The Nashville Dietitian’s Local Guide to Visiting Music City
Being local to Nashville I always get asked my favorite spots to visit — and to be honest that’s the best way to plan your trip is to ask a local!
Nashville is such a fun place to explore, not only for its music scene and culture but also well-known for its restaurant and bar scene. What you may not know is Nashville has tons of activities including Honky Tonk/music scene to family friendly events to a fun girls night out, there is honestly so much to do!
First off, I will say Nashville is ever-changing so I am sure as I write this a new restaurant is opening or a fun new spot to visit is breaking ground. I love Nashville for the fact that its growing and there’s always something new to see or do.
I moved to Nashville back in 2017, so while I was not born here, I can say I have seen so much change in just the few years I have been here. Nashville locals are so nice and were always happy to share any recommendations or the best places to visit, so don’t be shy and be sure to say Hi!
As a dietitian, I feel I am a foodie by nature (how could you not be, talking about food all day!). I also feel food is a big part of traveling and is certainly the first thing I would plan if I were planning a trip to Nashville. I would also describe myself as type A and as this personality trait I strongly recommend making reservations for restaurants you’d like to try so you don’t get disappointed if there is no availability at the time you planned to eat!
My best way to describe the Nashville food scene as a mix of trendy, up and coming spots with a mix of farm-to-table Southern comfort food with modern concepts. Whether you’re all about exploring new foods, or sticking to well-known dishes, Nashville truly has a place for everyone!
Here are the lists of my top Nashville Restaurants that you must try when you’re here:
Restaurants
Breakfast/Coffee
Baby Chan – Japanese inspired bakery and café
The Bagel Shop – Curated menu of fresh baked bagels and sandwiches
The Loveless Café – Traditional Southern-style breakfast native to Tennessee
Lunch/Brunch
Adele’s – Farm to table American restaurant
Geist – Local favorites with a beautiful Champagne Garden
Germantown Café – Charming lunch spot serving American classics
Henrietta Red – Seafood forward with simple, fresh ingredients
Mas Tacos – Food truck style with authentic Mexican flavors
RH Café – Modern American classics in an elegant inside courtyard
The Southern Steak & Oyster – Southern flavors combined with modern cooking
Dinner
5th & Taylor – American restaurant inspired by family meals
Aba Nashville – a modern approach to Mediterranean cooking
Bourbon Steak – Steak and Seafood restaurant with 360 views of Nashville
Etch Nashville – Globally inspired innovated dishes
The Henry – Modern American cuisine
Locust – Seafood forward, fusion of Japanese, Irish, and British cuisines
Noko – Asian-inspired, wood-fired restaurant with modern cooking techniques
The Optimist – Fish camp and oysters with historic charm and modern flavors
Rolf and Daughters – New American cuisine with seasonal flavors and handmade pastas
St Anejo – Nashville native, modern Mexican cuisine
Yolan – Authentic Italian cuisine
After you’ve filled up on tasty food, you’ll be ready for some fun!
As Nashville is known for its rich music scene, you should definitely check out some live music. You can try out these music venues, or just head on down to Broadway to see who is playing:
Music
3rd & Lindsley
Ascend Amphitheater
Bluebird Café
Bridgestone Arena
The Listening Room
Ryman Auditorium
Nashville has a handful of cute neighborhoods that you can explore from shops to wall mural art to sweet treats and other fun meeting spots. Each neighborhood has its own charm and community and are worth looking into (especially if you want to take a break from Broadway!).
Trendy Nashville neighborhoods to explore include:
12th South
Broadway (of course!)
Germantown
The Gulch
Hillsboro Village
Mid Town
Wedgewood Houston
I’d say second to Broadway, the neighborhood of 12th South is a good place to visit as there is so many cute shops to explore and local market stands. There’s always a lot going on down 12th South and could be a day all in itself!
If sports are more your thing, Nashville surprisingly has quite a bit to choose from depending on the season:
Sports
NFL Tennessee Titans
NHL Nashville Predators
Nashville Soccer Club
Nashville Sounds Baseball
Looking for some family friendly events? Aside from the sporting events above, here are some fun activities the whole family may enjoy:
Parks/Outdoors
The Parthenon Park
Radnor Lake Trail
Luck Ladd Farms
Arrington Vineyards
Cheekwood
Nashville Farmers Market
Activities/Art
Paddywax Candle Bar
Rustler Hat Co. (custom cowboy hats)
Nashville Pottery
Frist Art museum
Bad Axe throwing
Little Words Project (make your own jewelry)
Blue Stone Lane – Latte Art class
Therapaint Studio
Bloom and Bounty (Floral arranging class)
Grimey’s Records & Books
Country Music Hall of Fame
Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Garage Sale – Thrift store and Bar
Whew yall, that was a list! And to be fair I KNOW I missed a few good ones, so Ill be sure to update these as they come to mind. But yall, have you been to any of these places? What do you think? Who did I miss?
If you know anyone coming to Nashville send this list their way and keep it saved for future date (and to keep track of any new restaurants that might appear!).
Welcome to Music City, we’re happy to have yall!
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