Best Nashville Food Tours: Music City's Foodie Faves
If you’re looking for the best food tours in Nashville, congratulations! You’ve just found them! The creative energy that drives the city is no longer confined to the amazing music scene. It has now spilled over into Nashville’s food sector, with delicious local food delighting local foodies and impressing Nashville visitors.
And the best way to make sure your taste buds find their way to the most delicious food Music City has to offer is to take one of the best food tours of Nashville. Especially for first-time visitors, having a knowledgeable local guide introduce you to the most delicious dishes in the best locally owned restaurants, cafes, coffee spots, doughnut shops, and bakeries in the city is the most surefire way to eat Nashville like a pro.
As a longtime chef, lifelong foodie, and experienced food and travel blogger, I love exploring the local food scene no matter where I go, and Nashville is no different. I’ve had a great time enjoying incredible musical performances on my visits, but some of my best experiences have been exploring the classic southern flavors and unique local dishes that leave me singing the praises of Nashville cuisine.
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So, to make sure that you too get to enjoy the best tastes of Nashville, I’m introducing you to the 5 best Nashville food tours the city has to offer. These experiences are a fantastic way to have a great time getting a first-class taste of Nashville.
You’ll enjoy scrumptious southern food, sample Nashville’s favorite signature dishes, and discover the delicious secrets of Tennessee whiskey. You’ll also get the lowdown from your expert guides on not just Music City’s culinary crème de la crème but on other interesting aspects of the city that these local connoisseurs know and love.
Best Nashville Food Tours
So, here’s what you need to know about the best Nashville Food Tours, starting with our Number 1 Pick!
1. Taste of Nashville Food & Sightseeing Tour🏆
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars! Over 1,600 Reviews! Awarded the Badge of Excellence!
⏰ Approximately 3 hours, 🚶🏽♀️ 14 people max
If you’re looking for wonderful food, fascinating facts, the city’s top sights, and the local cocktail as dangerous as it is delicious, hop aboard this Taste of Nashville Food & Sightseeing Tour.
“Scott gave us a great tour that was tailored to the interests of the guests. As a musician himself, he provided insight on the country music industry and the downtown honky-tonks. We enjoyed some of the best foods and beverages in Nashville without the stress of driving ourselves. We recommend taking a tour with Scott to get a fun and informative overview of Nashville as you begin your trip.” –Julie P. Read more reviews.
Why take the Taste of Nashville Food & Sightseeing Tour
This tour provides you with an unbeatable combination of dynamite local food, popular historic landmarks, and interesting insights into local history and culture—not to mention a frosty Nashville specialty cocktail.
On this tour, you’re in for a lot more than a little local flavor. Aboard your comfortable van, you’ll be transported to delicious stops at celebrated local restaurants to enjoy such local favorites as authentic Nashville hot chicken, succulent southern barbecue, and select sweet treats.
You’ll also explore Nashville’s most hands-on distillery, getting an up-close introduction to the distilling process, a guided tasting of several handmade specialty spirits, and a refreshing, frosty Bushwhacker—one of Nashville’s favorite adult beverages.
Between your fabulous food stops and delighting in your drinks, you’ll take in views of sights such as the Capitol, Bicentennial Mall State Park, Nashville Farmers Market, Marathon Village, Centennial Park, Belmont, Vanderbilt, East Nashville, Nissan Stadium, and more.
This renowned foodies tour is truly a great way to see, taste, and experience many of the best things in Nashville. The small group size guarantees you’ll get the personal touch you deserve, whereas the size and variety of your food portions will be more than enough for a full meal. And your tour guide will not only ensure a great experience during your exploration, he or she will also be happy to give you helpful tips about what else to experience during your stay in Nashville.
2 – 3. Nashville Walking Food Tour With Secret Food
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars! Over 2,500 Reviews! Awarded the Badge of Excellence!
⏰ Approximately 3.5 hours, 🚶🏽♀️ 12 people max
This tour is actually your choice of one of two best secret food tours Nashville has to offer—each a chance to check out one of the two hottest neighborhoods in Nashville with the most dynamic food scenes: East Nashville and 12 South.
“Excellent food tour that highlights all of Nashville’s famous dishes. Wonderful pulled pork and the banana pudding was over the top. Colleen was a wonderful tour guide adding great local color as you make your way around East Nashville.” –Maribeth S. Read more reviews.
“We really enjoyed our tour of 12 South. It brought us to an area of Nashville we wouldn’t have explored otherwise, and gave me a chance to have my favorite food of the whole trip. Our guide Hunter was friendly and knowledgeable and gave us great food advice for the rest of our trip.” –Marissa P. Read more reviews.
Why take the Nashville Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours
These are two of the best Nashville food tours for exploring Nashville’s hottest neighborhoods. They are both quirky Nashville neighborhoods with their own unique vibe, and each is well known to every Nashville foodie.
Led by local, knowledgeable guides, these are both walking food tours, so you’ll get a real chance to take your time while you see the sights, savor the flavors, and interact with the locals.
