The Best Restaurants in Nashville (2026)
Nashville’s dining map stopped being hot chicken and steakhouses a while ago. This is the shortlist we actually drive to — twelve rooms spanning omakase counters, regional Italian, celebrity Indian, charcoal Turkish, Iberian small plates, and Mexico City masa — chosen and road-tested by the chauffeur who takes guests to their doors every week. Every entry carries the arrival intel you only learn from a thousand drop-offs.
Looking for a particular dish? We’ve compiled more than 100 menus into one exclusive search tool — type a craving below, or filter by area.
New Arrivals — 2026 · 2
The heavyweights that just landed — fresh intel, fresh menus.
Zaytinya
Eastern Mediterranean · The GulchJosé Andrés’s Eastern Mediterranean debut in Nashville, tucked inside the W. Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese mezze — hommus, spanakopita, smoked lamb shoulder — built for the table and poured with Mediterranean wines.
No separate restaurant door — I’ll pull under the W’s porte-cochère at 12th & Division and you walk through the lobby. Valet’s right there; Friday and Saturday after six it backs up, so we’ll leave a few minutes early.
Alla Vita
Handmade Pasta & Wood-Fired Pizza · Wedgewood-HoustonBoka Restaurant Group’s Wedgewood-Houston Italian, from Michelin-starred chef Lee Wolen. Handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, and shareable antipasti in a warm, buzzing room that opened summer 2026.
Valet runs $15 at the shared Houston Street stand and it’s worth it — street parking here is a headache. That stand also serves Momotaro and Middleman next door, so I’ll tell them Alla Vita. Lines peak 7 to 9 on weekends.
Italian · 4
Michelin-level to Brooklyn-loud — where I take the pasta people.
Yolan
Michelin-Level Italian · SoBroTony and Cathy Mantuano’s upscale Italian room in The Joseph, built around handmade pastas and oak-fired American Wagyu. The menu rotates by Italian region — the current cycle spotlights Sardinia — and the five-course Esperienza tasting is the move for special nights.
Valet at the hotel entrance — we drop you at the door and you walk straight past the line to the host stand.
City House
Wood-Fired Italian · GermantownJames Beard winner Tandy Wilson’s warehouse trattoria — wood-fired pizzas, house pasta, and Southern-Italian plates that helped put Nashville on the map.
Germantown side streets fill up fast; I’ll drop you at the 4th Ave door and go find parking. Closed Tuesdays — I’ll confirm before we roll.
Rolf & Daughters
Seasonal Pasta · GermantownPhilip Krajeck’s influential Germantown room, named one of America’s best new restaurants — handmade pasta and natural wine in a converted factory.
It’s in the old Werthan factory on Taylor; I’ll pull right to the door. Reservations go fast, so book ahead and I’ll time the pickup.
Pelato
Brooklyn-Italian · GermantownThe Scotto family’s loud, fun Brooklyn-Italian — potato croquettes, vodka radiatori, and zeppole served in a paper bag.
3rd Ave North; valet’s tight here so I’ll circle close. Go early or late to dodge the peak crush.
French · 2
Brasserie nights and a proper steak frites.
Drusie & Darr
Jean-Georges at The Hermitage · DowntownJean-Georges Vongerichten’s Nashville outpost inside the 1910 Hermitage Hotel: caviar egg toast, black truffle pizza, and a famous molten chocolate cake in a glam vaulted room that still lets you order a burger.
Use the hotel portico drop-off on 6th — zero walking, and the doorman handles the rest.
Pastis
French Brasserie · Wedgewood-HoustonKeith McNally’s famed NYC brasserie in the May Hosiery Mills — steak frites, duck confit, and onion soup under Parisian tin ceilings.
Houston Street in Wedgewood-Houston; I’ll drop at the door. Dinner runs late — text when you’re wrapping and I’ll be out front.
Sushi & Japanese · 3
Omakase counters and a Michelin star, all worth the drive.
Sushi | Bar
17-Course Hidden Omakase · North GulchA 12-seat speakeasy omakase counter behind an unmarked door inside the Golden Sound cocktail bar. Two-hour seatings, playful new-wave nigiri, and reservations that vanish the day they drop each month.
Very tight curb on Magazine St — we time the drop to your seating and circle back at exactly the two-hour mark.
