Finding the best restaurant in Nashville means discovering The Stillery, where brick-fired pizzas meet live music just steps from Broadway’s chaos.
This downtown location at 113 2nd Avenue North serves New American cuisine with Southern flair, combining quality food with entertainment.
The Hot Chicken Mac & Cheese became legendary, combining cavatappi pasta in-house cheese sauce topped with Nashville’s signature spicy chicken.
What Makes The Stillery the Best Restaurant in Nashville
The secret to earning the title of best restaurant in Nashville lies in combining brick-fired pizzas with live music perfectly.
The location around the corner from Broadway provides perfect proximity without chaos, making it ideal for pre-show dining before Ryman events.
At reasonable prices with $13 hot chicken plates and pizzas perfect for two, quality comes without a premium downtown markup.
The Story Behind Nashville’s Best Restaurant
The Stillery launched with a vision to combine fresh food, signature cocktails, and live music into one cohesive experience.
The name plays on “distillery” with actual stills displayed, emphasizing Southern whiskey and shining focus for mason jar cocktails.
The downtown Nashville location at 113 2nd Avenue North became the flagship, establishing a reputation for quality food just off Broadway.
Nashville’s Favorite Menu Items
Food Highlights
- Hot Chicken: Nashville’s signature dish arrives at spice levels from mild buffalo to face-melting Nashville hot with quality preparation. At $13, the price remains reasonable for quality hot chicken on Broadway with substantial portions throughout. 🔥
- Mac N’ Cheese Topped with Hot Chicken: Cavatappi pasta gets smothered in house cheese sauce, baked with breadcrumbs, then crowned with hot chicken. The very creamy, very rich preparation works best as a shared side at $13 for substantial portions. 🧀
- Jalapeño Bacon Rangoons: Creative appetizers earn consistent praise as must-orders with jalapeño heat, bacon smokiness, and creamy filling. At $8, these provide a shareable starter that disappears quickly as addictive bites everyone orders. 🌶️
- Brick-Fired Pizza: The crust earns recognition as one of the best ever tasted, perfectly crunchy outside while soft and chewy inside. The Aloha pizza arrives with incredible hot honey sauce, transforming Hawaiian pizza into something special. 🍕
- MC Burger: Oversized English muffin replaces standard bun for stellar creative touch that stands out from typical Broadway offerings. At $13, this burger variation provides a different texture and flavor profile with super-fast service. 🍔
- Pretzel Burger: This burger uses a pretzel bun for a salty-savory combination with a sturdy foundation holding up to juicy patties. At $13, this offers something different from standard burger buns for adventurous diners. 🥨
Sides and Drinks
- Crispy Brussels: Brussels sprouts tossed in hot honey, topped with feta, chive, and lemon create a tangy, sweet-savory finish. The hot honey provides sweetness, balancing the earthy Brussels perfectly for vegetable lovers. 🥬
- Mason Jar Cocktails: Signature drinks made with top Southern whiskeys arrive in photogenic mason jars with favorites like Southern Peach. The Blueberry Crush features chunks of blueberry, creating refreshing sweetness throughout every sip. 🍹
Atmosphere
The restaurant is located downtown at 113 2nd Avenue North, just around the corner from Broadway’s chaos and tourist crowds.
Inside, large windows fill the space with natural sunlight, creating an airy atmosphere unlike dark Broadway bars downtown.
The upstairs area features live music nightly, providing entertainment without overwhelming downstairs diners eating and conversing.
Bottom Line
Visit The Stillery for the best restaurant in Nashville, featuring brick-fired pizzas with perfectly crunchy yet chewy crust always.
World-famous hot chicken mac and cheese, mason jar cocktails made with top Southern whiskeys, and live music creating pre-show atmosphere.
Six locations across three states prove consistent quality keeps customers making this their number one downtown choice. 🌟
Address: The Stillery
Downtown: 113 2nd Ave N, Nashville, TN 37201 📞 (615) 942-8080
Midtown: 1921 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 📞 (615) 760-5158
Additional locations: Arizona (Happy Valley, Goodyear, Chandler), Colorado (Westminster)
🕔 Mon-Thu & Sun: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM | Fri-Sat: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM