Nashville Is Way More Than A Music Town, And The Food Proves It

Nashville gets slapped with the “music town” label so often that people forget it’s also one of the best food cities in America. Yes, the honky tonks on Lower Broadway are an absolute blast. And there’s a ton of music history with the Country Music Hall of Fame, RCA Studio B, the Grand Ole Opry, and the Ryman Auditorium.

But anyone who’s spent real time eating and drinking their way through Music City knows the real story runs a lot deeper.. and a lot tastier.

I recently spent four days in Nashville on a hosted press trip organized by the Nashville CVC, and it reshaped everything I thought I knew about the city. Here’s the honest take on what to eat, drink, and do when you go.

Where to Stay: Two Hotels That Get It Right

We spent the first two nights at the Noelle Hotel in downtown Nashville, and it immediately set the tone. Located in a building that dates back to 1930, the Noelle has been thoughtfully restored without losing its soul. The 224 rooms come loaded with perks, and the styling of the rooms is second to none. But what sets it apart is how deeply it leans into Nashville’s identity. The boutique hotel partners with local makers, artists, and food purveyors, so everything from the ceramics to the breakfast menu has a genuine connection to the city. It’s the kind of place that feels local, not like a generic box you could drop into any American city. It’s also located just blocks from Lower Broadway, so you can’t beat that!

Midway through the trip, we moved to the W Nashville in The Gulch neighborhood, and the contrast couldn’t have been sharper – in the best way. The W is sleek, modern, and energetic, with Nashville’s largest hotel pool area, a rooftop bar, and a glowing-gold living room lounge perfect for a nightcap. The location in The Gulch also puts you within walking distance of an incredible concentration of restaurants, bars, and live music venues. Both hotels are excellent, and between them they cover every style of traveler.

The Food Scene: Start Here

Gannons Nashville — A Downtown Gem

The trip kicked off with dinner at Gannons Nashville, a casual fine-dining spot in the heart of downtown that punches well above its weight. Fresh oysters, creative cocktails designed by a skilled team of mixologists, and live jazz music in the background; it’s the kind of place that makes you want to linger for hours. While Nashville hot chicken might get most of the food press, a meal at Gannons is a good reminder that this city can do elevated and refined just as well as it can do down-home.

We ordered a couple of appetizers for the table, including an impressive charcuterie platter that had everyone buzzing. I started off with a rich, velvety Lobster Bisque that was delicious. Then for the main event, I got a Filet Mignon (topped with a creamy hollandaise sauce with shrimp) that tied everything together beautifully, and the steak was cooked perfectly. Good vibes, great food, and impeccable service – a great start to the trip.

Peg Leg Porker — BBQ Done Properly

If you’re eating only one plate of barbecue in Nashville, make it Peg Leg Porker in The Gulch. The restaurant is serious about its craft: fresh meats smoked daily, sides made from scratch, bread and desserts sourced from local bakeries. Multiple food awards hang on the walls, and they’ve earned every one of them. The pulled pork is exceptional, but honestly everything on the menu holds up. This is not tourist-trap BBQ. This is the real thing.

We went there for lunch and kicked things off with a few orders of BBQ nachos for the table, which we scarfed up in record time. I ordered a Pulled Pork Sandwich platter, with a side of mac and cheese and BBQ baked beans, and everything was amazing. Naturally, I had to try their dry rubbed ribs as well, which were insanely good, with a crust and smoke depth that reminded you why people make pilgrimages for great barbecue. Save room for dessert, because you’d be doing yourself a disservice to leave without the banana pudding or one of their fried pies.. and splurge for a scoop of ice cream on top. Non-negotiable.

Etch — The Best Dinner You’ll Have in Nashville

Chef Deb Paquette’s Etch is the kind of restaurant that reminds you why people become food writers. This globally inspired spot in downtown Nashville delivers a menu that draws from Paquette’s favorite culinary regions around the world, resulting in dishes that feel inventive without being gimmicky. Two private dining rooms, a chef’s bar overlooking the open kitchen, and a full bar round out an experience that is genuinely outstanding. Book a table here on every Nashville trip, full stop.

