Where to Eat in Nashville: A Local’s Honest Picks
Fifteen categories, roughly a hundred restaurants, and every single one is a place I’d send my own family. No sponsored slots, no tourist traps — just what actually holds up after a decade of feeding guests in every neighborhood.
I’ve spent 10+ years feeding out-of-towners, hosting friends, and hunting down the meal that turns a good Nashville trip into a great one. This is my list — not the Nashville Scene’s, not the Tennessean’s, not TripAdvisor’s. If a place is in here, it’s because I’ve eaten there enough times to have an opinion. Where I have a strong take, I said so. Where two restaurants both deserve your night, I’ll tell you which one to pick and why.
Bookmark this page. Text me if you get stuck deciding. — Loni
One tip before you scroll: the most underrated seat in Nashville right now is the 11-seat Vietnamese counter at ELEVEN11 on Dickerson Pike in East Nashville. Same space houses a cocktail bar + discotheque on one side and this tiny counter-service restaurant on the other. Chef Son Pham (ex-Catbird Seat) is behind the food. If you can score one of those 11 seats, take it. Details in Date Night and Edgy & Off-the-Map below.
🏆 Loni’s Best Of Nashville
One pick per category. No ties. No hedging.
Urban Grub
If I could send you to one restaurant in Nashville, this is it. Date night, celebration, brunch, steak, seafood, local, comfort food — Urban Grub checks every single box (except weekday lunch, lol). Wood-fired everything, an oyster program that rivals coastal cities, and the kind of room where a birthday, a first date, and a Tuesday-night steak all feel right. It’s my all-time favorite. You’ll see it show up in four different categories of this guide, and that’s not an accident.
Smash patty, tortilla, queso, done. East Nashville’s cult burger — named after the Willie album, which should tell you everything.
Real-deal Sichuan and Cantonese hidden in a strip mall on Charlotte Pike. Order the mapo tofu, the dry-fried green beans, and the pork belly. Skip the American menu.
Chef Edgar Victoria took home Best Chef last year and it’s obvious why. Moles, tlayudas, house tortillas — an actual Oaxacan experience in East Nashville.
The lamb, the labneh, the pillowy breads. Sylvan Park’s darling and worth the drive from anywhere in town.
Wood-fired pastas, belly ham pizza, and a room full of chefs on their nights off. Sunday supper if you can swing it.
Nashville’s serious omakase seat in East Nashville’s Eastwood neighborhood, and maybe the hottest reservation in town right now. Fourteen courses, seasonal fish flown in, chef in front of you. Fourteen seats a night — if you see one open, grab it immediately.
Tavern-style thin crust with crispy edges, cheap beer and natural wine, and a big patio in Wedgewood-Houston near the old Sounds stadium. The Caesar is chef’s kiss, too. My new default pizza pick.
The local pick. Better crust than the tourist spots, honest heat, sides you’ll actually finish. Skip the Broadway hot-chicken counters.
Dry-rub ribs, hush puppies, and a Downtown location that doesn’t feel Downtown. The most Memphis-adjacent smoke in Nashville.
The James Beard “American Classic.” Roast beef, mac, turnip greens, chess pie. Cash-and-carry line, closes at 2:45pm, don’t come late.
Yes, again. The weekend brunch is the best-kept secret on 12South — bloody marys, wood-fired everything, oyster bar wide open. This is where I take guests.
The Gulch steakhouse everyone talks about, and rightfully so. Get the cotton-candy bacon to start, the crème brûlée cream corn is a must, and the bone-in ribeye is the move. Bring your wallet.
25 floors up at the Grand Hyatt downtown. Real skyline views of Broadway and the river, indoor + outdoor seating, a proper cocktail program. My favorite actual rooftop in the city.
No menu. Tell the bartender what you’re in the mood for and let them work. East Nashville’s best-kept, worst-kept secret.
Sharp room, sharper cocktail program, and a bartender crew that came up under the best in the city. My new go-to for a proper drink.
Tight menu, dialed espresso, no fuss. The neighborhood walk-up window I send East Nashville guests to before every other coffee shop.
Downtown, open late, unbothered. A proper cocktail bar for the after-hours crowd that isn’t trying to relive Broadway.
Old-school Belle Meade classic — the chocolate torte, the cheesecake, the bananas Foster tableside. Nashville dessert doesn’t have to be trendy to be great.
JW Marriott, 34 stories up, Downtown at your feet. Book for the view — the food is fine but it’s not why you’re here.
Speakeasy-style omakase, 17 courses, one hour, chef performing in front of you. If Kase x Noko is booked or you want a wilder ride, this is the splurge.
Live jazz, Creole menu, tucked on Gleaves Street in SoBro. The most un-touristy thing you can do Downtown.
The 11-seat Vietnamese-inspired dining side of Eleven11 on Dickerson Pike, from ex-Catbird Seat chef Son Pham. Curved counter facing the kitchen, Vietnamese-rooted menu. East Nashville’s most talked-about opening.
The iconic Vanderbilt-adjacent patio on 21st Ave — plastic cups, cheap tacos, cold beer, decades of Nashville memories. It’s not fancy, it’s not trying. That’s the point.
Recently voted Best New Bar in Nashville — hit the third-floor 5 Leaf Clover Sports for up to four games at once on a colossal HD screen, Luke Combs family-recipe hot wings, and duck fat fries. Right off Broadway, steps from Bridgestone. Pro tip: 2nd-floor women’s is the best bathroom off Lower Broad.
Southern Staples: Hot Chicken, BBQ & Meat-and-Threes
If it’s your first trip, you have to hit at least one of each. Here’s how I rank them.
Hot Chicken — my honest ranking
The local pick. Better crust than the tourist spots, honest heat, sides you’ll actually finish. You’ll sit down in ten minutes on a Saturday when Hattie B’s has a 90-minute line. This is where we send guests first.
The most famous hot chicken in town and the most consistent. Get the “Hot” — anything above that and you can’t taste the chicken anymore. The Melrose location has shorter lines than Midtown.
The original. If you’re a chicken purist, you owe this place a pilgrimage. Cash only used to be the rule, and even now it feels like a diner from another decade. Order at the counter, don’t fight the line — just come at 2pm.
BBQ & Smoked Meats
The city’s most reliable BBQ. The Tuck Special (a slaw-topped brisket sandwich) is the order. Skip the ribs unless you’re already committed to a two-plate lunch.
