The 9 best spots in Nashville for celebrating right now

For a celebration that feels more like a getaway, head to this transportive Southeast Asian restaurant. Two-time Emmy award-winner Billy Dec was inspired by his travels when he opened Sunda’s Nashville outpost (a follow-up to his Chicago flagship) in 2018. From low-key occasions at the rectangular bar to private rooms for more exclusive get-togethers, Sunda can do it all. To that, add dishes like oxtail pot stickers with white wasabi cream and tom yum sea bass, and you’ve got a menu that’s as refined as the sleek, museum-like interiors.

Seafood is often a not-so-subtle code for special occasions. And there’s plenty of it at this Ford Fry winner. The Optimist’s oysters, lobster rolls, and whole-roasted flounder have the power to level up a birthday, date night, or just an extra-special Friday. Reserve a cushy banquette and take in the luxe nautical interiors, all blue plaster accents and steel-studded walls. Consider a pre- or post-celebration drink at the elegant stained-glass bar—the vodka-and-hibiscus Pleasure Cruise is especially toast-worthy.

Since 1948, Skull’s Rainbow Room in Printer’s Alley has been the place for one of Nashville’s most epic nights out. Its tin ceilings, low lights, and heavy velvet curtains call for more intimate occasions. Start with a cocktail from one of its renowned bartenders before making way for French American classics like red wine demi-braised short rib and herb-roasted half chicken. Dinner comes with a side of entertainment—once graced by Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline, Skull’s famous black-and-white stage hosts some of the area’s best performers, from jazz bands to burlesque dancers, on a nightly basis.

One of the most special things about this modern Italian hotspot inside the Joseph hotel is the La Tavola in La Cucina experience. It’s an exclusive table for four set up in the restaurant’s kitchen, complete with a multi-course tasting menu (including a vegetarian version) and dedicated sommelier. If it’s not that kind of celebration, reserve a place in the airy modern dining room for excellent meats, seafood, and housemade pastas—the black summer truffle gnocchi is especially occasion-worthy—by James Beard Award winner Tony Mantuano. Bonus points for the see-through cheese cave.

If your celebration calls for extravagance—and don’t they all?—Jeff Ruby’s downtown Nashville edition is the place. Oversized lion statues, walls draped in velvet, and a bar lit in hot pink all scream “big night out.” So does the larger-than-life menu with everything from sushi rolls to macaroni and cheese (made with six imported cheeses) and the star attractions—USDA prime and wagyu steaks. Nightly live entertainment and a cigar menu add to the celebratory Nashvegas vibes.

This East Nashville spot just landed in Nashville in 2023, but it’s already taken the city by storm and hosted many celebratory evenings. Noko’s Japanese farmhouse-inspired space is the place to woo just about anyone, thanks to a creative wood-fired menu by executive chef Dung “Junior” Vo. He shows off his culinary muscle in Asian street food-inspired dishes like tuna crispy rice and a gussied-up grilled cheese with prosciutto, white cheddar, and togarashi. That innovative magic is also alive on the cocktail menu—don’t skip the wagyu fat-washed old fashioned if you’re drinking.

Chef Deb Paquette became the first woman in Tennessee to qualify as a certified executive chef, and that’s reason enough to celebrate at her globally inspired restaurant. Paquette brings her precise touch to dishes like burrata with compressed cantaloupe and pan-seared scallops with edamame risotto. A large lunch menu means etch is a sought-after daytime celebration spot in this part of town. Make your occasion extra-special by booking a seat at the chef’s bar for a chance to catch Paquette in action.

RH is home decor goals, and now fans of the swanky furniture brand can celebrate in a stunning courtyard-style restaurant inside the brand’s Green Hills location. From a massive twinkling chandelier to a working fountain, there are plenty of spectacular design accents to elevate your occasion. Toast with a glass of wine from the elegant American menu, then keep the celebrations going with the ultimate celebration trifecta: a shrimp cocktail, 16-ounce charred ribeye, and decadent truffle fries.

Sinema’s opulent digs make it a go-to for anniversaries and special dates. Don’t miss a photo by the over-the-top entrance, decked with a curved staircase, exposed brick, and tufted velvet booths. The lavish restaurant lives in the historic Melrose Theater and serves modern riffs on American classics. For extra-special occasions, consider the five-course tasting menu featuring short rib with horseradish and buttermilk potato puree and scallops with spinach orzotto. Whiskey lovers, take note: Sinema’s bar stocks more than 200 varieties to toast your celebration.