In 2019, brunch is as pervasive on Nashville’s culinary landscape as bachelorettes are on Broadway. And done right, brunch in Nashville is an activity, not a meal — an action verb usually posed in present tense.

In a city where brunch has become ubiquitous, it can be easy to drown in the sea of possibilities — the best brunches Nashville has to offer can range from a hole-in-the-wall dive in East Nashville (honorable mention, Dino’s) to the city’s ritziest, “see and be seen” rooftop restaurants in The Gulch (looking at you, L.A. Jackson), and everything in between.

To eliminate the guesswork, we’ve rounded up a list of some of the best brunch spots in Nashville, and included some brunch dishes you can’t go wrong with.

Nashville’s best brunch spots

Sinema
2600 8th Ave. S., #102, Melrose

The chic vibe of this Art Deco escape, hidden in the Historic Melrose Theater, helps set the tone for an unforgettable Nashville brunch experience. Designer Kathy Anderson incorporated the best of Old Hollywood and New Nashville in this vintage space, giving an elegant air to even the most casual of gatherings. The “Bottomless Brunch” offered every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. includes access to an array of varied service stations throughout the two-story space, sure to impress even the pickiest in your party. The pinnacle of indulgence: Sinema’s upstairs Waffle Bar, where diners can create a confection straight out of their dreams, complete with a variety of fruits, syrups and candies.

Standout brunch dish: the delectable Fruity Pebble French Toast
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Marché Artisan Foods
1000 Main St., East Nashville

When East Nashville needed a steady brunch spot, chef Margot McCormack answered, opening a relaxed café that caters to anyone who enjoys elegant food amongst friends, whether they’re 2 or 92. You might know McCormack from her flagship restaurant, Margot Café, where diners fell in love with her combination of French and Italian influences and seasonal, sophisticated yet approachable food. Marché changes their brunch menu weekly to highlight the best locally sourced ingredients Nashville and Middle Tennessee have to offer — standouts regularly include both the sweet and savory crepes of the day and ginger-peach mimosa. Offering brunch Friday through Monday, the cafe always bustles with warm energy (and often a crowd of people). so we’d recommend downloading the Nowait! App to hold your spot in line for a table.

Best brunch dish: croissant French toast
Brunch hours: Friday & Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Monday 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Henrietta Red
1200 Fourth Ave. N., Germantown

Chef Julia Sullivan’s first restaurant opened in February of 2017, and quickly became a smash success, and praise for her take on Southern cuisine with a coastal flair doesn’t seem to be slowing. A James Beard semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant, Henrietta Red offers simple yet refined dishes, coupled with impeccable presentation and chic surroundings, inside a bright, airy historic Germantown space. A meticulously designed oyster selection is flown in fresh daily from all over the country, and incredible brunch options come in on the weekends, spanning both the sweet and savory sides of the menu, and solidifying Henrietta Red’s standing as a Nashville brunch mainstay.

Best brunch dishes: orange monkey bread and mushroom polenta
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Butcher & Bee
902 Main St., East Nashville

Butcher & Bee chef Bryan Lee Weaver crafted one of the most inventive menus in Nashville, fusing Israeli dishes with fresh Southern ingredients. If you’re lucky enough to catch one when it’s available, snag a seat at the Chef’s Bar in Butcher & Bee’s open kitchen during brunch service — it’s a show worth watching. While their vegetable-forward menu changes constantly, the restaurant’s signature dish, easy to enjoy any time of day, is the Whipped Feta: a blend of feta and cream cheese, drizzled with fermented honey and topped with fresh chives and cracked black pepper, served with warm pita bread. It’ll wrap you in warm-and-tangy deliciousness and leave you smiling for the rest of your day.

Best brunch dish: Green Eggs and Lamb
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. – noon

Husk
37 Rutledge St., Rutledge Hill (SoBro area)

Now under the leadership of executive chef Katie Coss, Nashville’s Husk outpost is a farm-to-table restaurant in the truest sense. Be sure to check out the Purveyors Board hanging on the wall when you stop in, to see all the local farms Husk sources its ingredients from. The menu changes twice daily, so you never know exactly what you’ll find when you venture to Husk for brunch, but the kitchen’s keen attention to detail means you’ll invariably find impeccable flavors. Perennial favorites on the ever-rotating menu include pimento cheese with benne wafers, shrimp and grits, and of course, the HUSK cheeseburger.

Best brunch dish: HUSK cheeseburger
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Tavern
1904 Broadway, Midtown

Voted Best Brunch by Nashville Scene readers in 2018, Tavern’s eclectic menu invites both the most intrepid and selective eaters to enjoy and imbibe. You’ll notice the crowd is just as varied, with tourists and locals alike flocking to this Nashville staple to cure the Sunday blues with equal parts atmosphere and eats.

Insider Tip: Tavern does not take reservations and there is always a considerable wait for a table, but brunch drinks are two-for-one and guests are encouraged to belly up to the bar if a spot’s available, or enjoy fresh air at the outdoor patio while waiting. It’s the perfect place to do some people-watching in Midtown on a sunny afternoon.

Best brunch dishes: red velvet waffle and the Singapore Stir Fry
Brunch hours: Friday - Sunday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Chauhan Ale & Masala House
123 12th Ave. N., The Gulch

Chef Maneet Chauhan has been busy since moving to Nashville in early 2014 — after opening Chauhan Ale & Masala House that year, her Morph Hospitality Group followed with contemporary Chinese restaurant Tànsuŏ, modern diner The Mockingbird and Indian street food spot Chaatable. You may recognize her from her stint as a celebrity guest judge on Food Network show Chopped, but locals know Chauhan for her fierce commitment to the community and infectious, indelible passion for food. She opened Chauhan as an homage to her native India, but felt compelled infuse Southern sensibilities, finding that sweet spot in fusion cuisine few chefs manage to balance so well. Their bar program and beer selection are also a tribute to the chef herself; she collaborated with brewmasters Derrick Morse and Chad Frost and helped create Mantra Artisan Ales, a line of locally brewed specialty beers that complement the spices and themes within her cuisine.

Best brunch dish: Pork Belly Tangra Fried Rice
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Looking for a way to explore the best food in Nashville? Walk Eat Nashville walking food tours make it easy — covering East Nashville, Midtown and SoBro/Downtown, each tour includes tastings at multiple restaurants/shops and behind-the-scenes interactions with chefs and owners. Learn more about Walk Eat Nashville food tours.