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City Cast Nashville

The latest on the hottest places to eat, drink, socialize, and talk about in Nashville.

Margaret Kingsbury

Calling all vegans and vegetarians! Nashville’s food scene is more than just upscale dining and hot chicken. It’s also home to inventive plant-based comfort food with globally inspired flavors. Here are some of our favorite spots to enjoy.

Located in East Nashville, Graze’s all-vegan menu includes sandwiches, wraps, tacos, and omelets, with plenty of gluten-free options and a kid’s menu. I especially love the brunch menu of faux-meat breakfast biscuits and pancakes. It’s open every day of the week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with happy hour Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

I went to AVO when it first opened in a renovated shipping container in West Nashville’s oneC1TY. It’s still there, but in a proper building across the street from the shipping containers. I confess, I kinda prefer the old location just because it was so cool! The menu is 100% vegan with many gluten-free options. It's closed on Mondays and has lunch specials during the week. After you eat, hop across the street to 

 for dairy-free and plant-based ice cream.

This West End restaurant is possibly the oldest vegetarian restaurant in Nashville, but don’t quote me on that! It serves delicious Indian food, with vegan and gluten-free options. Back when I was in college, I lived for its samosas, but I also recommend the paneers and dosas.

Sunflower Cafe first opened in Berry Hill before expanding to Donelson with a cafe and gluten-free bakery. All menu items at both locations are vegan. While only the Bakehouse is 100% gluten-free, Sunflower still features GF options. Just a heads up! The menu also accommodates other allergies. With cafeteria-style service, it’s a great casual spot. Just look for the giant sunflower!

This vegan restaurant specializes in soul food and has locations in Antioch and near Fisk University. Sweat a little with its vegan hot chicken, or get something a little less spicy with my favorite — the Soul Food Plate, which is like a vegan-style meat-and-three (collard greens, anyone?).

What’s your favorite veggie spot?

​​Discover Nashville’s top vegan and vegetarian eateries with our guide to the best plant-based dining spots.

Nashville’s Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants

The Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Nashville

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in Nashville. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

Nashville Food & Drink

Food & Drink

Toby Rose

Nashville has so many great events and restaurants to check out; it can be hard to choose what to do! For our August installment of Nashville Nights, local culture writer Toby Rose gives her top picks of restaurants and shows for the month. For more options, see our running list of the 

The first time I listened to Cameron Knowler’s music, I was on a crosstown drive in a misty spring fog. It was an uncanny introduction to his rural guitar sets. Knowler’s stripped-back albums prioritize elemental, minimally produced sounds over glossy studio arrangements. On Aug. 14, he’ll be playing alongside guitarist-composer Ben Garnett at Random Sample. The small size of the venue lends itself well to the spectral intimacy of Knowler’s songs.

Grab a bite beforehand at Soy Cubano, a fairly new spot in The Nations about a one-minute drive, or a 10-minute walk, from Random Sample. You could go for one of their classic sandwiches, but if you’re on the hungrier side, their Mojo Pork, marinated in sour orange-garlic, takes center stage. Eat on their airy patio, in their dining room under slow spinning ceiling fans, or at the bar where, of course, the mojito is the drink of choice.

We’re lucky to be alive right now, musically speaking, when we can see any nostalgia tour our teenage selves could possibly imagine. Head out to Franklin on Aug. 15 for the “It’s Iconic” tour, featuring TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue. With three of the most legendary R&B and hip-hop acts of the ’90s, this is a TRL lineup IRL.

Culamar in Franklin would be your best bet for pre-show tapas. Executive chef Frank Pullara dishes out small plates with a seaside dining vibe alongside an array of Italian wines and craft cocktails. Treat yourself by catching a sunset on the rooftop and ordering a seafood tower. As a wise trio of women once said, “free your mind and the rest will follow.”

