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The Best Chinese Food in Nashville

The Best Lunches in Nashville

The Best New Brunches in Nashville, Fall-Winter 2024

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A martini and four shots on a dark patio table with a lime green chair in the background.
A cocktail on the patio at Pelato.
Christine Susi

18 Perfect Patios for Outdoor Dining and Drinking in Nashville

Al fresco dining options with tropical cocktails, queso, yard games, and even pools

by Kellie Walton and Eater Staff Updated
View as Map
A cocktail on the patio at Pelato.
| Christine Susi
by Kellie Walton and Eater Staff Updated

Nashville has beaten its winter blues, which means patio season has arrived. While Music City’s impressive collection of rooftop restaurants and bars may draw crowds no matter the season, there are plenty of street-level patios around town for stellar outdoor dining, drinking, and people-watching when the weather’s right. Grab a stein from a Germantown beer garden or Champagne garden, sip frozen drinks at a tropical East Nashville lounge, or beat the heat with a dip in a backyard oasis downtown.

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Pearl Diver

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For a taste of the tropics in landlocked Tennessee, head to East Nashville’s Pearl Diver, where bright daiquiris and mojitos and fitting snacks like oysters and shrimp conjure distant shores. The tiki-inspired spot wouldn’t be complete without its colorful patio housing benches, tables, and cabanas that can be reserved ahead of time.

1008 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 988-2265
(615) 988-2265

Also featured in:

The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden

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The Pharmacy draws crowds to East Nashville for burgers, wursts, and interesting beer options hailing from Germany as well as Tennessee. The large, landscaped, dog-friendly outdoor space provides a lively backdrop for plenty of picnic table seating and strings of twinkling lights, making it ideal for daytime or evening dining. You can also find a Pharmacy Burger location with outdoor seating at Assembly Food Hall downtown.

731 Mcferrin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 712-9517
(615) 712-9517

Also featured in:

The Treehouse

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This buzzy East Nashville spot serves smart plates like a koji-aged filet and gnocchi with duck ragu. The eclectic, colorful patio has plenty of seating and its own full bar for cocktails like the Pineapple Express with breakfast tea-infused Corsair triple smoke, pineapple, vanilla, and aged bitters. Come for happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

1011 Clearview Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 454-4201
(615) 454-4201

Also featured in:

Sonny's Patio Pub and Refuge

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Sonny’s is the perfect spot to do a little day drinking in Germantown, with cocktails available by the glass, frozen, or as a flight, and a full food menu of hearty favorites ranging from a Philly cheesesteak to flatbreads. The outdoor patio offers plenty of seating, yard games, and cabanas reservable for larger groups. Bring your pals and your pup — yes, this place is dog-friendly too.

1322 6th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 953-7846
(615) 953-7846

Geist Bar + Restaurant

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This popular Germantown restaurant turns heads with its well-dressed spaces. Geist’s interior includes brick walls, soaring ceilings, plush leather banquets in blues and tans, and crystal chandeliers. Meanwhile, the charming all-weather patio, aka the Champagne Garden, features brick fencing, wrought iron, and a brick fireplace. You can order the full menu outside, including mains like seabass in a beurre blanc sauce and pork chop served with warm potato salad.

311 Jefferson St, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 920-5440
(615) 920-5440
The patio at Geist includes wrought iron and brick walls.
Geist’s industrial-chic patio in Nashville.
Sam Angel

Also featured in:

Von Elrod's Beer Hall & Kitchen

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If you’re pre-gaming a Nashville Sounds baseball game at First Horizon Park, Von Eldrod’s lively patio has you covered. The expansive outdoor area features rows of picnic tables to accommodate even large groups, and the German-influenced restaurant serves house-made smoked meats like sausage and bratwurst, Bavarian pretzels, and plenty of beers and cocktails to fill your massive stein.

