16 Incredible Restaurants in Bristol, TN You Need to Try
Bristol is one town split by a state line. State Street, the main street downtown, marks the border between Tennessee and Virginia, and the two cities run separate governments while sharing a downtown, a music festival and a reputation. That reputation dates to the 1927 Bristol Sessions, when producer Ralph Peer recorded local musicians, including the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers, and Congress named Bristol the birthplace of country music in 1998. Restaurants cluster around State Street and Country Music Way, with more on West State Street, Gate City Highway and Volunteer Parkway. The cooking is Southern and Appalachian at heart, with shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, soup beans and smoked pork, plus Greek, Indian, Mexican, Italian and Asian-American kitchens.
This guide covers 16 places, from a farm and vineyard dining room and a hotel chophouse to a seafood market that began with six quarts of oysters in 1978, a Greek family restaurant founded in 1988, a greenhouse barbecue spot and a doughnut bakery. Ratings and review counts come from each restaurant’s Google listing in October 2026.
Hickory at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards
Hickory is the restaurant at The Inn at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards, on Nicewonder Drive outside downtown Bristol, Virginia. It opened in 2022 under chef Travis Milton, who was a 2024 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. The kitchen cooks from the food traditions of rural Southwestern Virginia, including canning and preserving, and the dining room looks out over the vineyards, the lake and the hills. The farm covers more than 450 acres, and the wines are made on site.
With 4.5 stars from more than 130 Google reviews, Hickory serves both brunch and dinner. At dinner, look for the cornbread muffins, Cajun crab dip, peach BBQ ribs, fried catfish, Southern smothered chicken and mojo pork, plus a burger and steaks. Brunch brings biscuits and gravy, chicken biscuits, shakshuka (eggs poached in spiced tomato sauce) and a Hickory Benedict. The menu changes with the seasons and with what the farm has, so treat these as examples.
Reservations are strongly recommended for brunch and dinner, especially on weekends. Book through OpenTable or call the inn’s front desk. Brunch runs through the afternoon and dinner starts at five, with a later close on Friday and Saturday, but check hours before you go. Dinner is on the pricier side, with steaks at the top of the menu. The tasting room on the property serves wood-fired pizza and hosts live music on Saturdays. Because Hickory sits outside the center of town, plan for a drive.
Address: at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards, 22010 Nicewonder Dr, Bristol, VA 24202
Website: nicewonderfarm.com/hickory
Vivian’s Table
Vivian’s Table is an Appalachian-style chophouse at 115 Country Music Way in Bristol, Virginia, on the same street as the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. It is the restaurant of The Bristol Hotel, and executive chef Jason Van Marter draws on southern, coastal and Hawaiian cooking. The menu is built around steaks and fresh seafood. Some dishes come from recipes passed down through generations, and others are newer plates that use local ingredients and nod to Bristol’s Southern roots.
Rated 4.4 stars from more than 400 Google reviews, it is a solid pick for a sit-down steak dinner. Choose a prime ribeye, filet or New York strip from the grill, or go for shrimp and grits, scallops, Mediterranean salmon or rainbow trout. Shareable starters include harissa deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes and steak frites poutine. Sides include cheese grits and soup beans (a Southern pot of slow-simmered beans), and dessert might be banana bread pudding.
Reserve through OpenTable on the restaurant’s website, which is wise for weekends and for the weeks around Bristol Rhythm & Roots in September. Dinner is served nightly, and because the restaurant is in the hotel it also serves breakfast on weekdays and brunch on weekends. Private rooms and full buyouts are available for groups. The steaks put dinner on the pricier side, though the seafood and starters give you other options. Hours differ by meal, so confirm them before you go.
Address: 115 Country Music Wy, Bristol, VA 24201
Website: vivians-table.com
620 State
620 State is at 620 State Street in downtown Bristol, Tennessee, and it blends Asian and American cooking on one menu. Sushi, burgers, steaks and wok dishes share space in a stylish room with a full bar. The bar lists more than 330 bourbons, whiskies and scotches. That range makes the restaurant an easy choice for a table of people who want different things. It also handles private parties and catering.
