anyordinary bagel joint.Large mounds of cream cheese in unique flavors fill up a delicase alongside fresh fish and salads, giving even the pickiest eater an endless list of options. Some of the most unique cream cheese flavors that you musttry include (but aren’t limited to):Dill Pickle, Cookie Dough, Lavender Honey and Maple Bacon.
10. Mas Tacos
This unassuming little taco joint is a favorite among locals and serves the best fish tacos, sweet plantains and tortilla soup in town. Make sure to take cash because they don’t accept cards (I kind of love that) and definitely go right before the lunch hour hits in order to beat the crowds.
11. ACME Feed & Seed
At ACME, the food and the music are both worth going, and staying, for. This massive,warehouse-esque building has three levels: the bottom floor offers live music and a full menu, the second has a sushi bar and a lounge and the third level hasa gorgeousrooftop view overlooking the Cumberland River.
ACME’s menu is full of delicious options – make sure to order a roll from thesushi baras an appetizerand then head downstairsfor theRule the Roost. This delicious “Hot Chicken” sandwich comes withgreen peppercorn aioli, american cheese and pickles on white bread and is served with hand-cut fries. Don’t forget to pile on the abundance of BBQ sauces and mustards that they offer – you won’t regret it!
12. Five Points Pizza
Calling all pizza-holics. This place is always packed but if you snag a seat up at the bar you won’t have to wait in line. Make sure that you gowith a big appetite and a funcrowd. Their famousGarlicKnotsandHabanero Cream Sauce Pie(with an extra side of habanero if you can handle the heat) will blow your mind.
fivepointspizza.com
13. High Garden Tea
Although High Garden Tea may offersome baked goods, you will likely spend most of your time sipping rather than eating. We stumbled upon this magical little place by accident and I’m so glad we did. High Garden Tea feels reminiscent of something out Harry Potter with tree branches and greenery hanging overhead andshelves ofliterally hundreds of different herbal infusions and teas that you can drink in-houseor take home with you. Like Kombucha on tap? They have that, too!
14. CREMA
If you want a fun, vibey coffee shop that serves great espresso while also offering every ounce of due respect to the farmers who roast their coffee, CREMA is your place. You’ll find bloggers on their laptops, strangerssharing stirring spoons and caffeine-addicts rushing in before work to get their morning drip. You won’t regret trying theircoffee cake,quiche and a cuban coffee.
15. Otaku Ramen
Ifyou haven’t ever triedrealramen, this should be the first place you stop. Otaku makes traditional ramen with regional ingredients. The funpart: They challenge you to eat your ramen within a 10-minute windowin order to get the peak flavor out of everybowl. Start your meal off with Chicken Buns and then slurp away at the Spicy MisoorTennessee Tonkotsubowls.
Otakuramen.com
HAVE YOU SEEN THE NASHVILLE & FRANKLIN GUIDE to the best food, fun, & self-care?
I want to share these local favorites with you so that you have THE best trip to Nashville and Franklin (if you choose to stop by our cute, quintessential town!)
I will update this booklet as new spots pop up to reflect those changes! You have *LIFETIME ACCESS*, so you can regularly check back in to see where the new hot spots are.
Thank you all for stopping by Sparrows & Lily! Do you have some favorite Nashville restaurants that I didn’t include? I would love to hear all about your favorites in the comments below!
