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A covered outdoor patio with green turf, wooden tables and benches, red chairs, and the Hugh-Baby’s mascot pig in front of a fake tree with a slide coming out of it.
The outdoor patio and children’s play area at Hugh-Baby’s Charlotte Avenue location in West Nashville.
Sam Angel

14 Great Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Nashville

Inclusive breweries, hip bowling alleys, and leveled-up burger places keep the whole family well-fed and entertained

by Jackie Gutierrez-Jones Updated
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The outdoor patio and children’s play area at Hugh-Baby’s Charlotte Avenue location in West Nashville.
| Sam Angel
by Jackie Gutierrez-Jones Updated

Not-so-breaking news flash: kids can sniff out a fast-food chain with a jungle gym faster than any adult in the near vicinity. But grabbing a meal with little ones doesn’t have to mean mediocre burgers and questionably sanitary ball pits. In fact, finding a standout meal that pleases grown-up palates and caters to the school-age crowd is easier than ever. Nashville restaurants are embracing the whole family experience with inventive dishes featuring high-quality ingredients that keep the adults entertained while the little ones run around in an open patio space or color to their hearts' content.

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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Tailgate Brewery

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Tailgate is open to visitors of all ages, has tons of indoor space and outdoor patios at taprooms throughout the city, serves crowd-pleasing pizza, and offers plenty of family-oriented events. Its headquarters in West Nashville often shows movies on an expansive lawn and hosts activities in the heated barn, and you’ll even find a children’s menu.

7300 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 861-9842
(615) 861-9842

Nicky's Coal Fired

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This counter-service hotspot in the Nations dispenses some of Nashville’s best pizza from “Enrico,” a four-ton coal-fired oven. Alongside classic margherita, signature pies like the “Aces High” (with crushed meatballs, mozz, and pecorino), and dippable garlic bread, Nicky’s offers kids their choice of butter or red-sauce noodles to enjoy with a side of vanilla Italian soda.

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

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Frothy Monkey

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Frothy Monkey has four boisterous cafes throughout Nashville and several more elsewhere in Tennessee (not to mention its own coffee roaster and bakery operations). They’re especially popular for well-made breakfast and lunch dishes featuring lots of local ingredients, and they all serve a kids’ menu for diners under 10 years old, including French toast, cheesy eggs and bacon, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

1400 51st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 600-4756
(615) 600-4756
A spread of dishes on a wooden table including salmon on a bed of greens in the foreground next to a glass with some dark liquid in it and a latte and omelet in the background.
A spread of dishes at Frothy Monkey.
Frothy Monkey

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Hugh-Baby's

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Another welcome entry in the category of leveled-up nostalgia trips, this mini fast-food chain by Pat Martin (of Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint) serves scratch-made burgers, barbecue sandwiches, and hot dogs at three locations. Kids love the patio play area at the Berry Hill and Charlotte Avenue locations, along with the roster of creamy old-school milkshakes with house ice cream.

4816 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 610-3340
(615) 610-3340

Burger Up Franklin

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Not affiliated with the Burger Up in 12 South but likewise committed to local sourcing, Burger Up Franklin lets children play with coloring sheets and pick from a basketful of books to entertain themselves while they eat from a kids’ menu featuring chicken tenders, burgers, and uncommon items like grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

401 Cool Springs Blvd B, Franklin, TN 37067
(615) 503-9892
(615) 503-9892

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Avo

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Plant-based parenting is all the rage, and Midtown’s Avo handily fulfills all the vegetable requirements for the vegan lifestyle while leaning into mushrooms, nuts, and lentils rather than fake meats. After scarfing down a grilled cheese with fried cauliflower from the interactive children’s menu, kids have free rein of the grassy turf outside, which includes a sandy beach volleyball court and picnic tables.

3 City Ave #200, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 329-2377
(615) 329-2377

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Edley's Bar-B-Que

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Edley’s is easily one of Nashville’s best barbecue joints; at all of its relaxed locations around town, little ones can enjoy a smaller version of the popular barbecue sandwich plus other items from the kids’ menu, including mini corn dogs, grilled cheese, and chicken tenders.

2706 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 953-2951
(615) 953-2951

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Bartaco

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Mezcal for the adults and refreshing agua frescas for kiddos — a meal at 12 South’s Bartaco is an easy win for everyone in the fam. Settle into an indoor booth or tuck into a cushioned nook on the outdoor patio and get your little one situated with the children’s menu, which includes “not spicy” guac, mini tacos, and a tray with a quesadilla, taco, corn wheels, and a fruit skewer. Come early, though — the crowds get unruly later into the evening.

2526 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 269-8226
(615) 269-8226

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Otaku Ramen Gulch

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The Gulch’s popular noodle shop offers kids the one thing that’s taboo at so many other restaurants: the ability to loudly slurp a big, steamy bowl of broth. Grab a seat at one of the wooden tables and order up a chocolate boba for your pint-sized partner before pursuing the children’s menu — the kid-size tonkotsu is a winner.

1104 Division St, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 455-0677
(615) 455-0677

Husk

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It’d be easy to relegate an upscale place like Rutledge Hill’s Husk to date-night territory. But then you’d be missing out on chef Ben Norton’s perfect rendition of a grilled cheese sandwich — a dish that’s available for the kids in the group but definitely warrants a bite for the adults in the crowd. Beyond that, the Southern veggie platter is the easiest way to get little ones to eat their greens with fun and unique preparations, dips, and sauces to experiment with. Outside, Husk’s garden is a great spot to show little ones the charm of growing local, seasonal produce.

37 Rutledge St, Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 256-6565
(615) 256-6565

Also featured in:

Pinewood Social

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Bowling — that’s what’s for dinner at Pinewood Social, nicely situated along the river and the Greenway in Rolling Mill Hill. If you can pry your child away from the lanes for a brief moment, they’ll surely find something to love on a special kids’ menu with burgers, buttered noodles, grilled cheese, and chicken fingers. For adults: crispy tots with a paprika aioli, short rib mac-and-cheese, and a banana chocolate sundae — to share or not to share.

33 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 751-8111
(615) 751-8111

Also featured in:

Joyland Restaurant

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On its surface, Joyland Restaurant bears all the hallmarks of your typical fast-casual burger joint: counter service, playful primary colors as decor, a simple, takeout-focused menu, and the smell of grilled beef in the air. But because Sean Brock’s at the helm of this East Nashville spot, everything’s a cut above. The burgers benefit from a proprietary blend of beef from Bear Creek Farm, for example, and the biscuits and beer bear one of Brock’s go-to grains: Jimmy Red corn. Don’t miss the house-made soft serve ice cream with sprinkles — the perfect treat to enjoy on the patio outside.

901 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 922-4934
(615) 922-4934
close up of fried chicken biscuit with sauce actively drizzling from above
Joyland’s fried chicken biscuit with hot honey.
Jeff Scott

Also featured in:

Lockeland Table

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The kids’ menu at Lockeland Table features smaller versions of the essential East Nashville restaurant’s popular wood-fired pizza, plus special kids’ sides and desserts that include mac and cheese, roasted veggies, and Oreo balls. Though the attractive space can feel a bit small for maneuvering children, an additional side patio makes a great option for family dining.

1520 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 228-4864
(615) 228-4864

Also featured in:

Nectar Urban Cantina

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This Donelson favorite has a children’s play area outside that lets adults grab their own kicky beverage from the beer garden before settling in for some casual crowd-pleasers like tacos (stuffed with buttermilk chicken or beer-braised brisket), burritos, nachos, and churros. Be sure to check Nectar’s events calendar for movie nights and concerts on the lawn.

206 McGavock Pk, Nashville, TN 37214
(615) 454-2277
(615) 454-2277

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Tailgate Brewery

7300 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209

Tailgate is open to visitors of all ages, has tons of indoor space and outdoor patios at taprooms throughout the city, serves crowd-pleasing pizza, and offers plenty of family-oriented events. Its headquarters in West Nashville often shows movies on an expansive lawn and hosts activities in the heated barn, and you’ll even find a children’s menu.

7300 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 861-9842
(615) 861-9842

Nicky's Coal Fired

5026 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209

This counter-service hotspot in the Nations dispenses some of Nashville’s best pizza from “Enrico,” a four-ton coal-fired oven. Alongside classic margherita, signature pies like the “Aces High” (with crushed meatballs, mozz, and pecorino), and dippable garlic bread, Nicky’s offers kids their choice of butter or red-sauce noodles to enjoy with a side of vanilla Italian soda.

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

Frothy Monkey

1400 51st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209

Frothy Monkey has four boisterous cafes throughout Nashville and several more elsewhere in Tennessee (not to mention its own coffee roaster and bakery operations). They’re especially popular for well-made breakfast and lunch dishes featuring lots of local ingredients, and they all serve a kids’ menu for diners under 10 years old, including French toast, cheesy eggs and bacon, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

1400 51st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 600-4756
(615) 600-4756
A spread of dishes on a wooden table including salmon on a bed of greens in the foreground next to a glass with some dark liquid in it and a latte and omelet in the background.
A spread of dishes at Frothy Monkey.
Frothy Monkey

Hugh-Baby's

4816 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209

Another welcome entry in the category of leveled-up nostalgia trips, this mini fast-food chain by Pat Martin (of Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint) serves scratch-made burgers, barbecue sandwiches, and hot dogs at three locations. Kids love the patio play area at the Berry Hill and Charlotte Avenue locations, along with the roster of creamy old-school milkshakes with house ice cream.

4816 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 610-3340
(615) 610-3340

Burger Up Franklin

401 Cool Springs Blvd B, Franklin, TN 37067

Not affiliated with the Burger Up in 12 South but likewise committed to local sourcing, Burger Up Franklin lets children play with coloring sheets and pick from a basketful of books to entertain themselves while they eat from a kids’ menu featuring chicken tenders, burgers, and uncommon items like grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

401 Cool Springs Blvd B, Franklin, TN 37067
(615) 503-9892
(615) 503-9892

Avo

3 City Ave #200, Nashville, TN 37209

Plant-based parenting is all the rage, and Midtown’s Avo handily fulfills all the vegetable requirements for the vegan lifestyle while leaning into mushrooms, nuts, and lentils rather than fake meats. After scarfing down a grilled cheese with fried cauliflower from the interactive children’s menu, kids have free rein of the grassy turf outside, which includes a sandy beach volleyball court and picnic tables.

3 City Ave #200, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 329-2377
(615) 329-2377

Edley's Bar-B-Que

2706 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204

Edley’s is easily one of Nashville’s best barbecue joints; at all of its relaxed locations around town, little ones can enjoy a smaller version of the popular barbecue sandwich plus other items from the kids’ menu, including mini corn dogs, grilled cheese, and chicken tenders.

2706 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 953-2951
(615) 953-2951

Bartaco

2526 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204

Mezcal for the adults and refreshing agua frescas for kiddos — a meal at 12 South’s Bartaco is an easy win for everyone in the fam. Settle into an indoor booth or tuck into a cushioned nook on the outdoor patio and get your little one situated with the children’s menu, which includes “not spicy” guac, mini tacos, and a tray with a quesadilla, taco, corn wheels, and a fruit skewer. Come early, though — the crowds get unruly later into the evening.

2526 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 269-8226
(615) 269-8226

Otaku Ramen Gulch

1104 Division St, Nashville, TN 37203

The Gulch’s popular noodle shop offers kids the one thing that’s taboo at so many other restaurants: the ability to loudly slurp a big, steamy bowl of broth. Grab a seat at one of the wooden tables and order up a chocolate boba for your pint-sized partner before pursuing the children’s menu — the kid-size tonkotsu is a winner.

1104 Division St, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 455-0677
(615) 455-0677

Husk

37 Rutledge St, Nashville, TN 37210

It’d be easy to relegate an upscale place like Rutledge Hill’s Husk to date-night territory. But then you’d be missing out on chef Ben Norton’s perfect rendition of a grilled cheese sandwich — a dish that’s available for the kids in the group but definitely warrants a bite for the adults in the crowd. Beyond that, the Southern veggie platter is the easiest way to get little ones to eat their greens with fun and unique preparations, dips, and sauces to experiment with. Outside, Husk’s garden is a great spot to show little ones the charm of growing local, seasonal produce.

37 Rutledge St, Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 256-6565
(615) 256-6565

Pinewood Social

33 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210

Bowling — that’s what’s for dinner at Pinewood Social, nicely situated along the river and the Greenway in Rolling Mill Hill. If you can pry your child away from the lanes for a brief moment, they’ll surely find something to love on a special kids’ menu with burgers, buttered noodles, grilled cheese, and chicken fingers. For adults: crispy tots with a paprika aioli, short rib mac-and-cheese, and a banana chocolate sundae — to share or not to share.

33 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 751-8111
(615) 751-8111

Joyland Restaurant

901 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206

On its surface, Joyland Restaurant bears all the hallmarks of your typical fast-casual burger joint: counter service, playful primary colors as decor, a simple, takeout-focused menu, and the smell of grilled beef in the air. But because Sean Brock’s at the helm of this East Nashville spot, everything’s a cut above. The burgers benefit from a proprietary blend of beef from Bear Creek Farm, for example, and the biscuits and beer bear one of Brock’s go-to grains: Jimmy Red corn. Don’t miss the house-made soft serve ice cream with sprinkles — the perfect treat to enjoy on the patio outside.

901 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 922-4934
(615) 922-4934
close up of fried chicken biscuit with sauce actively drizzling from above
Joyland’s fried chicken biscuit with hot honey.
Jeff Scott

Lockeland Table

1520 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206

The kids’ menu at Lockeland Table features smaller versions of the essential East Nashville restaurant’s popular wood-fired pizza, plus special kids’ sides and desserts that include mac and cheese, roasted veggies, and Oreo balls. Though the attractive space can feel a bit small for maneuvering children, an additional side patio makes a great option for family dining.

1520 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 228-4864
(615) 228-4864

Nectar Urban Cantina

206 McGavock Pk, Nashville, TN 37214

This Donelson favorite has a children’s play area outside that lets adults grab their own kicky beverage from the beer garden before settling in for some casual crowd-pleasers like tacos (stuffed with buttermilk chicken or beer-braised brisket), burritos, nachos, and churros. Be sure to check Nectar’s events calendar for movie nights and concerts on the lawn.

206 McGavock Pk, Nashville, TN 37214
(615) 454-2277
(615) 454-2277

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