With 4.5 stars from more than 2,400 Google reviews, it is one of the most-reviewed restaurants in Bristol. Start with firecracker shrimp, crab rangoon or pot stickers, then try the Six-Twenty Roll (tempura shrimp and avocado topped with salmon and tuna) or the Bakersfield roll, made with tempura bacon. For a main, pick the filet, the 16-ounce ribeye, lamb lollipops, Schezhuan steak or Kung Pao shrimp. Finish with the Drunken Cheesecake.
You can reserve through Resy or by phone, and both are listed on the website. Busy evenings, especially on weekends, fill up first, so book ahead if you are coming for dinner. The menu spans casual and special-occasion prices, with burgers and sushi at the easier end and steaks at the top. The website also posts weekly specials, including discounted sushi rolls on some weekdays. It serves lunch and dinner daily, with later closing times on weekends, though it is worth confirming hours.
Address: TN, 620 State St, Bristol, TN 37620
Website: 620state.com
Public House Bristol
Public House calls itself a chef-driven American tavern, and it fills a restored historic building at 629 State Street in downtown Bristol, Virginia, at the corner of State and Piedmont. It is one of the newest restaurants in town, opening in 2026 in the former Quaker Steak & Lube space. The menu is wider than the word tavern suggests, with steaks, pasta, pizza, burgers, sandwiches and seafood alongside craft cocktails, local beer and wine.
Its 4.5-star rating comes from 150 Google reviews. The steaks are the headline, with a black Angus ribeye, a dry-aged ribeye and filets served with mashed potatoes and maple Brussels sprouts. Burgers include the State Street Fancy with fig jam and brie and a bison burger with BBQ aioli, and the pastas include crab carbonara. Start with the warm crab dip or the Great Oak beer cheese with pretzel, and look at pizzas like the Truffle Pig.
The website links to Resy for reservations, which is a good idea on weekend nights, although its home page still marks online booking as coming soon, so call if no tables show. The kitchen opens in the late afternoon, so this is a dinner stop rather than a lunch stop. Steaks are the splurge, while burgers, sandwiches and pizzas keep the bill moderate. Because the restaurant is new, check hours before you go.
Address: 629 State St, Bristol, VA 24201
Website: publichousebristol.com
bistro on 6th
bistro on 6th is at 16 6th Street in downtown Bristol, Tennessee. It describes its menu as regionally sourced farm-to-table cooking with Southern roots and global influences, and everything is made to order. The owner, Andrew Meyer, is a Bristol native, and the dining room is meant to be a welcoming gathering spot for the town. Lunch and dinner have separate menus, and there is patio seating.
With 4.5 stars from more than 200 Google reviews, it is a dependable choice for Southern comfort cooking with a few twists. Order the Champagne pork (pan-seared pork medallions in champagne cream), shrimp and grits with andouille cream sauce, or fish and chips made with PBR beer batter. Starters include the crispy chili Brussels sprouts, the pickle board and fried green tomatoes, and lunch brings a pressed Cuban sandwich and a fried green BLT.
The restaurant recommends reservations by phone and suggests allowing about an hour and a half for a meal, longer at busy times. It is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday and listed as closed on Sundays, so check hours before you go. The cashew salad, made with rice noodles and cashews, is a lighter choice if you are not in the mood for pork or steak.
Address: 16 6th St, Bristol, TN 37620
Website: bistroon6th.com
Machiavelli’s Italian Restaurant
Machiavelli’s is a locally owned Italian restaurant at 8 5th Street in downtown Bristol, Tennessee, serving homemade pastas, calzones, gourmet pizzas and desserts. It has a full bar and a mix of high-top and regular seating. It is a dinner spot, with a menu centered on 16-inch pizzas that are easy to split. The restaurant also does parties and catering.
With 4.5 stars from more than 500 Google reviews, Machiavelli’s is best approached through the pizza list, including the Mediterranean with shrimp, artichoke hearts, capers and feta, the Jamaican Jerk with jerk chicken and caramelized onions, and the Five Cheese. Pasta options include blackened chicken Alfredo, chicken pesto and spaghetti and meatballs, and there is lasagna and chicken marsala. Italian nachos, spinach dip and breadsticks with marinara are among the starters.
The website offers online reservations and recommends booking ahead. Dinner is the main event, with posted hours starting at four in the afternoon from Tuesday through Saturday and the restaurant closed on Sundays and Mondays, so check hours before you go. Gluten-free pizza is available in the smaller size. Pizzas are sized for sharing, so two people can eat well from one large pie plus a salad or starter.