Have you been to Wedgewood-Houston lately? The neighborhood feels like a studio backlot version of New York City, every plant and lamppost under total artistic control. It’s the easiest way to live in Manhattan for a night without having to pay Big Apple rent (not yet, at least). For dinner, you could play it safe by putting all your money on 

. Or hopscotch around a handful of restaurants: Drinks at 

Round out the evening by taking a spin through the 

. Then saunter up to Julia Martin Gallery to check out the Georganna Greene exhibition, which runs through Aug. 29th. Inspired by sensory notions of ocean depths, the celebrated local artist creates paintings that are a meditative way to soak up the last days of summer.

More August happenings

Nashville has so many great events and restaurants to check out; it can be hard to choose what to do! Here are three ideas for August.

The Best Dinner and Show Picks for August 2026

Nashville Nights: Dinner and a Show Picks for August

Hungry? Nashville has so many excellent new restaurants and bars opening every month. Here are our favorites!

Located inside L&L Market in West Nashville, Hattori Nori is the city’s first handroll sushi bar. After his success with local catering company 

, local chef Art Stacks decided to open his first restaurant. The menu and design are an 

This 21+ restaurant in Hillsboro Village offers craft cocktails and elevated tapas. Designed for a sexy vibe, they ask customers to dress in “stylish, fashion-forward attire.” Menu items include oysters, Caribbean oxtails, and jambalaya. Don’t sleep on their late-night happy hours, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Nosh Desserts has expanded into a second location at oneC1TY, right next to the SandBar. Expect the same delicious grab-and-go desserts you can find at their OG Nashville Farmers Market location, from red velvet cake to fresh fruit tarts.

Local country musician Chris Young has opened a sports bar in Midtown. Unlike other celebrity-owned bars, Young aims for Famous Friends to be a more casual, neighborhood hangout. The classic bar food menu has corndogs, wings, and burgers, with vegan options. Craft beers, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks are also on the menu.

We listed this Midtown Indian restaurant as one of our 

, and now it’s expanded to East Nashville! Located in Lost & Found’s outdoor hangout space, you’ll find all kinds of delicious cold treats, from masala chai to fig ice cream.

Nashville’s first nitrous cold-brew coffee shop is on Music Row. Originally launched at local farmers markets and later at grocery stores, Blue Hound serves cold-brew lattes and specialty coffees. You can also find pastries and a dog-friendly patio.

Just weeks after opening in Wedgewood-Houston, Culture Club, Nashville’s first frozen Greek yogurt cafe, has already expanded to a second location at Chief’s on Broadway. There’s a walk-up window and indoor seating. As a warning, there might be a bit of a line!

This farm-to-table restaurant in The Arcade changes its menu depending on seasonal produce, but everything’s always freshly prepared. With locations in Florida and North Carolina, Naked Farmer plans to expand to The Gulch with a second Nashville location later this year.

While you’re at The Arcade, stop at this Italian gelato shop for a sweet treat. Originally launched in Memphis, Zio Matto Gelato is also sold at markets around town.

This popular New York-style pizza place got its start in West Nashville in 2010, and after expanding to Franklin and Hendersonville, it’s now opening downtown in the Capitol View district. Several people wrote in to tell me it’s their 

Restaurateur Kevin Boehm has opened three Nashville restaurants this month right next to each other in Wedgewood-Houston. Momotaro serves elegant Japanese fare, Alla Vita focuses on wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta, with Middleman, a cocktail and spirits lounge, between them.

Wedgewood-Houston is also now home to Nashville’s first frozen Greek yogurt cafe, Culture Club. Cool down with delicious sundaes like the Momma Bear, featuring granola, blueberries, and artisan honey, or the Roses Are Red, topped with raspberries, pistachio cream, and rose petals.

Wedgewood-Houston is truly hopping, and this new neighborhood spot has a diner feel. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with brunch on the weekends. Check out their happy hour deals and patio.

This national chain opens on June 30 in The Gulch, and is partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee to donate one meal for every purchase at its grand opening. Sweetgreen serves salads, wraps, and protein bowls.

This popular New York City pizza place is opening its first Tennessee location at Fifth + Broadway. It’s known for its square pizzas and spicy vodka sauce.

Located in North Nashville, Vannie’s Table is open every day and offers coffee, beer, snacks, and a market full of groceries and other local goodies.

