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12 restaurants ideal for date night in Nashville

A photo of Red logo
by Kellie Walton
Updated January 24, 2024

Whether you’ve been married for a decade or just bravely swiped right, there’s a pitch-perfect Nashville restaurant for you. Break the ice with a sushi-rolling class at a pan-Asian favorite. Dial up the heat on a weekly date night with dinner and a burlesque show. Take your relationship to the next stage at a seasonal American spot in a historic movie theater.

This guide pairs Nashville restaurants with romantic occasions from first dates all the way to milestone anniversaries. These are Nashville’s 12 best date-night restaurants.

A photo of Blanco Cocina + Cantina - Nashville restaurant
4.6
4.6 (971)
$30 and under
Mexican
Downtown / Sobro
About the restaurant

A first date at Blanco Cocina + Cantina feels like a stroll through a stylish Mexican street fair, full of bright colors and plants. If you’re just testing the waters, opt for happy hour, where you can grab tacos and a tequila cocktail, like the crowd-fave jalapeño and pineapple margarita. For a full-on dinner, get the Tucson chimichanga with short rib machaca and carne asada fajitas—plus a bowl of warm queso to share.


Top review
DarbyVIP
Dined 3 days ago
The best restaurant in Nashville, it’s a must go when in town
A photo of Chauhan Ale & Masala House restaurant
4.8
4.8 (5580)
$30 and under
Indian
The Gulch & North Gulch
About the restaurant

Chef Maneet Chauhan’s first Nashville restaurant is peak first-date material. Grab a seat at the bar to take in the quirky brick garage surroundings—unless you’re too distracted by your date. Cocktails and apps that shout out Chauhan’s Indian and Southern connections are the way to go here, and include pub grub like hot chicken pakoras. If you’re seeing green flags, graduate to the dinner menu which stars more traditional South Asian hits like tandoori chicken and paneer.


Top review
Erica
Dined 5 days ago
This was our second time to dine here, and it was amazing…again! The Tournament of Champions Tiffin, Braised Chicken Tikka Masala, Tamarind Lamb Chops with Korma, Garlic Naan, Brussels Sprouts, and Braised French Onion Naan were all delicious!! We chose this restaurant to celebrate my son’s 27th birthday, and it will go down as one of his best birthday meals ever!! We will visit again soon!
A photo of The Optimist - Nashville restaurant
4.8
4.8 (2991)
$31 to $50
Seafood
Germantown
About the restaurant

Get better acquainted over super-fresh, sustainably sourced seafood at The Optimist. Despite Tennessee’s landlocked setting, the vibes are definitely coastal here—and the dim lights fuel a flirty atmosphere. Share a plateaux piled high with oysters, shrimp, ceviche, smoked fish dip, and more, available in different sizes. Or get a dish that pairs Southern-grown produce with seafood from further away like mahi mahi with foraged mushrooms and nduja butter.


Top review
Brooks
Dined 2 days ago
One of the very few good seafood options in Nashville (unless you like catfish). Our 4th or 5th time there and the service is always done well. Food is very good. They timely replenish drinks/cocktails. It's just always a good experience. My only recommendation would be for them to increase the sides menu.
A photo of Ophelia's Pizza + Bar - Nashville restaurant
4.7
4.7 (433)
$31 to $50
Pizza Bar
Downtown / Sobro
About the restaurant

From the lively streetside patio to the comforting Italian American dishes, Ophelia’s aces the second-date test. There’s an entire wall crammed with framed photographs and pictures that bring a slice of Europe to downtown Nashville; they also make good conversation-starters in case you run into any awkward pauses. Come for brunch or dinner, and don’t skip the bechamel-soaked lasagna—arguably the best in town—and pepperoni pie with hot honey, ghost-pepper salt, and Calabrian chile.


Top review
John
Dined 4 days ago
Everything was wonderful. Except that there was a loud table near us that kind of disrupted the quiet restaurant.
A photo of Red Pony Restaurant restaurant
4.8
4.8 (4626)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Franklin
About the restaurant

Red Pony is the kind of cozy-chic gem you and your date can happily become regulars at. Between the brick walls, stunning paintings, and elegant light fixtures, the downtown Franklin charmer feels like an elegant extension of your dining room. And then there’s the food—a beautiful mashup of chef Jason McConnell’s Southern heritage and his global travels. Dishes like shrimp and garlic-cheese grits and grilled mahi with Tanzanian curry will have you plotting your return.


Top review
Lakin
Dined 2 days ago
Everything was perfect from start to finish! Service was above and beyond! I cannot say enough about our server, Rocky. He was so kind, knowledgeable about the menu, attentive, and informative. The restaurant was beautiful with a cool ambiance. The food was divine. This was the perfect dining experience!! We will definitely be back!
A photo of Harper's restaurant
4.8
4.8 (1206)
$31 to $50
Steakhouse
Downtown / Sobro
About the restaurant

Everything at Harper’s is dressed to impress, from its stylish interior archways to a menu that includes premium cuts of meat and one impressive raw bar. Celebrate a special occasion by cozying up in a banquette and get a massive tomahawk to share. If you’re drinking, consider cocktails like the tropical, vodka-forward Amalfi Sunburn or the smoky That One Night in Guadalajara, made with prickly pear and mezcal, and you’ll be ready for that celebratory getaway as soon as you finish dessert.


