The best Italian restaurants in Nashville to book now

Maggiano’s brings classic Italian-American cooking to West End with portions designed for sharing and celebrating. The spacious dining room, located near Vanderbilt University, offers a warm family-style atmosphere perfect for gathering with friends or hosting special occasions. Standout menu items include the signature rigatoni alla vodka and the always-popular chopped salad.

North Italia serves handcrafted Italian dishes in Franklin’s Aspen Grove, blending fresh ingredients with modern execution. North Italia’s menu spotlights its signature bolognese made with traditional meat sauce and fresh pappardelle, plus the spicy rigatoni vodka with Italian sausage and torn basil. Weekend brunch adds unique offerings like the breakfast carbonara pasta with poached egg and pancetta. The restaurant’s commitment to scratchmade pasta, handcrafted pizzas, and seasonal ingredients drives every plate, ensuring each visit delivers both consistency and creativity.

Pelato delivers Brooklyn-style Italian cooking to Nashville with bold flavors and neighborhood warmth. The restaurant features an inviting atmosphere where rustic Italian traditions meet contemporary Nashville energy, creating a space equally suited for date nights and group celebrations. The menu leans into authentic Italian tapas-style small plates alongside heartier entrées, with dishes crafted to encourage sharing and exploration.

Amerigo has served Middle Tennessee for over three decades, bringing Italian favorites to Brentwood’s Cool Springs area with consistency and care. The Cool Springs location does lunch and dinner all week, plus weekend brunch and daily early bird specials that make Italian dining accessible and inviting. The extensive wine list complements classic Italian dishes prepared with both Tennessee and Italian inspiration.

V Modern Italian brings European sophistication to The Gulch with handcrafted pizzas, fresh pasta, and weekend DJ nights. The 7,000-square-foot space features cozy velvet booths, a leafy patio, and an energetic vibe. Dishes are created in collaboration with MICHELIN-cred chef Stefano Ciotti, while cocktails by Federico Pollarolo add refined flair to the beverage program. The menu delivers progressive takes on antipasti and pizza alongside must-try weekend brunch.

Luogo showcases upscale Italian cooking with Mediterranean coastal influence in Nashville’s SoBro neighborhood. Chef and owner Anthony Scotto relocated from New York to bring his iconic dishes and family heritage to Music City, creating a fresh take on refined Italian fare. The restaurant features an open, elegant dining room with multiple private spaces perfect for intimate gatherings. Standout offerings emphasize seasonal Mediterranean ingredients and coastal Italian traditions, reflecting Scotto’s years visiting Nashville before making it home.

Yolan does Italian fine-dining inside The Joseph Nashville led by James Beard Award-winning chef Tony Mantuano. The restaurant pays homage to the founding family’s heritage and Joseph’s wife, Yolanda, serving as a true love letter to Italy. Recently named one of OpenTable’s Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America, Yolan features housemade pastas, wood-fired meats, and seasonal dishes shaped by Italy’s regions. You can choose between à la carte dining or the five-course Esperienza Yolan tasting menu, while the in-house espresso bar and pasticceria offer morning pastries from James Beard semifinalist pastry chef Noelle Marchetti. Yolan’s dedication to procuring ingredients from personally known purveyors in Italy and Tennessee ensures every plate reflects refined Italian culinary traditions.

City House stands as a Nashville institution helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Tandy Wilson in historic Germantown. The menu changes seasonally but consistently delivers thoughtful salads, inventive pizzas like the signature belly ham, and creative entrées including cornmeal-crusted catfish. Sunday Supper offers a special weekly menu that draws locals and visitors alike to the former sculptor’s studio turned dining destination. City House’s philosophy embraces seasonal Italian-influenced cooking with Southern soul, quality over flash, and neighborhood warmth that has made it a fixture for over a decade.

Located at the entrance of the Hilton Downtown near Bridgestone Arena, this restaurant brings New York culinary tradition to Music City with scratchmade classics and handcrafted cocktails. The dining room offers casual-chic Italian dining with a refined yet vibrant atmosphere, perfect for pre-show meals or special evenings out. Rooted in the iconic Il Mulino NYC heritage and driven by passion for exceptional local ingredients, the restaurant showcases a menu built on traditional Italian techniques and contemporary Nashville energy.

Ella’s by Christian Petroni delivers coastal Italian cuisine with warm hospitality at The Hyatt Centric in SoBro. Celebrity chef Christian Petroni brings his unique interpretations of Italian culinary heritage to Nashville, from homemade pasta to signature pizzas that reflect his family traditions.