If you’ve been looking for an excuse to book a trip to Tennessee, the Nashville Michelin restaurant list is it.
Beyond the honky-tonks of Music City and Nashville’s famously hot chicken, Nashville has officially entered its fine dining era, thanks to the arrival of the Michelin Guide American South in Tennessee.
Whether you’re planning a date night, a full-on culinary pilgrimage, or just want to eat your way through some of the most exciting kitchens in North America, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Nashville’s Michelin restaurants.
We’ll share the 2025 Michelin award list and provide an overview of the many spots we savored during our culinary getaway to Nashville and the Smokies.
What is a Michelin Culinary Award
Before diving fork-first into Nashville restaurants, let’s talk about what makes a Michelin award such a big deal.
The Michelin Guide, yes, the same Michelin as the tire company, has been quietly shaping the global culinary world for over a century.
Their awards are based on visits from anonymous inspectors, who evaluate restaurants on a famously strict set of criteria.
These include:
- Ingredient quality
- Mastery of techniques
- Harmony of flavors
- Personality of the chef in the cuisine
- Consistency across the entire menu and over time
Unlike other awards, Michelin doesn’t care about flashy decor or celebrity chefs. It’s about what’s on the plate… period.
At the helm of the guide today is Gwendal Poullennec, the international director of the Michelin Guide, who continues to expand its reach into new culinary destinations.
Last year our home state of Texas started getting Michelin Awards and, now finally, Tennessee has their turn.
When Did Tennessee Start Getting Reviewed by Michelin?
Tennessee officially entered the Michelin universe in 2024, marking a new chapter for the region’s culinary prowess.
This inaugural selection put Nashville firmly on the map as a serious contender in the fine dining space.
For a city long known for the cuisine of the American South, such as biscuits, fried chicken, barbecue, this recognition highlighted something locals already knew: Nashville is a rich blend of cultural influences, international flavors, and wildly skilled chefs pushing boundaries.
For many restaurants, it was their first time being evaluated at this level, and the results proved that Tennessee isn’t just catching up, it’s innovating.
Nashville Michelin Star Restaurants
Let’s start with the crown jewel: the Michelin Star.
A Michelin star is awarded to restaurants offering exceptional cuisine, worth a stop on your journey.
One star means “a very good restaurant,” two stars indicate “excellent cooking worth a detour,” and three stars? That’s “exceptional cuisine worth a special journey.”
When Michelin inspectors arrived in Tennessee for the first time, they didn’t just hand out a single gold star; they awarded three Nashville restaurants with one Michelin star each: The Catbird Seat, Bastion, and Locust.
This trio represents the full spectrum of what makes Nashville’s dining scene so exciting right now: innovation, intimacy, and a fearless embrace of international flavors layered onto Southern roots.
Unfortunately, we were not able to snag a reservation at any of these three hot spots during our trip to Nashville.
A word to the wise: plan your trip far ahead of time and try to make a reservation right when the calendar opens up.
- The Catbird Seat: Tucked inside the Bill Voorhees Building in downtown Nashville, this restaurant is less of a traditional dining room and more of a stage. The kitchen staff “performs” right in front of you. Led by the chef duo Andy Doubrava and Tiffani Ortiz, The Catbird Seat has long been considered one of the region’s most ambitious fine dining experiences. Dishes showcase both mastery of techniques and the personality of the chef: contemporary cuisine with global inspiration
- Bastion: Helmed by Chef Josh Habiger, this restaurant leans into contemporary American cuisine with subtle nods to the cuisine of the American South.
- Locust: Originally conceived as a pop-up, Locust quickly gained a cult following before becoming a permanent fixture in the city’s dining scene. Chef Trevor Moran’s vision is bold, focused, and deeply influenced by Asian contemporary cuisine and Japanese techniques. Locust is especially beloved for its ability to blend international flavors with a sense of restraint.
Inspectors were struck by the region’s culinary prowess and its ability to balance Southern staples with bold, modern innovation.
And perhaps most importantly, these three restaurants set the tone for what’s next.
This is just the beginning of Nashville’s Michelin story.
Michelin Green Star Restaurant
The Michelin Green Star celebrates restaurants leading the charge in sustainability.