A step up from Edley’s if you want smoked meats in a proper sit-down restaurant with cocktails. The brisket burger is a religious experience. Ask for the outdoor patio.
Not BBQ exactly — it’s a smashburger + Southern-fried-everything counter — but if you want a quick, greasy-in-the-best-way lunch after wandering Germantown, this is it. The mac-and-cheese burger is not a joke.
Carey Bringle’s West Tennessee-style dry-rub BBQ, and my favorite ribs in the city. Order the dry ribs and the fried pie for dessert. Cash only used to be the rule — check before you go.
Whole-hog barbecue done the old-school Tennessee way. The Redneck Taco (BBQ over a hoecake) is the sleeper order. Multiple locations — Belmont has the best patio.
605 S 19th St. Family-owned since 2008 — half butcher shop, half community BBQ joint, all-day quesadillas that get their own newspaper features. Locals-only vibe near Shelby Park. This is the one you send friends to when they say “take us somewhere touristy people don’t know about.”
A proper New York-style neighborhood deli in Donelson — fresh-sliced meats, house-made corned beef, brisket, pastrami, house-off-the-bone turkey, and the whole appetizing case (nova lox, whitefish, herring, chopped liver). Handcrafted sandwiches, scratch-made sauces, and desserts made in-house. If you’re staying near the airport or at Dreamwood, this is your sandwich spot.
3921 Franklin Rd in Murfreesboro. For the connoisseur — worth the drive to try the melt-in-your-mouth brisket sandwich. In-house smoked meats, prime cuts from Doddy Creek Farms, house-made rubs, plus tomahawks, ribeye, Duroc pork chops at the butcher counter. Started as a food truck (The Meat Wagon), now a proper brick & mortar with a full pop-up menu of burgers, cheesesteaks, and hot chicken alongside the smoked stuff.
Meat-and-Threes & Southern Comfort
The James Beard “American Classic.” Roast beef, mac, turnip greens, chess pie. Cash-and-carry line, closes at 2:45pm, don’t come late. If you eat one meat-and-three in Nashville, make it this one.
Fourth-generation meat-and-three on the corner of Charlotte Ave and 53rd — locals call it “Wendell Smith’s Corner.” Old-school West Nashville diner slinging fried chicken and mashed potatoes since the 1950s, tucked behind the family liquor store. Cash-friendly, no frills, exactly what a meat-and-three should be. Get the fried chicken plate.
Family-style Southern in a converted Germantown house. Fried chicken, cornbread, mashed potatoes, and every side you’d expect — all passed around the table. Come hungry, come with a group.
Nashville-Caribbean fusion at 700 Thompson Lane in Berry Hill. Rotisserie chicken plate with black beans, plantains, and cornbread is under $15 and feeds two. My go-to when I don’t want to cook and don’t want takeout that costs $80.
Breakfast & Brunch
Nashville brunch runs the whole spectrum — from champagne-and-eggs to biscuit-in-a-line. Here’s how I’d sort your Saturday morning.
The massive weekend brunch buffet is the best-kept secret on 12South — single pass or all-you-can-eat, plus full menu service on the side. Bloody marys, wood-fired everything, oyster bar wide open. Do not sleep on the shrimp and grits — it’s the move. This is where I take guests when they want brunch done right.
Fun fact — this is Urban Grub’s pastry chef’s spot, which explains why the baked goods hit so hard. Outrageous pancakes, thick-cut bacon, and a mimosa flight with fresh-squeezed juice — not the Costco stuff. Frothy Monkey and Buttermilk Ranch are honestly a tie — pick whichever has the shorter wait. Skip Biscuit Love — overrated, in my opinion.
Champagne brunch with a live jazz set on Sundays. The salmon plate is one of the prettiest dishes in town. The champagne garden and their holiday setup are the stuff dreams are made of. Book 30 days out — this is the “special morning” pick.
Rocket Farm’s steakhouse and honky-tonk snack bar now serves brunch Saturdays and Sundays 10:30am–2:30pm. Cast-iron cinnamon rolls, a stack of Superica hotcakes, an SRS brunch burger with bacon and a fried egg, breakfast tacos, and a rancher’s breakfast big enough to earn you a nap. Bar’s open too.
Open at 7am seven days a week, so you can beat the brunch line. Strategic Hospitality’s newest all-day neighborhood spot on Wedgewood Ave — breakfast 7–11am, weekend brunch 7am–5pm. Full coffee counter and full bar if you want to make it a boozy one.
3410 Lebanon Pike. Voted the #1 breakfast spot in Hermitage. Ask for the breakfast shot, and the off-menu secret cinnamon rolls for the table (iykyk). Full bar, brunch, chicken & waffles, farmer’s skillet — the whole vibe is come-hungry, stay-awhile.
2800 Bransford Ave, tucked in a cottage. Griddles built into the tables — you get a pitcher of pancake batter and toppings and cook your own. It’s the best kid-breakfast in Nashville. All-day breakfast + brunch, screened-in patio, closed Mondays.
2 Lea Ave downtown. Globally-inspired steakhouse whose weekend brunch is the event — Saturdays and Sundays 10am-3pm in the front solarium under a floral installation, with tableside Veuve Clicquot Champagne service and weekly live music from up-and-coming local Nashville artists. Menu ranges from $18 olive oil pancakes and shakshuka to $45 8-oz ribeye steak & eggs, plus a $245 bone-in filet chateaubriand if you’re celebrating hard. Reservations essential on OpenTable — books out.
Date Night & Special Occasion
The dinners you plan around. All of these need reservations well in advance — the moment the calendar opens if you can swing it.
The Peninsula team’s new 14-seat hidden restaurant tucked behind an unmarked wooden door at the bottom of the Close Company staircase inside the Neuhoff District (1316 Adams St, Germantown). Chef Jake Howell (Peninsula) is running a European-leaning tasting-style menu in a Danish-modern room with hand-milled Douglas fir floors and backlit clay banquettes. No walk-ins, no parties larger than four — reservations open Tuesday–Thursday 5–11pm via OpenTable (search “Cauponor Nashville”) or by emailing yuriko@peninsulanashville.com. For 5–14 guest buyouts, contact dana.cauponornashville@gmail.com. This is the reservation to lock in for a special-occasion dinner right now.