I started with the Duck Tart and the Etch Salad — both excellent, and a great preview of what Paquette’s kitchen is capable of. Then came the Grilled Filet Mignon, and honestly “insane” is the only word for it. It was the kind of main course you think about for days afterward. The meal closed with a Chocolate Mousse Bar that was every bit as good as everything that came before it. From start to finish not a single miss, a truly impressive dinner.

Assembly Food Hall — Lunch With Options

For a more casual midday meal, Assembly Food Hall at Fifth + Broadway is one of the best food-hall concepts I’ve encountered anywhere. Opened in 2021 above the Fifth + Broadway complex, it brings together more than 30 artisan eateries, nine themed full-service bars, and three live performance stages under one roof. It’s inspired by Nashville’s diverse culture and genuinely delivers on that promise. Whether you want Nashville Hot Chicken, a craft burger, sushi, or just a solid cocktail, you’ll find it here.

After much deliberation, I ended up deciding on The Cheese Lab, and it did not disappoint. The Nashville Smokehouse Melty (think elevated grilled cheese with brisket) was absolutely incredible, the kind of sandwich that makes you stop mid-bite and just appreciate what’s happening. I paired it with a side of their mac and cheese, and it was beyond satisfying. What makes Assembly Food Hall such a win is that a meal this good won’t break the bank, with the quality-to-price ratio here hard to beat anywhere in the city.

Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery — Lunch Worth the Trip Alone

Lunch at Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery was one of the genuine surprises of the trip, and it and ended up being my favorite meal of the entire week. Brothers Andy and Charlie Nelson revived their ancestor Charles Nelson’s historic Tennessee distillery, one of the most prolific whiskey producers in pre-Prohibition America, and their on-site restaurant is every bit as serious as the spirits. The menu features Southern comfort food with a refined twist, and the quality is flat-out amazing. Naturally, we couldn’t leave without doing a tour and tasting: the Belle Meade Bourbon is outstanding, and the Sherry Cask Finish is in a league of its own.

We started with a Deviled Eggs flight (what a brilliant idea!), followed by duck fat cornbread that was rich, crispy-edged, and gone way too fast. The Short Rib Grilled Cheese was the kind of sandwich that makes you question every grilled cheese you’ve ever eaten before it. And then the Whiskey Bread Pudding arrived for dessert, and it was the perfect ending to a perfect meal. If you only have time for one lunch stop in Nashville, make it here.

iggy’s — Italian With a Nashville Soul

iggy’s in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood is the kind of place locals love and visitors rarely find. The modern Italian restaurant from brothers Chef Ryan Poli and GM/Beverage Director Matthew Poli is built around handmade pasta, craft cocktails, and a vibe that’s casual but confident. The menu changes with the seasons and celebrates local farmers and producers. The wine list mixes emerging producers with classic regions, and the spritzes are excellent. Come for the pasta (the handmade shapes are the real draw) and stay because the room has great energy and the staff genuinely wants you to have a good time.

We went family style to get as much of the menu on the table as possible, and it was the right call. Let me tell you, they knocked it out of the park with everything. We worked through the garlic bread, a Greener Roots gem lettuce salad, and arancini before the pastas arrived: Fusilli cacio e pepe, three cheese gnocchi alla vodka sauce, and rigatoni bolognese, all of which were outstanding in their own right. Dessert was a vanilla and coffee brownie that sent everyone home happy. If you’re going, bring a group and order everything.

Beyond Food: The Stuff You Can’t Miss

The Gulch — Nashville’s Most Walkable Neighborhood

The Gulch is an urban community with numerous boutique hotels, instagrammable murals, shops, live music venues, and breweries. It’s one of the most walkable spots in the city and a great home base for a weekend.

