Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Nashville area by diners

Fine dining in the United States isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; these days, it's all about cutting-edge culinary experiences.

Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, French Laundry, unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals鈥攁 French style of serving with a set menu鈥攂ecame the norm for fine dining in the U.S.

Between the rise of chefs' tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.

With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Nashville area using data from . Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.

Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.

Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!

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#28. Rolf and Daughters

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1095 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 700 Taylor St. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars
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#27. The Hampton Social - Nashville

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1782 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 1st Ave. South Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars
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#26. The Standard At The Smith House

- Rating: 4.3/5 (408 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 167 Rosa L Parks Blvd. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: American, Steakhouses, Piano Bars
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#25. 5th & Taylor

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1509 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1411 5th Ave. North Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Southern, Bars
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#24. Oak Steakhouse

- Rating: 4.4/5 (511 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 801 Clark Place Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, New American
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#23. Epice

- Rating: 4.4/5 (512 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2902 12th Ave. South Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Lebanese
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#22. Pelato

- Rating: 4.4/5 (481 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1300 3rd Ave. North Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian
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#21. Darfons Restaurant & Lounge

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1251 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2810 Elm Hill Pike Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: American, New American, Cocktail Bars
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#20. Luogo

- Rating: 4.4/5 (417 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 211 12th Ave. South Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian
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#19. Lyra

- Rating: 4.4/5 (340 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 935 West Eastland Ave. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Middle Eastern
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#18. Blanco Cocina + Cantina

- Rating: 4.4/5 (436 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 530 Broadway Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Tacos, New Mexican Cuisine
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#17. The Stillery

- Rating: 4.4/5 (3689 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 113 2nd Ave. North Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Bars
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#16. The Optimist - Nashville

- Rating: 4.4/5 (470 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1400 Adams St. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood
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#15. Cafe Intermezzo

- Rating: 4.4/5 (391 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 205 Demonbreun St. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bars, Creperies
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#14. Skull's Rainbow Room

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1503 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 222 Printers Aly Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Steakhouses, Seafood
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#13. Barcelona Wine Bar

- Rating: 4.5/5 (883 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1200 Villa Place Ste 110 Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Tapas Bars, Wine Bars, Spanish
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#12. Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina

- Rating: 4.5/5 (977 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 201 8th Ave. South Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Steakhouses, Cocktail Bars, Seafood
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#11. Bakersfield Nashville

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1541 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 3rd Ave. South Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Tacos, Bars
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#10. PennePazze

- Rating: 4.5/5 (516 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3826 Charlotte Ave. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian
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#9. Etc Restaurant

- Rating: 4.5/5 (244 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3790 Bedford Ave. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Steakhouses
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#8. Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse- Nashville

- Rating: 4.5/5 (806 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 300 4th Ave. North Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Sushi Bars
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#7. Answer

- Rating: 4.5/5 (370 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 132 46th Ave. North Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, New American, Cocktail Bars
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#6. Locust

- Rating: 4.5/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2305 12th Ave. South Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Shaved Ice, Noodles, Seafood
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#5. The Catbird Seat

- Rating: 4.5/5 (498 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 700 8th Ave. South Fifth Floor Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American
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#4. Gannons Nashville

- Rating: 4.5/5 (183 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 170 4th Ave. North Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood, New American, Cocktail Bars
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#3. Bastion

- Rating: 4.5/5 (267 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 434 Houston St. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American
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#2. etch

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1793 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 303 Demonbreun St. Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: New American
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#1. Noko Nashville

- Rating: 4.8/5 (467 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 701 Porter Road Nashville, Tennessee
- Categories: Japanese
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.

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