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Up-close landscape view of a bubbling tavern-style pizza pie topped with meatballs. — Tavern-style pizza from Dicey’s.

The Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Nashville

The breweries, bowling alleys, and leveled-up burger places that keep that whole family well-fed and entertained

by Ellen Fort and Jackie Gutierrez-Jones Updated Sep 13, 2024, 1:00pm CDT

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Tavern-style pizza from Dicey’s.

| Clayton Hauck for Dicey’s

by Ellen Fort and Jackie Gutierrez-Jones Updated Sep 13, 2024, 1:00pm CDT

Not-so-breaking news: kids can sniff out a fast-food chain with a jungle gym faster than any adult in the near vicinity. But grabbing a meal with little ones doesn’t have to mean mediocre burgers and questionably sanitary ball pits. In Music City, finding a standout meal that pleases grown-up palates and caters to the school-age crowd is easier than ever. Nashville restaurants have embraced the whole family experience with inventive dishes featuring high-quality ingredients that keep the adults entertained while the little ones run around in an open patio space or color to their hearts' content.

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Tailgate Brewery

Tailgate is open to visitors of all ages, has tons of indoor space and outdoor patios at taprooms throughout the city, serves crowd-pleasing pizza, and offers family-oriented events. Its headquarters in West Nashville often shows movies on an expansive lawn and hosts activities in the heated barn — you’ll even find a children’s menu with pizza, waffles fries, chicken nuggets, and sandwiches.

7300 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209

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Nicky's Coal Fired

This Nations hotspot dispenses some of Nashville’s best pizza from “Enrico,” a four-ton coal-fired oven. Alongside classic margherita, signature pies like the Aces High (with crushed meatballs, mozz, and pecorino), and dippable garlic bread, Nicky’s offers kids their choice of butter or red-sauce noodles to enjoy with a side of vanilla Italian soda. Every Monday starting at 4 p.m. is family night where kids 12 and under eat free and grown-ups can enjoy $5 select drinks.

5026 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209

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Frothy Monkey

Frothy Monkey has four boisterous cafes in Nashville and several more throughout Tennessee/Alabama (not to mention its own coffee roaster and bakery operations). They’re especially popular for well-made breakfast and lunch dishes featuring local ingredients, and they all serve a kids’ menu that includes French toast, cheesy eggs and bacon, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

1400 51st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209

A spread of dishes on a wooden table including salmon on a bed of greens in the foreground next to a glass with some dark liquid in it and a latte and omelet in the background. — A spread of dishes at Frothy Monkey.

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Bringles Smoking Oasis

This barbecue hotspot from pitmaster Carey Bringle (also of Peg Leg Porker) is truly its namesake oasis, occupying a quirky, triangular sliver of real estate in the bustling Nations neighborhood. Order from a rotating menu of smoked meats like tender brisket, pulled pork, and jalapeño cheddar sausage, with crowd-pleasing sides of mac and cheese and street corn. The massive outdoor space is covered in turf and smattered with picnic tables and Adirondack chairs, with plenty of space for both kids and pups. Adults can catch the game on enormous outdoor televisions and grab a frosé or beer from the ample bar.

4901 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209

Landscape view a verdant restaurant patio with picnic tables and Adirondack chairs. — Outside at Bringle’s Smoking Oasis.

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Hugh-Baby's

Another welcome entry in the category of leveled-up nostalgia trips, this mini fast-food chain by Pat Martin (of Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint) serves filling burgers (including slugburgers), barbecue sandwiches, and hot dogs at three locations. Kids love the patio play area at the Berry Hill and Charlotte Avenue locations and the roster of creamy old-school milkshakes with ice cream.

4816 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209

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Elliston Place Soda Shop

The Soda Shop has been a family favorite for over 80 years, serving classic Nashville meat-and-three fare, burgers and fries, and ice cream treats from its soda counter. Fried chicken, mac and cheese, whipped potatoes with gravy, and squash casserole are the perfect precursor to a banana split, or, perhaps, a slice of Mis Linda’s toasted coconut merengue pie. Pick some songs on the jukebox and plop into the welcoming red leather booths for a true Nashville experience.

2105 Elliston Pl, Nashville, TN 37203

The exterior of a building with a striped awning and a sign reading Elliston Place Soda Shop. — The classic facade of Elliston Place Soda Shop.