Cocktails and dinner, if you’re lucky enough to score a spot at the counter. ELEVEN11 is really two experiences under one roof on Dickerson Pike — the cocktail bar + discotheque, and The Restaurant, the 11-seat Vietnamese counter on the other side. Chef Son Pham (ex-Catbird Seat) cooks the menu in front of you. Owned by Michelle Pham + Alexis Soler (also behind Old Glory). Reservations on OpenTable are recommended given there are only 11 seats.
Julia Sullivan’s oyster bar and Southern fine-dining spot. The raw bar, the wood-fired everything, the natural wine list — this is the single Nashville dinner I’d send anyone to. Book 30 days out.
Handmade pasta, live-fire cooking, low warm light, and a room that hums. Ask for a seat at the pasta counter if you’re two. Reserve the moment the calendar opens.
Wood-fired Italian in an old blacksmith shop. The belly ham pizza is famous for a reason. Bar seats open up early if you’re flexible on time.
The newest concept from Philip Krajeck (Rolf and Daughters, Folk), opened August 2025 in a former Piggly Wiggly on Dickerson Pike. Basque-inspired open-flame cooking meets French technique — chef-driven, moody, and one of the toughest reservations in town right now. Books 30 days out.
Vegetable-forward New American fine dining from the Butcher & Bee / Redheaded Stranger team, in the same former Piggly Wiggly complex as Junior. Prix fixe format ($70 for three courses, $105 for the steak dinner). The name is a wink — the food is anything but casual. Chef’s counter seats are the move if you can get them.
823 Meridian St. Michelin-listed neighborhood spot — naturally leavened sourdough pizzas, seasonal vegetable-forward small plates, and a curated natural wine list. Dinner only: Sun-Tue 5-9pm, Thu 5-10pm, Fri-Sat 5-10pm, closed Wednesdays. Apero Hour 5-6pm on service days: $10 select wines, $10 select cocktails, $4 draft beers. Reservations on OpenTable strongly recommended.
Casual Eats & Neighborhood Favorites
Where I actually eat on a Tuesday. These are the “we don’t feel like planning” restaurants — walk in, sit down, be full.
Community-driven wood-fired pizza and Southern small plates in Lockeland Springs. The 4-6pm “Community Hour” has half-price pizzas and cocktails — genuinely the best deal in town. This is our neighborhood spot.
The pink neon crab shack — boiled seafood, cold beer, hush puppies, dive-bar vibe. Great for a group who wants to get messy and loud. Order the low country boil.
Business-brunch classic and reliable Midtown dinner. Also runs the Ryman/Bridgestone show shuttle ($40pp minimum, separate reservation) — perfect for a pre-concert dinner-then-shuttle move.
Aussie all-day cafe with a hold on us — the seared wagyu steak & eggs (hash brown, sunny egg, mixed greens, French anchovy dressing) is the order we can’t quit. Sit outside, feel like you’re on vacation even if you live here.
Tacos and margs on a huge patio at 206 McGavock Pike in Donelson — a laid-back neighborhood spot with a killer weekend brunch, worth the short drive from downtown.
Neighborhood NY-style slice + a beer. If you’re staying at Magnolia, this is the “we’re too tired to drive downtown” move.
Our go-to. Chef Dung “Junior” Vo (2025 James Beard semifinalist) runs an Asian-inspired, wood-fired kitchen on Porter Road — open flame at the heart of the room, an 80-seat dining room plus patio, weekend brunch on Sundays. Named to OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants in America and Eater Nashville’s Best New Restaurant. Reliable enough to send guests to, cool enough to keep going ourselves.
The Strategic Hospitality team’s newest all-day neighborhood spot (opened June 2026 in the former Smoke & Thighs space on Wedgewood Ave). Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch — plus two-for-one beer, wine, and cocktails at happy hour daily from 3–6pm. Walking distance to GEODIS Park and Nissan Stadium. Reservations on OpenTable, walk-ins welcome.
Sushi & Global
Nashville’s global food scene has grown up a lot in the last five years. Here’s where I actually go.
Small, tight, seasonal sushi counter tucked into Nashville Yards downtown (26 Platform Way South). Sit at the counter and let them run you a menu — this is where we send guests who want a real omakase feel without the omakase price tag.
12South’s neighborhood sushi + soft-serve counter. Well-executed nigiri, playful specialty rolls, and the rotating soft-serve is a legit dessert stop after. Great for a casual sushi night that doesn’t need a reservation.
The NOKO team’s next project — a yakitori-and-sushi concept opening on West End. Not open yet, but keep it on your list. If it lands like NOKO did, this will be West End’s best new dinner reservation.
Ramen and izakaya. The tonkotsu is legit, the sake list is deep, and the vibe is loud in the best way. Sit at the bar if you’re solo.
Neighborhood Thai + sushi spot on McGavock in East Nashville — curries, pad thai, and a solid sushi list. Easy weeknight go-to.
José Andrés’ Mediterranean small-plates room inside the JW Marriott. Splashy, worth it for the hummus flight and the lamb shank alone. Not a hidden gem — it’s just really good.
New Asian tasting-menu spot inside the JW Marriott corridor. Beautiful dim sum, strong cocktails, the crispy rice appetizer is famous.
Oyster bar and seafood-forward dinner spot with two locations — the original in Germantown (1316 Adams St) and the newer WeHo outpost (475 Gray St). The raw bar is tight, the fish preparations are simple and clean. Go on a slow night and sit at the counter.
Steakhouses
Nashville’s steakhouse scene is quietly excellent — and mostly ignored by out-of-town lists. Here’s how I’d rank them.
The M Street group’s flagship steakhouse — cotton-candy bacon, the famous crème brûlée cream corn, a wagyu program that rivals anywhere, and the best steakhouse cocktail list in town. The anniversary-dinner pick.
The old-school Belle Meade classic — tableside Caesar, dry-aged steaks, and the chocolate torte that’s been on the menu since forever. This is where Nashville families have been celebrating for 50 years for a reason.
Yes, again — the steak program at Urban Grub is legit. The bone-in cowboy ribeye is one of the best steaks in the city, and you can pair it with the oyster bar. Better food than most dedicated steakhouses without the tuxedo-clad server. My death row meal here: the double-cut pork chop with smoked peaches, crispy brussels, roasted carrots, and popovers — snag a few popovers to go, they make a killer breakfast biscuit the next morning.