Address: 8 5th St, Bristol, TN 37620
Website: machiavellisbristol.com
Delta Blues BBQ
Delta Blues BBQ is a locally owned, Memphis-inspired barbecue restaurant and catering company at 724 State Street, on the historic main street of downtown Bristol, Tennessee, near the corner of 8th Street. It doubles as a live music venue, with mostly blues-inspired bands from around the region. The cooking pairs Southern barbecue with a Memphis accent, and you order at the counter.
Rated 4.7 stars from more than 1,800 Google reviews, it is one of the best-rated places on State Street. Order the ribs, such as a half rack with mac and cheese and corn, or a pulled pork tray, and add barbecue baked beans, pimento cheese or loaded Delta fries. Smoked chicken wings and a smoked chicken Philly are also popular, and the Memphis burger suits anyone skipping barbecue. Banana pudding is the dessert to order.
The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays, and closing times vary by listing, so check hours before you go. Live music adds to the draw, so ask which bands are playing if you want a show with your ribs. Cajun dishes turn up as daily specials, so ask what is on. Parking near the restaurant can be limited, and groups or catering orders should call ahead.
Address: 724 State St, Bristol, TN 37620
Website: deltablues-bbq.com
The Mad Greek
The Mad Greek is at 2419 Volunteer Parkway in Bristol, Tennessee. Greek Cypriot immigrants Georgia and Achilleas Georgiou founded the restaurant in 1988 as a fast-food spot serving gyros and sandwiches. It became known for one-price pizzas and has since grown into a full-service restaurant serving Greek and Italian food, with an outdoor dining area as well as the indoor dining room.
With 4.5 stars from more than 1,900 Google reviews, it is a Bristol staple. Start with the gyro platter or the Greek sampler platter, or try the spicy falafel with fries. Pizzas and stromboli cover the Italian side, along with spaghetti and meatballs, and the spinach dip makes a good starter. Homemade desserts are a specialty, from the Italian berry cake to chocolate covered strawberries.
The restaurant is open daily, with posted hours of 11 in the morning to 9 at night, though it is worth confirming before you go. Weekends can bring a wait, so arrive early or visit at lunch, when combos and pizzas keep the bill modest. Reservations are listed as accepted, so call ahead for a larger group. Prices are moderate overall.
Address: 2419 Volunteer Pkwy, Bristol, TN 37620
Website: madgreekrestaurant.toast.site
Greene’s Seafood
Greene’s Seafood is a seafood market and restaurant at 1817 West State Street in Bristol, Virginia. It began in 1978, when founder Wayne Greene was handed six quarts of oysters and sold them around the Tri-Cities. He started in his garage and bought the State Street property in 1980. His son Marty and Marty’s wife Krista now carry on the family business, and the market still sells fresh and frozen seafood next to the dining room.
With 4.7 stars from more than 900 Google reviews, it is a longtime favorite for fried and steamed seafood. Order the Seaside Sampler Platter of whitefish, jumbo shrimp, oysters, scallops and deviled crab, or choose fried flounder, catfish or grouper fingers. Sandwiches include a shrimp po’ boy (a New Orleans-style sandwich on a long roll), an oyster po’ boy and a crab cake. Save room for the seven layer chocolate cake. The market also sells she-crab soup, a creamy crab soup that the shop calls famous.
The menu lists All You Can Eat Tuesdays, with Alaskan whitefish, catfish or popcorn shrimp. Posted restaurant hours cover Tuesday through Friday, so call before a weekend visit or a long drive. Snow crab is sold at market price, so ask before you order. The market is open Monday through Saturday, and custom seafood trays need at least two days’ notice.
Address: 1817 W State St, Bristol, VA 24201
Website: greenesseafood.com
Red Pepper Indian Cuisine
Red Pepper Indian Cuisine is a sit-down restaurant at 215 Gate City Highway in Bristol, Virginia. It serves pan-Indian cooking, with meats, seafood and vegetables grilled in a clay tandoor oven, plus curries, biryani and a long list of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Private dining, takeout and catering are available.
