Located inside Nashville's hipster haven, the Hutton Hotel, 1808 Grille blends traditional dishes with global flavours. The décor of woods and rich shades of green, blue and white. are as unique and vibrant as the menu. Accompany meals with a well-crafted cocktail from the bar or a vintage plonk from the celebrated wine display, featuring local and international favourites. Organic meats and sustainable seafood are high on the agenda.

A warehouse conversion, Flyte is the brainchild of owners Scott Atkinson and Scott Sears. Earthy colours and bold original artworks abound in this corner of the up-and-coming 12th Avenue South District. A seasonal menu features organic, fresh or humanely raised dishes created by chef Bobby Benjamin, former cook at Nashville's illustrious Capitol Grille. For a true dining adventure try the Chef's Sampler - a food and wine pairing of five courses.

A relatively new fine dining spot, unpretentious quality is the name of the game here. Housed in a former print shop, the place had high local expectations when it opened, and has not disappointed since. Sophisticated and unashamedly urban, the sleek dining rooms (and terrace) serve up new Southern dishes. Expect grits soufflé, sweet potato ravioli and artisanal cheeses.

This Californian/Mediterranean style restaurant is a combination of popular business meeting spot, restaurant and gourmet grocery. Take your pick from foodie servings of seafood, pasta, chicken and exotic vegetable dishes, or 21 salad combinations. The signature Club Med Salad is an all-time favourite and California-style wraps are prepared to order. The pastry case and gourmet coffees are reason enough to stop at Chef's. Friday and Saturday nights feature weekly-themed all-you-can-eat buffets.

This good-looking spot, located in the quaint residential neighbourhood of Germantown, delivers a menu of house-cured meats, fresh pastas and other rustic Italian recipes alongside a roster of intriguing desserts. The gorgeous architectural design melds perfectly with the old-world charm of Germantown's brick sidewalks and historic homes. In its decor, layout and cuisine, City House celebrates simple, beautiful ingredients.

Rolf and Daughters is where the country stars come to dine. The inventive menu by chef Philip Krajeck is the result of his Belgian roots, his Italian instructors and his American base, all mixed with sublime fresh ingredients. The rustic sauces and homemade dough are comfortingly good, but don't miss the mushroom, kale and parmesan pasta – it's food so good you won't notice the Grammy Award winner on the table next to you.

Heralded by the neon flying pigs sign, Jack's is the favourite barbecue spot for those visiting Downtown. The casual, cosy dining room fills quickly for lunch, while the fragrance of slow-smoked barbecue cooked over hickory wood awakens the taste buds. The best deal is the BBQ Combo, giving a selection of pork shoulder, beef brisket, turkey breast, smoked sausage, ribs or smoked chicken with two vegetables and cornbread. The choice of six award-winning barbecue sauces adds to the flavour of Nashville's best grill.

The Pantry is something of a Nashville institution. The place to eat your way through a hangover, break-up or bad day, their fluffy, sweet or savoury stacks are known to solve any issue. A long-standing family business, the owners make a couple of runs a year to the hills of East Tennessee to retrieve their specialty ground flours. Their syrups are freshly prepared each day from top secret recipes too. The only downside to this place is the line - expect to queue for anything up to two hours at weekends. It is worth the wait, though.

The Frothy Monkey Coffeehouse is a sophisticated coffee shop serving a range of fresh and organic gourmet soups, salads, sandwiches and muffins. The outdoor patio is a great spot for people-watching in this hip neighbourhood of restored houses and health-conscious walkers and cyclists. Exposed brick, natural light, local artworks and a relaxed ambiance make sure the crowd is an interesting one.