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Jasper's

Jasper’s is a casual Midtown hang for when the weather isn’t playing ball. The two indoor game rooms are equipped with board games, an air hockey table, old-school arcade consoles, and a basketball free-throw machine — all free for customers. The portions here are generous, so expect plates and bowls brimming with mounds of chili cheese fries, and cauliflower poppers, along with sizeable flatbread and burgers. Most of the items here can be modified for those with gluten sensitivities, too.

1918 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

A father and a daughter playing a game of Jenga on a wood table with someone throwing a basketball in the background.

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Edley's Bar-B-Que

Edley’s is easily one of Nashville’s best barbecue joints; at all of its relaxed locations around town, little ones can enjoy a smaller version of the popular barbecue sandwich plus other items from the kids’ menu, including mini corn dogs, grilled cheese, and chicken tenders.

2706 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204

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Bartaco

Mezcal for the adults and refreshing agua frescas for kiddos — a meal at 12 South or East Nashville’s Bartaco is an easy win for everyone in the fam. Settle into a booth or table and get your little one situated with the children’s menu, which includes “not spicy” guac, mini tacos, and a tray with a quesadilla, taco, corn wheels, and a fruit skewer. Come early, though — the crowds get unruly later into the evening.

2526 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204

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Otaku Ramen Gulch

The Gulch’s popular noodle shop offers kids the one thing that’s taboo at so many other restaurants: the ability to loudly slurp a big, steamy bowl of broth. Grab a seat at one of the wooden tables and order up a chocolate boba for your pint-sized partner before pursuing the children’s menu — the kid-size tonkotsu is a winner.

1104 Division St, Nashville, TN 37203

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Dicey's Tavern

Grab a picnic table on the patio at Dicey’s, where the Chicago tavern-style pizza is hot and the natural wines are cold. Thin crust, party-cut pizzas range from classic cheese to specialties like the Peppy Boy, topped with pepperoni, hot honey, and Calabrian chili; wings, garlic Parmesan tots, and crusty garlic bread also lead the way. Here, you can lovingly trick your child into eating a salad by ordering the little gems topped with crunchy potato chips. Outside by the fire pit, ping pong, and ring toss are ideal for a casual family hang, complete with an easy-drinking cocktail or draft beer, though there’s no bad seat at Dicey’s.

425 Chestnut St, Nashville, TN 37203

Up-close landscape view of a bubbling tavern-style pizza pie topped with meatballs. — The party-cut pies at Dicey’s.

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Pinewood Social

Bowling — that’s what’s for dinner at Pinewood Social, nicely situated in Nash’s Historic Trolley Barns. If you can pry your child away from the lanes for a brief moment, they’ll surely find something to love on a special kids’ menu with cheeseburgers, buttered noodles, grilled cheese, and chicken fingers. For adults: crispy tots with paprika aioli, short rib mac-and-cheese, and a banana chocolate sundae — to share or not to share.

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33 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210

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Joyland Restaurant

On its surface, Joyland Restaurant bears all the hallmarks of your typical fast-casual burger joint: counter service, playful primary colors as decor, a simple, takeout-focused menu, and the smell of grilled beef in the air. But because Sean Brock’s at the helm of this East Nashville spot, everything’s a cut above. The burgers benefit from a proprietary blend of beef from Bear Creek Farm, for example, and the biscuits and beer bear one of Brock’s go-to grains: Jimmy Red corn. Don’t miss the house-made soft serve ice cream with sprinkles — the perfect treat to enjoy on the patio outside.

901 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206

close up of fried chicken biscuit with sauce actively drizzling from above — Joyland’s fried chicken biscuit with hot honey.

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Lockeland Table

The kids’ menu at Lockeland Table features smaller versions of the essential East Nashville restaurant’s popular wood-fired pizza, plus special kids’ sides and desserts that include mac and cheese, roasted veggies, and Oreo balls. Though the attractive space can feel a bit small for maneuvering children, an additional side patio makes a great option for family dining.