Top review
Ashleigh
Dined 2 days ago
The food was phenomenal and the service and environment were impeccable! We will definitely dine here again…worth every penny.
A photo of Germantown Cafe restaurant
4.6
4.6 (2468)
$30 and under
American
Germantown
About the restaurant

This inviting staple is all about shareable old-school Southern recipes like marinated pork tenderloin with savory plum sauce and a locally loved apple pie à la mode with brown-sugar walnut butter. Make it a double date and bring friends to the cafe’s lively boozy brunch scene, fueled by mimosas, frosés, and bloody marys, and you’ll see why it’s one of the most sought-after group hangout spots in town.


Top review
Mary
Dined 3 days ago
Love this restaurant! The food is always good and the service is excellent!
A photo of Iberian Pig - Nashville restaurant
4.9
4.9 (859)
$30 and under
Spanish
The Gulch & North Gulch
About the restaurant

This Atlanta-born spot is Nashville’s newest tapas go-to. Take a crew to jamon happy hour on weeknights for a chef’s selection of charcuterie and discounted sangrias, then make way for Spanish small plates to pass around—if your group is feeling super ambitious, pre-order a whole suckling pig for $95 per person. Depending on the kind of vibe you’re all craving, there’s a dim indoor dining room or a rooftop patio with sweeping downtown views.


Top review
KierstenVIP
Dined 7 days ago
Everything was wonderful, food, ambiance, service! It was quiet but we were there very early.
A photo of Sunda New Asian – Nashville restaurant
4.7
4.7 (2246)
$31 to $50
Contemporary Asian
The Gulch & North Gulch
About the restaurant

Sunda’s pan-Asian menu will take you and your date on a whirlwind tour of Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. There’s dim sum to share, a full sushi bar, and entrees like pan-seared sushi rice with ghee and tamari, topped with a choice of wagyu or spicy tuna. Sign up for the restaurant’s monthly sushi-rolling and try your hand at maki making together.


Top review
kim
Dined 2 days ago
Another great meal at Sunda! Sunday brunch with friends and the eggplant bao, steak and eggs, avocado rice and chicken were just perfect. Drinks were excellent and beer was ice cold. Great service and took a nut allergy seriously. Thank you Sunda!
A photo of Skull's Rainbow Room restaurant
4.8
4.8 (5040)
$31 to $50
French American
Downtown / Sobro
About the restaurant

Dinner always comes with a show at Skull’s Rainbow Room, which has perfected the craft cocktail and steak game since opening in 1948. You and your date can move to the tunes of talented artists who take the venue’s checkerboard stage; the Rainbow Room’s past performers have included legends like Etta James, Elvis Presley, and Bob Dylan. A burlesque show (beginning at 11 pm on weekends) turns up the heat on date night.


Top review
Wendy
Dined 2 days ago
Great cocktails, great ambiance. Live music and top notch food. Best lobster bisque we have ever had in our lives. Filet mignon was sensational. Highly recommend, 10/10.
A photo of the River House – Nashville restaurant
4.8
4.8 (1660)
$50 and over
American
Downtown / Sobro
About the restaurant

If you’re popping the big question, head straight to The River House, a modern, high-ceilinged escape. With the Ryman Auditorium and Schermerhorn Symphony Center just a stone’s throw away, The River House is also a no-brainer for a blockbuster pre-show dinner. Expect updated steakhouse faithfuls like prime New York strip, Chilean sea bass, and one of the tastiest wedge salads in town. Luxe banquettes and soft mood lighting provide just the right backdrop for an ultra-romantic proposal.


Top review
WoodyVIP
Dined 6 days ago
If you visit Nashville, and don't eat at The River House, you're missing one of Nashville's best restaurants. Simply put - Outstanding!! Too bad they don't have a Houston location.
A photo of Sinema restaurant
4.7
4.7 (3794)
$30 and under
American
Waverly / Melrose / Breeze Hill
About the restaurant

Sinema drips with Old Hollywood glamor that’s ideal for an epic anniversary celebration. For starters, it lives in a former movie theater with its grand original staircase. The decor matches Sinema’s refined menu of hits like pan-seared scallops with spinach orzotto, lemon spinach mignonette, and black garlic brown butter. If you’re celebrating a major milestone, splurge for the five-course tasting menu. Don’t forget to toast with a rare whiskey—Sinema’s collection includes over 200 kinds.


Top review
Bryan
Dined on Aug 29, 2024
My first time visiting Sinema and absolutely loved it! Drinks, apps, entrees, and desserts were all so flavorful. So sad that they are closing so I hope they will find a new place to reopen.
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