Eat & Drink
Nashville's best restaurants
The best spots with suggestions on when to go and what to order curated by locals.
How we rank and check these places
Every place here was checked on Oct. 1, 2026: open, at that address, with hours from the venue or Google. Happy hours appear only when the venue itself posts them.
Four scores, one rank. Locals is what Nashvillians say (the Nashville Scene readers' poll, local writers, the neighborhood regulars). Visitors is what travelers love (review volume, travel guides). Critics counts Michelin, the James Beard Awards, Eater, The Infatuation and the Scene's own critics. Crowd rating blends Google and Yelp stars, weighted by how many people rated the place, so 4.8 from 40 reviews does not beat 4.6 from 9,000. Top picks weighs them together; the sort menu lets you lean on any one.
Editor's picks are our own calls and say so. Sponsored places are labeled and never lead a list. Ratings are a snapshot; they move. Photos are of the place itself and credited, or there is none.
Hours, deals and cover charges change, so check with the venue. "Reserve" links may earn us a commission. Sponsored spots are labeled.
Read before you order