The Best Restaurants On Eighth Avenue South Nashville

When you think of Nashville you think country music but Nashville’s food scene is also worth a look in for its diversity and flair. The city has its fair share of southern comfort food restaurants but also has quite a few international restaurants and other adventurous eateries besides. Just check out this selection of joints to try on its bustling 8th Avenue strip.

Arnold's Country Kitchen

Restaurant, Diner, American

Think of Thanksgiving dinner, then imagine being able to eat thanksgiving dinner any day you wanted for a low price. That’s Arnold’s country Kitchen, a family owned lunch spot in Nashville that’s famous for its delicious southern cooking and desserts. The restaurant is set up like cafeteria where patrons stand in line to pick their meat and two sides before finding their tables. Many people come through the restaurant, from country singers to tourist and locals, making it a bustling and lively little spot.

Price: Budget
Opening hours: Mon to Fri 10.30-2.45pm
Watch out for: The casual, friendly local vibe.

The Smiling Elephant

Restaurant, Thai

One of the best and few Thai restaurants in the Nashville area, The Smiling Elephant is a family-owned restaurant with a truly welcoming vibe. The food is delicious and a real local favorite, and patrons can expect everything from vegetable spring rolls to steamed Chinese dumplings to the classic peanut-infused pad Thai to grace the menu. Drinks wise, the restaurant is dry and there’s currently no BYOB policy in place, meaning this one’s not great if you fancy a tipple to accompany your evening.

Price: Mid-range
Opening hours: Mon to Thu 11am-2.30pm/5-9pm, Fri 11am-2.30pm/4.30-9.30pm, Sat 4.30-9.30pm
Watch out for: The pad Kra is delicious!

Sinema Restaurant and Bar

Bar, Restaurant, American, Vegetarian, Vegan

Sinema Restaurant and Bar is appropriately named after the building that it’s housed in, which used to be the old Melrose cinema in the 1940s. It’s a fine dining restaurant and serves exquisite American cuisine. It has been voted in Nashville as the number one for best dessert, number two for best ambiance and number three for romance, so customers can expect plenty of atmosphere and flavor at this one!

Price: Fine-dining
Opening hours: Mon to Thu 4.30-11pm, Fri and Sat 4.30pm-12am, Sun 10.30am-2.30pm
Watch out for: Happy hour everyday at 4.30pm.

The Standard at the Smith House

If you think that southern food is super cheap and only sold in back alley hole-in-the-walls then you won’t be expecting the refined likes of The Standard at the Smith House. The Smith House is the only grand townhouse left in Nashville, built in 1840. It is a historical monument in the heart of downtown and has emerged as one of the best restaurants in Nashville for its suave take on regional cuisine.

Party Fowl

Cocktail Bar, Restaurant, Steakhouse, American

Party Fowl is most famously known for its fowl (obviously!), and it’s true: they’ve got the hottest chicken on the block. This is a chilled and casual restaurant that is good for a night of drinking beer and watching a local Titans game on TV. They have 20 local beers on tap and 58 different wines to drink down with their southern-style fried chicken.

Price: Mid-Range
Opening hours: Mon to Thu 11am-10pm, Fri 11am-11pm, Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 10am-10pm
Watch out for: The cigar-smoked Manhattan and hickory-smoked Margarita cocktails.