This popular cookie brand got its start in Nashville, and has once again opened a physical store in Nashville Yards. Now you can find their freshly baked cookies straight out of the oven every day of the week.

Parents rejoice: East Nashville’s newest coffee shop has a giant playground and outdoor area that’s both kid and dog-friendly. Grab a chai and a pastry and come hang out.

This new Madison dive bar is open until 3 a.m. every day. Pick a tune on the jukebox, play darts or pool, enjoy the patio with your fur children, and don’t forget the corndogs and draft beers.

Giannini’s is a new family-owned restaurant in Hermitage, with a menu of classic Italian favorites like lasagna, fettuccine alfredo, tiramisu, and wood-fired pizza. They’re open Tuesday through Saturday from 4-9 p.m.

This beloved restaurant right on Old Hickory Lake in Lebanon 

, and while it closed a few years ago, its new owners have officially reopened it. Rent a boat at the Cherokee Marina, then get a bite to eat and listen to live music at the steakhouse.

Enjoy a bite of France in the Gulch at this new café founded by 20-year-old pastry chef Mathis Combaluzier and his father. Inside is decorated with antique furniture with nods to France, but there’s also patio seating. Find croissants, crepes, and all sorts of delectable pastries from 

Head to downtown’s The Arcade for cocktails from 4 p.m.-2 a.m. at Bar Roza, from the chef behind Roze Pony and Cafe Roze. The menu includes artfully crafted cocktails with aromatic mists, non-alcoholic options, and shareable snacks.

This pizza and wine bar is on the patio of the Grand Hyatt’s rooftop bar, lou/na. Feast on artisanal pizzas like the Soppressata + Hot Honey while enjoying the view. No need to make a reservation; it’s walk-up only.

Sylvan Park’s new wine bar and market in a 1930s house offers a selection of curated wines and wine cocktails, shareable plates including charcuterie boards and marinated lamb chops, and a backyard where kids and dogs are welcome. Founder and West Nashville resident Lauren Maranto hopes it 

After closing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Calypso Cafe’s Charlotte Avenue location has reopened for dine-in service. You’ll find all the classic Calypso menu favorites — like its fruit tea and black bean nachos — plus updated interiors. The Caribbean-inspired restaurant first opened in 1989, and is now run by the founder’s cousin.

Cheekwood’s Café 29 has closed and been replaced by Perenn, a bakery that got its start in Reno, NV, but made its Tennessee debut last year in Franklin. Perenn will serve its popular bakery items alongside sandwiches, salads, and a coffee and tea menu.

East Nashville’s newest ice cream shop in the Eastwood Village shops offers “

,” with an array of toppings from Lucky Charms marshmallows to black raspberry caps. The menu also includes milkshakes and sundaes.

This popular national bubble tea chain has landed in Brentwood. But you’ll find more than just bubble tea here: You can order ramen, sushi, and rice boxes, too.

Hungry? These are the best new restaurants and bars in Nashville to check out this year.

Check Out These New Nashville Restaurants and Bars in July 2026

Nashville's Best New Restaurants and Bars

Welcome to Nashville Nights, a new column where Nashville native and culture writer Toby Rose gives her top picks of restaurants and shows for the month. For more options, check out our running list of the 

If I had to choose one concert in July, it’d be 

,” is sun-faded and nostalgic. Vile’s laidback persona is turned on its head during his live shows, when he’s backed by his band The Violators, ripping complex guitar solos that reveal just how brilliant a technical musician he is.

To set the mood for the KV show, I’d hit up 

 across from the Ryman, where you can grab the Original sandwich: Fresh ribeye and Cheez Whiz served on a classic Amoroso roll. Talk about a light summer meal!

Dodge Nashville’s scorching temps by heading to 

, a vinyl bar in East Nashville. Climbing the stairs up to the 100-year-old attic space feels like entering a sunless speakeasy. At 4:30 every afternoon, the DJ plays a classic album from beginning to end to accompany your thoughtfully crafted cocktail. Inviting the world to pause and listen to Dave Brubeck’s “

” in its entirety is a holistic and charitable act. This would be the perfect place to wait out an afternoon storm.

