Nashville's 12 Best Neighborhoods for Eating, Ranked

12. The Nations

Essentials : Fifty - First Kitchen & Bar , House : A Social Eatery , Taqueria la Juquilita , Centennial Cafe

Considering the money pour into this neighborhood as part of residential and retail development , it wo n’t be farsighted until the mettlesome Nations has fully morphed into Historic West Town and all the culinary opportunities that beseem its new uppity position thanks to refined spots likeFifty - First Kitchen & Bar . But do n’t worry , there are still great effortless options such asHouse : A Social Eatery , Taqueria la Juquilita , and Centennial Cafe .

11. Downtown

Essentials : merchandiser , Acme Feed & Seed , The Southern Steak & Oyster , Skull ’s Rainbow Room

Unlike most urban centers that are the place to rule the best eats in townspeople , Downtown Nashville reasonably much roll up the sidewalks northward of Broadway after dark . It ’s still the practiced orbit to party like it ’s 1979 at restaurants likeSkull ’s Rainbow RoomorMerchants , back when score was an appropriate union with a T - bone . Acme Feed & SeedandThe Southern Steak & Oysterare pop with tourer and locals likewise .

10. Sylvan Park

Essentials : Caffe Nonna , Miel , Park Cafe , McCabe Pub

When it comes to resident lose their ever - loving mind about buffet car park in front of their residences , Sylvan Park preceded 12South by a few years . But we ca n’t help it . The snug neck of the woods vibe of the bar and restaurants likeCaffe Nonna , Miel , Park CafeandMcCabe Pubare so attractive , we ’re just gon na keep come .

9. Edgehill

necessity : Thai Esane , Bella Napoli , Edgehill Cafe , Funk Seoul Brother

It ’s probably stretching the bounds of Edgehill a piece to includeThai Esane , but that ’s enough to fall apart this area into the top 10 . Combined with the new sushi burrito option atFunk Seoul Brother , those are some pretty all-fired fine Asian selection for you . Bella NapoliandEdgehill Cafeare family - friendly hangs as well .

8. Inglewood

requirement : Rudie ’s Seafood and Sausage , Mitchell Delicatessen , Pied Piper Eatery , Pepperfire Hot Chicken

Do n’t go looking for anything fancy in the ‘ Wood ‘ hood . The denizens of this old - schooling East Nashville area like their restaurant family - well-disposed atPied Piper Eatery , their Gallus gallus spicy atPepperfire Hot Chicken , and their beer cold and sausage and sandwich utterly pleasant-tasting at neighbourhood stalwartsRudie ’s Seafood and SausageandMitchell Delicatessen . Ca n’t say we charge them …

7. Melrose

necessity : Sinema , The Smiling Elephant , The Hook , M.L. Rose

For a neighborhood that had only a handful of occupier a decade ago , Melrose has apace built a report as a fun and funky place to live with noted eateries such asSinemaandThe Smiling Elephant . Not especially walkable yet , it ’s a difficult place to bar hop . Pick a favorite spot likeThe HookorM.L. Rose , and settle in for the prospicient haul until it ’s Uber o’clock .

6. East Nashville

Essentials : Margot Cafe , Marche Artisan Foods , The Treehouse , Lockeland Table

While the descriptor “ East Nashville ” may be too generic now that Mainlanders have actually learn the name of a few discrete neighborhood across the Cumberland , the dining prospect is anything but generic . If the only restaurants in the area were chef Margot McCormack ’s two democratic eateries , Margot CafeandMarche Artisan Foods , it would warrant inclusion on this listing , but there is heap of culinary variety and excellence at favorites likeThe TreehouseandLockeland Tableto sop up you over to the People ’s Republic of East Nashville .

5. Midtown

Essentials : The Catbird Seat , Le Sel , Midtown Cafe , Hattie B ’s

Two Strategic Hospitality properties , The Catbird SeatandLe Sel , foreground the near of the best in the primarily commercial area , but Randy Rayburn’sMidtown Caferemains the lynchpin of the neighborhood and one of the most popular business lunch in town . The line of thirsty hot - chicken lovers look outside ofHattie B’sis another constant .

4. SoBro

Essentials : Arnold ’s Country Kitchen , Etch , The Farm House , Peg Leg Porker

From philistine to in high spirits - inflect , the centripetal element of these SoBro eating house is pleasant-tasting and soulful food at position likeArnold ’s Country KitchenandThe Farm House . Chef Deb Paquette creates some of the most beautiful food in town atEtch , andPeg Leg Porkerpours melted cheese and jalapeños all over perpetrate pork as part of the BBQ nacho . That ’s two illustration of genius at work !

3. 12South

Essentials : Epice , Josephine , Edley ’s Bar - B - Que , Urban Grub

The most walkable strip of dining destinations in town , 12South is a mi of opportunities with many excellent selection along the way . It ’s bookended by the Mediterranean delights ofEpiceand the modern Pennsylvania bistro fare ofJosephine(yeah , that ’s a thing ) . Find a parking spot somewhere in the vicinity and roll the dining die . You wo n’t be disappointed . Edley’sandUrban Grubare solid berth to get started .

2. The Gulch

essential : The 404 Kitchen , Biscuit Love , Prima , Otaku Ramen

One would not carry to find great restaurant in an area that was once the flume dug underneath the main avenues of Downtown to route the railroads through Downtown without interfering with car traffic . If one really felt that direction , one would be dead faulty , because the burgeon Gulch neighborhood has become one of the most vivacious residential and dining areas in townspeople . For breakfast , lunch , dinner party , or drink , there are always multiple fantabulous choices along the tracks . Plan your itinerary aroundBiscuit Love , Otaku Ramen , PrimaandThe 404 Kitchen .

1. Germantown

requirement : City House , Rolf & Daughters,5th & Taylor , Germantown Cafe

Quite simply , Germantown is where some of the rank best chefs in town advert their toques . Multiple chef - ram restaurants have afford in the neck of the woods over the past tenner , require advantage of interesting architecture and residential complexes that are springing up all over like wildflowers . The reservation books atCity House , Rolf & Daughtersand5th & Taylorare also fulfill with residents of other neighborhood who are just now figuring out that all the streets there are named after presidents . Germantown Caferemains a steady choice that was Germantown when Germantown was n’t nerveless .

sign on up herefor our casual Nashville electronic mail and be the first to get all the food / drink / fun the Music City has to pop the question .

Etch