The Frist Art Museum

The Frist Art Museum deserves a spot on every Nashville itinerary, whether you’re an art person or not. Housed in a stunning art-deco former U.S. Post Office building downtown, it’s a world-class institution that’s been a cornerstone of Nashville’s arts community. The rotating exhibitions tend to be strong, and the building itself is worth the visit.

Gibson Garage

Guitar lovers, welcome to your paradise. The Gibson Garage, housed in the historic Cummins Station, lets you explore Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer guitars alongside Mesa/Boogie amps and KRK studio equipment. There are interactive installations, occasional live performances, and the chance to actually pick up and play the instruments. Even if you’re not a player, the history and craftsmanship on display here is compelling.

Third Man Records

Jack White opened the Nashville location of Third Man Records in 2009, and it remains one of the most interesting stops in the city. The space houses a record store, a novelties lounge with the legendary Third Man Record Booth, label offices, a photo studio, and (this is the part that makes it genuinely unique) the world’s only live venue with direct-to-acetate recording capabilities. If you care about music and vinyl at all, this is essential.

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum + Historic RCA Studio B

These two back-to-back stops make for one of the best half-days you can spend in Nashville. The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum has been called the “Smithsonian of country music,” and it rightfully earns that comparison. The collections are deep, the exhibitions are thoughtfully curated, and the sheer scope of what’s here is staggering. The building spans 350,000 square feet and houses galleries, archival storage, retail, and multiple performance spaces.

From there, we hopped on a bus to visit the Historic RCA Studio B on Music Row, nicknamed “The Home of a Thousand Hits.” Studio B was Elvis Presley’s favorite recording space and helped define “The Nashville Sound” of the 1960s. Artists including Roy Orbison, Waylon Jennings, and Dolly Parton all recorded here. Standing in that room is genuinely moving.

National Museum of African American Music

The NMAAM, which opened in early 2021 at Fifth + Broadway, is one of the most important cultural institutions in the country. The 56,000-square-foot museum explores the connections and influences that African American musicians have had on virtually every genre of American music – from classical and country to jazz, hip hop, and beyond. It integrates history and interactive technology in ways that make the experience feel alive rather than archival.

The Ryman Auditorium

A National Historic Landmark built in 1892 and known as the “Mother Church of Country Music”, the Ryman hosted the Grand Ole Opry from 1943-1974 and has been the site of some of the most iconic performances in American music history. The daytime tour is excellent, with the backstage access gives you a real feel for the history. But if you can catch a show here, do it. The acoustics are legendary for a reason.

The Grand Ole Opry

Speaking of the Opry, an evening at the Grand Ole Opry is one of those experiences that’s difficult to explain to someone who hasn’t done it. What started as a radio broadcast in 1925 has become an entertainment institution unlike anything else in the country. The lineup on any given night mixes country legends, rising stars, and superstars, and the energy in that room is electric. The backstage tour option is worth taking.

Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery

Located just outside the city, the Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery is a 1853 Greek revival mansion with deep roots in American thoroughbred racing. Horses like Seabiscuit, War Admiral, and Smarty Jones all trace their lineage back to the stud farm here. The property tour is excellent, and they opened Nashville’s only winery in 2009. Complimentary wine tastings come with every tour, making this an easy and enjoyable half-morning stop.

The Listening Room Cafe

Cap off an evening at The Listening Room Cafe, which opened in 2006 with a simple but powerful premise: live music as the main event, not the background. Founder Chris Blair built Music City’s best-sounding venue and paired it with a food and drink menu built around fresh local ingredients. This isn’t a bar that happens to have a band, it’s a room designed specifically for the experience of hearing a great song performed live. For a city that runs on music, it might be the most honest expression of what Nashville is actually about.

The Bottom Line

Nashville’s earned every bit of its reputation as a music town. But if that is all you’re coming for, you’re leaving a lot on the table.. literally. The food scene here is operating at a level that rivals any major American city, the cultural institutions are world-class, and neighborhoods have a genuine character that you won’t find everywhere.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to the gym to work off the 10+ pounds I gained on this trip!