Locust
Michelin ★ Seafood · 12 SouthNoma alum Trevor Moran’s Michelin-starred, reservation-only 12 South counter — Berkshire dumplings, seasonal seafood, and shaved-ice kakigori.
Tiny room on 12th Ave S, Friday through Sunday only; I’ll drop close and stay near — it’s a set seating, so timing is tight.
Kisser
Michelin Bib · East NashvilleBib Gourmand Japanese comfort in Highland Yards — chicken katsu sando, onigiri, and miso ramen. Lunch and brunch only.
Douglas Ave, daytime only; parking’s easy midday. A great pre-flight stop if I’m running you to BNA after.
Chinese, Korean & Pan-Asian · 3
Peking duck to tabletop galbi.
Noko
Wood-Fired Asian Fusion · East NashvilleEast Nashville’s perpetually buzzy live-fire room: tuna crispy rice, crab fried rice in wagyu fat, and a 42oz tomahawk for the table. A Texas-BBQ streak runs through the smoked wagyu brisket.
Parking lot on site, but weekend peaks jam it — curbside drop on Porter Rd beats circling.
Philippe Chow
Upscale Chinese · The GulchThe city’s premier high-end Chinese, in Cummins Station — tableside Peking duck, Beijing chicken, and prawns built to share.
Cummins Station has a garage; I’ll drop at the 10th Ave entrance. The duck needs a heads-up — order it when you book.
Korea House
Korean Homestyle · West NashvilleThe city’s longtime Korean benchmark on Charlotte Pike — bibimbap, bubbling stews, and tabletop galbi, banchan-forward.
Charlotte Pike strip center; parking’s ample. It’s closed some Thursdays and Sundays, so I’ll confirm hours first.
Thai & Vietnamese · 3
Bright, fast, and some of the best value in town.
International Market
Modern Thai · BelmontThe Myint family’s 1975 Belmont institution, reborn by the founders’ children — elevated Thai alongside the original steam-table classics.
Belmont Blvd; street parking’s fine off-peak. They take a short summer break, so I’ll confirm they’re open before we head over.
S.S. Gai
Michelin Bib Thai · East NashvilleBib Gourmand Thai fried chicken — smoky gai tod, grilled gai yang, pounded salads, and sticky rice inside The Wash.
It’s a vendor bay in a converted car wash on McKennie; I’ll get you to the right door. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Vui’s Kitchen
Vietnamese · Berry HillRepeatedly voted Nashville’s best Vietnamese — from-scratch pho, vermicelli bowls, and banh mi, no MSG, in bright Berry Hill.
Bransford Ave in Berry Hill; easy lot, quick in-and-out. A solid fresh, fast option between stops.
Indian · 2
Maneet Chauhan’s masala and Vivek Surti’s tasting table.
Tailor
South Asian Dinner Party · GermantownVivek Surti’s supper-club tasting menu tells his Gujarati-American family story over 7–10 courses served to the whole room at once. James Beard winner, Michelin-recommended, and seasonal reservation drops that sell out fast.
Side-street parking is scarce at seating time — we drop you at the Taylor St door minutes before the room sits.
Chauhan Ale & Masala House
Celebrity Indian-Southern · The GulchManeet Chauhan’s flagship in a converted Gulch garage mashes Indian street food into Southern comfort: tandoori poutine, gol guppa shots, tamarind lamb chops, and an ale house’s worth of craft beer.
Drop at 12th Ave — the front curb is quick and the Gulch garages are a ten-minute detour you don’t need.
Mediterranean, Middle Eastern & African · 7
Mezze, wood-fired kebabs, and injera piled high.
Aba
Mediterranean Oasis · Wedgewood-HoustonA rooftop-vibe Mediterranean arrival (2025) where shareable spreads rule — crispy short rib hummus and hot honey halloumi are the calling cards — backed by kebabs and a deep Mediterranean wine list.
The valet stand backs up on weekends — we drop at the Houston St entrance and you skip it entirely.
Eleven11
Modern Vietnamese Counter · Cleveland ParkAn 11-seat Vietnamese chef’s counter from an ex-Catbird Seat chef, hidden in a former Piggly Wiggly with a cocktail lounge and discotheque attached. Crispy tomato rice and hand-cut garlic noodles are the must-orders.
Easy street access on Dickerson — we drop at the door and the lounge holds you if you’re early.