When you’re done with the listening session, the tried and true 

 is directly across the street, or you could walk a mile over to 

. Their back courtyard features lush greenery and string lights, lulling you into a vacation vibe. I enjoy one of their new menu items, 

, a Moroccan roasted tomato dip with fresh pita. Brightly flavored with an herby kick, it screams summer.

🏊🏼‍♀️ The Chloe + The Belcourt

, a polished new boutique hotel in Hillsboro Village. We sampled most of 

 and loved the tomato and watermelon salad, pimento ham, twin stack burger, and butter pecan ice cream sandwich. Eat in their color-drenched dining room, or opt for a poolside table. Afterwards, end your night by walking over to 

, are especially enticing. Go in, escape the humidity, and have a long summer sit.

 (true romance), I am looking for the best rooftop in Nashville. Let me know if you have any recs!

My favorite rooftop bar

🌆 What’s your favorite rooftop bar?

Enjoy a great Nashville night out with our picks for dinner and a show combos this month.

Dinner and a Show Combos for July 2026

Nashville Nights: Dinner and a Show Picks for July 2026

Whitney Pastorek

The challenge: Can we eat at an authentic restaurant for every country in the 

, owned by (or at least cheffed by) someone from the country in question? Well, no — but you’ll be surprised at how many options we 

 have. As the world comes together for this Copa Mundial, let’s support these local faves, as sorted by FIFA region.

A well-represented group! For Iranian food, 

 come recommended, with the latter offering some Jordanian cuisine as well. (We are waiving the rules for the talented Palestinians at J.R., because we made the rules.) 

 have us covered for Uzbek food. Don’t miss 

Of the 10 countries representing Africa at this year’s World Cup, I could only find authentic options for two of them. Ragab Rashwan serves up terrific Egyptian fare at 

 (a must-eat on your way to the zoo), and 

 food truck/catering service specializes in Congolese. Plenty of other restaurants offer African fare from non-World Cup countries, though, and we will forever shout out 

CONCACAF (North and Central America, Caribbean) + CONMEBOL (South America)

 — a great place for a watch party — to the ice cream at 

, this region is rockin’. You can’t skip the Mexican masas at 

, and Colombia fans have great choices in 

. We trust you know where to find North American food on your own. As for Canada? It’s 

 time — unless we cheat again to include the tandoori poutine at 

 executive chef lives in Spain, and the brothers at 

 grew up in a German-speaking household. You gotta try the French pastries at 

 bakes up sweet treats from their home in Hendersonville. But the big winner in this region is Türkiye, repped by both 

 (shout out to our local Kurdish community) and 

, where you should order the mixed grill if you want to happily fall asleep before halftime.

World Cup restaurant

Who did we leave out?

​​Nashville’s international restaurant scene is booming. Here are some of our best eats from around the globe, inspired by the World Cup.

Explore the World Via Nashville Restaurants

Dine Around the World in Nashville

Margaret Littman

Everyone’s looking for a deal these days because, yes, stuff is expensive. But right in front of us, every single day, are some great deals on food and drink, all thanks to these two beloved words: Happy hour.

Marie and I talked about happy hours on a 

, but we had so many good options that we didn’t have time to mention. We wanted to make sure you had them at your fingertips for the days when the heart wants to go out, but the wallet wants to stay in. Here are five more excellent happy hour deals in Nashville worth exploring.

Five Points Pizza has the kind of deal that makes you think of Robert’s Western World’s recession special, but you don’t have to go downtown to nab it. Between 2-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, grab a pizza slice and a PBR or Miller High Life for just $5. Upgrade to a draft beer for $8 total.

Kristin Beringson’s Henley, inside the Kimpton Aertson Hotel, is one of the city’s most overlooked gems. Check it out between 4-6 p.m. for happy hour deals, including smoked bacon queso fries, cornbread skillet, a chef’s pick, plus $9 cocktails and wines, and $5 beers.

