Updated February 2023 by Anne Henley Walker
If you’re up past late and looking for something to eat, skip the drive-thru lines in favor of local fare. These eateries and bars keep their doors open for those heading to a graveyard shift, leaving their late-night post, or searching for something to soak up the effects of a long night. From nachos and pizza to classic burgers and fries, these comforting options are sure to satisfy.
Bastion’s “Big Bar”
434 Houston St STE 110, Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 490-8434
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Half bar, half restaurant, Wedgewood Houston’s Bastion is the perfect place for Nashvillians needing a nightcap. Their spacious, laid-back bar area — known as the “Big Bar” — offers a rotating punch, a classic cocktail of the day, a seasonal cocktail list, and loaded nachos.
Bay 6
1101 McKennie Ave Suite 6, Nashville, TN 37206 • (225) 341-0982
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 midnight; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
When you want a specialty cocktail and pretend you are in Portugal, let’s talk Bay 6. With tinned fish plates, hummus, marinated olives, and seasonal olive oil cake, it’s hard to believe you are sitting in a place that used to be a car wash (bay 6 of that carwash to be precise!).
Pair a tinned fish plate with a 50-50 martini at Bay 6. Image: Bay 6
Black Rabbit
218 3rd Ave N, Nashville, TN 37201 • (615) 891-2380
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to midnight; closed Sunday
Tucked away from the adventure that is Broadway, Black Rabbit is a Printer’s Alley eatery and bar. If you visit this spot during the late hours, you are likely to run into locals having just finished their shifts at other restaurants around town. Join them at the bar for a cocktail and rabbit roll. “This is a top seller and will never come off the menu,” Chef Trey Cioccia says of the rabbit roll. “It is the perfect approachable drunk food.”
Head to Black Rabbit for a rabbit roll. Image: Black Rabbit
Café Coco
210 Louise Ave, Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 321-2626
Hours: Monday through Wednesday, 6 p.m. to midnight; Thursday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., 6 p.m. to midnight
At Elliston Place’s Café Coco, find a wide-ranging menu and lively entertainment until the wee hours of the morning. Some menu items are only available at certain times, but pasta, burgers, pizza, and sandwiches are always available!
Café Coco’s authentic pizzas are perfect for your late-night needs. Image: Café Coco
The Diner
200 3rd Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201 • (615) 782-7150
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.
One of the few spots in town that’s open 24/7, The Diner serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner — no matter the hour. Not only does the menu feature any dish you could be craving, but there are also six floors, each offering something different. The first floor welcomes you to the building with a coffee shop perfect for grab ‘n’ go items, while the sixth floor is often the most lively and gives the best views of downtown.
Sink your teeth into this burger at any hour of the day. Image: The Diner
Dino’s Bar & Grill
411 Gallatin Ave., Nashville, TN 37206 • (615) 226-3566
Hours: Monday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 3 a.m.
No one does a late-night burger quite like Dino’s. It is a favorite late-night order that is perfectly greasy and filling when paired with a beer and fries. Let this combo soak up drinks from earlier in the evening and hang around until they close their doors at 3 a.m. As one of the hotter spots in town, there are always other diners and drinkers around to keep you company.
Burger, fries, and a beer: the winning combination for a late-night snack. Image: Dino’s
Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint
Germantown: 1123 3rd Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208 • (615) 818-0318
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Edgehill: 1201 Villa Pl Suite 102, Nashville, TN 37212 • (615) 739-6429
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Jack Brown’s award-winning burger lineup includes a diverse selection of twists on the American classic, such as the “Cobra Kai,” with cream cheese, pickled jalapeños, and jalapeño jelly. The salty-sweet combination will hit the spot after a night on the town.
The Cobra Kai exceeds your late-night munchie expectations. Image: Gimmie the Eats
Joyland
901 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206 • (615) 922-4934
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, Joyland is a salute to the nostalgic fast-food joints of the past. Joyland’s burger comes as either a single or a double, with four-ounce patties made from a customized beef blend from Bear Creek Farm. Waffle and curly fries, plus waffle hash browns, are all side options, and we recommend enjoying your burger with a milkshake made with Chef Sean Brock’s own vanilla soft serve.