Michael Mina’s steakhouse in the JW Marriott. Butter-poached steaks, insane bourbon list, sky-lounge feel. Go for a Bridgestone or Ryman pre-show splurge.
The LA import — clubby room, prime steaks, celeb-heavy on the weekends. Landed in The Gulch (611 9th Ave S) in the old Chef & I space. Book ahead on a Friday or Saturday.
The Cincinnati-born icon landed downtown at 300 4th Ave N. Order the Pittsburgh-style — charred crust, cool center. Big-room energy, a piano, and dressed-up date-night atmosphere.
Prime steaks and seafood flown in daily, right at Fifth + Broadway (590 Broadway). Get the crab fried rice and the sea bass — trust us. Live jazz in the V Lounge most nights. Reservations on OpenTable.
The Cameron Mitchell seafood + steak room, brand-new to Nashville Yards (990 Signal Crossing). 10,000 sq ft, 370+ seats, daily flown-in seafood, made-from-scratch kitchen. Happy hour Mon–Fri 4–6pm.
Rooftops & Cocktail Bars
Nashville rooftops are the best summer move — but there’s a hierarchy. Here’s how I’d rank them, and where to go instead of the obvious.
Rooftops with a view
25 floors above Broadway at the Grand Hyatt Nashville — the tallest rooftop bar in the city, with real skyline views and an indoor/outdoor lounge that stays glamorous without feeling forced. This is my favorite actual rooftop in Nashville. Come at golden hour, order the martini, thank me later.
The rooftop at the Thompson — sweeping downtown views, a strong cocktail program, and a proper dinner menu if you want to make a night of it. Book the outdoor bar seats.
The rooftop at 1 Hotel Nashville. Plant-heavy, elegant, and one of the prettiest views of downtown and the river you’ll get. Cocktails are precise, the room feels like a resort.
Cocktail bars (no view needed)
Nashville’s original craft cocktail bar — the one that started the whole scene in 2009. After 16 years in a Midtown speakeasy, it reopened in May 2025 on the fifth floor of The Bill Voorhees Building in Paseo South Gulch. Freshly squeezed juices, house-made syrups, eight variations of twice-filtered ice, and the same obsessive standard. Open daily 4pm–1am. Limited reservations, walk-ins welcome, 21+. Perfect pregame before Bridgestone or Geodis Park.
Refreshed martini + cocktail bar tucked inside the lobby of Dream Nashville — 45 seats between bar and lounge, sophisticated but not stuffy. Sits in what was the living room of the original Utopia Hotel (Nashville’s first boutique hotel, early 1900s). Rotating themed pop-ups on top of the core menu. 5pm to midnight Sun–Thu, till 1am Fri–Sat. Walk-ins welcome — a great start or nightcap when you’re already downtown.
Coastal- and tiki-inspired cocktail lounge above a strip mall on Gallatin Ave — surprising, playful, and one of the best-designed bars on the east side. Frozen daiquiris, martinis, and a snack menu that punches above its weight. Happy hour 4–7pm every single day (Sunday included), open till 1am.
Retro cocktail club inside a former recording studio just off Magazine Street — groovy, low-lit, and built around music history. 25% off all drinks 5–7pm happy hour, Wed through Sun. Closed Mon and Tue. Open 5pm to midnight (till 1am Fri/Sat). Great before dinner in the Gulch or after a show at Marathon.
The Nashville outpost of the NYC cocktail bar. No menu — you tell them a spirit and a vibe, they build you a drink. No reservations — first come, first served, parties of 6 or under only. Worth the wait. My favorite proper cocktail bar in the city.
The covered patio makes it the best warm-evening spot in Germantown. Cocktails are precise, food is limited but good. The martini is my go-to.
Absinthe bar with a New Orleans feel. Green fairies, herbal cocktails, low light. Best for a pre-dinner drink before Henrietta Red or Rolf.
Neon-lit hideaway with a house DJ most nights. Fun for a late second drink after dinner in the Gulch.
Wine bar / small plates. Great by-the-glass list. Sit at the counter.
The new riverside bar from the Peninsula team, tucked into the Neuhoff District so well you’ll have to work to find it (find the River Steps, walk halfway down, turn left). Dark, moody, and worth the hunt — rare Cumberland River view, big patio, and one of the best cheeseburgers in town. Feels like a secret club that doesn’t want everyone to know about it.
The Nashville outpost of NYC’s Death & Co — the unbuttoned, unpretentious little sister of the mothership. Modern twists on classic cocktails, batched freezer drinks, and clever bar snacks (the “pastry pockets” are a wink at a Hot Pocket, and better than they have any right to be). Walk-in only; big groups can book ahead.
The “it girl” bar of the Dickerson Pike corridor — red-lit sultry interior, but the real move is the massive patio. Happy hour runs from open to 8pm every single day (yes, Sunday too). Wood-fired food that’s actually good for a bar. Where the East Side cool kids go when they’re tired of 5 Points.
Edgy & Off-the-Map
These are the ones locals ask each other about. Small, sceney, easy to miss — the reason you leave Broadway.
The single most exciting new opening on Dickerson Pike. ELEVEN11 is bar-and-restaurant twins under one roof — sharp cocktail lounge with a discotheque energy on one side, and 11 counter seats on the other where Chef Son Pham (ex-Catbird Seat) cooks a Vietnamese-inspired menu in front of you. Both sides run by Michelle Pham + Alexis Soler (Old Glory). Cocktails till 1am weekdays, 2am weekends. The 11-seat side takes reservations on OpenTable and they go fast — book the instant you see availability.
The Urban Cowboy hotel bar — dark wood, leather booths, whiskey list a mile deep, and a scene that leans design-y. Good pre-dinner spot, better post-.
Underground margarita bar tucked beneath Fifth + Broadway, right across from Bridgestone. 100+ tequilas and agave spirits, killer DJs on the weekends, and just enough of a speakeasy vibe to feel like you’ve found something. Walk in early or expect a wait.
The unmarked underground cocktail bar in a 1920s boiler room in Edgehill Village (1200 Villa Pl). Look for the golden triangle around a black door in the alleyway behind Taco Mamacita. Drinks are serious, the room is dark, the vibe is downtown-Manhattan-in-1998.
Modern American small plates and a tight cocktail list right off Printers Alley (218 3rd Ave N), two blocks from Broadway. The building sits on Al Capone’s old smuggling tunnel line — a bootlegging channel that ran from a cave on the Cumberland River up to Printers Alley during Prohibition. The room feels intimate, the bartenders remember your order, and happy hour (Mon–Sat 4–6pm) is one of the best-kept downtown secrets.
