1 of 2
Sho Pizza Bar, cr: Minnie Morklithavong
2 of 2
V Modern Italian, cr: Mayter Scott
Pie in the Sky
V Modern Italian, cr: Mayter Scott
V MODERN ITALIAN
820 Division Street, Nashville; v.restaurant/nashville/
At this glitzy, see-and-be-seen restaurant in the Gulch, savor excellent Italian fare, especially the Neapolitan wood-fired ‘za with a sourdough starter tracing back to 18th-century Italy. Begin with a Flor di Limone cocktail, conclude with a limoncello, and enjoy the flavors in between.
Recommended: Sweet Hot Italian pizza; Caesar Salad with lemon zest and pancetta crunch; Sicilian Almond Cake
MOTO MODA
722a Merritt Ave, Nashville; motomodashop.com
From Jimmy Pruitt and Andy Mumma, this creative eatery in We-Ho combines motorcycle culture, a robust cocktail program, and NY-style pies; classics and signatures share a toothsome crust, leavened with local and Texas wild yeasts. Order a Sidecar dip for the crusts.
Recommended: Alla Vodka pizza; Arugula—Artichoke Salad; Fernando’s Espresso Martini
Sho Pizza Bar, cr: Minnie Morklithavong
SHO PIZZA BAR
1309 McGavock Pike, Nashville; shopizzabar.com
Under Sean Brock’s guidance, this Tokyo-inspired pizzeria in Riverside Village crafts remarkable pies with European flours, local ingredients, imported buffalo mozzarella, and fior di latte cheeses, and a controlled three-day fermentation process.
Recommended: Bianca Pizza; Little Gem—Herb Salad with yuzu vinaigrette; Matcha tiramisu
INDACO
1408 Adams Street, Nashville; indacorestaurant.com/ location/nashville/
In Germantown, Indaco channels the convivial spirit of Italian dining with bold flavors, shared plates, and a room designed for gathering — from its lively bar to counter seats overlooking the open kitchen and a patio built for lingering conversations. The menu leans into house-made pastas and seasonal ingredients, encouraging guests to order for the table and stay awhile.
Recommended: Ricotta Gnudi; Cacio e Pepe; Spritz on the Patio
By the numbers, 2025 was a stellar year for Nashville dining — five James Beard Foundation semifinalists, one finalist, and a Best Chef Southeast honor — while the Michelin Guide’s American South edition further validated the scene with three starred restaurants, seven Bib Gourmands, a Green Star, a Sommelier Award, and 12 recommended spots. New openings arrived at a steady clip of roughly three per month, reshaping neighborhoods and expectations alike.
By another measure — our taste buds — the year stacked up as stunning. Food trucks leapt into brick-and-mortar spaces, hospitality groups from major metros planted flags in Music City, and local independents branched into sister concepts. Nashville takes its food seriously, but never at the expense of a good time — and nowhere captures that better than this issue’s cover star, V Modern Italian in the Gulch.
Born from European aperitivo culture and built for all five senses, the 7,000-square-foot see-and-be-seen space blends velvet booths, a leafy patio, DJ nights, and a lively bar with Italian classics reimagined. Collaborations with Michelin-starred Chef Stefano Ciotti shape playful dishes — house-made pastas and Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas made with a sourdough starter tracing back to 18th-century Italy — while cocktails by Federico Pollarolo keep the energy high from brunch to late night. It’s exactly the kind of place Nashville dining has become: ambitious, social, and just as much about atmosphere as appetite.
Led by V Modern Italian, the following is a snapshot of those places that captured our hungry eyes and appetites.