Where to Eat in Nashville

Nashville's food reputation runs on hot chicken and honky-tonks, and both are worth doing once. But the city spread out a long time ago, and most of the good eating sits in neighborhoods that each have their own character.

Start with the hot chicken, since it is the local invention. Prince's Hot Chicken Shack South is out on Nolensville Pike, Hattie B's has a Lower Broadway location, and Helen's Hot Chicken sits closer to Midtown. Barbecue is a separate tradition here: Peg Leg Porker BBQ on Gleaves Street and Edley's Bar-B-Que on 12th Avenue South are the two names that come up most often.

Downtown splits into two moods. Broadway is the loud one, where Tootsies Orchid Lounge, Robert's Western World and The Twelve Thirty Club sit within a few blocks of each other. Printers Alley, one street over, is quieter and older, with Skull's Rainbow Room, Fleet Street Pub and Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar.

Away from the tourist core, East Nashville has Graze Nashville on Eastland Avenue and The Nashville Biscuit House on Gallatin Avenue. Germantown holds Monell's and Mother's Ruin on 6th Avenue North. Hillsboro Village is where Biscuit Love and The Grilled Cheeserie share Belcourt Avenue. Everything below is mapped with an address and photos, so you can plan around where you are actually staying.