Nashville is one of the most hyped cities at the moment, and it’s becoming known for much more than its incredible music and live entertainment scene. Melding traditional Southern comfort with innovative takes and global influences, it’s familiar without being boring.

From diners to Michelin-starred eateries, you’re bound to discover some new dishes you’ve never even heard of before. If you want to take full advantage of the offerings here, I highly recommend taking one of the 5 top  Nashville food tours. Let’s jump right in!

Best Nashville Food Tours

	Nashville Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours	Walking Food & Drink Tour of Downtown Nashville	Nashville Private Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours
Departure:	311 Gallatin Ave, Nashville	100 1st Ave S, Nashville	Donut Distillery, 311 Gallatin Ave, Nashville
Start:	Between 11:00 AM & 4:00 PM	11:00 AM	Between 11:00 AM & 4:00 PM
Duration:	3.5 hours	3 hours	3.5 hours
Includes:	Food tour with variety of classic Southern foods from pulled pork, Tennessee whiskey glazed donuts, tour of historic neighborhoods	Walking tour, food at 4 restaurants and 1 specialty stop, alcoholic beverages, tips at each restaurant	Private guided food tour in 12 South neighborhood, insider tips about Nashville, 5 food tasting stops
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Nashville Food Tours For 2025

1. Nashville Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours
2. Walking Food & Drink Tour of Downtown Nashville
3. Nashville Private Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours
4. Taste of Nashville Food & Sightseeing Tour
5. Nashville 12South Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

Nashville Food Tour Reviews

1. Nashville Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

If you’re looking to experience a more authentic version of Nashville’s food scene, this first tour should be at the top of your list. The Nashville Walking Food Tour with Secret Food Tours takes you through either the East Nashville or 12South neighborhoods.

Each one offers something a bit special, so you could realistically do both versions and still have a completely unique experience. Your tour start time varies depending on the tour you select and the times offered for each, though I will say there are plenty of options available to make it convenient.

Meet up with your guide and the rest of your small group tour, listening to a brief narration as to what to expect. For East Nashville, expect an array of classic Southern dishes like pulled pork and whiskey-glazed donuts, and for 12South, expect more “modern” gourmet twists on well-known dishes.

It was great to get out in the fresh air and enjoy some laughs and delicious dishes with other foodies from around the country, learning all about the history behind them from our guide.

You’ll get to experience a ton of places that typically only locals frequent, taking you away from the more touristy spots (not that there’s anything wrong with that). At the 12South food tour, we started out at a tasty coffee shop, which gave me all the energy I needed to continue on for the next few hours!

We went to an amazing breakfast place, checking out Dolly Parton’s studio and office – a must for anyone visiting Nashville! We then went in on a few different Southern dishes before exploring some boutique shops and picking up souvenirs.

All in all, it’s a packed few hours full of great food, fun experiences, and interesting cultural background!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

2. Walking Food & Drink Tour of Downtown Nashville

If you’re a history buff who also happens to be a foodie, you’re in luck with the Walking Food & Drink Tour of Downtown Nashville! The downtown area is extremely popular and filled with legendary spots, both in and out of the food scene.

You’ll explore a nice balance of both with a professional expert local guide there to lead the way, complete with charming, funny historical and cultural commentary that you won’t get from a history book!

The tour offers a bit of flexibility in terms of start times, but it typically operates around lunch to ensure consistency and smooth scheduling. Your itinerary includes lunch comprised of dishes at 4 different restaurants and a specialty stop, along with a few different alcoholic drinks.

If it’s your first time in Nashville, I find this to be a nice little sampler of everything it has to offer, spanning not only food but music and local history. No two tours are exactly the same, because these guides aren’t just reading off of some script or checking off boxes – they’re really showing you the gems within their hometown in a way a good friend would.

You’ll get to try some authentic house-butchered BBQ, Nashville hot chicken, and many other Southern favorites. Along the way, experience legendary sites like Historic Broadway, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, and so much more.