Edessa
Charcoal Turkish-Kurdish · Nolensville PikeThe anchor of Nashville’s international corridor: charcoal kebabs, balloon lavash, and the tableside-cracked clay-pot testi kebabi, finished with kunafe and proper Turkish tea. Halal and family-style.
Large lot on Nolensville Pike — easiest drop on this list, straight to the door.
Peninsula
Intimate Iberian · East NashvilleJake Howell — 2025 James Beard Best Chef: Southeast — runs this tiny Eastland room with a monthly-changing, decidedly nontraditional Spanish-Portuguese menu and old-world wines. Thursday through Saturday only.
Small curb space on Eastland — we stage a block east and pull up exactly at your reservation.
Sirocco
Refined Mediterranean Scene · East NashvilleA splashy Five Points arrival pairing flame-grilled Mediterranean plates — romesco octopus, kofta trios, za’atar salmon — with a Miami-style rooftop and DJ brunch scene.
Direct front-door drop on Woodland — the Five Points lot fills by 7pm, so let us handle it.
Lyra
Modern Middle Eastern · East NashvilleWood-fired modern Middle Eastern on W Eastland — hot pita straight from the oven, layered mezze, and spiced grilled mains.
Quiet East Nashville corner; I’ll pull right to the door. Dinner only, Monday through Saturday.
Gojo Ethiopian
Ethiopian · South NashvilleWidely called the city’s best Ethiopian — injera piled with spiced wats, tibs, and kitfo, plus a deep vegan combo.
Thompson Lane, South Nashville; easy lot. It’s family-style and shareable, so bring an appetite.
Mexican & Latin American · 4
Heirloom masa, agave bars, and ceviche that wakes the table.
Alebrije
High-End Mexico City · East NashvilleEdgar Victoria’s pop-up-turned-restaurant grinds Mexican-imported corn in-house for its masa. The days-simmered 40-ingredient family mole and brisket tacos are the signatures.
Street parking on Gallatin is hit-or-miss — curbside drop at the Suite 203 stair is the clean play.
Maiz de la Vida
Heirloom Mexican · The GulchJulio Hernandez’s heirloom-masa Mexican, USA Today’s 2026 Restaurant of the Year — quesabirria, mole, and hand-nixtamalized tortillas.
8th Ave S in the Gulch; I’ll drop at the door. Lines build fast, so go early and I’ll hold nearby.
Limo Peruvian
Peruvian Ceviche · East NashvilleMarcio Florez’s ceviche-forward Peruvian on Fatherland — tiraditos, causas, and leche de tigre bright enough to wake the whole table.
Fatherland St near Five Points; street parking. Small room, so reservations help and I’ll time the drop.
Cinco de Mayo
Mexican · West EndRicky’s West End go-to for Mexican — sizzling fajitas, queso fundido, and enchiladas supreme, generous and quick.
Right on West End near Vanderbilt; I’ll drop at the door and grab parking. Stays fast even when it’s busy.
Southern & Meat-and-Three · 3
Pass-the-platter Nashville — come hungry.
Monell’s
Family-Style Southern · GermantownRicky’s pick — a Germantown Victorian where strangers share big tables and pass platters of skillet fried chicken, meatloaf, and dumplings. All-you-care-to-eat.
6th Ave North; I’ll drop right at the porch. Come hungry — it’s communal seating, so a group works easily.
Arnold’s Country Kitchen
Meat-and-Three · The GulchJames Beard ‘America’s Classic’ meat-and-three — slide your tray down the steam line for roast beef, greens, and chess pie. Weekday lunch only.
8th Ave S; the lunch line moves fast. It closes mid-afternoon, so I’ll get you there before the pans run dry.
Husk
Farm-Driven Southern · Rutledge HillSean Brock’s legacy of exclusively Southern-grown cooking in an 1880s mansion — the benne-bun cheeseburger, fried chicken, and cornbread.
Rutledge Hill, just south of downtown; there’s a lot. The menu changes twice daily, so there’s always something new.
Hot Chicken · 3
The dish this city invented. Mind the heat.
Prince’s Hot Chicken
Hot Chicken Originator · South NashvilleThe family that invented Nashville hot chicken — fiery, cayenne-lacquered quarters on white bread with pickles. The original.
