10 Tried And True Nashville Restaurants That Never Grow Old
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Nashville is known for both its incredible history and its new and vibrantly growing food scene. However, it definitely deserves mention that the city’s history would be nothing without its historic restaurants that have accompanied it along the way. Many of those restaurants are still open today, satisfying their customers again and again after all these years. We’ve compiled just a few of them here, and you should definitely make an effort to visit as many as you can. You don’t know what you’re missing.
While they have now expanded to multiple sites and a food truck, Prince's original location has been serving up the original Nashville hot chicken for over 70 years, and they're not cooling down any time soon. (123 Ewing Dr)
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The youngest restaurant on this list, Arnold's is probably the top of the list of what people think of when they think of the classic Nashville "meat-and-three." Their food they've been serving since 1982 even won them a James Beard award. Expect long lines! (605 8th Ave S)
Bobbie's Dairy Dip has served folks from its largely unchanged Charlotte Avenue location since 1951. The neighborhood has changed a lot since then, but the ice cream is still just as incredible. (5301 Charlotte Ave)
Another spot that has been largely unchanged since they opened in 1951, Loveless Cafe is known for serving up some of the best biscuits and preserves this side of the Mississippi. They're a little out of town, but the drive is so worth it. (8400 Highway 100)
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This soda shop on the now bustling stretch of Elliston Place in Midtown has been serving up hand-crafted shakes, burgers, and breakfast food since opening in 1939. They also recently opened a second location in Cool Springs, but the original is where it's at. (2111 Elliston Pl)
Brown's Diner may not look like much on the outside, but this dive bar known for their UNREAL burgers has stood the test of time in the Belmont/Hillsboro neighborhood since 1927. The cheeseburger is a must here, if you didn't get that already. (2102 Blair Blvd)
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No list of old restaurants in Nashville would be complete without Varallo's downtown. They've been serving their famous chili since 1907. That's right -- over 110 years! (239 4th Ave N)
Puckett's began as a grocery store and gas station in the 1950s, but they've since moved into focusing only on their restaurant. The food is all classic Southern dishes, and they often have live music! ( 4142 Old Hillsboro Rd)
Jimmy Kelly's is hidden from the rest of the Midtown buzz, but that's a good thing. This steakhouse serves immaculate cuts of meat, and you'll be hard pressed to find a better steak in the city. ( 217 Louise Ave)
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This quaint Hillsboro Village staple will stand out to the passerby for two reasons: 1) Its age looks out of place in the strip full of new restaurants, and 2) the massive line outside. Expect to wait a while here unless you get there super early, but the sweet potato pancakes and cinnamon syrup are so worth it. (1796 21st Ave S)
While they have now expanded to multiple sites and a food truck, Prince's original location has been serving up the original Nashville hot chicken for over 70 years, and they're not cooling down any time soon. (123 Ewing Dr)
Advertisement
The youngest restaurant on this list, Arnold's is probably the top of the list of what people think of when they think of the classic Nashville "meat-and-three." Their food they've been serving since 1982 even won them a James Beard award. Expect long lines! (605 8th Ave S)
Bobbie's Dairy Dip has served folks from its largely unchanged Charlotte Avenue location since 1951. The neighborhood has changed a lot since then, but the ice cream is still just as incredible. (5301 Charlotte Ave)
Another spot that has been largely unchanged since they opened in 1951, Loveless Cafe is known for serving up some of the best biscuits and preserves this side of the Mississippi. They're a little out of town, but the drive is so worth it. (8400 Highway 100)
Advertisement
This soda shop on the now bustling stretch of Elliston Place in Midtown has been serving up hand-crafted shakes, burgers, and breakfast food since opening in 1939. They also recently opened a second location in Cool Springs, but the original is where it's at. (2111 Elliston Pl)
Brown's Diner may not look like much on the outside, but this dive bar known for their UNREAL burgers has stood the test of time in the Belmont/Hillsboro neighborhood since 1927. The cheeseburger is a must here, if you didn't get that already. (2102 Blair Blvd)
Advertisement
No list of old restaurants in Nashville would be complete without Varallo's downtown. They've been serving their famous chili since 1907. That's right -- over 110 years! (239 4th Ave N)
Puckett's began as a grocery store and gas station in the 1950s, but they've since moved into focusing only on their restaurant. The food is all classic Southern dishes, and they often have live music! ( 4142 Old Hillsboro Rd)
Jimmy Kelly's is hidden from the rest of the Midtown buzz, but that's a good thing. This steakhouse serves immaculate cuts of meat, and you'll be hard pressed to find a better steak in the city. ( 217 Louise Ave)
Advertisement
This quaint Hillsboro Village staple will stand out to the passerby for two reasons: 1) Its age looks out of place in the strip full of new restaurants, and 2) the massive line outside. Expect to wait a while here unless you get there super early, but the sweet potato pancakes and cinnamon syrup are so worth it. (1796 21st Ave S)
Looking for something a little more uniquely Nashville? Try visiting the elephants at this one-of-a-kind sanctuary just outside the city.
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