The 12 Best Restaurants in Nashville Right Now

Nashville is more than hot chicken and honky tonks. Right now, the city’s dining scene is electric, driven by chefs who bend traditions and spotlight local farms with fearless creativity. Whether you crave multi course theater, handmade pasta comfort, or seafood and wine in a relaxed glow, these spots deliver nights you will keep talking about. Book ahead, bring an appetite, and get ready to taste why Nashville is one of America’s most exciting places to eat.

1. Fancypants

Here, vegetables get the VIP treatment and it feels like a celebration. Course after course leans into peak-season produce, charred, pickled, or gently poached until flavors bloom. Sauces whisper smoke and citrus while herbs show up like confetti, making even devoted carnivores grin.

You taste Tennessee farms in each bite, yet the technique roams globally. Expect surprises like roasted carrots with chili-crisp buttermilk or beets slicked with miso-brown butter. The room glows softly, with music low enough for real conversation and service that guides without fuss.

Come hungry and curious. The menu shifts frequently, so every visit feels new. Pair the tasting with playful low-ABV cocktails or a crisp pét-nat and settle in.

2. Bastion

Bastion hides in plain sight, then opens like a secret. Inside, the chef’s counter becomes a stage where bold flavors land with precision. Think chile heat balanced by acidity, umami layered under citrus, and textures that snap, crackle, and melt in careful sequence.

The tasting moves quickly but never rushes your senses. Sauces get painted with brushstrokes, herbs snipped to order, and meats kissed by embers. Every course feels like a confident dare, and somehow it always pays off.

Wine pairings lean smart and adventurous, with offbeat regions shining. Service is warm and disarmingly relaxed, keeping the focus on what is on the plate. If you want intention without pretense, book the counter.

3. Catbird Seat

At Catbird Seat, you sit ringside while the chefs compose dinner inches away. It is immersive, a little mischievous, and constantly evolving. Ferments, smokes, and unexpected textures turn familiar ingredients into something playful and new.

One night might feature scallops with funky koji and a crunchy seed cracker. Another brings an ice-cold granita over warm broth for temperature whiplash in the best way. There is a rhythm to the meal, rising and falling like a playlist built for cravings.

Pairings push boundaries with skin-contact whites and savory sakes. Service reads the room and keeps the theater welcoming. If you love culinary curveballs with craft and heart, pull up a seat.

4. Rolf and Daughters

Rolf and Daughters is the rare place where pasta feels both comforting and cool. The lumache with heritage pork ragù clings just right, while the sourdough bread with seaweed butter keeps tables quiet for a beat. Wood-fired vegetables and charred proteins bring smoke that lingers gently.

The room hums with clinking glasses and good playlists. Servers know the menu cold and steer you toward seasonal specials worth chasing. Cocktails lean bittersweet and balanced, perfect for cutting richness.

Outdoor seating buzzes on warm nights, and the vibe works for dates, friends, or solo bar dining. Save space for dessert. The menu evolves with markets, but handmade textures and bright acids stay constant.

5. Audrey

Audrey feels like a love letter to the Southern pantry. Heritage grains, mountain beans, and pickled pantry treasures show up with quiet confidence. You taste smoke from embers, sweetness from sorghum, and the tang of buttermilk lifting delicate broths.

Plates are restrained, beautiful, and deeply cared for. A corn custard might carry cured fish notes, while a leafy salad arrives with seeds and toasted grains that crackle. Service is gracious and deeply knowledgeable about the producers behind each dish.

The room is calm, almost meditative, making space for conversation. Cocktails lean herbal and bright, and the wine list respects both classics and growers. For a refined ode to place and memory, Audrey delivers.

6. June

June feels like the neighborhood spot you always wanted. Small plates drift Mediterranean, with ripe tomatoes, grilled fish, and citrusy herbs doing the heavy lifting. A glass of salty white wine meets warm olive oil and crusty bread like old friends.