Dickerson Pike’s Cherries is known for its perfectly mixed cocktails. At happy hour, you can try some of them, like the mezcal Buck Cherry for $8. House wines — including a bubbly, which is one of my favorites — are $6. You can accompany all of those with chips and guac or tacos. Happy hour at Cherries lasts way more than an hour: It’s daily until 8 p.m.

 for 2025. So if you like wine, it’s probably been on your list to try. Head over Sunday through Thursday from 5-6 p.m. for $10 select pours plus house cocktails. Happy hour is always a good idea, after all.

Got a crew? Maggie’s Place in The Nations is family-friendly, whether you want to come with the kids, the dogs, or both. Happy hour runs from 3-7 p.m. on Mondays, and Wednesdays through Fridays. Deals include $2 off all draft beers, five mini tacos for $8, and $20 margarita pitchers.

Note that, like everything in life, deals and times are likely to change, so double-check before heading out.

🍻 More Happy Hour Deals

Save money at these five restaurant happy hours in Nashville.

Nashville's Best Happy Hours

The Best Happy Hour Bargains in Nashville

Nashville’s foodie scene is hopping with 

 opening every month, but the oldies need our support, too. While Nashville’s oldest restaurant, Varallo’s, closed earlier this year, we still have plenty of great restaurants and bars that have been around for a very long time.

This West Nashville dive bar is not only the city’s oldest bar, but the state’s, too. While it looks like the typical semi-dilapidated dive bar, it has a storied history. The bar converted to a speakeasy during the Prohibition era, and it’s 

rumored that Al Capone was a frequent visitor

. They always have a great lineup of comedy shows and live music.

This greasy hamburger joint made its home almost 100 years ago in an old trolley car in Hillsboro Village. It’s also got that dive feel, and has only had three owners in its history. Though its hamburgers are famous, Brown’s also serves a solid breakfast.

You can find this high-end steakhouse in a Southern mansion tucked between the Centennial and St. Thomas Midtown hospitals. Founded during the Great Depression, the original Jimmy Kelly promised diners he’d always serve good steak and whiskey, though the restaurant is perhaps best known for its corncakes, after Kelly 

 from the Maxwell House Hotel known for making them.

Just a block away from Jimmy Kelly’s is this meat-and-three with a classic, pharmacy-style soda fountain. They serve three meals a day, but their milkshakes are the highlight. While the shop briefly closed in 2019, developers Tony and Lisa Giarratana reopened it in 2021, with the goal of 

Nashville’s OG hot chicken has an origin story as spicy as its menu: When Thornton Prince’s wife got fed up with his philandering ways, she served him his favorite meal, fried chicken, with heaps of peppers and spices. But instead of getting sick, Thornton loved it, and decided to open a hot chicken restaurant. Today, it’s run by his great niece, Ms. Andre Prince Jeffries.

Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash have performed at this famous Printer’s Alley restaurant, known for its burlesque and jazz. It also has quite a history, including the 

1998 murder of founder David “Skull” Schulman

Lon and Annie Loveless began serving chicken and biscuits out of their Bellevue home in 1951, but as demand grew, they converted their entire home into a restaurant and built a 14-room motel for guests. Those biscuits are still famous.

This West Nashville staple is best known for its chocolate-dipped soft serve ice cream. It was 

, but when Bobbie McWright bought it in the mid-1980s, he renamed it. While it’s changed hands a few times, it still maintains that ‘50s feel.

Right across the street from Bobbie’s is this meat-and-three, which has stayed in the same family for three generations. The restaurant serves all three meals every day except Sunday. Don’t sleep on its country ham and banana pudding.

This North Nashville cafeteria-style restaurant serves up delicious Southern soul food, and has had pretty much the same menu since its opening. It’s stayed in the family for all these years. Try the pork chops and cornbread.

🍽️ Our Favorite New Restaurants

From 1896 to today, these old-school restaurants and bars have been Nashville staples for a very long time.

