Don’t miss out on this season’s gorgeous weather while you’re visiting Nashville! If there’s one thing we love to do here at The Nashville Insider, being outside has to take the cake. Keep on reading to find out where to eat in Nashville when you can’t bring yourself to spend the day inside. Every restaurant on this list features outdoor seating and high ratings so there’s no going wrong with any of our selections.
Sonny’s Patio Pub & Refuge
4.5 ★
First up on our list today, Germantown brings us an outdoor setting mixed up with some fantastic food at Sonny’s Patio Pub & Refuge on 6th Ave. Weather safe while still fully sunlight accessible, Sonny’s has a massive menu and the kind of low key vibes you want for an afternoon lunch. Daily specials vary but always make saving a few bucks easier. Take your pick from a number of bar games and order up some nachos or flatbread pizza. Sonny’s is one fast paced place, full of fun and sun so come in from 11 am – 11 pm through the week or 1 am Friday-Saturday.
The Optimist
4.6 ★
During patio season, The Optimist on Adams St is a generally sunny spot to sit down for some delectable seafood selections. Historic, the old TD&W Handle Company building is located in just the spot to enjoy Nashville’s lovely spring and summer weather. Sunday through Thursday, from 5 pm – 9 pm, or Friday – Saturday until 10 pm, The Optimist boasts the creation of meals made from the best seafood that the ocean can offer. Order up some oysters or shrimp and see why folks like to visit this restaurant pretty often.
Blue Moon Waterfront Grille
4.3 ★
Riverside really is one of the most relaxing ways to spend your time in Nashville and Blue Moon Waterfront Grille boasts being unlike anything that the city’s restaurant scene has to offer. From 3 pm – 10 pm during the week, you can bask in some prime afternoon sunshine as the day shuts down. Friday – Sunday offers the promise of lunch as they open 11 am through those days. Be sure to check in on the weather situation before you dedicate to Blue Moon’s waterfront seating, they do close the outside when storms pick up. Take in the stunning view of Cumberland River from the covered patio and enjoy anything from their massive menu.
Lockeland Table
4.7 ★
Woodland St is home to Lockeland Table, an indoor/outdoor fine dining experience in Nashville that will surely surpass any expectations. Don’t let the simple sounding menu items deter you, even their tomato salad is flavorful beyond anything you’d expect out of that dish. Pork chops, pizza, and mussels are the tip of this menu’s iceberg. Sit down to dinner at Lockeland Table from 4 – 9 pm every night except Sundays when they are closed.
The Treehouse
4.2 ★
Farm-to-table freshness is what The Treehouse on Clearview Ave is all about. Open from 4 – 10 pm during the week (with varying hours through the weekend) The Treehouse is passionate about their menu of locally sourced ingredients from drinks to plate. Seasonal changes are made to the selections, so you may not get the same culinary experience every time. Much like their name suggests, your seating on the deck outside will have your inner childing feeling as if you’re up in a treehouse. Good thing the chairs are more comfortable in this version of The Treehouse. Come out and benefit from their notably divine service sometime.
FGL House
4.3 ★
Views of Broadway St are unmatched in comparison to the FGL House rooftop patio on 3rd Ave. Southern style cuisine with some California twists combine with live music every day at FGL House. Get your dancing shoes ready and stop by anytime from 11 am – 1 am. Even if you are only wanting some cocktails, they whip up some of the best at this trendy country bar. For those who haven’t heard of Florida Georgia Line or the die hard fans that have been planning this outing for ages, FGL House takes care of business for every guest who walks through their door.
Jasper’s
4.4 ★
Turn any day into “Game Day” at Jasper’s on West End Ave with some shuffleboard, a game room and one large patio. Sunlight is never in any short supply at Jasper’s so hurry up and make plans for lunch or dinner any day from 11 am – 10 pm. Vegetarian options add extra heft to this already full menu and there’s more than you’d expect in the realm of arcade games. Jasper’s is the kind of restaurant, bar, and market that is likely to have you staying longer than initially planned, but in the best kind of way. Check out their Drink & Game Day specials and find out who the competitive one amongst your group is at Jasper’s.
Ella’s on 2nd
4.6 ★
Only a short walk away from the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Ella’s on 2nd is a chic and classy cocktail spot in the Ragland Lot area. Check the website for hours as they take breaks in the day to prepare for each set of meals. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner can all take on an extraordinary vibe when you sit down to a plate of salmon, prime rib, or seasonal vegetables while seated on Ella’s outdoor patio. From the “build your own” pancakes at 7 am to chocolate chunk brownies for dessert before close at 10 pm, Ella’s on 2nd has you covered.
