You may have read my last post about things to see and do in Nashville and felt like I left something out… places to eat, of course! After all, all of that sightseeing would leave anyone hungry. Don’t worry – I love food as much as the next person and would never post a city guide without sharing some of my best restaurant recommendations. So without further ado, here they are!
White Limozeen: This Insta-famous rooftop bar and restaurant at The Graduate Hotel is themed around one of my favourite people: Dolly Parton! It’s unapologetically pink and frilly with Dolly murals and sculptures, a pink and gold Art Deco-style bar, and even a round pink bed that, as you can imagine, is a popular photo op for the many bachelorette parties that frequent this place. We came for weekend brunch; I enjoyed a Monte Cristo sandwich and Tania got their vegetable hash. The food was great, the service was excellent and the décor was on point.
Johnny Cash’s Bar & BBQ: Located beside the Johnny Cash Museum, this restaurant, bar and live music venue is themed around – you guessed it – the Man In Black himself, from the murals of Johnny and June to the “I Walk The Line” lyrics painted on the stairs. We each enjoyed barbecue platters (sliced brisket for me and baby back ribs for Tania) which are served with a bun or biscuit and your choice of two country sides (I picked green beans and hush puppies.) To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from the food (I find the food at any celebrity-themed restaurant is always hit or miss) but was pleasantly surprised; it was actually one of the best meals we had on the trip!
Martin’s Bar-B-Que: Specializing in authentic whole-hog, pit-fired barbecue, Martin’s takes the art of barbecue seriously. They have three locations in Nashville; we went to their downtown location on 4th Avenue South. Tania and I shared the Kid Brother Sampler for $27, which came with pork and brisket (6 ounces each) and your choice of two sides (we chose hush puppies and macaroni and cheese). The food was good but definitely on the pricier side – the sampler plate we ordered was really only enough for one person. Still, I definitely recommend stopping by – just budget it as a splurge meal!
Loveless Cafe: This beloved restaurant on Highway 100 has been serving up Southern comfort food – including their world-famous biscuits – since 1951. The motel that once accompanied the restaurant has since been converted into gift shops, but their famous neon sign remains, greeting the half a million visitors that eat at the Loveless Cafe every year. It’s arguably one of the most famous restaurants in the United States and is very popular. They don’t take reservations during peak hours, so if you go for breakfast or brunch – especially on a weekend – expect a wait. Pro tip: take advantage of their online reservation system for non-peak hours, and book an afternoon or evening time to avoid a wait. (And book early – we reserved a month in advance!) If it’s their famous breakfast dishes you’re after, they serve their breakfast menu all day so you can enjoy them anytime. We tried their delicious fried chicken with sides of fried okra and fried green tomatoes – sensing a theme here? The best part is that as soon as you sit down, you’ll get a plate of freshly baked biscuits with homemade preserves to enjoy – and they’ll keep them coming throughout your meal! Our charming server set down our dinner plates with a “y’all have fun” and did we ever.
The Hampton Social: This chic, gram-worthy spot is a go-to destination for fancy brunch dishes and cocktails with names like “I Glitterally Can’t” – yes, it has actual (edible) glitter in it. Don’t forget to snap a photo with their “Hey There, Nashville” floral wall and their neon “Rosé All Day” sign.
Casa Rosa: I’m a huge Miranda Lambert fan, and was so excited to visit her restaurant and live music venue in downtown Nashville. Fun fact: there are many country music stars with their own bars and restaurants on Broadway (Luke Bryan, Kid Rock, Jason Aldean…) but Miranda’s is the only female-owned one! The building has four floors which includes five bars, two live music stages and a Tex-Mex restaurant. A word of caution: this restaurant is popular and doesn’t take reservations, so if you’re going on a weekend evening (which we did) you may wait upwards of an hour for a table. The good news is that between the bars and live music, there’s plenty to keep you occupied while you wait!
Goo Goo Cluster: This isn’t a restaurant, but a candy store that’s a must-visit in Nashville! Billed as “Nashville’s Official Candy”, the Goo Goo Cluster was invented in 1912 and was America’s first combination candy bar. It consists of caramel, marshmallow nougat and roasted peanuts enveloped in milk chocolate. Dolly Parton loved them so much that she ordered them to the set of her movie Rhinestone and made Sly Stallone a fan! The candies are sold at shops throughout Nashville, but you can visit their flagship store on 3rd Avenue to see where the magic happens, and even design your own custom candy bar. I must warn you, these are addictively good – the bag we bought lasted maybe two days.
I may have mentioned before that this wasn’t my first trip to Nashville – I traveled there for a work conference a few years ago, and I happened to eat at a few great spots then, too! If you’re looking for some additional recommendations, here are some favourites from that trip that still stand out:
- Rosepepper Cantina: A lively Mexican joint with big portions and even bigger margaritas!
- The Mockingbird: An upscale diner serving elevated comfort food in a floral-wallpapered, Instagram-worthy interior.
- Henley: A hip brasserie on the ground floor of the Kimpton Aertson Hotel. Had a lovely brunch there! The quirky décor makes several references to ‘Bette Davis Eyes’ – there’s a huge portrait of her eyes blown up behind the bar, and even the bathroom walls match the theme.
- Biscuit Love: A super popular brunch spot serving a variety of decked-out biscuit sandwiches.
I hope this post didn’t make you too hungry! This is my last post about our Tennessee trip, so next week I’ll be back to sharing some fun things to do in our own beautiful province of Ontario – starting with a spot that’s especially lovely during the Christmas season. Stay tuned!
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