1520 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206

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Nectar Urban Cantina

This Donelson favorite has a children’s play area outside that lets adults grab their own kicky beverage from the beer garden before settling in for some casual crowd-pleasers like tacos (stuffed with buttermilk chicken or beer-braised brisket), burritos, nachos, and churros. Be sure to check Nectar’s events calendar for kids' music nights and concerts on the lawn.

206 McGavock Pk, Nashville, TN 37214

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Tailgate Brewery

7300 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209

Tailgate is open to visitors of all ages, has tons of indoor space and outdoor patios at taprooms throughout the city, serves crowd-pleasing pizza, and offers family-oriented events. Its headquarters in West Nashville often shows movies on an expansive lawn and hosts activities in the heated barn — you’ll even find a children’s menu with pizza, waffles fries, chicken nuggets, and sandwiches.

7300 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209

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A post shared by TailGate Brewery (@tailgatebrewery)

Nicky's Coal Fired

5026 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209

This Nations hotspot dispenses some of Nashville’s best pizza from “Enrico,” a four-ton coal-fired oven. Alongside classic margherita, signature pies like the Aces High (with crushed meatballs, mozz, and pecorino), and dippable garlic bread, Nicky’s offers kids their choice of butter or red-sauce noodles to enjoy with a side of vanilla Italian soda. Every Monday starting at 4 p.m. is family night where kids 12 and under eat free and grown-ups can enjoy $5 select drinks.

5026 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nicky's Coal Fired (@nickysnashville)

Frothy Monkey

1400 51st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209

Frothy Monkey has four boisterous cafes in Nashville and several more throughout Tennessee/Alabama (not to mention its own coffee roaster and bakery operations). They’re especially popular for well-made breakfast and lunch dishes featuring local ingredients, and they all serve a kids’ menu that includes French toast, cheesy eggs and bacon, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

1400 51st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209

Visit Website

A spread of dishes on a wooden table including salmon on a bed of greens in the foreground next to a glass with some dark liquid in it and a latte and omelet in the background. — A spread of dishes at Frothy Monkey.

Bringles Smoking Oasis

4901 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209

This barbecue hotspot from pitmaster Carey Bringle (also of Peg Leg Porker) is truly its namesake oasis, occupying a quirky, triangular sliver of real estate in the bustling Nations neighborhood. Order from a rotating menu of smoked meats like tender brisket, pulled pork, and jalapeño cheddar sausage, with crowd-pleasing sides of mac and cheese and street corn. The massive outdoor space is covered in turf and smattered with picnic tables and Adirondack chairs, with plenty of space for both kids and pups. Adults can catch the game on enormous outdoor televisions and grab a frosé or beer from the ample bar.

4901 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209

Visit Website

Landscape view a verdant restaurant patio with picnic tables and Adirondack chairs. — Outside at Bringle’s Smoking Oasis.

Hugh-Baby's

4816 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209

Another welcome entry in the category of leveled-up nostalgia trips, this mini fast-food chain by Pat Martin (of Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint) serves filling burgers (including slugburgers), barbecue sandwiches, and hot dogs at three locations. Kids love the patio play area at the Berry Hill and Charlotte Avenue locations and the roster of creamy old-school milkshakes with ice cream.

4816 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hugh-Baby’s BBQ & Burger Shop (@hughbabys)

Elliston Place Soda Shop

2105 Elliston Pl, Nashville, TN 37203

The Soda Shop has been a family favorite for over 80 years, serving classic Nashville meat-and-three fare, burgers and fries, and ice cream treats from its soda counter. Fried chicken, mac and cheese, whipped potatoes with gravy, and squash casserole are the perfect precursor to a banana split, or, perhaps, a slice of Mis Linda’s toasted coconut merengue pie. Pick some songs on the jukebox and plop into the welcoming red leather booths for a true Nashville experience.

2105 Elliston Pl, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

The exterior of a building with a striped awning and a sign reading Elliston Place Soda Shop. — The classic facade of Elliston Place Soda Shop.

Jasper's

1918 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

Jasper’s is a casual Midtown hang for when the weather isn’t playing ball. The two indoor game rooms are equipped with board games, an air hockey table, old-school arcade consoles, and a basketball free-throw machine — all free for customers. The portions here are generous, so expect plates and bowls brimming with mounds of chili cheese fries, and cauliflower poppers, along with sizeable flatbread and burgers. Most of the items here can be modified for those with gluten sensitivities, too.