The Slider House
4.4 ★
The Slider House on Division St is where you want to take your dog out for lunch on their pet-friendly patio. Order up some fried pickles to start but make sure you have enough, these are notoriously hard to share. Take your pick from a number of sliders and 100 different beer types. Beef, pork, seafood, and veggie options are ready to make your view of sliders broaden to new heights at The Slider House. Open late, you can come out to The Slider House from 11 am to at least midnight every night so make this one of your stops before or after a night out on the town.
Pinewood Social
4.5 ★
Restaurants in Nashville have a habit of being more than they seem from the outside and Pinewood Social’s eatery/bowling alley adds to this trend. Start your morning out right when they open at 7 am every day or come out for dinner until 11 pm (1 am on the weekends) with some bowling, patio seating, and pool time when the season calls for it. A Pinewood Social, their team is in the business of making sure your group has the morning, day, or night to remember. All meal types (from breakfast through brunch and dinner/dessert) come with their own menu, where choices like Chipotle BBQ Wings or Artichoke White Bean Hummus stand out instantly. When your planning process includes finding a place to eat, drink, and get a little competitive, head over to Peabody St and see what Pinewood Social can do for you.
Lou Nashville
4.5 ★
Sweet, charming, and intimate are three adjectives that could easily be used to describe Lou Nashville on McGavock Pk, but there are plenty of other positive descriptors that would suit this adorable restaurant’s vibe. Alongside easily shared appetizers and simple meal options is a wide selection of wines that you can enjoy on their quaint little patio. Even during the colder months, you can request that a heater be brought outside if you’re dedicated to the porch experience. Though they are only closed on Wednesdays, you may want to place a reservation as Lou Nashville can fill up pretty quickly.
Urban Grub
4.6 ★
What used to be a carwash on 12th Ave, Urban Grub is the kind of restaurant that catches your eye from all the way down the street. Since 2012, this location has been serving up an array of healthy food that is exciting and made to be shared with whoever sits within arms length. Flavorful and feisty, Urban Grub’s selection of twisted southern style seafoods and smoked meats are only the beginning of what will keep you talking about this restaurant. During week nights, plan for dinner only as their hours are 4 pm – Midnight through the week. Weekends will promise an 11 am open time so lunch is not an impossible feat. You will want to sit out on their nice deck while sampling all that the menu at Urban Grub has to offer.
Marsh House
4.5 ★
Right in the heart of the Gulch, Marsh House fits nicely into 11th Ave at the Thompson Nashville Hotel. Serving up only locally sourced and responsibly sustained foods, Marsh House’s patio is where you can eat with the knowledge that your meal is helping support Nashville’s tight knit community. From brunch all the way through dessert, Marsh House is ready to serve up some seafood, steak and plenty of cocktails. Open from 8 am – 2 pm then 5 – 9 pm throughout the week, this classy joint is ready to welcome you in. Check in on their oyster based happy hour Monday – Friday starting at 5 pm.
Henrietta Red
4.5 ★
Out of the box flavors meet up with outdoor seating at Henrietta Red on 4th Ave, where they are ready to show off a side of Nashville that is relaxed while still holding an upscale vibe. Take a seat on their patio and pick from the raw bar’s insane oyster menu or come in for brunch if you’re planning a weekend trip. No matter when you go, you can’t go wrong with the outstanding service and full dinner menu at Henrietta Red. While they are closed on Mondays, your party is welcome for dinner during the week (5 – 9 pm) and brunch on Saturday/Sunday from 10 am – 2 pm.
Mother’s Ruin
4.6 ★
Combining all of your favorite aspects of a high end cocktail bar and restaurant with no door policy is Mother’s Ruin on 6th Ave. From inside to out, their cocktails, brunch, and all day meals will have you wanting to spend all of your time and money with them.Signature cocktails like Diddler on the Roof and Onion Stampede are only a start to menu choices like Grilled Eggplant Dip and Old Bay Waffle Fries. Take in the outdoor seating from 11 am – 2 am (open at 10 am during the weekends) and find out why even mom will want to chill out at Mother’s ruin.
Conclusion
Don’t forget, if you want to find out what Nashville’s best outdoor experience is like, you don’t have to search further than here at NashvilleBarBike.com. Our Bar Bike tour is one of the most fun and affordable ways to learn more about Nashville and all that Music City has to offer. Once you’ve filled up on any of the restaurants here on the list, there’s nothing more enjoyable than a self propelled, eco friendly tour of the area. Gather up everyone in your party and get them out on one of our giant bikes for a day full of dancing, drinking and causing general mayhem throughout Nashville. From everyone at The Nashville Insider, we hope you were able to find the exact restaurant to satisfy all of your outdoor seating needs. Click through past articles if you have any other questions about what to do, see, eat and drink while you’re romping around our favorite city in all of Tennessee.