Nashville’s hotel restaurant scene is booming.
Gone are the days of bland, basic banquet-style fare—we’re seeing more gourmet options, celebrity chefs, and globally-inspired menus than ever before. It would be impossible to list them all, but we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites for you to check into.
Evelyn’s at The Hutton Hotel
This modern American eatery pays tribute to Evelyn Sharp, a 20th-century hotelier, investor, socialite, and art collector. The decor does its namesake proud with fine art on the walls and mid-century design throughout. And the menu is just as sophisticated as the surroundings, with shared dinner plates including Steak Tartare, Burrata Tartine, and Roasted Artichoke Hearts, and larger plates like Nashville Hot Fish & Chips, Baby Carrot Ravioli, and Broiled Red Snapper. Brunch is also a bash with craft cocktails and a menu featuring Evelyn’s Benedict, Avocado & Shrimp Toast, a Griddled Breakfast Burrito, Brioche French Toast, and more. (1808 West End Ave., 615-340-0093; evelynsnashville.com)
Mimo at The Four Seasons
Blending Southern Italian cuisine with Southern influences, Mimo is a culinary oasis in the middle of downtown Nashville. With breakfast, lunch, and dinner— plus a killer cocktail program at their swanky bar, there’s something for everyone at this stunning space. Drop by for a Bless Your Heart—a bittersweet blend of Irish gin, Campari, strawberry, and hibiscus, that is topped with an aromatic bubble that guests can pop to release a scented smoke—and listen to some local live music. Take a seat at one of the dining room’s cozy booths (surrounded by views of the riverfront outside and dotted with potted trees throughout the interior) and tuck into some seriously fabulous Italian food. Start with an order of the decadent Beef Carpaccio with arugula, parmesan, and truffle dressing, or the Tuna Tartare with salsa verde, black olives, garlic, and crispy breadcrumbs prepared tableside. For dinner, the pastas and risotto can’t be missed, or enjoy the market fish Acqua Pazza style (that’s poached in a tomato and herb broth). It’s a light yet decadent offering that takes you straight to coastal Italy. (100 Demonbreun St., 615-610-6990; fourseasons.com)
Marsh House at The Thompson
Set inside a sexy, window-wrapped dining room complete with low seating and mid-century modern décor, Marsh House offers a bar and lounge, as well as a small and comfortable dining room. The Southern- inspired, seafood-driven menu extends from breakfast to lunch and dinner. Must-try dishes include Shrimp Toast, Avery Island Red Chili Mussels, and a classic NOLA-style gumbo. Marsh House also offers an award-winning wine program, so tuck in for some fresh seafood and prepare to be wowed by their perfect pairings. (401 11th Ave.S., 615-262-6001; marshhouserestaurant.com)
Blue Aster at The Conrad
Offering elegant dining in a meld of timeless design and modernity, Blue Aster is a feast for the senses. The restaurant visually beckons with an array of serene blues: on the walls; the upholstered dining chairs; and the fine linen napkins, all of which contrast against dark wood tables and flooring. Copper appointments like table lanterns, salt and pepper grinders, and warming lamps suspended over the open kitchen counter gleam under the chandeliers, which resemble long curved branches. And the menu is just as aesthetic, with dishes that are as stunning as they are delicious. The Buffalo Burrata Tartine wows with grilled sourdough, apple-fennel mostarda, marcona almond, truffle honey to start, while dinner offerings like Cavatelli with lobster, tomato butter, oven-dried tomato, and smoked trout roe or cauliflower steak with bulgur wheat, toasted pine nuts, za’atar, harissa, and pickled chardonnay raisins are a feast for nearly all of the senses. (1620 West End Ave., 615-327-8005; blueasternashville.com)
Yolan at The Joseph
Dining at Yolan is an experience at once serene and exhilarating. It starts with the space itself. Open and airy, its modern design in muted tones incorporates an array of woods and metals: birds- eye maple cabinets, dark walnut tables with mother-of-pearl inlay, a copper and blown glass chandelier over the bar. Chef Tony Mantuano’s approach is just as diametric: It balances his reverence of classic Italian cuisine and the modern inspiration he derives from it. He has designed the menu in a format similar to Spiaggia’s, although the offerings are singular to Yolan. There’s an A La Carte menu, set up in familiar ristorante sections of antipasti, pasta, secondi, focaccia, stuzzi, and contorni. You cannot go wrong with whichever you choose, but for a first experience, opt for the addition of Cathy Mantuano’s wine pairings. Surrender, and let them take you on this marvelous gastronomic ride. (403 4th Ave. S., 615-231-0405; yolannashville.com)
Drusie & Darr at The Hermitage Hotel
