Welcome to Delicious Destinations, FamilyVacationist’s monthly dining column from food and drink writer Megan duBois. Keep reading for the best family dining spots, top restaurants for solo travelers, and irresistible snack stops in popular destinations around the U.S.
In this month’s Delicious Destinations, we’re traveling to the land of hot chicken, country music, and dance halls. Yep, we’re going to Nashville, Tennessee! This tourist hotspot is known for all those things and some fantastic local restaurants that people can’t get enough of. Whether you’re just visiting or live here permanently, here are the best places to eat in Nashville.
Best Restaurant for Breakfast in Nashville: Frothy Monkey
With multiple locations around Music City, you’ll always be close to the breakfast hotspot called the Frothy Monkey. This Nashville restaurant serves breakfast and brunch until 5:00 p.m. everyday, meaning if you partied too hard the night before, Frothy Monkey has your back no matter when you finally crawl out of bed.
Frothy Monkey Must-Have: Country Ham & Pimento Cheese Biscuit
Best Family Restaurant in Nashville: Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Bring the whole family to Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, a Nashville staple known for it’s spicy and flavorful fried chicken. Be sure to visit the original location in Midtown for the best experience. Hattie B’s serves everything from hot chicken sandwiches to half chickens and even chicken wings. And if don’t care for spicy food, no worries—Hattie B’s makes fantastic southern fried chicken too.
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken Must-Have: Hot Chicken Sandwich
Best Restaurant for Adults: Rosie Food and Wine
Looking for a fun night out where you can try multiple dishes with a tapas-style menu? In Nashville, you should head to Rosie Food and Wine. Don’t be fooled by the strip mall location. The menu at Rosie’s is filled with gems like burrata with butternut squash agradolce, sunchokes with black truffle aioli, and black fettuccini with shrimp, lobster, and chorizo.
Rosie Food and Wine Must-Have: Any of the seasonal pastas
Best Nashville Restaurant for Solo Travelers: Folk
There’s nothing better than traveling solo and hitting up the local favorite pizza spot for a late lunch or to-go dinner to eat in your hotel room while watching TV in pajamas. In my humble opinion, one of the best places to eat in Nashville is Folk. Pizza pies here include traditional takes on Margherita pizzas and white clam pizzas, along with unique toppings like radicchio, smoked mozzarella, hot honey, and garlic crunch.
Folk Must-Have: Hen of the woods, Mozzarella, Cream and Salsa Verde Pizza
Best Spot for a Snack: Chauhan Ale and Masala House
Celebrity Chef Maneet Chauhan is known for Indian flavors that have brought new life into the Nashville food scene. While Chauhan Ale and Masala House is popular for its large entree plates, I enjoy stopping in here with friends for a snack and ordering a few things to share off the appetizer menu. Chauhan and her team have created a delightful spread with things like whipped paneer, tandoori chicken poutine, and garam masala pork belly.
Chauhan Ale and Masala House Must-Have: Whipped Paneer
Best Nashville Brewery: Blackstone Brewing
Blackstone Brewing has been churning out craft beer in Nashville since 1994. The brewery offers tours and has a permanent food truck on site, so you can eat and drink with friends without needing to bar hop to somewhere else. Beer flights are a favorite here with plenty of IPAs, pale ales, and stouts to choose from.
Blackstone Brewing Must-Have: Try a flight of your favorite type of beer
