Nashville’s 10 Best Local Restaurants | Music City Dining
![Loveless Cafe, Nashville, Tennessee](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/20x11/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/dr2k3f-1-e1640893762278.webp)
Nashville can lay claim to being the home of country music in the USA, where greats such as Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Willy Nelson and Dolly Parton cut their finest records. There is also a thriving culinary scene, with great quality produce being brought into the city from local farms, lots of edgy cafés and traditional family-run diners. Here’s our updated guide to the best restaurants to check out in ‘Music City’, Tennessee.
1. Loveless Café
Cafe, Restaurant, American, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Fast Food, Street Food
The Loveless Café was first opened in 1951 and has since gone on to become a Nashville institution and a must for foodies passing by on the nearby Highway 100. Run by Nashville natives, the café serves up Southern comfort food made by chefs who arrive at three in the morning just to start prepping the ingredients. You can find classic Southern staples such as fried okra, fried green tomatoes, homemade creamed corn, and the classic Southern breakfast of grits and scrambled eggs. Also on the menu is plenty of fried chicken made to the very same recipe as when the Loveless Café opened back in 1951, 7oz country ham with eggs, and grilled or fried catfish with hushpuppies and tartar sauce.
2. Rolf and Daughters
Restaurant, American
3. The Pancake Pantry
Restaurant, Caribbean, American, Vegetarian, Vegan
![Pancake Pantry restaurant, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/dgwab7.webp)
4. The Catbird Seat
Restaurant, American, Vegetarian
5. Etch
Market, Restaurant, American, Contemporary
6. The Wild Cow
Restaurant, Vegan, Vegetarian, American
7. The Standard
Restaurant, Steakhouse, American, Vegetarian
8. Merchant’s Restaurant
Gastropub, Bistro, Pub Grub
![Looking across 4th Avenue and Broadway at a Victorian building built in 1892 now home to the famous Merchants Restaurant in downtown Nashville, TN](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/g1k1gg-e1640894178716.webp)