A Michelin Green Star award highlights restaurants that combine excellent food with a degree of dedication to eco-friendly practices. It’s about more than taste, it’s about responsibility.
They consider ethical sourcing, waste reduction, and environmentally conscious cooking.
A standout Michelin-selected restaurant, just 30 minutes outside downtown Nashville, January at Southall Farm & Inn has become a model for sustainability done right.
A short drive from downtown Nashville this Green Star gem is located in the charming city of Franklin.
With a menu that shifts based on local availability, the restaurant emphasizes seasonal ingredients and responsible sourcing, so much so that they have their own farm which couldn’t get any closer to the farm-to-table movement.
On the menu at January you’ll find bright vegetables that were literally picked that morning appear on your dinner plate.
We enjoyed roasted lamb belly nested in garden lettuces, and topped with pickled radish and sesame seeds.
For entrees we enjoyed the pork coppa which was served wrapped in swiss chard.
The half duck was served two ways: a duck confit leg on homemade fermented red cabbage, alongside another plate of duck breast served with local sunchokes.
After your meal, you’ll be invited to a speakeasy. It was dark, cozy, and an intimate live music experience.
As we sipped on a whiskey sour featuring a local whiskey paired with a lavender honey that came from the honeybees on the farm, it was apparent that even the afterparty still embraced the spirit of sustainability at Southall Farm.
Dining here feels like tasting the farm, without sacrificing indulgence.
Bib Gourmand Restaurants
Not every incredible meal requires a splurge. Enter the Bib Gourmand.
A Bib Gourmand Award distinction celebrates restaurants offering good value cooking, offering high-quality dishes at approachable prices.
It’s where you’ll find some of the most exciting and accessible food in the city.
Nashville’s Bib Gourmand List spans from elevated pizza to mastery in global cuisine.
From casual spots to hidden gems, Nashville’s Bib Gourmand list includes seven spots:
While in Tennessee we had the opportunity to eat at two Bib Gourmand restaurants.
We started at Sho Pizza from the famous chef Sean Brock. Located in East Nashville, Sho Pizza Bar is a must-visit for lovers of bold, inventive pies.
The name Sho Pizza comes from the Japanese term shokunin, which means “artisan”.
The care this restaurant takes in crafting their food is apparent in that meaning.
They use non-GMO grains imported from Europe, the dough is cold-fermented for three days in a temperature-controlled dough room to create consistent fermentation, and they even ship in their cheese from Italy each week.
Chef-driven and delightfully unpretentious, it blends minor Asian influences with classic Italian techniques. The caesar salad features katsuobushi bonito flakes for an extra layer of umami.
The ranch dipping sauce includes a kiss of miso for an extra depth of flavor.
If you love unique martinis, try the neapolitan martini made with buffalo whey, basil oil, and a smoked mozzarella olive.
This is high quality pizza with a laid-back, maximalist vibe
It’s the kind of place where you can taste the personality of the chef in every bite, without needing a second mortgage.
We also leveraged the Michelin Bib Gourmand list to pop into St Vitos Focacceria for a lunch date.
This spot in Nashville’s hip Gulch neighborhood is famous for their focaccia.
Before you dive into that mound of carbs, start with the gigante bean salad.
It features creamy beans and an acidic parmigiana dashi.
Served with a few slices of endive, it served the perfect textural crunch. Or if you’re feeling whimsy make a little bean taco with the endive leaf.
The sfincione Sicilian pizza flavors range from traditional, like pepperoni, to unique, like the potato pizza with potato cream and lemon.
Ultimately, the spicy tomato pizza was our favorite.
This thick, fresh focaccia features hot giardiniera red sauce and creamy burrata all laid on top of perfectly fermented bread that rivals the top spots in Italy.
Without question they are baking up the best focaccia in all of America.
Nashville Michelin Recommended Restaurants
Michelin’s “Recommended” category is a huge honor that recognizes standout restaurants known for good cooking and consistency.
They may not meet the full criteria for stars, but they’re absolutely worth your time.