The food stops on the East Nashville food walking tour feature spicy Nashville hot chicken, deeply delicious pulled pork, Tennessee-whiskey-glazed donuts, and hometown, handcrafted crustburgers—created in East Nashville and now celebrated by locals throughout Music City and lucky visitors who are in the know.
The East Nashville Food Tour also explores other elements of the East Edgefield and iconic Five Points neighborhoods. These include legendary music venues and historic architecture. You’ll also enjoy a delicious secret dish that’s a big-time fan favorite.
The 12 South Nashville Food Tour will have you strolling stylish, tree-shaded streets that sport colorful murals, host indie boutiques and hip coffee shops, and serve as home to some of the city’s most talked-about eateries.
You’ll understand why tongues are wagging once your taste buds meet up with a locally loved breakfast taco, dangerously delicious donuts, a brash brisket quesadilla & spicy green beans combo, and a smokin’ Southern hot pork & grits casserole. But you’ll have to save room for the delicious secret dish that’s also in store for you.
No matter which tour you choose, come hungry and you’ll leave happy, with tasty memories of time well spent getting to know Nashville better than most visitors do.
4. Music City Food, Drink, Sightseeing Walking Tour Along Broadway
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Rating: 4.7 out of 5 Stars! Over 225 Reviews! Awarded the Badge of Excellence!
⏰ Approximately 3 hours, 🚶🏽♀️ 30 people max
This downtown Nashville food tour explores the heart of Nashville's country music scene: The Honky Tonk Highway. You’ll also discover the lovely Cumberland River waterfront. In addition to enjoying iconic Nashville foods, you’ll learn the fascinating history of the area, and revel in the always-exciting musical epicenter of the city.
“This was the best thing we did all trip . . . with a great guide, Kristi. She was nice and fun and very knowledgeable about Nashville. I just wish we would have booked this the first day because she gave us so many helpful insider tips.” –Stacey I. Read more reviews.
Why take the Music City Food, Drink, Sightseeing Walking Tour Along Broadway
The best of the downtown Nashville tours, this experience puts you right in the middle of what most people come to Nashville for, the cluster of honky-tonks featuring incredible live music. But in between checking out the legendary music venues and soaking up the local culture, you’ll be digging into some of Nashville’s most famous foods.
You’ll eat at the iconic restaurant that invented Nashville’s original hot chicken, enjoy prized BBQ pork and other local specialties, and sip on Nashville’s most famous frosty cocktail.
Gourmet sweets also part of the mix, as you learn about the delicious bites that were invented in Nashville more than a century ago, are still made right in town, and have been loved by everyone from Dolly Parton to Keith Urban, Robert Redford, Ozzie Ozbourne, and celebrity chef Carla Hall.
Your walking tour also includes stops at Ryman Auditorium, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Pedestrian Bridge. Great food, fantastic fun, and the marvelous music of the city await you!
5. Premier Distillery & Craft Brewery Bus Tour With 9+ Tastings
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Rating: 4.7 out of 5 Stars! Over 150 Reviews! Awarded the Badge of Excellence!
⏰ Approximately 3 hours, 🚶🏽♀️ 13 people max
Should you really come visit Nashville and not enjoy some amazing Tennessee whiskey made right in town? Wouldn’t delving into the local craft beer scene be a smart thing to do too? Here’s your chance to sip some of the best bevvies in town and learn the secrets of the leading local distillers and brewers.
“Amazing overall experience. Shoutout to our tour guide, Jack, for making it an awesome time! He's very knowledgeable about the distilleries and breweries and shared some local tips.” –Chris V. Read more reviews.
Why take the Premier Distillery & Craft Brewery Bus Tour With 9+ Tastings
As if the local food isn’t enough to satisfy your palate, this tour offers you a unique way to drink in the delights of highly touted Nashville Tennessee whiskeys and craft beers.
Your incredibly knowledgeable professional guide will escort you to a combination of 3 or 4 local distilleries and breweries. You’ll enjoy a variety of tastings that will include 9 to 12 samplings of different alcoholic drinks. You’ll learn about the processes involved in crafting the specific flavor profiles of the spirits and brews you’re drinking.
Samples will include some mix of beers, bourbons, moonshine, Tennessee whiskey, and vodka. What better way to toast your time in Nashville? And there’s no need to worry about driving! You’ll be driven in private transport to all distillery and brewery stops. Giddyup!
Nashville Food Tour Tips
As I mentioned, I love the excitement of Nashville, and it’s a great food town! Now, you have 5 of the best foodie and drinkie experiences in the city to help you have a great time in Music City too!
Here are a few tips to help you make the most of whichever Nashville tour or tours you choose.
• These are all fantastic outings for small groups, so there aren’t many spots per activity, and they do sell out. Please try to reserve as early as possible to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the fun.
• Always read all policies and double-check details before you book your activity.
• These are all going to be great experiences. Just show up on time, relax, and have fun!
To learn more about the fantastic food that awaits you in Tennessee read:
10 Foods Nashville Is Known For
13 Iconic Foods From Tennessee