The menu is concise and changes often. You might find anchovy butter slicked across toast, or lamb skewers with lemon and dill. Portions encourage sharing, so you can roam the list without missing anything.

Staff pours with intention and tells stories about growers and regions. The vibe invites lingering, whether it is a quick two-dish stop or a long, bottle-by-bottle night. Come ready to explore and graze.

7. Tailor

Tailor brings modern Indian tasting menus through a Southern lens, and the flavors sing. Spices bloom in stages, from roasted cumin and mustard seed to green cardamom and smoked chili. One course might riff on chaat with local corn, another folds Tennessee tomatoes into a silky makhani.

The room buzzes with story-driven service that explains traditions without slowing the meal. Heat is calibrated, never blunt, and acidity keeps dishes bright. Breads arrive puffed and blistered, begging for a swipe through spiced butter.

Pairings lean toward aromatic whites, crisp lager, or thoughtful zero-proof sips. The experience feels communal and celebratory without losing precision. For joyful, layered cooking, Tailor is a must.

8. Henrietta Red

Henrietta Red makes seafood feel effortless. Start with oysters, each briny and cold, then move to roasted fish with citrus and herbs. Vegetables get real attention here, from griddled squash to bright salads that cut through richness.

The room is airy and stylish without trying too hard. Cocktails lean clean and refreshing, the kind that fit perfectly between bites of shellfish. Portions are balanced, making it easy to share and explore.

Service flows smoothly, and the raw bar team is happy to guide you by salinity and size. Dessert often lands light and creamy, which is exactly what you want. It is a polished neighborhood hang you will keep returning to.

9. Peninsula

Peninsula rewards curiosity. The menu pulls from coastal Europe but wanders wherever flavor leads. You might find saffron folded into aioli for crisp potatoes, or octopus paired with smoky paprika and a bright green herb sauce.

Plates are sized for sharing and invite conversation. The kitchen plays with bitterness, salinity, and citrus in smart, surprising ways. Vegetables shine as brightly as seafood, and textures bounce from silky to crackling.

The wine list favors mineral-driven bottles that handle acid and spice with ease. Service encourages exploration without feeling pushy. If you like discovering new favorites one plate at a time, this candlelit corner is your spot.

10. City House

City House built its legend on a wood-fired heartbeat. The pizzas arrive blistered with seasonal toppings that lean Southern, like belly ham or chili vinegar greens. Pastas are rustic and satisfying, with bright acids and herbs cutting through richness.

The space hums with regulars and a bar worth lingering at. Starters rotate with market finds, and vegetables often steal the show. Cocktails and amari keep the table lively without overwhelming the food.

It is flexible, friendly, and consistently delicious. Whether you want a full dinner or a couple of plates and a spritz, you will land happy. Order something with chillies and something green, then let the oven do the talking.

11. Lockeland Table

Lockeland Table feels like a community living room that happens to cook beautifully. The menu swings from wood-roasted meats to thoughtful salads and vegetable sides. Comfort leads, but technique whispers behind every plate, keeping things bright and balanced.

Weeknights bring locals, birthdays, and last-minute dates. Service is neighborly and reliable, the kind that remembers what you liked last time. The pizza oven turns out blistered pies, while mains arrive hearty without being heavy.

Brunch is a sleeper hit with biscuits and seasonal jams. Cocktails lean classic, and the wine list is friendly to a crowd. When you want heartwarming food that still feels special, make your way here.

12. Locust

Locust is tiny, focused, and wildly compelling. The menu reads short, but each item feels dialed to perfection. Dumplings arrive delicate and juicy, pastries shatter with clean layers, and shaved ice desserts sparkle with fruit and dairy.

Japanese influences meet chefly precision, blurring bakery and fine dining in a way that surprises. The room is minimalist and intimate, with an energy that makes every seat feel coveted. Reservations vanish quickly, and for good reason.

Drinks are simple and smart, letting textures and temperature shine. Service keeps things light and direct, matching the menu’s clarity. If you chase singular bites that stick in memory, Locust delivers them in spades.