Give In to Your Inner Post-Wave Hipster at These Trendy Restaurants in Nashville

Everybody loves a good trend. Whether you’re just in the city for a short time or looking for a new, hip place where you can enjoy a night out with your friends, there are so many reasons why you might be looking for trendy restaurants in the area. Regardless of what your reason is, we know that sifting through all of the reviews for trendy restaurants near you can be quite a hassle - and that’s why we’ve made it our mission to make your search a little less arduous. Below, you’ll find a list of some of the trendiest restaurants you can find in Nashville.

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There’s something about trends that just drives up business for your favorite local eateries. And with a higher influx of business comes higher prices. Nobody wants to have to stop visiting one of their favorite restaurants because the prices of a night out there have gone through the roof, and that’s why GiftYa has made it their mission to take the pressure of keeping up with trends off of you so you can just enjoy your meal by providing e-gift cards to the trendy restaurants near you. Order one for a friend who misses their favorite restaurant today!

Etch

If you’re looking for attention to detail, they even add decoration with their sauces into the presentation of their dishes at Etch. Image courtesy of Etch Instagram. 

303 Demonbreun St | Sobro | etchrestaurant.com

Whether it’s woodworking, blacksmithing, painting, writing, engineering, or even cooking, they say that a person’s craft is their art - and we couldn’t agree more. If you’re looking for a restaurant where the people behind the scenes really do treat cooking as an artform, you’ll definitely want to give Etch a try.

As they often like to tell the guests who stop in to try a delicious bite of this too-pretty-to-eat food, there’s a reason they call this restaurant Etch. For every meal that their head chef prepares, he always winds up “etching” some of his personal creative style onto every plate, whether it’s through sauce, garnishes, or even just the way the food is arranged.

The folks at Etch are all about innovation, so when you dine here, you’ll find dishes that you never would’ve even been able to dream up yourself (although you may just be dreaming of them for weeks to come after you do try them). While you’re here, be sure to ask about their wine collection to see which wine will pair best with your meal!

“The presentation is unmatched to anything I've ever seen before at a Nashville restaurant. You can tell the executive chef puts a lot of care and thought into how each dish is crafted and displayed.” - Yelp Review

Buy a GiftYa to Etch >

Tavern

Is it a bar? Is it upscale dining? Whatever you decide on, you’re sure to be impressed by Tavern. Image courtesy of Tavern Instagram. 

1904 Broadway | Music Row | mstreetnashville.com

Everyone has specific checkboxes that they like to tick off when they try a new restaurant, but the one thing that every list has in common is the quality of the food. If you’re a foodie, looking for the kind of restaurant that puts an intense focus on the food that they cook up for you, you will definitely find the right place for you at Tavern.

Voted numerous times as one of the best restaurants in Nashville to find yourself brunch, the food honestly doesn’t get much better than this. You’ll find options for people who prefer things on the more savory side, as well as options for people who prefer things a little sweeter - and all of them are going to blow your mind. 

The folks at Tavern love to get creative with their cooking - which means that you won’t just find food that’s beautifully presented, but you’ll also find that the flavor combinations are unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.  Whether it’s their eggs benny, their spicy brunch nachos, or their red velvet waffles, you’ll be in love.

“The fries are probably one of my favorite things about this place. I would recommend the tennessee fries if you like a little bit of sweet and spice. Those are my FAVORITE!” - Yelp Review

Buy a GiftYa to Tavern >

Bartaco

Everybody loves tacos, but if you’re looking for the kind of place where you can build your own, Bartaco does that and then some. Image courtesy of Bartaco Instagram. 

2526 12th Ave S | 12 South | bartaco.com

If you’re a fan of communal dining and feeling like you’re away on a beach holiday while still being close to home in Nashville, we know just the trendy place for you to head to next. Located in 12 South is the growingly popular Bartaco, where they’ve done everything they can to make you feel like you’re at a beach resort in Brazil, rather than an open restaurant in Nashville.

With a large wrap-around bar much like a havana you might find on one of those Brazilian beach resorts, Bartaco is the perfect place for you to get to know your fellow diners while you all enjoy some of the best tacos you can find in all of Nashville and maybe sip on a margarita or two.