Its 4.7-star rating across more than 1,100 Google reviews points to a loyal following. Try the chicken korma (a mild, creamy curry), the slow-cooked goat on the bone, the shrimp tikka masala or a biryani (spiced rice cooked with meat or vegetables). The tandoori mixed grill brings chicken, lamb, fish and shrimp. Add Kashmiri naan, stuffed with sweet coconut, cherries, raisins and nuts, and a mango lassi.
The lunch buffet runs Tuesday through Sunday, and dinner is served the same days. The restaurant is closed on Mondays. Curries come mild, medium, hot or Indian hot, so say how much heat you want. The website has an online reservation form, which helps for dinner and larger groups. The lunch buffet is an easy way to sample several dishes.
Address: 215 Gate City Hwy, Bristol, VA 24201
Website: redpepperbristol.com
Bristol Gardens and Grill
Bristol Gardens and Grill is a barbecue spot at 285 Vance Street in Bristol, Virginia, built around restored greenhouses that once grew flowers and decorative plants. One greenhouse is now a dining room that seats about 50, with a deli counter and a picnic-table patio. The greenhouses still grow fresh produce and herbs for the kitchen, and the meat is slow-smoked on site in homemade pits.
Rated 4.7 stars from more than 400 Google reviews, it calls itself the home of the Pork Bite, so start there. The wood-smoked meats are made with locally sourced pork, beef and chicken, and they are sold by the pound as well as on plates. Other favorites include ribs with smoked mac and cheese, pulled pork, brisket, Brunswick stew, pimento cheese and chips, and banana pudding. Pick up a bottle of the Garden Hot Sauce on the way out.
The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday and on Sunday afternoons, and it is closed Mondays, so check hours before you go. You can walk in or call ahead for takeout. It also caters office lunches, birthdays and weddings, with pickup, delivery or buffet service. Prices lean affordable, in line with the owners’ stated goal of a fresh, affordable meal.
Address: 285 Vance St, Bristol, VA 24201
Website: bristolgardensandgrill.com
Taqueria 21
Taqueria 21 is a Latino-owned Mexican restaurant at 1511 West State Street in Bristol, Virginia. It started in 2021 at the Tri-Cities Flea Market in Bluff City, Tennessee, where it still serves on weekends, and later opened this full dining room in Bristol. The restaurant says its food is made fresh every day, with traditional recipes, and it offers dine-in, takeout and delivery.
With 4.8 stars from more than 80 Google reviews, it has a small but enthusiastic following. Order the quesabirria, crisp tacos filled with cheese and stewed meat and served with a cup of broth for dipping, in orders of three or five. Other good choices are the pollo chilango, carne asada, Texan fajitas and the burrito bandera, finished with three sauces. Add elote (street corn), cheese dip and the cheesecake chimichanga.
Daily hours run late in the evening, and the restaurant is open all week, though it is worth confirming hours. Lunch specials make a midday visit an easy way to try it, and the large burritos and tacos keep dinner within a modest budget too. The flea market location in Bluff City is open only on Saturdays and Sundays, so use the Bristol location on weekdays.
Address: 1511 W State St, Bristol, VA 24201
Website: taqueria21mexrest.lovable.app
Bristol Café & Market
Bristol Café & Market is a family-owned lunch spot at 2600 Volunteer Parkway in Bristol, Tennessee, built around locally sourced home cooking. Mary Wright started the restaurant out of her love of cooking and hospitality, and her team carries on her passion. Alongside the dining room is a small market with products from small businesses across Tennessee and nearby states, plus gift baskets and catering.
Rated 4.7 stars from 300 Google reviews, it is a favorite for sandwiches, soups and sides. Try the Black & Bleu Burger, the Reuben, the French dip or the Smokey Pimento Cheese BLT. Salads and wraps include the Cobb and the Chicken Caesar wrap. The roasted tomato basil soup, a quiche of the day and the deviled eggs of the day are good add-ons, and pecan pie is the dessert to save room for.
This is a daytime restaurant. The website lists lunch hours from 11 to 3, Sunday through Friday, with Saturday for catering only, and posts daily specials by date, so it is worth calling on a weekend. You can order online for pickup, and a weekly Thursday family dinner can be ordered by email by Wednesday afternoon. The restaurant also hosts private parties and catering. Because it closes in mid-afternoon, plan on lunch here and save dinner for downtown.