Speakeasy-style 40-seat cocktail room tucked behind Nicoletto’s on Gallatin Pike (2905B). Serious spirits list, dim and quiet — exactly the kind of place you want on a rainy Tuesday. Named to USA TODAY’s 2026 Bars of the Year (the only Nashville bar on the national list). 5pm reservations only, walk-ins the rest of the night.
New-wave cocktail bar on Rep. John Lewis Way (514) in SoBro — precise drinks, small snacks menu, quiet corner of downtown. Open until 2am, which is why the industry drinks here after their shifts. A proper cocktail bar for the after-hours crowd that isn’t trying to relive Broadway.
1920s prohibition-style speakeasy tucked behind a restored London red phone booth at 136 Rosa Parks Blvd. Craft cocktails, rare bourbon & whisky, and a full cigar program — heads up: it’s a proper cigar lounge, so it’s smokey inside. There’s no signage; you dial a secret code into the phone booth and the door swings open. Dress code (no athletic wear, no rips). You need the code to get in — ask us and we’ll hook you up.
Late Night (after 11pm)
Nashville isn’t a 3am city — but there are places open past midnight. Here’s where to go when you still want food or a scene.
Five stories of diner on 3rd Ave — open 24/7, full menu at 3am, and the rooftop is a legit late-night hang. Where the bachelorette parties end up and where locals go for pancakes after a show. Not fancy, but it’s the answer when nothing else is open.
The oldest dive bar in Nashville — cash only, jukebox, cheap beer, no pretense. Open way later than you’d expect.
Monday-night $5 Motown is the best late-night dance party in the city. Kitchen closes early but drinks + a full band go till 1am.
Jazz at 6, late burlesque show at 9:30. The one Broadway-adjacent spot that isn’t a honky-tonk. Book the late show with dinner.
Late-night deli-diner. The pastrami reuben at midnight is the correct order.
Japanese restaurant + vinyl listening lounge attached to the JW Marriott at 800 Clark Place. Late-night ‘L888 NITE’ bites menu takes over Mon-Wed from 9:30pm and Thu-Sun from 10:30pm. Sushi, cocktails, and a proper vinyl record listening room. Bar open until 1am Thursday and 2am Fri/Sat — one of the few real late-night moves downtown that isn’t Broadway.
Josh Habiger’s Michelin-recognized Bastion is a tasting-menu restaurant, but the front-side Big Bar is a totally different animal — walk-in only, no reservation, open Sun-Thu 5pm-12am and Fri-Sat 5pm-1am. The famous pork nachos are the whole late-menu (nachos til 11pm Sun-Thu, til midnight Fri-Sat), plus cocktails, wine, tequila sodas. It’s where locals go for a serious late drink without needing a Bastion ressie.
411 Gallatin Ave. The oldest dive bar in Nashville, open since 1971, open until 3am every night (kitchen too — you can eat until 2:30am). Bon Appétit called the cheeseburger one of the top three in the country. Also on the menu: hot chicken sandwich, veggie burger, grilled cheese, Frito pie. Cash-friendly, walk-in only, back patio in the summer. This is where East Nashville industry types land after their shifts.
Healthy Options
When you need something green after three days of hot chicken and bourbon.
All-vegan, all-organic — tucked beneath the Element Hotel in the OneC1TY development off Charlotte Ave (4 City Blvd). The pad thai (zucchini noodles) and the lasagna are shockingly good even if you’re a full-time carnivore. My go-to when I want to eat clean without feeling punished.
Nashville institution serving Caribbean bowls and salads for 30+ years. Black beans, jerk chicken, plantains, the famous corn muffin. Two locations: Berry Hill (700 Thompson Lane) and Charlotte Ave (3307). Cheap, fast, actually good for you.
Hawaiian-style poke bowls done right — ahi, salmon, house sauces, real rice. Small counter-service spot at C1TYBLOX in OneC1TY (3 City Ave). My “I need protein and vegetables in fifteen minutes” default.
Nashville institution — massive fresh burritos, actual salsa bar, black beans that taste like something. Not fancy, not trendy, just consistently one of the best cheap-and-healthy lunches in town.
Not a restaurant exactly, but the prepared-foods counter is where I grab dinner when I want vegetables in my life. Grain bowls, soups, salads, kombucha on tap.
Fast-casual Mediterranean bowls — the healthiest lunch you’ll find in a strip mall. Reliable, quick, keeps you moving. Green Hills and Downtown locations both work.
Longtime Mediterranean counter-service spot — hummus plates, greek salad, gyro plates. Been a Nashville staple for 15+ years for a reason.
Set inside a former working greenhouse on Bandywood — plants everywhere, string lights, one of the dreamiest spots to have a drink in town. Everyone knows the GreenHouse Bar for happy hour, but The Food Company side is open weekdays for a real lunch with salads, grain bowls, and lighter plates you can actually feel good about. Mon–Sat 10–6, Sun 10–3. The best “I want vegetables AND a cocktail” spot in Green Hills.
Coffee
Nashville coffee is a whole scene. These are the ones I actually stop at.
Best espresso in Germantown. Small, minimal, serious. Get an iced pistachio latte in the summer.
Coffee AND flowers under one roof. The most photogenic latte in the city. Pick up a bouquet on the way out.
The 30-year-old Nashville institution. Coffee shop meets full brunch menu. Come for the muddy latte, stay for the veggie omelet.
The 12South classic — coffee, breakfast, lunch, all reliable. Just as good as Buttermilk Ranch for brunch; take whichever has the shorter wait on a Saturday.
Coffee + wine + specialty grocery in one small storefront. Where I send Mockingbird and Southern Charm guests for the “we just landed and need snacks” run.
Family-owned Donelson café with specialty coffee and a solid all-day breakfast — the go-to for our Dreamwood guests over on that side of town. Deli sandwiches, house-made pastries, easy grab-and-go before the airport or a Music Valley day.
Nashville’s original third-wave coffee roaster. The espresso is dialed, the cortado is textbook. Small, quiet, serious.
Longtime Nashville coffee institution — Belmont students have been writing papers in this shop for 30+ years. Full food menu, wraparound porch, the whole college-town vibe.
The newest East Nashville darling — minimalist space, single-origin pours, oat milk done right. Order the cortado and post up for an hour. Wildly good pastries too.
Small, sharp, serious. Rotating single-origin roasters, killer espresso program, and one of the more interesting menus in East. Where the coffee people go.
The neighborhood walk-up window we send our East Nashville guests to. Tight menu, dialed espresso, no fuss. Grab and go, or sit on the patio if the sun’s out.
2039 Greenwood Ave. Neighborhood coffee shop that also slings soft-serve ice cream — a rare and excellent combo. Open Tue-Sun until 8pm (Mon 7am-1pm only). Perfect stop when you want espresso to start the visit and something sweet on the walk back.
Breweries & Distilleries
The tap-room scene has exploded — this section needs your picks.
Small, family-run, great outdoor space. If you’re staying at Dreamwood, this is the low-key Saturday afternoon.
Local whiskey / vodka tastings at the downtown distillery — small tour, tight pours, ends in the tasting room. Fun bachelor/bachelorette add-on. Also don’t sleep on their Berry Hill Tavern location for bottomless-Vimosa brunch (vodka mimosas made with their own Big Machine Vodka) on weekends 9am–3pm with live music on the patio.
30-beer draft list and scratch-kitchen pizza, with a patio that literally borders First Horizon Park and Brooklyn Bowl — walk to a Sounds game from your barstool. Not into beer? Go for the espresso martini tower. Their annual German(town) Christmas holiday pop-up (Nov–Jan) is a full Christkindlmarkt takeover with glühwein, raclette, and holiday cocktails served in mini trees and fir bushes — the best holiday pop-up bar in town.
The OG Nashville brewery. Classic year-round lineup, the Sue smoked porter is a cult favorite. The Madison location has the full tour.
Experimental, wild, endlessly rotating — the beer nerd’s brewery. If you want fruited sours or barrel-aged stouts, this is the stop.
Set inside the old Neuhoff meatpacking boiler building — original exposed brick walls, big steel windows, polished concrete floors. 24 drafts, cocktails, wine, snacks, and one of the best outdoor patios in town. The Neuhoff waterfront setting is a whole vibe.
3381 Southall Rd, Franklin. Craft small-batch whiskey distillery on a beautiful rural property about 30 minutes south of Nashville. Guided grain-to-glass tours in the still house, then whiskey tasting in a 200-year-old log tasting room. Tours run Wed-Sun (10:30am-5pm Wed/Thu, until 6pm Fri-Sun). Book ahead — tours cap at 24. Pairs perfectly with a stay at our Lyric at Leiper’s Fork home.
6211 Patton Rd, Arrington (25 miles / ~30 min south of Nashville). Co-owned by country artist Kix Brooks. 95-acre property with 16 acres of vines, five tasting rooms, and — critically — shaded picnic tables scattered across the hillside. Bring your own picnic (no outside alcohol, but cheese/charcuterie is for sale on-site, and Simply Living Life delivers gourmet baskets you can pre-order). Free admission and parking, free weekend live music April-November (“Music in the Vines”), food trucks on Fridays May-October. Hours change seasonally — check ahead.
Restaurants with Live Music
Where the music actually lives — quieter rooms, real audiences, songwriters who’ll make you cry. Every visitor gets told to go to Broadway. Here’s the alternative.
Songwriters in the round, two shows a night, phones away. This is the Nashville music experience. Reservations open at midnight CT on the 1st of the month for the following month — set an alarm.
The Bluebird backup if you can’t get those dates. Same intimate singer/songwriter format, easier to book, dinner served.
The bluegrass room. No reservations, cash bar, plastic chairs — the real deal. Come at 7 for the 9pm show.
The one Broadway honky-tonk I’ll actually send you to. Traditional country, real musicians, less pedal-tavern chaos than Tootsie’s. I’d take Layla’s over Tootsie’s every time.
Where touring musicians go to see other touring musicians. Best sound in a mid-size room in Nashville.
New Orleans-style jazz club tucked on Gleaves Street in SoBro. Full Creole menu — gumbo, po’boys, beignets — while a real jazz trio plays. The most un-Broadway thing you can do downtown.
609 Lafayette St. Full restaurant, urban winery, and 300-seat music venue rolled into one — everyone gets a table, servers bring dinner and wine to you during the show. Live music nearly every night: Americana, country, blues, R&B, plus stand-up comedy and podcast tapings. Chef-driven Mediterranean-leaning menu, house-made wines, and a downtown skyline patio. Reserve show tickets AND dining table together, or just come for brunch (Sat/Sun 10am-3pm with a DIY mimosa bar).
110 28th Ave N. Neighborhood bar and live-music venue in Midtown — original songwriters and touring artists every night of the week, usually no cover, kitchen open lunch to late. Speakeasy-ish vibe, 20+ beers on tap, and this is where music-industry regulars come to hear the next writer break. Zero Broadway energy. Open until 2am Mon-Thu & Sun, 3am Fri/Sat.
Bakeries
Fresh bread, morning pastries, and dedicated gluten-free bakes. From Five Daughters’ famous 100-layer donut to South Nashville’s only 100% GF bakery — here’s where locals actually buy their croissants, cupcakes, and celebration cakes.
The “100-layer” donut is the reason to go. Sit in the tiny back patio with a maple-bacon donut and an espresso.
The best croissants and viennoiserie on the east side. Pastry-case beauty, house-milled flour, and the kind of place you make a special drive for. Grab a savory galette for lunch and a canelé for the road.
Neighborhood bakery + specialty grocer. The morning buns, the sourdough loaves, the seasonal fruit tarts. Where East Nashville actually buys their weekend pastries.
1512 8th Ave S. Tiny local bakery with a devoted following for their sculpted brownies, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and made-to-order celebration cakes. No set menu — they bake what they feel like each day, so the case rotates. Order ahead online for guaranteed pickup. Mon–Sat 8a–7p, Sun 10a–4p. Great grab on the way between 12South and downtown.
Nashville’s dedicated 100% gluten-free bakery — biscuits, breads, cinnamon rolls, pop tarts, cookies, and rotating pastries in a fully certified GF facility (peanut- and tree-nut-free too). If you have celiac or a serious gluten intolerance, this is the safest and best-tasting stop in South Nashville. Order ahead — they close early when they sell out.