Nolensville Rd location — the old Ewing Dr shack is gone. I’ll route you to the right door; the heat levels are no joke.
Hattie B’s
Hot Chicken · MidtownThe modern hot-chicken ambassador and the only one with a Michelin Bib — six heat levels, pimento mac, and a line out the door.
Midtown flagship on 19th; the line’s part of the deal. I’ll drop and circle, or we hit a quieter location.
Red’s
Nashville Hot Chicken · MidtownRicky’s favorite hot chicken — 36-hour buttermilk-brined birds, the mac-and-cheese crunchwrap, and chicken and waffles near Vanderbilt.
27th Ave N in Midtown; daytime hours, closed Monday and Tuesday. I’ll get you there before they sell out.
BBQ · 3
Whole-hog, Memphis dry-rub, and Texas brisket.
Martin’s Bar-B-Que
Whole-Hog BBQ · DowntownPat Martin’s whole-hog joint — a fresh hog smokes 24 hours over hickory for pulled pork, the redneck taco, and smoked bologna.
4th Ave S downtown; I’ll drop at the door. It gets slammed on show nights, so earlier is smoother.
Peg Leg Porker
Memphis BBQ · The GulchBBQ Hall of Famer Carey Bringle’s Gulch pit — Memphis dry-rub ribs, pulled pork, and dry-rub wings.
Gleaves St in the Gulch; nearby garages. Closed Sundays — I’ll confirm before we head over.
Shotgun Willie’s BBQ
Central-Texas BBQ · MadisonRicky’s BBQ pick — Central-Texas brisket the Austin way: prime Angus, salt-and-pepper bark, sold by the pound till it’s gone.
East Nashville, off Gallatin Pike; they cook till sell-out, so we go early. I’ll confirm the day’s hours first.
Regional American & Transplants · 2
Philly cheesesteaks and New Orleans gumbo, done right.
Brotherly Love
Philly Cheesesteaks · The NationsReal Philadelphia cheesesteaks on imported Amoroso rolls in The Nations — whiz or provolone, plus wings and a full bar.
54th Ave N in the Nations; easy parking. Quick and casual — a good stop around a West Nashville run.
The Gumbo Bros
New Orleans Cajun · The GulchNew Orleans gumbo and po’boys on flown-in Leidenheimer bread — seafood gumbo, étouffée, and croissant beignets.
12th Ave S at the edge of the Gulch; I’ll drop at the door. Weekend crawfish boils draw a crowd.
New American & Seafood · 3
A Michelin tasting and the city’s best oysters.
The Catbird Seat
Michelin ★ Tasting · South GulchNashville’s Michelin-starred chef’s-counter — a 13-to-15-course tasting for 25 guests around a pink-marble counter in Paseo.
8th Ave S, 5th floor; I’ll drop at the building and be back for the single seating. Reservations release monthly.
Henrietta Red
Oysters & New American · GermantownJames Beard finalist Julia Sullivan’s Germantown room with the city’s best oyster program, wood-oven seafood, and a bright raw bar.
4th Ave N in Germantown; I’ll drop at the door. The raw bar’s busiest early — reservations smooth it out.
The Optimist
Seafood & Oyster · GermantownFord Fry’s airy Germantown seafood house with a standout oyster bar, seasonal seafood, and Happy Hour every day until 6 PM.
Adams St, Germantown; lot on site. Great for a group — the seafood tower is the move.
Every Table on the Map
The complete field — every menu searchable in the Menu Finder.
Frequently Asked
What’s the best restaurant in Nashville right now?
It depends on the night. Our star Chauffeur’s Picks (Monell’s, Red’s, Shotgun Willie’s, Cinco de Mayo) are personal favorites; filter the guide by cuisine to find yours.
How is this guide different from Yelp or Eater?
Every entry carries Chauffeur Intel: where to be dropped off, valet vs. curb, and timing. It is the operational detail you only learn from a thousand drop-offs.
Can I see the menus?
Yes. Every restaurant links into our Nashville dining menu finder with dishes and prices for 100-plus spots.
Do you provide a car to these restaurants?
Yes. My Nashville Driver offers private chauffeur service anywhere in this guide. Book online or text (615) 800-1829.
How often is this guide updated?
It is re-verified monthly (currently July 2026). We rotate new arrivals, flag closures, and add notable new openings.
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