They describe their particular style as “upscale street food.” Here, you’ll find homemade tortillas, fresh ingredients, and plenty of options to make yourself the best taco you can imagine. Whether you’re just in the mood to stop by for a quick bite of their homemade guac or you’d like to sit and relax for a while, you’re going to love your time at Bartaco.

“Bartaco is my favorite spot to eat in 12south. Food: The food is always delicious.  The tacos are really good. I had to try the rice bowl and it did not disappoint. The guacamole + chips are to die for!” - Yelp Review

Buy a GiftYa to Bartaco >

Pinewood Social

We’re pretty sure these french fries will never go out of style. Image courtesy of Pinewood Social Instagram. 

33 Peabody St | Downtown | pinewoodsocial.com

There seems to be a common misconception among society at large that once you reach a certain age, you become “too old” to do certain things. If there’s one thing we and the folks over at Pinewood Social can agree on, it’s that no one is too old to do anything, so long as it can continue to be fun for them.

And that’s exactly why Pinewood Social has created the perfect place for people of all ages to come and have a blast while also enjoying some of the best food that Nashville has to offer. On top of having a pretty large dining room in which to enjoy all of your food, they also have a small bowling alley and a dipping pool.

The dipping pool, of course, is only for people 21 and over, but anyone can reserve a time slot at the bowling lanes so long as it’s not booked for a big party! And if you ever find yourself wanting to meet up with a group of sixteen or more people to celebrate something, they’re happy to help you rent out the entire bowling alley for an evening of fun!

“Unlimited bowling for an hour and a half plus the option to add some drinks and food while you bowl? You have to come by at least once to just try it out and have fun.” - Yelp Review

Buy a GiftYa to Pinewood Social >

Butcher & Bee

Give in to the garnish when you enjoy beautifully presented dishes at Butcher & Bee. Image courtesy of Butcher & Bee Instagram. 

902 Main St | Edgefield | butcherandbee.com

Sandwiches probably aren’t the first thing that come to mind when you think of trendy foods - and considering you can easily make one in your own kitchen, we understand why. When it comes to the folks at Butcher & Bee, however, they have somehow managed to make sandwiches a bit of a trend.

These days, they don’t actually just serve up some of the best sandwiches in Nashville (although they still hold a very special place in their hearts and on their menu), but since those sandwiches were a part of their origin story, we thought it was best to include them as a part of the reason behind what makes Butcher & Bee so trendy.

They were founded with a simple vision: to make delicious sandwiches with all of the important ingredients, but to do so while combining flavor and quality that is often only reserved for fine dining restaurants. Here at Butcher & Bee, you’ll find that the dishes they cook for you are made with some of the freshest, tastiest ingredients you’ll find in Nashville!

“Holy cow! This place is incredible! The whipped feta!!! Every bite was unbelievable. We also got the avocado crispy rice, sweet potato hash, AND they gave us dog biscuits on the house for our pup.” - Yelp Review

Buy a GiftYa to Butcher & Bee >

5th & Taylor

Maybe add an egg to your dish and you’ll calm down a little bit. Image courtesy of 5th & Taylor Instagram. 

1411 5th Ave N | Germantown | 5thandtaylor.com

We’re not sure exactly what it is that has made working to forge genuine human connection a trend among restaurants, but we sincerely hope this is one thing that never goes out of style. In Germantown, 5th & Taylor was founded with these very principles in mind with a particularly keen interest in connecting people through simplicity.

After all, at the end of the day, we’re all just human beings who need to nourish our bodies with good food and even better company. At 5th & Taylor, they’re hoping to be the bridge that allows so many more people to do that - and they’re realizing their dreams with simplicity and grace in the way they serve up their food.

Not only will you find dishes on their menu that you’re already familiar with and are cooked to absolute perfection, but you’ll also discover that the general ambiance is one of a loving and supportive community. Everything here is made to be shared - which means you can bring your whole crew along to share the love as you order your favorites and pass them around the table!

“Definite wow factor at this place. Great service, modern and nice decor. Very nice creative cocktails at the bar. Food wise, we loved the tartar. Beef check entree was very flavorful and tender.” - Yelp Review

Buy a GiftYa to 5th & Taylor >

Keeping up with the latest trends isn’t hard when you have a little help to aid in your search for a new favorite restaurant. Let us know which one ticked all of your trendy boxes in the comments below!