10 of Nashville's Oldest Restaurants & Bars

Nashville’s Oldest Restaurants & Bars

Marie Cecile Anderson

Daniel Sumstine

Everybody loves pizza, and there are plenty of pizza places in Nashville. But which ones are the best? Here are the City Cast Nashville’s favorite pizza spots in town, from classic NYC slices to creative toppings. Do you disagree? 

Fave Pizza

In this former New Yorker’s opinion, Smith & Lentz is the closest Nashville gets to a proper slice. They do not, however, sell slices — the whole pies come as the pizza gods intended, on an elevated metal stand to be shared at the table. Try the sausage and kale, or go simple with the white pie (extra ricotta, please!) while washing it all down with a house-brewed pilsner. — 

Nicky’s Coal Fired in The Nations has Tennessee’s only coal-fired oven, which makes their pizza extra delicious. They have a great selection of red and white pies, and I love the interior’s industrial feel. And kids eat free on Mondays!

Pizza Perfect and I share a birth year: 1983! This Nashville institution, 

 from Iran, has locations in Hillsboro Village and Bellevue, and is easily the restaurant I’ve eaten at most often. The pizza always hits the spot; my favorite is the deluxe vegetarian. 

Last year, I toured all the local pizza places to find 

. There was one clear winner: Emmy Squared. It’s the only gluten-free pizza in Nashville with a thick, deep-dish crust, and wow, is it amazing. I hear their regular pizza is solid, too, with Detroit-style and regular options. There are four locations around town. 

Venito’s Pizza is located at the intersection of Harding Place and Trousdale, right next to a gas station and the train tracks, where my beloved Mamma Mia’s used to be. It’s a tiny little Italian joint, with cheap fare, great salads, and slices that will remind you of a time when pizza was simple. 

Led by Sean Brock, Sho Pizza Bar in East Nashville’s Riverside Village blends traditional Neapolitan and Japanese techniques. They obsess over the details in the best way, from imported Italian flour to a wood-fired oven fueled by local hickory and oak. I highly recommend the Salumi, topped with beef pepperoni, fresh oregano, asiago, and a chili-honey drizzle. Don’t sleep on the Caesar salad! After early success, they’re already exploring a West Nashville expansion. 

 joint wins for pure creativity: From lemon pepper chicken to chili crisp, street tacos, and oxtail, they’re willing to put just about anything on their hand-stretched dough. Their full menu also features pasta and fish dishes likely to please the less adventurous eaters among us. — 

This Gallatin Pike newcomer is about to get some stiff competition up the street (

 soft opens this weekend, y’all!), but for now, you can’t beat their $3 pizza-by-the-slice, all day and all night — except for happy hour, when the price drops to $1. You’ll need those slices once you settle onto their charming, dog-friendly patio and accidentally have one too many Italian margaritas. — 

It’s very good pizza. It’s available at three locations, by the slice or as a whole pie. Just eat it. You won’t be mad. —

🍕 More Pizza Spots!

Everybody loves pizza. Here are the best pizza spots in Nashville.

9 of the Best Pizza Spots in Nashville

The Best Pizza in Nashville

If you’re sticking around town for the school break and are experiencing some FOMO while looking at your friends’ meals in far-flung locations, we’re here to show you that you can eat like world travelers without leaving the 615 area code. Here are some staycation dining ideas that might cure your restlessness and let you try some new spots and dishes, all without TSA hassles or BNA traffic delays.

 was born when Jennifer Cheung Cline and Jerry Cline moved to Nashville and missed the fresh fish they used to get in Hawaii. From their oneC1TY location, they offer all sorts of seafood from Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest, served with that friendly Hawaiian Aloha. (For more on the Clines, listen to 

If you wish you were in Vail, Colorado …

Despite all the snow and ice we already had this year, some of our neighbors wanted more and headed west to go skiing. If you wish you were with them, head to 

, a 12 South neighborhood bar with an apres-ski vibe. Don your favorite sweater and order big burgers and drinks designed to warm your toes.

Staying in Nashville for spring break? These restaurants can give you the traveling vibe right here at home.

Food & Drink

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Nashville Nights: Dinner and a Show Picks for August

Nashville's Best New Restaurants and Bars

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