14 Best Restaurants in Downtown, Nashville

Husk

$$$ | Downtown Fodor's choice

Southern charm abounds in both decor and flavors at Husk, located in a converted historic home. With seasonal ingredients sourced from in and around Tennessee, the menu at this must-try restaurant staple (with other locations in Charleston and Savannah) is elevated and dynamic.

417 Union

$$ | Downtown

You wouldn’t guess from its understated, antique-looking exterior that the restaurant opens up into a bit of an antebellum relic on the inside. This restaurant envelopes you in rich woodwork common in old Southern homes, featuring fireplaces original to the building, white tablecloths, waiters in white coats, and chandeliers, while also serving traditional Southern cuisine.

Bakersfield

$ | Downtown

One of the better options for a casual meal, Bakersfield specializes in Mexican street food that is authentic and quick. The bar also serves more than 100 types of tequila, so that you can get the full experience. A great place for lunch or a late night bite after dancing on Broadway.

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City Winery

$$ | Downtown

As a restaurant, concert venue, and wine bar, the versatility of City Winery’s offerings make it a standout in the city. The Barrel Room restaurant and wine bar within City Winery serves hearty, Southern-inspired fare for brunch and dinner with an extensive wine list.

Gray & Dudley

$$$ | Downtown

Featuring absurdist art in the dining room, and adjacent galleries with interactive installations, this restaurant in the bottom of the 21c Museum Hotel provides more than a meal, but a one-of-a-kind immersive experience. Featuring rich dishes that modernize Southern cuisine with surprising flavors, it includes a variety of hearth-baked in-house breads.

House of Cards

$$$ | Downtown

With a strict dress code and no-phone policy, House of Cards is a must-see for locals and tourists alike looking for an unusual night. The fine-dining meal price comes with a private magic show that rivals Hollywood’s infamous Magic Castle. If you are splurging, the $200 signature cocktail prepared table-side in a crystal bowl is a must.

Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint

$ | Downtown

Barbecue can be very contentious in the South, as every state has a different variation with cities vying for the best version. Martin’s prepares their dry rubs in-house, and offers up authentic Tennessee "Bar-B-Que" that will allow you to at least decide for yourself if Tennessee does it best.

Merchants Restaurant

$$ | Downtown

Housed in the former Merchants Hotel, built in 1892, the restaurant retains many of the hotel's original fireplaces, wainscoting, and custom sconces. There's a casual bar–grill atmosphere and menu on the first floor, while the second floor features formal dining in a room with hardwood floors, brick walls, and ceiling fans. The upstairs menu includes traditional meats: roasted chicken and pork loin, blackened tilefish, steak, and short ribs.

Mike’s Ice Cream

$ | Downtown

A downtown Nashville staple for many years, Mike’s reminds you of a classic 1950s soda parlor, complete with vintage murals. Featuring classics like perfectly dipped cones and tall sundaes covered in chocolate, it’s a great way to end a day walking around downtown.

Puckett's Grocery and Restaurant

$$ | Downtown

If you're walking near 5th and Church downtown, you'll probably pick up the aromas from Puckett's before you see it: Puckett's is an in-town version of the popular Lieper's Fork Puckett's, a Tennessee eatery and music venue. Here you'll find new twists on Southern favorites, including barbecue sliders and "redneck burritos" of pulled pork, baked beans, and slaw, as well as salads. Puckett's also serves breakfast and features live music most nights.

Sun Diner

$ | Downtown

A city that can party all night needs all-night food options, and that’s where Sun Diner comes in, serving Southern favorites and breakfast food 24 hours a day. Located steps away from the music of Broadway, the Sun Diner takes its name from legendary rockabilly and country record label Sun Records from Memphis.

The Diner

$$ | Downtown

Despite its name, this eatery challenges diner conventions by occupying six stories of a downtown building and serving upscale entrées like steaks, oysters, and sushi (yet they still honor diner culture by remaining open for 24 hours a day). Each luxe level features a different focus like fresh seafood or cocktails, and the rooftop view is one of the best in the city.

The Southern Steak & Oyster

$$ | Downtown

An energetic addition to Nashville's dining scene, The Southern is an airy restaurant on the ground floor of the Pinnacle building. Its proximity close to a number of major sights, including Bridgestone Arena, lower Broadway, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum means a steady stream of sports fans, locals, and visitors—and live music. The menu offers large portions and features burgers and sweet potato fries, steak and oysters, salads, and a selection of creative cocktails. It's also open for breakfast.

The Standard at the Smith House

$$$$ | Downtown

A beautiful and historic 24-room town house built in the 1840s is the setting for this unique restaurant. The house retains much of the home's original decor, and dinner is served among fireplaces, oak floors, antiques, and paintings. Specialties include homemade crab bisque, crab cakes, and sweet-potato fries.

Nashville

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