A burger that is guaranteed to spread joy, especially after a few libations. Image: Joyland
L.A. Jackson
401 11th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 262-6007
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. to midnight
L.A. Jackson, Thompson Nashville’s indoor/outdoor rooftop bar and restaurant, offers fun vibes, exceptional views, and delicious bites and beverages. We recommend garlic parmesan fries.
Soak up rooftop views while enjoying L.A. Jackson’s garlic parmesan fries. Image: L.A. Jackson
M.L. Rose
Melrose: 2535 8th Ave S #107, Nashville, TN 37204 • (615) 712-8160
Sylvan Park: 4408 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37209 • (615) 750-2920
Capitol View: 431 11th Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 729-4445
Hours: Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
While two of the three locations close at midnight, the original M.L. Rose outpost (on Eighth Avenue South) is open until 1 a.m. End your evening with loaded waffle fries, such as the sweet potato fries topped with pulled pork and Carolina mustard barbecue sauce.
Burgers, fries, and wings are ideal for late-night snacking. Image: M.L. Rose
Monell’s
1235 6th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208 • (615) 248-4747
Hours: Monday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and midnight to 3 a.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If you’re looking for an insider’s secret, this is it! You won’t find it on their website, but Monell’s Germantown stays open each Saturday night until 3 a.m. to serve the midnight country breakfast. The all-you-can-eat breakfast starts at … you guessed it … midnight. Dig into heaping portions of fried chicken and Southern fixings like biscuits, gravy, and pancakes. Beer isn’t sold, so be prepared to trade your PBR for a cold glass of sweet tea.
Start your day (or end your night) with good country cookin’. Image: Monell’s
Mother’s Ruin
1239 6th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208 • (615) 953-7317
Hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
An NYC transplant, Mother’s Ruin has become essential to the Germantown scene. Open daily until 2 a.m., this neighborhood hotspot draws a hip crowd looking for great food, cocktails, and loud music. All of their signature cocktails are tasty but don’t miss their slushy of the day, which is especially good alongside an order of fried Oreos.
Indulge in an order of late-night fried Oreos. Image: Mother’s Ruin
Prince’s Hot Chicken
5055 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to midnight
For those looking for a little more heat in their chicken, Prince’s Hot Chicken welcomes you until midnight at their Assembly Food Hall location. The heat of the hot chicken is sure to wake you up, whether you are starting or ending your day at midnight.
Prince’s Hot Chicken serves the heat until 4 a.m. Image: Prince’s Hot Chicken
Robert’s Western World
416 Broadway # B, Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 244-9552
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.
It is no surprise that Robert’s Western World stays open along with the rest of Broadway’s bars, but you might not know that you can order their famous fried bologna sandwich until 1:30 a.m. when the kitchen closes. Kick back with your favorite sandwich, a cold beer, and good country music until they kick you out at 3 a.m.
A fried bologna sandwich and Lay’s chips are delicious no matter the hour. Image: Susy Bando
The Treehouse
1011 Clearview Ave., Nashville, TN 37206 • (615) 454-4201
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, 9 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; closed Monday
From 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., The Treehouse serves a special late-night menu that is short but sweet. Items range from a fig and arugula grilled cheese to a wagyu Korean corndog.
Try The Treehouse’s wagyu Korean corndog from their late-night menu. Image: The Treehouse
Two Boots Nashville
1925 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 340-4343
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 1 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.
Just steps away from Vanderbilt and legendary Music Row, NYC-based pizzeria Two Boots serves pizza until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Order “The Kitty,” a pizza named for trailblazing country star Kitty Wells. The popular pie is topped with Hattie B’s hot chicken and blue cheese dressing, and it’s served with pickles.
Enjoy a slice of “The Kitty.” Image: Two Boots Nashville
Cheers to late nights!
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