The Diversity of Nashville, TN: 8 Cultural Restaurants
![](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/20x11/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/56-3622772-1423625274e80c10b500934d079fd175c328ccbe32.webp)
Nashville, Tennessee, is known as the country music capital of the United States. But what people don’t know, is that the city has a spectrum of restaurants from five stars to dive bars. These restaurants embody Nashville’s quirky atmosphere and create a city unlike any other in the country.
![](https://cdn.theculturetrip.com/images/56-3628626-800px-nashville-skyline-2009.jpg?s=10x)
Nashville is known as Music City USA for good reason. Situated in the Southeastern United States, it is a hub for country music, boasting the homes of Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, and is also the setting of – quite fittingly – ABC’s television show, Nashville. Music artists of all genres flock to the city for its low-key atmosphere – renovated houses and basements become warm music venues and stars such as Jack White, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus can be seen at Fido, a local coffee shop. While the country western Honky Tonk theme predominates the touristy area of downtown Broadway, filled with flashing lights and live bands, Nashville is blossoming in cultural spheres independent of the music industry. The big city has a small-town vibe, and this holds true in the Nashville culinary scene, where gourmet restaurants mingle with local ingredients and family owners.Just as music stars come to Nashville to build their careers from the ground up, new Nashville restaurants pop out of the woodwork every week. These restaurants start small, but eventually gain local, and even national acclaim. Some aren’t as well known, but the big and the small have something in common – they represent Nashville’s diversity, dispersed throughout distinctive neighborhood pockets that make up a city unlike any other. These establishments take their time, focus on the process and cook food for the love of cooking, not for commercial distribution.
![Matt Russo, founder of the Gambling Stick, at Porter Road Butcher. Courtesy of The Gambling Stick](https://cdn.theculturetrip.com/images/56-3633279-prbe13-1-.jpg?s=10x)
1. The Gambling Stick
Restaurant, BBQ
2. Café Coco
Cafe, Diner, Coffee Shop, Healthy, American, Coffee, Dessert
![Grilled cheese](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1906415.webp)
3. Five Points Pizza
Restaurant, Italian, Vegetarian
4. Mediterranean Cuisine
Restaurant, Mediterranean
![The Donut Dens new cronut, frosted with homemade custard.](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/56-3633269-dscn0561.webp)
5. Fox's Donut Den
Dessert Shop, Dessert
![Stone Fox brunch special: gouda grits, cranberry compote, brie, and egg made to order.](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1993581.webp)
The Stone Fox
If you want vegan food options, brunch cocktails, and a live band, then the Stone Fox is the place to go. Once inside, you feel immediately welcomed by a friendly atmosphere and quick seating. It’s a wonder that this place isn’t always jam-packed – it is filled with eclectic art, including a wall-sized collage of the United States, pieced together state-by-state, and a 60’s style performing stage with gold tinsel streamers. If you don’t have time to make it to a jazz brunch or a disco dance party, it is still worth a trip for the food. The combinations are creative – sweet potato mac n’ cheese, pimento cheese hush puppies, and tomato and watermelon gazpacho. The Stone Fox offers a throwback to the music scene of our parents’ generation, demonstrating that Nashville isn’t exclusively a country western city. Come try the whiskey cream-spiked coffee, but be sure to wear you hippest clothing, because the atmosphere here is funky. The Stone Fox, 712 51st Ave N, Nashville, TN, USA, +1 615-953-1811
![Owner Doug Havron and co. at Gabby’s Burgers. Photo by Ben Lehman](https://cdn.theculturetrip.com/images/56-3633277-img-6143-27.jpg?s=10x)
6. Gabby’s Burgers and Fries
Restaurant, Fast Food, American
![Tennessee Fudge ice cream.](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1993583.webp)
7. Mike’s Ice Cream
Ice Cream Parlour, Ice Cream