A premier Nashville landmark, the Hermitage Hotel is treasured for many things: its Beaux-Arts architecture; its role in history—in particular as the epicenter of the women’s suffrage movement when Tennessee became the key to the 19th Amendment ratification; and its commitment to sustainability. Long-acclaimed for the hotel’s gold standard of service, the owners and team have also been looking forward: How could they enliven the 113-year- old establishment with 21st-century modernity, while preserving its iconic stature? The answer was a sleek new haute cuisine haunt from internationally celebrated chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Drusie & Darr. While the restaurant radiates elegance, the menu is also approachable. There is something for everyone. Perhaps you’d like a pizza. From the blazing oven in the open kitchen, you could have a pie with spicy salami, broccoli rabe, and ricotta or black truffle-fontina. A Grilled NY Strip sidled by shishito peppers and preserved black bean vinaigrette offers a simple yet sophisticated option, while the elaborate prime filet with parsnip puree, roasted Brussels sprouts, and miso mustard elevate the meat even more. “The menu features a combination of new and signature dishes,” says Jean-Georges. “The common thread? Most, if not all, have a kick of spice and acidity, usually in the form of citrus, which is what I add to most, if not all, of my dishes.” (231 6th Ave. N., 615-345-7116; thehermitagehotel.com)
The Restaurant at The W Hotel
The newest offering at The W Hotel, The Restaurant, is an American Brasserie featuring approachable French-influenced American dishes with playful menu offerings, craft cocktails, beer, and wine. Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, their signature dishes are the perfect way to start or end a day in Music City. We love the Lobster Benedict, Shrimp and Grits, and their decadent take on French Toast. (300 12th Ave. S., 615-379-9000; marriott.com)
Old Hickory Steakhouse at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
From the service to the setting to the prime cuts of meat, one night at Old Hickory Steakhouse, tucked away inside the Gaylord, will have you reconsidering everything you’ve ever thought about hotel dining. Whether you choose a table within the clubby walls of the grand, two-story, white house within the resort’s towering atrium, or on the balcony surrounded by lavish indoor gardens as far as the eye can see, you’re in for a sophisticated steakhouse experience complete with white tablecloths, candlelight, and the calming sounds of waterfalls in the distance. Elevate the experience even further with the restaurant’s signature 30-ounce prime Tomahawk steak. It’s a wonder all its own, but the chefs decided to amp it up a notch with a bronzed layer of roasted bone marrow, butter, Gruyère cheese, panko, and parsley. With six sauces to choose from, make sure your first dip is into the rich and creamy au poivre made with Belle Meade Bourbon, peppercorn ménage, heavy cream, and demi-glace. (2800 Opryland Dr., 615-889-1000; marriott.com)
JWB Grill at Margaritaville Hotel
Take a trip to the beach just a few blocks from Broadway. The signature restaurant of Margaritaville Hotel (and namesake of beloved Jimmy Buffett) offers up coastal fare and Southern soul food all in an atmosphere as convivial and friendly as a Buffett lyric. And, of course, a cheeseburger (in paradise) is on the menu. Come for the fabulous food and stay for a lineup of live music and boat drinks like the Making Waves (RumHaven Coconut Rum, vanilla syrup, plus pineapple and lime juices) or the Ocean Spritz (Nonino Aperitivo, Giffard Blue Curacao Liqueur, Giffard Orgeat Syrup, Fever Tree Yuzu Lime, and La Marca Prosecco) that will have you feeling as relaxed and rejuvenated as a beach getaway. (425 Rep. John Lewis Way S., 629-401-6346; margaritavilleresorts.com)
Bourbon Steak at the JW Marriott
Take in stunning panoramic views thirty-four stories above Music City. The luxury steakhouse is located atop the JW Marriott and is best known for their selection of seafood and wood-fired cuts of beef, plus a wide variety of spirits and crafted cocktails. A favorite of foodies and celebs alike, there’s no bad seat in the house with floor-to-ceiling windows enveloping the space, and the open-air terrace in the summertime lends itself to a view of the city like no other. Bourbon Steak by Michelin Star chef Michael Mina specializes in high-quality cuts of American beef, Kobe beef, and wagyu. Bourbon Steak is also home to Nashville’s freshest seafood and shellfish with shipments arriving daily. Don’t miss the signature dishes like the decadent Maine Lobster Pot Pie with brandied lobster cream and black truffle or the Wagyu Tasting Trio with 4 ounces of each cut of the insanely delicious Japanese meat. (201 8th Ave. S, 34th flr., 629-208-8440; nashvillebourbonsteak.com)