Fully vegan restaurant with a dedicated 100% gluten-free bakery attached — cupcakes, scones, muffins, focaccia, breakfast sandwiches, and full lunch/dinner menus that even gluten-eaters get hooked on. Bright, airy former service station with garage-door windows. The carrot cake cupcake is the reason to make the drive.
Weekend-only gluten-free farmstand at 518 Crosswood Ct — Saturdays 9 to dark, Sundays 1 to dark. Small operation, big following in the East Nashville / Donelson GF community. Worth the trip if you’re already staying at Dreamwood or headed to the airport.
Gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, and soy-free cupcakes and celebration cakes — the “we can eat that too” answer for birthday parties, showers, and multi-allergy households. Order ahead through their site; they ship nationwide, but locals in Belmont/Hillsboro can pick up.
Dessert
Nashville doesn’t have the pastry scene of a bigger coastal city — but there are gems. Here are the ones actually worth the calories.
Old-school classic. The chocolate torte, the cheesecake, the bananas Foster tableside — Nashville dessert doesn’t have to be trendy to be great. If you’re already at Sperry’s for dinner, skip everything else and stay for dessert.
2905 12th Ave S, Ste 104. Chef Jeremy Barlow’s fries + soft-serve concept — the two-item menu that took over 12South. Order the namesake “Fryce Cream” combo: house-made soft serve (vanilla, chocolate, swirl, seasonal, or vegan) alongside crispy fries with your choice of “dust” (hot chicken, BBQ, pickle) and a dipping sauce. Ask for “magic sauce” if you can’t decide. Sweet + salty done right, and the fries dipped in ice cream shouldn’t work but absolutely does. Open Wed–Sun, seasonal hours; a second location is in Donelson.
Not a Nashville original, but the 12South and East Nashville scoops are worth stopping for. Brambleberry Crisp is the flavor. Nothing bad on the menu.
Been serving milkshakes since 1939. Chocolate milkshake + a slice of pie at the counter — this is a Nashville pilgrimage.
Handmade marshmallows, artisan candy, milkshakes so tall they need two straws. Wildly photogenic. If you’re staying at Rocky Top, walk over.
123 2nd Ave N. Cousin of the beloved Key West shop, transplanted downtown. Homemade ice cream, half-pound cookies, marble slab fudge, and their signature key lime pie. Open until midnight nightly (until 1am Fri/Sat) — one of the few real late-night sweet stops downtown. Perfect after Broadway.
820 4th Ave N. Brand-new (opened June 2026) house-made gelato + sorbet shop from Nashville-born PennePazze founder Rony Stark, at the Starling development just steps from First Horizon Park. Rotating flavors from classics (pistachio, chocolate) to bolder combos like Crema Mediterranea (sour-cream gelato with olive oil, za’atar, and sea salt), banana pudding, tiramisu, and cold-brew coffee. Sicilian-style with brioche is an option. Vegan flavors too.
609 Merritt Ave. This is a specific dessert order, not a dessert shop. Iggy’s is a Michelin-listed Italian dinner spot in Wedgewood-Houston (Tue-Sun, 5pm-9pm; til 9:30pm Fri/Sat; closed Mon), and their tiramisu sundae — sponge, miso, cold brew, and salted caramel ice cream layered like a tiramisu ice cream cake — is one of the best desserts in Nashville. The Infatuation calls it a “holy sh*t” dessert. Reserve a dinner slot; the sundae is the finale.
Take & Bake
Prepared meals, casseroles, and heat-at-home dinners from Nashville’s best specialty grocers and family kitchens. Perfect for arrival night, an easy meal in the rental, or when you just don’t want to cook.
Chef Courtney McKay’s catering brand opened her long-awaited East Nashville pantry & grocer in November 2025 at The Shoppes on Fatherland. Ready-to-eat meals delivered in reusable containers (zero plastic), plus frozen family-style dinners, prepared sides, and a small gourmet pantry. Tue–Sat 10a–5p, Sun 10a–4p. The best “we just landed and need real food” stop on the east side.
Neighborhood favorite in Brentwood — housemade casseroles, mains, and soups in the cooler, refreshed constantly. Grab a lasagna, a chicken pot pie, or a pan of squash casserole for the rental and just heat it in the oven. Great pit-stop on the way in from Franklin or the airport if you’re staying at Magnolia.
The retail arm of Sperry’s Steakhouse — quality-aged beef, fresh seafood, and all of Sperry’s house-made sides, sauces, dressings, and desserts to take home. Belle Meade: 5107 Harding Pike, Mon–Sat 10a–6p, Sun 11a–6p. Bellevue: 7745 US Hwy 70S, daily 8a–6p. Their holiday prepared-meal presale is a Nashville tradition — order early.
Two Nashville-area locations (Brentwood at 330 Franklin Rd and Green Hills at 2002 Richard Jones Rd) — prime beef, wagyu, seafood, plus a full prepared-meals case: mac and cheese, baked spaghetti, meatloaf, lasagna, twice-baked potatoes, and 50+ rotating entrees, soups, and sides. Great for a “fancy steak in the rental” night or ready-to-heat casseroles for the crowd.
Family-run Italian market and restaurant off Charlotte Ave. The take-home Italian counter is where locals go for pans of lasagna — three sizes: single serve, 1/3 pan (feeds 6), 1/2 pan (feeds 12), in Bolognese, Four Cheese, or Vegetarian. They’ll heat it for pickup if you call ahead: (615) 783-0114. Also grab imported pasta, sauces, and fresh cannoli for the ride home.
Long-running Belle Meade carry-out and catering shop on Heady Dr. Housemade casseroles, chicken salad, soups, sides, and the kind of Southern comfort food that shows up on Nashville dinner tables when nobody wants to cook. Mon–Fri 9:30a–6p, Sat 9:30a–5p, closed Sunday.
Green Hills institution on Bandywood Dr for prepared meals, sandwiches, salads, and soups. Chicken salad, pesto pasta, and the rotating soups have a devoted local following. Great mid-stay lunch pickup or an easy weeknight dinner to take back to the rental.
Farm-to-table chef-driven prepared meals sourced from regional farms — first Tennessee location just opened at 217 4th Ave N (The Arcade), with a second at 620 8th Ave S in South Gulch. Family Meals feed 4–5 (backyard BBQ chicken with mac & cheese and cornbread, high-protein steak + chicken with roasted sides, steak & mushroom, or build-your-own with a grain, two sides, and a protein). Also individually packaged plates, salads, and scratch sides. Everything is made fresh daily — solid, honest food to bring back to the rental for a low-effort family dinner. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.