The pacing is perfect – you get to walk in between and digest before the next food stop, adding interesting cultural info as you go. Oh, and if you’re a beer lover, you’ll get to try plenty of that here, too!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

3. Nashville Private Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

If you’re seeking an authentic, intimate culinary experience in Nashville, this next one is a great introduction to its rich food scene. The Nashville Private Walking Food Tour with Secret Food Tours focuses on an eclectic neighborhood, taking you out of the tourist spots and focusing more on local haunts with some of the dishes you’ll only find here.

With a max group size of just 12 (from your own private party), you can count on a personalized, tailored experience, feeling more like a family than a bunch of strangers.

The tour kicks off at the infamous Donut Distillery, which immediately became one of my favorite places on Earth. We met our guide there, and loved that it was a private tour so we basically had him to ourselves for the entire time to ask questions and even go off the beaten path a bit.

Ours did a great job of personalizing things for us according to our interests, which made it that much more interesting! After having some amazing donuts, we headed on to a second celeb chef restaurant, where we enjoyed a filling, incredibly tasty Memphis-style West Tennessee BBQ sandwich!

Honestly, I was happy enough at this point – the food was amazing, the company as well. We then continued to a few more, learning about the background behind each dish and enjoying some live music at one of the spots!

After some fried catfish tacos, you’ll finally get to try the signature Secret Dish, which is well worth the wait! This goes far beyond your typical group tour or foodie experience!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. Taste of Nashville Food & Sightseeing Tour

Perhaps you’re looking for a food tour that doesn’t involve walking around between stops – that’s perfectly fine! If so, then the Taste of Nashville Food & Sightseeing Tour is right up your alley.

Rather than walking around, you’ll be traveling by air-conditioned coach with an expert guide who offers intriguing cultural and historical commentary as well as city tips along the way. The fact that you’re traveling by coach during this tour opens up a whole array of possibilities that you wouldn’t have on a walking tour.

While walking tours are great for exploring a dedicated neighborhood or two, traveling by vehicle means you can check out the best parts of a ton of different neighborhoods – perfect if it’s your first time in Nashville. Start out by meeting your guide and the rest of your small group outside the Far Better Distillery, hopping onto the coach and setting off for your foodie adventure.

The first stop was ultra-charming, and it was here where we got to try the Bushwhacker cocktail, which I’d never even heard of before. Of course, we didn’t just sample, but learned all about their distilling process, and even went through a guided tasting!

After that, we went to a quirky little neighborhood spot that had friendly staff, great music, and even more amazing Southern fare. You’ll venture through Germantown, 12South, East Nashville, Sobro, and Downtown, exploring the different landmarks along the way and making a few more food stops.

It wouldn’t be complete without a mouthwatering dessert, and that’s exactly what you get here. You’re in for a ton of good food, lots of laughs, and an incredible amount of education!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. Nashville 12 South Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

Last but certainly not least is the Nashville 12 South Walking Food Tour with Secret Food Tours. If you’d like to take a dive into the deep end of the trendy 12South neighborhood, this is one of the best ways to do it!

With an expert, friendly local guide to show you all the hidden gems and best eats while explaining the background of each dish, put this tour at the top of your list. I have to say, this tour is one of the most indulgent I’ve ever partaken in, so make sure you’re hungry and ready to eat some GOOD food!

The 3-hour experience kicks off at a renowned taco spot, where you’ll get to try a tasty breakfast taco – probably one of the best I’ve ever had. After, you’ll go a bit more “traditional”, trying some gourmet Southern cookies, which I could honestly have for any meal.

The brisket quesadilla was absolutely delightful, savory, and filling – something perhaps not necessarily what you’d think of when you think “Nashville”, but indicative of the 12South vibe. However, the hot pork and grits casserole fit right into that, and was my first time having this delicious dish!

You’ll follow it up with a smooth dessert that isn’t overly filling but certainly a welcome treat. The walking is quite easy and relaxed, making regular photo stops and pauses to really take it all in and listen to our guide’s interesting commentary and personal anecdotes.

Our guide’s personal connections to the owners of the different businesses really offered insight and opportunities we wouldn’t have had otherwise.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience