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Duck ragu at Luogo in the Gulch.
Luogo

15 Incredible Italian Restaurants in Nashville

Satisfy cravings for house-made pasta, wine, wood-fired pizza, and meatballs for Sunday supper

by Jackie Gutierrez-Jones and Delia Jo Ramsey Updated
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Duck ragu at Luogo in the Gulch.
| Luogo
by Jackie Gutierrez-Jones and Delia Jo Ramsey Updated

They say that the way to a person’s heart is through the stomach. Italians know this — and so do Southerners. We’re kindred spirits in that way.

These local restaurants — both new and long-standing favorites — showcase the best Italian food in Nashville, from Neapolitan pies to decadent plates of seafood-studded linguini. It’s a great time to be a pasta lover in Music City.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; the latest data about the delta variant indicates that it may pose a low-to-moderate risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here.

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City House

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City House has been a staple for over 15 years, and its Southern riff on rustic Italian fare made Nashville native Tandy Wilson the first Music City chef to take home a James Beard Award. The belly ham pizza, Sunday supper’s meatball special, and desserts from talented pastry chef Rebekah Turshen are all crucial to the success of this cozy essential in the heart of Germantown.

1222 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 736-5838
(615) 736-5838

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Nicky's Coal Fired

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Nicky’s is a hands-on affair — all the charcuterie, pasta, bitters, infusions, and shrubs are made in-house at this lively, counter-service favorite in the Nations. While the coal-fired pizza is the obvious centerpiece, dishes like spicy Gulf shrimp spaghetti, cavatelli bolognese, and Mama G’s meatballs are absolute showstoppers as well. There’s even a vegan section featuring local Be-Hive products at the moment. Be sure to wrap up the meal with one of Nicky’s house-spun gelatos or sorbets.

5026 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 678-4289
(615) 678-4289

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Mimo Restaurant and Bar

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Michelin-starred chef Aniello Turco is shining the light on Southern Italian cuisine and techniques from the bright, airy expanse of the Four Seasons lobby downtown. Potted palms and trees lead the way to a stark open kitchen, where you can watch the staff carefully plate your citrus-poached prawns, caviar linguine, and charred branzino. Don’t forget an order of Mimo’s house-made sourdough bread with olive oil-whipped butter — you’ll want it for sopping up the intricate sauces on your plates.

100 Demonbreun St, Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 610-6990
(615) 610-6990

Also featured in:

Yolan

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Nashville scored big when James Beard Award-winning chef Tony Mantuano and wine/hospitality expert Cathy Mantuano, life and business partners, brought Nashville the fine-dining Italian menu — and cheese cave — it had been missing alongside standout service and a welcoming atmosphere inside the Joseph Hotel. The regular or vegetarian tasting menu with wine pairings is always a solid move, as are any and all of the a la carte pasta options. Just try to save some room for pastry chef Noelle Marchetti’s jaw-dropping desserts.

403 4th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 231-0405
(615) 231-0405

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Moto

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This Gulch restaurant from the M Street Nashville group (also behind sleek hits like Kayne Prime and Virago) is an easy win for a stylish date night thanks to its midcentury modern decor, discreet wraparound booths, and warm candlelit glow. But dishes like black spaghetti with lobster ragu and heritage pork chop are proof that Moto has just as much substance as it has style.

1120 McGavock St, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 736-5305
(615) 736-5305

Luogo Restaurant

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Anthony Scotto has brought his white-hot New York eatery to the Gulch with a focus on Mediterranean coastal cuisine. The white-washed dining room accented in royal blues evokes a seaside estiatorio, perfect for indulging in fritto misto, whole-milk burrata, livornese-style red snapper, and roasted chicken cacciatora in an herbaceous white-wine sauce. Pair your meal with Luogo Limoncello Cider, a clever take on a classic digestivo from local Diskin Cider.

211 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 988-8200
(615) 988-8200

Valentino's Ristorante

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Though Valentino’s Ristorante relocated from West End to Hayes Street several years ago, it didn’t affect the charming atmosphere or traditional Italian fare that this Midtown classic has honed over 25 years. Bucatini, cioppino, and house-made lasagna with osso bucco over saffron risotto — these are all perfect accompaniments to the live music that frequently serenades diners here.

1808 Hayes St, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 327-0148
(615) 327-0148

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Coco's Italian Market

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Visitors can load up on fresh burrata, heaps of fettuccine with meatballs, and deep-dish timpano at Coco’s, a restaurant-market hybrid in the Nations. Enjoy your meal indoors or on the covered patio, then peruse the Italian market with a glass of wine or beer in hand.

411 51st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 783-0114
(615) 783-0114

Also featured in:

Pastaria

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The brainchild of St. Louis chef Gerard Craft, Pastaria serves some seriously delightful carbs from its bright and airy shop in the OneC1ty complex. Watch as dishes like cacio e pepe, garganelli, pistachio ravioli, and wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizzas slide out fresh from Zane Dearien’s open kitchen, and look out for the grab-and-go gelato counter by the door, a nice touch for a post-pasta sweet treat.

8 City Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 915-1866
(615) 915-1866
Pastaria.
Spencer Pernikoff/Pastaria

Also featured in:

Giovanni Ristorante

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After 27 years in Manhattan, Giovanni Ristorante found its way to Nashville and firmly planted its flag near Midtown with a snappy bi-level space. Murano glass chandeliers, Venetian plaster, and a Hermes (yes, that Hermes) upholstered bar provide immediate eye candy, followed by plates like pappardelle alla Norcia with black truffles and tagliatelle with veal, which taste as good as everything looks.

909 20th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 760-5932
(615) 760-5932

Also featured in:

Bella Napoli Pizzeria

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While Bella Napoli is known for its perfectly blistered Neapolitan pies using ingredients imported directly from Italy, the rest of the menu at this homey Edgehill pizzeria is also worth its weight in gold — especially pasta dishes like penne alla vodka tossed with pancetta and the lasagna al forno replete with a rich bechamel sauce. Bonus: Bella Napoli has a lovely outdoor courtyard and live music several nights a week.

1200 Villa Pl #206, Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 891-1387
(615) 891-1387

Il Forno

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Chef Egidio Franciosa and partner Jannah Franciosa gave their popular mobile pizzeria a permanent location in Wedgewood-Houston, serving up Neapolitan-style pies like the diavola with calabrese salami in an open, airy, industrial-feeling spot. But the menu doesn’t stop at pizza — you’ll also want to dig into the restaurant’s carpaccio, antipasto spreads, risotto with seasonal mushrooms, and pasta dishes like bucatini with wild-caught octopus ragu and cherry tomatoes.

1414 3rd Ave S, Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 739-6713
(615) 739-6713

Also featured in:

Caffé Nonna

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For years, chef Daniel Maggipinto has been charming guests at this quaint Sylvan Park eatery with traditional recipes from his grandmother, the titular Nonna. Starters like arancini and a hearty Tuscan bruschetta segue smoothly into mains like the lamb shank Toscana with spinach, tomatoes, white beans, and feta. There’s also an option to build your own pasta plate featuring rigatoni, gnocchi, and risotto with an abundance of sauces, meats, veggies, and cheeses for topping.

4427 Murphy Rd, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 463-0133
(615) 463-0133

Also featured in:

Chrysalis Modern Italian

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Chrysalis Modern Italian snuck into the Cool Springs/Carothers stretch in 2021 and quickly became a neighborhood favorite. The restaurant strikes a nice balance of cozy and chic, offering an extensive menu of classic and house cocktails, pouring interesting wines, and dishing out customizable antipasti boards alongside house-made rosemary focaccia, pasta, seafood, and meat specials with modern flair.

9040 Carothers Pkwy Suite A201, Franklin, TN 37067
(615) 472-1390
(615) 472-1390

Also featured in:

Culaccino Italian Restaurant + Bar

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On Franklin’s Main Street, the little alcove that is Culaccino bustles with couples, families, and solo diners indulging in chef-owner Frank Pullara’s rustic menu. Whether you’re perched at the indoor bar or soaking up a Tennessee evening on the heated outdoor patio, restaurant’s 72-hour-fermented pizzas, ricotta fritta, and house-made cacio e pepe tonnarelli pair seamlessly with bourbon cocktails and good conversation.

104 E Main St, Franklin, TN 37064
(615) 435-3539
(615) 435-3539

Also featured in:

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City House

1222 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208

City House has been a staple for over 15 years, and its Southern riff on rustic Italian fare made Nashville native Tandy Wilson the first Music City chef to take home a James Beard Award. The belly ham pizza, Sunday supper’s meatball special, and desserts from talented pastry chef Rebekah Turshen are all crucial to the success of this cozy essential in the heart of Germantown.

1222 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 736-5838
(615) 736-5838

Nicky's Coal Fired

5026 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209

Nicky’s is a hands-on affair — all the charcuterie, pasta, bitters, infusions, and shrubs are made in-house at this lively, counter-service favorite in the Nations. While the coal-fired pizza is the obvious centerpiece, dishes like spicy Gulf shrimp spaghetti, cavatelli bolognese, and Mama G’s meatballs are absolute showstoppers as well. There’s even a vegan section featuring local Be-Hive products at the moment. Be sure to wrap up the meal with one of Nicky’s house-spun gelatos or sorbets.

5026 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 678-4289
(615) 678-4289

Mimo Restaurant and Bar

100 Demonbreun St, Nashville, TN 37201

Michelin-starred chef Aniello Turco is shining the light on Southern Italian cuisine and techniques from the bright, airy expanse of the Four Seasons lobby downtown. Potted palms and trees lead the way to a stark open kitchen, where you can watch the staff carefully plate your citrus-poached prawns, caviar linguine, and charred branzino. Don’t forget an order of Mimo’s house-made sourdough bread with olive oil-whipped butter — you’ll want it for sopping up the intricate sauces on your plates.

100 Demonbreun St, Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 610-6990
(615) 610-6990

Yolan

403 4th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201

Nashville scored big when James Beard Award-winning chef Tony Mantuano and wine/hospitality expert Cathy Mantuano, life and business partners, brought Nashville the fine-dining Italian menu — and cheese cave — it had been missing alongside standout service and a welcoming atmosphere inside the Joseph Hotel. The regular or vegetarian tasting menu with wine pairings is always a solid move, as are any and all of the a la carte pasta options. Just try to save some room for pastry chef Noelle Marchetti’s jaw-dropping desserts.

403 4th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 231-0405
(615) 231-0405

Moto

1120 McGavock St, Nashville, TN 37203

This Gulch restaurant from the M Street Nashville group (also behind sleek hits like Kayne Prime and Virago) is an easy win for a stylish date night thanks to its midcentury modern decor, discreet wraparound booths, and warm candlelit glow. But dishes like black spaghetti with lobster ragu and heritage pork chop are proof that Moto has just as much substance as it has style.

1120 McGavock St, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 736-5305
(615) 736-5305

Luogo Restaurant

211 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203

Anthony Scotto has brought his white-hot New York eatery to the Gulch with a focus on Mediterranean coastal cuisine. The white-washed dining room accented in royal blues evokes a seaside estiatorio, perfect for indulging in fritto misto, whole-milk burrata, livornese-style red snapper, and roasted chicken cacciatora in an herbaceous white-wine sauce. Pair your meal with Luogo Limoncello Cider, a clever take on a classic digestivo from local Diskin Cider.

211 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 988-8200
(615) 988-8200

Valentino's Ristorante

1808 Hayes St, Nashville, TN 37203

Though Valentino’s Ristorante relocated from West End to Hayes Street several years ago, it didn’t affect the charming atmosphere or traditional Italian fare that this Midtown classic has honed over 25 years. Bucatini, cioppino, and house-made lasagna with osso bucco over saffron risotto — these are all perfect accompaniments to the live music that frequently serenades diners here.

1808 Hayes St, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 327-0148
(615) 327-0148

Coco's Italian Market

411 51st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209

Visitors can load up on fresh burrata, heaps of fettuccine with meatballs, and deep-dish timpano at Coco’s, a restaurant-market hybrid in the Nations. Enjoy your meal indoors or on the covered patio, then peruse the Italian market with a glass of wine or beer in hand.

411 51st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 783-0114
(615) 783-0114

Pastaria

8 City Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209

The brainchild of St. Louis chef Gerard Craft, Pastaria serves some seriously delightful carbs from its bright and airy shop in the OneC1ty complex. Watch as dishes like cacio e pepe, garganelli, pistachio ravioli, and wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizzas slide out fresh from Zane Dearien’s open kitchen, and look out for the grab-and-go gelato counter by the door, a nice touch for a post-pasta sweet treat.

8 City Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 915-1866
(615) 915-1866
Pastaria.
Spencer Pernikoff/Pastaria

Giovanni Ristorante

909 20th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212

After 27 years in Manhattan, Giovanni Ristorante found its way to Nashville and firmly planted its flag near Midtown with a snappy bi-level space. Murano glass chandeliers, Venetian plaster, and a Hermes (yes, that Hermes) upholstered bar provide immediate eye candy, followed by plates like pappardelle alla Norcia with black truffles and tagliatelle with veal, which taste as good as everything looks.

909 20th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 760-5932
(615) 760-5932

Bella Napoli Pizzeria

1200 Villa Pl #206, Nashville, TN 37212

While Bella Napoli is known for its perfectly blistered Neapolitan pies using ingredients imported directly from Italy, the rest of the menu at this homey Edgehill pizzeria is also worth its weight in gold — especially pasta dishes like penne alla vodka tossed with pancetta and the lasagna al forno replete with a rich bechamel sauce. Bonus: Bella Napoli has a lovely outdoor courtyard and live music several nights a week.

1200 Villa Pl #206, Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 891-1387
(615) 891-1387

Il Forno

1414 3rd Ave S, Nashville, TN 37210

Chef Egidio Franciosa and partner Jannah Franciosa gave their popular mobile pizzeria a permanent location in Wedgewood-Houston, serving up Neapolitan-style pies like the diavola with calabrese salami in an open, airy, industrial-feeling spot. But the menu doesn’t stop at pizza — you’ll also want to dig into the restaurant’s carpaccio, antipasto spreads, risotto with seasonal mushrooms, and pasta dishes like bucatini with wild-caught octopus ragu and cherry tomatoes.

1414 3rd Ave S, Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 739-6713
(615) 739-6713

Caffé Nonna

4427 Murphy Rd, Nashville, TN 37209

For years, chef Daniel Maggipinto has been charming guests at this quaint Sylvan Park eatery with traditional recipes from his grandmother, the titular Nonna. Starters like arancini and a hearty Tuscan bruschetta segue smoothly into mains like the lamb shank Toscana with spinach, tomatoes, white beans, and feta. There’s also an option to build your own pasta plate featuring rigatoni, gnocchi, and risotto with an abundance of sauces, meats, veggies, and cheeses for topping.

4427 Murphy Rd, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 463-0133
(615) 463-0133

Chrysalis Modern Italian

9040 Carothers Pkwy Suite A201, Franklin, TN 37067

Chrysalis Modern Italian snuck into the Cool Springs/Carothers stretch in 2021 and quickly became a neighborhood favorite. The restaurant strikes a nice balance of cozy and chic, offering an extensive menu of classic and house cocktails, pouring interesting wines, and dishing out customizable antipasti boards alongside house-made rosemary focaccia, pasta, seafood, and meat specials with modern flair.

9040 Carothers Pkwy Suite A201, Franklin, TN 37067
(615) 472-1390
(615) 472-1390

Culaccino Italian Restaurant + Bar

104 E Main St, Franklin, TN 37064

On Franklin’s Main Street, the little alcove that is Culaccino bustles with couples, families, and solo diners indulging in chef-owner Frank Pullara’s rustic menu. Whether you’re perched at the indoor bar or soaking up a Tennessee evening on the heated outdoor patio, restaurant’s 72-hour-fermented pizzas, ricotta fritta, and house-made cacio e pepe tonnarelli pair seamlessly with bourbon cocktails and good conversation.

104 E Main St, Franklin, TN 37064
(615) 435-3539
(615) 435-3539

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