14 Best Restaurants in East Nashville, Nashville

Five Points Pizza

$ | East Nashville Fodor's choice

A lively strip of bars wouldn't be complete without a pizza joint, and Five Points Pizza fills that void in the Five Points neighborhood, slinging slices, pies, and brews to the crowds heading to nearby 3 Crow Bar or the Five Spot. For the late-night set, Five Points offers a walk-up window for ordering slices to go. The prosciutto and basil slice is a sure bet, as are the big, greasy garlic knots.

Folk

$$ | East Nashville Fodor's choice

Chef Philip Krajeck's first Nashville restaurant Rolf and Daughters has been a runaway success since opening in 2012, and he has another success on his hands with new spot Folk, situated in East Nashville's Cleveland Park neighborhood. Seasonal salads and small plates round out a well-balanced menu.

Mitchell Delicatessen

$ | East Nashville Fodor's choice

Mitchell Delicatessen is one of the pillars of East Nashville's Riverside Village neighborhood, and having relocated from across the street to a larger space in 2014, it's one of the more spacious delis in town (with a large covered patio, to boot). Come for classics like the Turkey Avocado; come back for Mitchell creations like the Turkey Apple Brie and Asian Flank Steak.

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The Pharmacy

$ | East Nashville Fodor's choice

If you have a hankering for good burgers and good beer, look no further than the Pharmacy to cure what ails you. The outdoor beer garden is hard to beat for both its size and ambience, and the food itself is fresh, locally sourced, and thoughtfully served. Though burgers are the name of the game, there are vegetarian-friendly options. Be sure to try The Pharmacy's house-made phosphates (sodas) and milk shakes.

Barista Parlor

$ | East Nashville

The East Nashville location of Barista Parlor is the spot that started it all for the growing local coffee chain. Barista Parlor is known for paying almost an excruciating level of detail to all of its coffee beverages, so you know you're getting a quality cup of coffee every time you visit. They also sell pastries and small bites, served up in a painstakingly hip environment.

Bongo Java East

$ | East Nashville

The eastern outpost of the local Bongo Java empire, this location is in East Nashville's bustling Five Points neighborhood. Stop in for coffee, tea, pastries, sandwiches, and more, served up in a refreshingly unpretentious environment by a friendly, knowledgeable staff. Bongo also has beer on tap and a selection of board games (thanks to a 2017 merger with Game Point Café), so it's the perfect spot to transition from daytime work to evening play.

Butcher and Bee

$$ | East Nashville

Though it only opened in 2015, Butcher and Bee is already a Nashville culinary mainstay. The restaurant is convenient both to downtown and to East Nashville's Five Points, and offers guests a variety of dining options, from a casual weekend brunch to an elegant dinner of small, shared plates, all of which find the middle ground between Middle Eastern and Southern American influences. The whipped feta is a must-try.

Dose Café and Dram Bar

$ | East Nashville

Located in East Nashville's Riverside Village neighborhood, Dose Café and Dram Bar serves up some of the city's finest espresso drinks. In addition to a caffeine fix, you'll find a full food menu, baked goods, beer, wine, and cocktails, making Dose the perfect one-stop shop for exploring the neighborhood.

Edley's Bar-B-Que

$ | East Nashville

At Edley's it's first come, first served for their mouthwatering brisket. If you miss the brisket, there are plenty of other delectable Southern barbecue favorites, quickly made to order and enjoy on polished-wood picnic tables inside or on the large patio; you can wash it down with a local craft beer or their signature Bushwacker, a chocolate rum milk shake.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams

$ | East Nashville

Jeni's has become such a popular presence in Nashville that many people, locals included, forget the string of ice cream shops is actually based in Ohio. No matter, though, as the colorful shop and its artful flavors of ice cream and sorbet fit right in here in Music City, particularly in East Nashville. Stop by for dessert after dinner at Rosepepper, which is conveniently located just across the street.

Lockeland Table

$$ | East Nashville

Equipped with a wood-burning stove, a smoker, and a garden of fresh vegetables, Chef Hal Holden-Bache gets down to business preparing some serious down-home cooking at his popular neighborhood restaurant, which serves comfort-gourmet food in a relaxed setting. Don't miss their cocktail menu, which features seasonal-inspired mixed drinks.

Margot Café and Bar

$$ | East Nashville

In 2001, when Nashville native Margot McCormack brought her Culinary Institute of America/New York City café–pedigree back home to establish Margot Café, she sparked a food revolution that has since swept through East Nashville. Her local dining institution consistently offers a delightfully inconsistent menu, with Southern-influenced rustic Italian and French dishes served daily. Ingredients are seasonal and always fresh; and fish, chicken, and meat dishes are prepared in an accessible, gourmet-meets-comfort-food style.

Rosepepper Mexican Grill

$$ | East Nashville

Even if you haven't been to Rosepepper, it's possible you've seen a photo of the restaurant's front sign, which features humorous comments like, "We love margaritas as much as Kanye loves Kanye." Luckily for guests, the food and drinks, which span classic Mexican fare like tacos as well as Americanized hybrids like the Mexican Caesar salad, are as good as the restaurant's sense of humor. They have a great outdoor space, too, so visit when the weather's nice.

Ugly Mugs

$ | East Nashville

Ugly Mugs is a neighborhood coffee shop on the edge of East Nashville's Lockeland Springs neighborhood. For those staying in the area, it's a great spot to grab coffee, breakfast, or a simple lunch or dinner, and it's also a popular hangout for local musicians, so you never know who you might run into.

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