1004 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219
(615) 866-1620
(615) 866-1620

Also featured in:

Bringle's Smoking Oasis

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Pitmaster Carey Bringle of Peg Leg Porker brought his smoked meats to the Nations with this family and pet-friendly outdoor oasis stocked with cornhole boards, picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, and a myriad of jumbo TV screens. Grab some of the Texas-style brisket, smoked turkey, or the popular pastrami to go with the draft beer and frozen drinks on the menu. The restaurant recently installed a massive outdoor awning so you can enjoy your barbecue come rain or shine.

4901 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209

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Blue Moon Waterfront Grille

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Nashville is short on waterfront dining options, so the Blue Moon Waterfront Grille, overlooking the Rock Harbor Marina, is one of the few places to take in a serene view of the water with dinner. The satisfying menu — mahi sandwiches, seafood po’ boys, and rum-filled boat drinks — pairs perfectly with the scenery.

525 Basswood Dr, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 356-6666
(615) 356-6666
A wooden dock on the water with a blue awning overhead Blue Moon Waterfront Grille/Facebook

Also featured in:

Pinewood Social

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Rolling Mill Hill’s Pinewood Social is a one-stop shop for food and entertainment both indoors and out, complete with a six-lane bowling alley, bocce ball court, large backyard patio, enticing dishes like short rib mac and cheese, and even two dipping pools to cool you down during the hottest Tennessee days. If you can’t find a seat poolside, the frozen cocktails and a scoop of ice cream should do the trick.

33 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 751-8111
(615) 751-8111
Landscape view of an outdoor patio with games, lawn chairs, and carpeting.
Patio at Pinewood Social.
Pinewood Social

Also featured in:

Harriet's Rooftop

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Downtown’s 1 Hotel brings with it a posh 19th-floor rooftop bar with sweeping views of the Nashville skyline and eclectic cocktails. Notably pricey drinks like the Shishito Pepper margarita — a combination of shishito pepper-infused tequila, Ancho Reyes Verde, citric and malic acid, and celery salt — pair nicely with a variety of specialty sushi rolls or an order of shishito peppers for the table.

710 Demonbreun St, Nashville, TN 37203
(629) 276-7344
(629) 276-7344

Also featured in:

Denim

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The Joseph Hotel’s 21st floor is home to Denim, an all-day indoor-outdoor rooftop lounge centered around a gorgeous outdoor pool and deck. James Beard Award-winning chef Tony Mantuano oversees a menu of fresh salads, flatbreads, sandwiches, and dishes like sesame-crusted ahi, all served with sweeping views of the skyline and the Cumberland River. You can lean into the luxury by reserving a cabana. (Note: Denim officially re-opens for the season later this spring.)

401 Korean Veterans Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203
(629) 231-3180
(629) 231-3180

Also featured in:

Husk

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Nestled in the Rutledge Hill neighborhood near downtown, Husk’s back patio is a prime location for soaking up the sun in a quiet, Secret Garden-like space while having a few cocktails and enjoying some of the dishes that utilize the ingredients from the garden surrounding you. It isn’t loud and buzzy, but rather, a serene space for catching up with good friends and family over buttermilk cheddar biscuits and plates of roast chicken.

37 Rutledge St, Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 256-6565
(615) 256-6565
Husk Nashville

Also featured in:

Sandbar Nashville

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Not only will you find locals playing volleyball on the sandy regulation courts here, but dogs are also welcome to join their people for frozen drinks and beer on the outdoor patio here (make that a cool bowl of water for your pup). The yellow shipping container here isn’t just doling out cool cocktails, though — you can also pair your drink with one of their loaded hot dogs after a round or two of spiking the ball on the sand.

3 City Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 915-2166
(615) 915-2166

San Antonio Taco Co.

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A contender for Nashville’s best queso: San Antonio Taco Co.’s chili con queso, a delicacy that has drawn diners to this rickety 21st Avenue building since 1984. Affectionately known as Satco, the fast-casual Tex-Mex spot stands in the heart of the Vanderbilt University campus, with a large wooden patio serving as a popular meeting point for students, families, and groups of friends heading to a ball game or a night on the town. Grab a mix of tacos and a bucket of cold beer for the table.