Holiday Pickup Catering
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas in a Nashville rental, these spots do the heavy lifting. Order well in advance — every one of them sells out. Prices, deadlines, and pickup windows shift a bit year to year, so always confirm on the vendor’s current holiday page.
The gold standard for Nashville holiday BBQ. Their Major Feast — whole smoked turkey or half smoked ham, four half-gallons of sides, 20 rolls, a pie, and a gallon of iced tea — feeds 12–15. Smaller packages available for gatherings of 4–6. Everything is intentionally packed cold with reheat instructions. Order at martinsbbqjoint.com/thanksgiving; pickup window runs the full week around Thanksgiving. Christmas menu drops separately.
Heat-and-eat Thanksgiving packages from $80 (feeds 2–3) up to $310 (feeds 12–15) — turkey and smoked ham, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans, cranberry salad, bread, and pie. Order at edleysbbq.com; pickup at any of their nine Nashville-area locations. Deadline is usually the Sat before Thanksgiving — don’t sleep on it.
4000 Gallatin Pike. Cult-favorite Central Texas-style BBQ on the east side, open Wed–Sun 11a–3p (or until sold out, which is often). Call ahead to order a whole brisket for pickup for holiday tables, big-game gatherings, or a birthday feast at the rental. Bring cash-friendly patience — this is a proper smoke shop, not a chain.
Monell’s famous family-style Southern menu, packaged for pickup at 1235 6th Ave North. Thanksgiving spread includes slow-roasted turkey with giblet gravy & cranberry sauce, glazed baked ham, cornbread dressing, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, corn pudding, mac & cheese, and caramel pumpkin pie. Christmas menu adds sliced rib roast. Prepaid orders only — call the catering line at (615) 726-4938. Sells out every year, order the moment their holiday page opens.
Reserve Before You Fly
ELEVEN11 (the new 11-seat Vietnamese counter on Dickerson Pike) and Kase x Noko (14-seat omakase in East Nashville) are the two hottest tickets in town — both vanish the moment they drop. Bluebird opens midnight CT on the 1st. Henrietta Red, Rolf, Junior, and Geist open 30 days out. Attaboy is walk-in only (parties of 6 or under). Skull’s Rainbow Room burlesque late show + dinner books as a pair.
Our Nashville homes
Small enough to know every guest, close enough to walk to most of this list. Tap any home for photos, calendar, and direct-book pricing.
Stay Closest to It All
Our Nashville homes are within walking distance of most of this list. Here are the closest matches by category:
- Germantown fine dining (Henrietta Red, Rolf and Daughters, City House, Geist) — Mockingbird, Southern Charm, Wildflower
- Dickerson Pike fine dining (Junior, Fancypants) — Hydrangea, Blooming Bungalow, Dreamwood
- 12South food + shopping (Urban Grub, Buttermilk Ranch, Edley’s, Sushi San, Five Daughters) — Bluebird, Wisteria 12South
- East Nashville scene (Lockeland Table, Attaboy, The Fox, Butcher & Bee) — Hydrangea, Blooming Bungalow, Cumberland Retreat, Deacon’s House
- Midtown + hot chicken (Hattie B’s, Red’s 615, Springwater) — Rocky Top, Johnny + Dolly (Honky Tonk Party Pads)
- Crieve Hall + South Nashville (Whole Foods, Yogi’s, Calypso, Hattie B’s Melrose) — Magnolia
- Music Valley + Opry (Grand Ole Opry, TennFold Brewing) — Dreamwood
Browse our Nashville rentals →
Nashville Restaurant FAQ
What’s the one restaurant every first-timer should book?
Urban Grub. It’s my #1 all-around pick — date night, celebration, brunch, steak, seafood, comfort food, it does all of it. If you can only get one reservation, make it Urban Grub. Henrietta Red is the runner-up if you want fine-dining seafood.
Where’s the best hot chicken in Nashville?
My ranking: Red’s 615 Kitchen (my local pick — better crust, honest heat), Hattie B’s (most consistent), and Prince’s (the original). Skip the Broadway hot-chicken counters.
Which rooftop should we go to?
Lou/na downtown at the Grand Hyatt for the best actual rooftop (25 floors up, real skyline views). L.A. Jackson at the Thompson for classic Gulch views. Harriet’s at the 1 Hotel for elegant, plant-heavy, resort-feeling drinks.
What restaurants are hardest to book in Nashville?
Two tie for hottest right now: ELEVEN11 — the new 11-seat Vietnamese counter on Dickerson Pike in East Nashville — and Kase x Noko, the 14-seat omakase in East Nashville. Both are tiny, both are counter-service, and both disappear the moment they drop on OpenTable. The Bluebird Cafe (reservations open midnight CT on the 1st for the following month) is right behind them. Henrietta Red, Rolf and Daughters, and Sushi | Bar all disappear 30 days out. Everything else in this guide is usually bookable 2–4 weeks ahead.
Where can I actually get late-night food in Nashville?
The Diner is open 24/7 downtown — that’s the reliable one. Beyond that: Skull’s Rainbow Room (burlesque + dinner till late), Schulman’s Deli, Springwater Supper Club, and The 5 Spot on Monday nights ($5 Motown).
Where should we eat during CMA Fest?
Anywhere outside a half-mile radius of Broadway. Our go-tos during Fest: Geist in Germantown (book 30 days out), ELEVEN11 on Dickerson Pike (the new 11-seat Vietnamese counter — the best-kept secret in town), Urban Grub in 12South, and Rolf and Daughters for a late Germantown dinner. Reserve everything in advance — locals flee downtown during Fest and slam the neighborhood spots. Order Fetii or plan on rideshare surge doubling your travel time.
What’s the best cocktail bar in Nashville?
Attaboy in East Nashville. No menu — you tell them a spirit and a vibe, they build you a drink. No reservations — walk-in only, parties of 6 or under. Eleven11 downtown is my second pick.
Which Nashville steakhouse is worth the money?
Kayne Prime in the Gulch is my #1 — wagyu program, the best steakhouse cocktail list in town, cotton-candy bacon, and the crème brûlée cream corn is a must. Sperry’s for old-school Belle Meade classic. Urban Grub if you want a great steak in a more relaxed room.