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1918 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

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A father and a daughter playing a game of Jenga on a wood table with someone throwing a basketball in the background.

Edley's Bar-B-Que

2706 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204

Edley’s is easily one of Nashville’s best barbecue joints; at all of its relaxed locations around town, little ones can enjoy a smaller version of the popular barbecue sandwich plus other items from the kids’ menu, including mini corn dogs, grilled cheese, and chicken tenders.

2706 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204

Visit Website

Bartaco

2526 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204

Mezcal for the adults and refreshing agua frescas for kiddos — a meal at 12 South or East Nashville’s Bartaco is an easy win for everyone in the fam. Settle into a booth or table and get your little one situated with the children’s menu, which includes “not spicy” guac, mini tacos, and a tray with a quesadilla, taco, corn wheels, and a fruit skewer. Come early, though — the crowds get unruly later into the evening.

2526 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204

Visit Website

Otaku Ramen Gulch

1104 Division St, Nashville, TN 37203

The Gulch’s popular noodle shop offers kids the one thing that’s taboo at so many other restaurants: the ability to loudly slurp a big, steamy bowl of broth. Grab a seat at one of the wooden tables and order up a chocolate boba for your pint-sized partner before pursuing the children’s menu — the kid-size tonkotsu is a winner.

1104 Division St, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

Dicey's Tavern

425 Chestnut St, Nashville, TN 37203

Grab a picnic table on the patio at Dicey’s, where the Chicago tavern-style pizza is hot and the natural wines are cold. Thin crust, party-cut pizzas range from classic cheese to specialties like the Peppy Boy, topped with pepperoni, hot honey, and Calabrian chili; wings, garlic Parmesan tots, and crusty garlic bread also lead the way. Here, you can lovingly trick your child into eating a salad by ordering the little gems topped with crunchy potato chips. Outside by the fire pit, ping pong, and ring toss are ideal for a casual family hang, complete with an easy-drinking cocktail or draft beer, though there’s no bad seat at Dicey’s.

425 Chestnut St, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

Up-close landscape view of a bubbling tavern-style pizza pie topped with meatballs. — The party-cut pies at Dicey’s.

Pinewood Social

33 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210

Bowling — that’s what’s for dinner at Pinewood Social, nicely situated in Nash’s Historic Trolley Barns. If you can pry your child away from the lanes for a brief moment, they’ll surely find something to love on a special kids’ menu with cheeseburgers, buttered noodles, grilled cheese, and chicken fingers. For adults: crispy tots with paprika aioli, short rib mac-and-cheese, and a banana chocolate sundae — to share or not to share.

33 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210

Visit Website

Joyland Restaurant

901 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206

On its surface, Joyland Restaurant bears all the hallmarks of your typical fast-casual burger joint: counter service, playful primary colors as decor, a simple, takeout-focused menu, and the smell of grilled beef in the air. But because Sean Brock’s at the helm of this East Nashville spot, everything’s a cut above. The burgers benefit from a proprietary blend of beef from Bear Creek Farm, for example, and the biscuits and beer bear one of Brock’s go-to grains: Jimmy Red corn. Don’t miss the house-made soft serve ice cream with sprinkles — the perfect treat to enjoy on the patio outside.

901 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206

Visit Website

close up of fried chicken biscuit with sauce actively drizzling from above — Joyland’s fried chicken biscuit with hot honey.

Lockeland Table

1520 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206

The kids’ menu at Lockeland Table features smaller versions of the essential East Nashville restaurant’s popular wood-fired pizza, plus special kids’ sides and desserts that include mac and cheese, roasted veggies, and Oreo balls. Though the attractive space can feel a bit small for maneuvering children, an additional side patio makes a great option for family dining.

1520 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206

Visit Website

Nectar Urban Cantina

206 McGavock Pk, Nashville, TN 37214

This Donelson favorite has a children’s play area outside that lets adults grab their own kicky beverage from the beer garden before settling in for some casual crowd-pleasers like tacos (stuffed with buttermilk chicken or beer-braised brisket), burritos, nachos, and churros. Be sure to check Nectar’s events calendar for kids' music nights and concerts on the lawn.

206 McGavock Pk, Nashville, TN 37214

Visit Website

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