From casual spots to hidden gems, Nashville’s Michelin Recommended list includes eleven spots:
- Bad Idea
- Iggy’s
- Rolf and Daughters
- International Market
- Folk
- Tailor
- Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
- Arnold’s Country Kitchen
- Audrey
- Cafe Roze
- Shotgun Willie’s BBQ
We had the opportunity to dine at four Michelin recommended restaurants while in Tennessee.
For the perfect gourmet lunch that is still affordable, head to Audrey.
A love letter to Appalachian cuisine, Audrey is just as gorgeous as it’s expansive.
The space has an upstairs bar (featuring $5 drinks and bites), a full private dining room with an open kitchen design, a culinary library, as well as a food lab for crafting distillates and fermentations.
What’s so impressive about Audrey, is their farm-to-table approach to using local farmers. The menu features vague dishes like “beef” and “pork” because the chef buys the entire animal and uses various cuts depending on what’s left.
One day the menu might feature a tenderloin, one day it might be sous vide beef chuck.
It almost feels lowbrow to praise their burger when they are curating such incredibly fresh and beautiful plates, but there is a reason why they were named the #2 burger in the country by Food and Wine Magazine.
Their cheeseburger was cooked with hickory wood until perfectly juicy, laid on a house-made bun, and topped with homemade pickles and the most scrumptious mustard marinated onions.
We visited Audry at lunch and were floored by how affordable and approachable the menu was.
Come mid-day for a great culinary experience at a lovely value or come at dinner for a perfect date night with their craft cocktails.
Audry was so good, we were shocked it didn’t get a Michelin Star.
Rolf and Daughters is a cozy spot in the Germantown neighborhood. Dimly lit but unpretentious, the restaurant is a vibe.
They partner with local farmers and focus on seasonal food and the menu changes seasonally as a result.
We lucked out by grabbing the last two open seats at the bar and started with a round of cocktails.
For food, we couldn’t resist sharing a bowl of one of their pastas from their in-house pasta program.
So many of the pasta dishes looked delicious, it was hard to pick which to order.
The radiatori pasta ultimately caught our eye, which was a noodle shape that resembled a car radiator. All of the nooks and crannies were the perfect spot for the creamy pistachio pesto sauce to hide.
If you’re a wino, you’ll love Bad Idea.
A vibrant and funky restaurant in East Nashville, Bad Idea features an incredible wine list.
It was even named a winner for the Michelin Sommelier Award for the American South.
Head there for happy hour for 2.5 ounce select wine pours for $5 and taste your way through Somm Alex Burch’s selections.
When Bad Idea was awarded its Michelin recognition, it was at a time when the head chef embraced bold international flavors.
Since the award, the restaurant changed chefs, bringing in a chef with experience from The French Laundry, so now the menu has changed to feature a new American menu with French technique instead of the previous Asian menu.
Michelin across Tennessee
We shared the 21 restaurants in Nashville with Michelin awards, but there are a total of 36 Michelin restaurants all across Tennessee.
Outside of Nashville, there are two bib gourmand restaurants, they are located in Memphis as well as Chattanooga.
Additionally there are 14 more Tennessee Michelin recommendations: two in Knoxville, three in Chattanooga, two in Sawenee, three in Memphis, as well as recommendations in Franklin, Cordova, and Maryville.
A short road trip from Nashville, head to Maryville, Tennessee at the edge of the Smokies for RT Lodge.
The restaurant at RT Lodge is nestled in a 94-year-old cottage overlooking lush gardens and a peaceful koi pond.
This serene dining experience offers contemporary southern cooking in a peaceful setting. It’s worth the detour if you’re exploring beyond downtown Nashville.
Their chef, Trevor Stockton, is making his own charcuterie in-house from meat from his family farm.
This charcuterie plate was not your typical “girl’s meal”, this was a smorgasbord of craftsmanship and culinary talent.
We feasted on a country pate, which was made of pork sausage and pistachio, wrapped in bacon and smoked.
It was served alongside house made speck (which was the tasted prosciutto we have tasted), a homemade smoked pork sausage with seasonal green garlic, and a pork rillette that was a perfect bite on their house made sourdough with homemade pickles, okra, pickled egg, and homemade mustard.
We also fell in love with the hashbrown topped with horseradish and caviar. It was crisp, tender, and included all the best flavors in the perfect bite.