416 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 327-4322
(615) 327-4322

Also featured in:

Dicey's Tavern

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Dicey’s Tavern isn’t just known for its excellent Chicago-style thin-crust tavern pizza. This Wedgewood-Houston spot also has a sunny and spacious outdoor patio punctuated by green picnic tables with umbrellas for sitting a spell and scarfing down pepperoni or cacio e pepe pizza. Pair your party-cut pizza with a beer and shot combo or take a cue from the warmer weather and cool off with one of their rotating frozen drinks.

425 Chestnut St, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 964-7022
(615) 964-7022

Also featured in:

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Streetcar Taps & Garden

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This convivial neighborhood watering hole offers both indoor and outdoor seating options, including a massive patio packed with picnic tables and trimmed with string lights. Whether a fan of local craft beers or classic cocktails, bar-goers can find both on the menu here alongside salads, smoked meats, and a rich fudge cake a la mode.

4916 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37209
(615) 622-6264
(615) 622-6264

Also featured in:

Pelato

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Vibey Germantown restaurant Pelato has a fun patio situation to match its sharply curated small plate and drinks menu (and equally lively new brunch scene). Diners can get down on its stuffed cheesy breads, potato croquettes, macaroni arrabbiata, and meatballs al forno in a dimly lit patio area that works as well for girls’ dinners as it does for date nights.

1300 3rd Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 953-0012
(615) 953-0012
Landscape view of a covered outdoor restaurant patio with black tables and lime green chairs surrounding them.
The patio at Pelato.
Christine Susi

Joe Muer Seafood - Nashville

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This seafood den recently opened a new patio in April 2024, giving visitors the opportunity to dine on its compelling raw bar offerings, bisques, lobster pot pies, and more al fresco. The restaurant’s “golden hour” menu, which runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. during the week, would be excellent for patio diners who want to catch the last wisps of afternoon light; crispy, kimchi-draped rock shrimp tacos, saffron cream mussels, and Tennessee country biscuits are available, among other shareable plates. The patio is covered, too, meaning that outdoor dining is feasible even when the sun isn’t out.

500 11th Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee 37203
(615) 433-6837
(615) 433-6837

Also featured in:

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Pearl Diver

1008 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206

For a taste of the tropics in landlocked Tennessee, head to East Nashville’s Pearl Diver, where bright daiquiris and mojitos and fitting snacks like oysters and shrimp conjure distant shores. The tiki-inspired spot wouldn’t be complete without its colorful patio housing benches, tables, and cabanas that can be reserved ahead of time.

1008 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 988-2265
(615) 988-2265

The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden

731 Mcferrin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206

The Pharmacy draws crowds to East Nashville for burgers, wursts, and interesting beer options hailing from Germany as well as Tennessee. The large, landscaped, dog-friendly outdoor space provides a lively backdrop for plenty of picnic table seating and strings of twinkling lights, making it ideal for daytime or evening dining. You can also find a Pharmacy Burger location with outdoor seating at Assembly Food Hall downtown.

731 Mcferrin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 712-9517
(615) 712-9517

The Treehouse

1011 Clearview Ave, Nashville, TN 37206

This buzzy East Nashville spot serves smart plates like a koji-aged filet and gnocchi with duck ragu. The eclectic, colorful patio has plenty of seating and its own full bar for cocktails like the Pineapple Express with breakfast tea-infused Corsair triple smoke, pineapple, vanilla, and aged bitters. Come for happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

1011 Clearview Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 454-4201
(615) 454-4201

Sonny's Patio Pub and Refuge

1322 6th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208

Sonny’s is the perfect spot to do a little day drinking in Germantown, with cocktails available by the glass, frozen, or as a flight, and a full food menu of hearty favorites ranging from a Philly cheesesteak to flatbreads. The outdoor patio offers plenty of seating, yard games, and cabanas reservable for larger groups. Bring your pals and your pup — yes, this place is dog-friendly too.