Address: 2600 Volunteer Pkwy, Bristol, TN 37620
Website: bristolcafemarket.com
Blackbird Bakery
Blackbird Bakery is at 188 Piedmont Avenue in historic downtown Bristol, Virginia, just off State Street, and it has been baking there since summer 2008. The shop aims for an old-fashioned, neighborly feel where names matter. Doughnuts are the house specialty, and the case also holds fritters, danish, scones, baklava, pies, cheesecakes, cupcakes and fresh bread. Homestead Creamery ice cream is on the menu too.
With 4.7 stars from more than 4,200 Google reviews, it is one of the most-reviewed places in town. Pick up a dozen assorted doughnuts or a glazed dozen, then add an apple fritter or a mixed berry fritter. The baklava and the cheesecake bars are other good bets. For something cold, try an affogato (vanilla ice cream topped with hot espresso) or an espresso milkshake, and take home a loaf of sourdough or cheddar jalapeño bread.
The downtown shop is open Monday through Saturday, from early morning into the evening, and closed on Sundays, but check hours before you go. A newer drive-through at 970 Commonwealth Avenue handles quick pickups. Muffins are baked daily and sell while supplies last, so arrive earlier in the day for the best choice. Cakes for birthdays, weddings and special occasions can be ordered ahead with at least two days’ notice.
Address: 188 Piedmont Ave, Bristol, VA 24201
Website: blackbirdbakerybristol.com
Aroma Coffee House
Aroma Coffee House is a café at 4863 Lee Highway in Bristol, Virginia, that opened in 2024 with the idea of being a place to stay and enjoy, not just grab a cup. The coffee comes from Honduras and Guatemala. The short menu has a Cuban accent, with a pressed Cuban sandwich, empanadas and a Cuban-style cortado alongside more familiar breakfast and lunch plates.
Its 4.9-star rating across more than 400 Google reviews is the highest of any place in this guide. Order the Cuban sandwich, the empanadas, the croissant chicken salad or the avocado toast. For drinks, try the cappuccino, a latte, a red eye (drip coffee with a shot of espresso) or the cortado, which is espresso with a small splash of milk. The café also makes granitas and homemade gelato.
The café’s posted hours run from morning into early evening and differ a little by day, so check hours before you go. Delivery is available through DoorDash if you would rather eat in your hotel room. It sits on Lee Highway rather than downtown, so plan on driving. The menu is short, which keeps ordering simple.
Address: 4863 Lee Hwy, Bristol, VA 24202
Website: aromacoffeehouse.co
Whimsicals
Whimsicals is a locally owned coffee shop on the first floor of the Bristol Renaissance Center at 636 Shelby Street, at the corner of Shelby and 7th, one block from State Street. The owner moved to Bristol from Montana in 2012. After a gluten allergy diagnosis in the family in 2018, the shop made gluten-free options a priority.
Rated 4.8 stars from more than 70 Google reviews, it is a quick stop for coffee and a bite. Order a specialty coffee drink or a smoothie, plus lemonade or iced tea, and pair it with gluten-free waffles, which are always gluten-free. The case also holds ready-made sandwiches, salads and pastries. The shop partners with Haiku Brew, a roaster in Bristol, Virginia, for its fall drinks menu.
Whimsicals is designed for people on the go, so it works well for a quick breakfast or lunch. The shop’s website lists weekday hours, while other listings show a shorter week, so check before you go. Specials and any hour changes are announced on the shop’s Facebook and Instagram pages, which are worth a look before you visit.
Address: 636 Shelby St, Bristol, TN 37620
Website: whimsicalsllc.com
Final Thoughts
Dinner reservations are worth making at Hickory, Vivian’s Table, 620 State, Public House and Machiavelli’s, which take bookings online, and at bistro on 6th, which recommends calling ahead. The Bristol Rhythm & Roots festival fills downtown each September, so book early if you are visiting then. Several places keep short schedules: Bristol Café & Market and Whimsicals are daytime only, Delta Blues BBQ closes on Sundays and Mondays, Red Pepper and Bristol Gardens and Grill close on Mondays, and Blackbird Bakery closes on Sundays, so check hours before you go. Hickory, Greene’s Seafood, The Mad Greek, Red Pepper and Aroma Coffee House sit away from State Street, so plan on driving.
Planning the rest of your trip? See our guide to the best things to do in Bristol, TN.
Main photo, from left: Brian Wegman, Clint Patterson and Spencer Davis / Unsplash