For entrees, expect local trout coated in cornmeal, a wagyu skirt steak from a farm in the region paired with the most delicious chimichurri crunch and pickled mushrooms, and a spring vegetable risotto that tasted like a salad transformed into comfort food.
As a final bite, we enjoyed the “bread and butter semifreddo” , a cheeky nod from the pastry chef turning the homemade bread course at the start of the meal to a butter-crusted homemade semifreddo with sourdough crisps and pickled strawberries.
We know Michelin sometimes takes time to give stars out to regional cities, but we definitely think the RT Lodge will be in the running for a star and green star soon.
Other Tennessee Restaurants with Notable Culinary Awards
Michelin isn’t the only game in town. Tennessee’s culinary scene is stacked with award-winning talent.
The Catbird Seat not only won a Michelin Star, but was also honored with a James Beard Foundation Outstanding Restaurant Award.
Maiz de la Vida was crowned USA Today’s Restaurant of the Year in 2026, this vibrant spot celebrates Mexican cuisine with bold flavors and cultural authenticity.
It’s a testament to Nashville’s rich blend of cultural influences.
We loved their impressive moles, their chicken tinga stuffed into a variety of enchilanda, or their most popular wagyu quesabirria tacos.
The birria appetizer is so rich and filling it could probably feed a party of three!
Another spot with tons of culinary accolades is the Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro in the Smokies.
We are honestly shocked that Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro doesn’t have any Michelin recognition yet, it was one of the best meals we ate in Tennessee.
It’s no surprise that they’re in the 1% of listings on TripAdvisor, named one of the top 25 fine dining restaurants in the US, and named Cityview Magazine’s top chefs of 2025.
Nested at the top of Dancing Bear Resort, a peaceful retreat with cozy cabins, hot tubs overlooking the forest, and crackling wood burning fireplaces, it’s worth the drive from Nashville.
The restaurant just oozes romance with the gardens overflowing with hydrangeas, twinkling string lights, and the large firepit creating a mountainous perfume in the air.
Start with the asparagus salad with prosciutto for a bright bite of spring flavors.
Additionally, the pasta with veal sweetbreads and pork jowl was rich and satisfying, it might be our favorite dish from our entire culinary trip to Tennessee.
Also, if you’re a whiskey lover like we are, be sure to look for the Cork to Fork menu items from the Tennessee Whiskey Trail that infuse local Tennessee distillers into culinary masterpieces.
The pork belly burnt ends featured Company Distilling bourbon whiskey, which is crafted just up the road.
And the whiskey-infused bread pudding was baked, and then seared to create a crisp, yet tender texture that rivaled any Southern bread pudding we have ever savored.
Planning Your Michelin Getaway
Now that your appetite is officially elevated, here’s how to make the most of your Tennessee culinary adventure in Nashville & beyond.
When planning your Nashville Michelin and Culinary getaway, be sure to make reservations early, especially for Michelin-starred restaurants as they book up months in advance.
Also, don’t skip lunch spots; some of the best bites are midday and are at a fraction of the cost.
Access Tennessee Vacation’s webpage for travel and planning resources and keep an eye on Michelin’s site for new award winners in future years.
Nashville is no longer just a music destination; it’s a full-fledged culinary destination.
From Michelin-starred tasting menus to Bib Gourmand gems and globally inspired eateries, the city offers something for every palate.
Whether you’re savoring the artistry of Audrey, grabbing inventive slices at Sho Pizza Bar, or exploring the sustainable brilliance of January, one thing is clear: Nashville’s food scene is having a moment… and you’ll want a seat at the table.
So book the trip, bring your appetite, and get ready to experience exciting regional selections in the Michelin Guide today.
Traveling to Tennessee?! Don’t Miss These Other Guides:
- Fun Things to Do in Clarksville, Tennessee for Couples
- Springfield, TN: A Cozy Getaway From Nashville
Click this link to pin this guide on Can’t Miss Tennessee and Nashville Michelin Restaurants on Pinterest.
Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more recipes and romantic and foodie travel recommendations, we love to see when you visit our favorite spots!
Looking for more travel recommendations around the world? Read all of our Travel Guides.
If you’d like to automatically receive our posts in your email, register here.
No Comments