1322 6th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 953-7846
(615) 953-7846

Geist Bar + Restaurant

311 Jefferson St, Nashville, TN 37208

This popular Germantown restaurant turns heads with its well-dressed spaces. Geist’s interior includes brick walls, soaring ceilings, plush leather banquets in blues and tans, and crystal chandeliers. Meanwhile, the charming all-weather patio, aka the Champagne Garden, features brick fencing, wrought iron, and a brick fireplace. You can order the full menu outside, including mains like seabass in a beurre blanc sauce and pork chop served with warm potato salad.

311 Jefferson St, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 920-5440
(615) 920-5440
The patio at Geist includes wrought iron and brick walls.
Geist’s industrial-chic patio in Nashville.
Sam Angel

Von Elrod's Beer Hall & Kitchen

1004 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219

If you’re pre-gaming a Nashville Sounds baseball game at First Horizon Park, Von Eldrod’s lively patio has you covered. The expansive outdoor area features rows of picnic tables to accommodate even large groups, and the German-influenced restaurant serves house-made smoked meats like sausage and bratwurst, Bavarian pretzels, and plenty of beers and cocktails to fill your massive stein.

1004 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219
(615) 866-1620
(615) 866-1620

Bringle's Smoking Oasis

4901 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209

Pitmaster Carey Bringle of Peg Leg Porker brought his smoked meats to the Nations with this family and pet-friendly outdoor oasis stocked with cornhole boards, picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, and a myriad of jumbo TV screens. Grab some of the Texas-style brisket, smoked turkey, or the popular pastrami to go with the draft beer and frozen drinks on the menu. The restaurant recently installed a massive outdoor awning so you can enjoy your barbecue come rain or shine.

4901 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209

Blue Moon Waterfront Grille

525 Basswood Dr, Nashville, TN 37209

Nashville is short on waterfront dining options, so the Blue Moon Waterfront Grille, overlooking the Rock Harbor Marina, is one of the few places to take in a serene view of the water with dinner. The satisfying menu — mahi sandwiches, seafood po’ boys, and rum-filled boat drinks — pairs perfectly with the scenery.

525 Basswood Dr, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 356-6666
(615) 356-6666
A wooden dock on the water with a blue awning overhead Blue Moon Waterfront Grille/Facebook

Pinewood Social

33 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210

Rolling Mill Hill’s Pinewood Social is a one-stop shop for food and entertainment both indoors and out, complete with a six-lane bowling alley, bocce ball court, large backyard patio, enticing dishes like short rib mac and cheese, and even two dipping pools to cool you down during the hottest Tennessee days. If you can’t find a seat poolside, the frozen cocktails and a scoop of ice cream should do the trick.

33 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 751-8111
(615) 751-8111
Landscape view of an outdoor patio with games, lawn chairs, and carpeting.
Patio at Pinewood Social.
Pinewood Social

Harriet's Rooftop

710 Demonbreun St, Nashville, TN 37203

Downtown’s 1 Hotel brings with it a posh 19th-floor rooftop bar with sweeping views of the Nashville skyline and eclectic cocktails. Notably pricey drinks like the Shishito Pepper margarita — a combination of shishito pepper-infused tequila, Ancho Reyes Verde, citric and malic acid, and celery salt — pair nicely with a variety of specialty sushi rolls or an order of shishito peppers for the table.

710 Demonbreun St, Nashville, TN 37203
(629) 276-7344
(629) 276-7344

Denim

401 Korean Veterans Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203

The Joseph Hotel’s 21st floor is home to Denim, an all-day indoor-outdoor rooftop lounge centered around a gorgeous outdoor pool and deck. James Beard Award-winning chef Tony Mantuano oversees a menu of fresh salads, flatbreads, sandwiches, and dishes like sesame-crusted ahi, all served with sweeping views of the skyline and the Cumberland River. You can lean into the luxury by reserving a cabana. (Note: Denim officially re-opens for the season later this spring.)

401 Korean Veterans Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203
(629) 231-3180
(629) 231-3180

Husk

37 Rutledge St, Nashville, TN 37210

Nestled in the Rutledge Hill neighborhood near downtown, Husk’s back patio is a prime location for soaking up the sun in a quiet, Secret Garden-like space while having a few cocktails and enjoying some of the dishes that utilize the ingredients from the garden surrounding you. It isn’t loud and buzzy, but rather, a serene space for catching up with good friends and family over buttermilk cheddar biscuits and plates of roast chicken.

37 Rutledge St, Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 256-6565
(615) 256-6565
Husk Nashville

Sandbar Nashville

3 City Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209

Not only will you find locals playing volleyball on the sandy regulation courts here, but dogs are also welcome to join their people for frozen drinks and beer on the outdoor patio here (make that a cool bowl of water for your pup). The yellow shipping container here isn’t just doling out cool cocktails, though — you can also pair your drink with one of their loaded hot dogs after a round or two of spiking the ball on the sand.

3 City Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 915-2166
(615) 915-2166

San Antonio Taco Co.

416 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203

A contender for Nashville’s best queso: San Antonio Taco Co.’s chili con queso, a delicacy that has drawn diners to this rickety 21st Avenue building since 1984. Affectionately known as Satco, the fast-casual Tex-Mex spot stands in the heart of the Vanderbilt University campus, with a large wooden patio serving as a popular meeting point for students, families, and groups of friends heading to a ball game or a night on the town. Grab a mix of tacos and a bucket of cold beer for the table.

416 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 327-4322
(615) 327-4322

Dicey's Tavern

425 Chestnut St, Nashville, TN 37203

Dicey’s Tavern isn’t just known for its excellent Chicago-style thin-crust tavern pizza. This Wedgewood-Houston spot also has a sunny and spacious outdoor patio punctuated by green picnic tables with umbrellas for sitting a spell and scarfing down pepperoni or cacio e pepe pizza. Pair your party-cut pizza with a beer and shot combo or take a cue from the warmer weather and cool off with one of their rotating frozen drinks.

425 Chestnut St, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 964-7022
(615) 964-7022

Related Maps

Streetcar Taps & Garden

4916 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37209

This convivial neighborhood watering hole offers both indoor and outdoor seating options, including a massive patio packed with picnic tables and trimmed with string lights. Whether a fan of local craft beers or classic cocktails, bar-goers can find both on the menu here alongside salads, smoked meats, and a rich fudge cake a la mode.

4916 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37209
(615) 622-6264
(615) 622-6264

Pelato

1300 3rd Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208

Vibey Germantown restaurant Pelato has a fun patio situation to match its sharply curated small plate and drinks menu (and equally lively new brunch scene). Diners can get down on its stuffed cheesy breads, potato croquettes, macaroni arrabbiata, and meatballs al forno in a dimly lit patio area that works as well for girls’ dinners as it does for date nights.

1300 3rd Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 953-0012
(615) 953-0012
Landscape view of a covered outdoor restaurant patio with black tables and lime green chairs surrounding them.
The patio at Pelato.
Christine Susi

Joe Muer Seafood - Nashville

500 11th Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

This seafood den recently opened a new patio in April 2024, giving visitors the opportunity to dine on its compelling raw bar offerings, bisques, lobster pot pies, and more al fresco. The restaurant’s “golden hour” menu, which runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. during the week, would be excellent for patio diners who want to catch the last wisps of afternoon light; crispy, kimchi-draped rock shrimp tacos, saffron cream mussels, and Tennessee country biscuits are available, among other shareable plates. The patio is covered, too, meaning that outdoor dining is feasible even when the sun isn’t out.

500 11th Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee 37203
(615) 433-6837
(615) 433-6837

Related Maps