Eat With Sam KLooking for the best restaurants near Bridgestone Arena in Nashville? Whether you're heading downtown for a Nashville Predators game, concert, SEC basketball, or another event, there are plenty of great places to eat within walking distance of the arena.
Bridgestone Arena sits right in the heart of downtown Nashville, directly next to Broadway. That means you have everything from quick burgers and pizza to Nashville hot chicken, barbecue, steakhouses, and upscale restaurants nearby.
At Eat With Sam K, every meal I personally review is paid for with my own money. I don't accept paid reviews or change my opinions in exchange for free food.
Tip: hover over any $ price tag below to see what it means.
⭐ Ocean Prime
Neighborhood: Downtown (steps from Fifth + Broadway)
Sam Score: 9.3/10
Best For: Upscale Steak & Seafood Before the Game
Price: $$$$
Ocean Prime is my top pick near Bridgestone Arena, a polished steakhouse and seafood restaurant just steps from Fifth + Broadway, with a lively bar and a menu that swings from crab cakes and ahi tuna tartare to prime steaks. Read Sam's full review →
💬 Sam Says: "My top pick before a Bridgestone show, close enough to walk and good enough to make the meal the whole point."
⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Ocean Prime review →
⭐ Chilangos Tacos
Neighborhood: Assembly Food Hall (Fifth + Broadway)
Sam Score: 8.7/10
Best For: Quick Tacos Before the Game
Price: $$
Chilangos Tacos is a counter on Level 2 North of Assembly Food Hall, directly across from Bridgestone Arena, the Nashville outpost of a Dallas-based taco brand. Read Sam's full review →
💬 Sam Says: "A quick, genuinely good taco counter right across from the arena, my highest-scoring taco review so far."
⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Chilangos Tacos review →
⭐ Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint
Neighborhood: Germantown
Sam Score: 8.6/10
Best For: Creative Burgers Before the Game
Price: $
Jack Brown's is a casual burger-and-beer spot in Germantown, an easy stop if you want a good burger without committing to an expensive sit-down dinner before heading to Bridgestone. Read Sam's full review →
💬 Sam Says: "A covered patio, a long beer list, and a burger menu that punches well above its price point."
⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Jack Brown's review →
⭐ NADC Burger
Neighborhood: Downtown (The Arcade)
Sam Score: 8.2/10
Best For: Smash Burgers Before or After the Game
Price: $$
NADC Burger is another downtown option I've personally reviewed. If you want a smash burger before or after your event, it's worth considering, especially if you're looking for something casual rather than a traditional sit-down dinner. Read Sam's full review →
💬 Sam Says: "One burger, done exactly one way, and Wagyu beef makes the case for why that's enough."
⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full NADC Burger review →
⭐ The Philly Special
Neighborhood: Assembly Food Hall (Fifth + Broadway)
Sam Score: 7.7/10
Best For: Philly Cheesesteaks Before the Game
Price: $$
The Philly Special is a cheesesteak counter inside Assembly Food Hall, directly across from Bridgestone Arena at Fifth + Broadway. Read Sam's full review →
💬 Sam Says: "A genuine Philly-style cheesesteak inside the food hall directly across from the arena, hard to beat for convenience."
⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Philly Special review →
⭐ Prince St. Pizza
Neighborhood: Downtown (Fifth + Broadway)
Sam Score: 7.4/10
Best For: Quick Pizza Before the Game
Price: $$
Sometimes you don't want a full meal before an event. Prince Street Pizza makes it easy to grab a slice and continue toward Bridgestone or Broadway. Read Sam's full review →
💬 Sam Says: "A dependable, affordable stop if you're downtown and want a genuinely good slice fast."
⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Prince St. Pizza review →
More Restaurants Near Bridgestone Arena Worth Knowing
I'm still working my way through the restaurants near Bridgestone Arena, so the spots below haven't all received an official Sam Score yet.
Rather than assigning rankings to places I haven't personally reviewed, I'm keeping them on my radar and will update this guide as I visit them.
🍽️ Assembly Food Hall
Located directly across from Bridgestone Arena at Fifth + Broadway, Assembly Food Hall is one of the easiest places to eat before an event. Instead of forcing everyone in your group to agree on one restaurant, you can choose from a large collection of food concepts under one roof.
Best For: Groups & Variety
🔥 Hattie B's Hot Chicken
If you're visiting Nashville and want hot chicken before your event, Hattie B's is one of the most recognizable options near Bridgestone Arena. Its Fifth + Broadway location makes it extremely convenient for arena events.
Best For: Nashville Hot Chicken
🍖 Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint
If barbecue is on your Nashville checklist, Martin's is an excellent downtown option, especially good for visitors who want to try Tennessee-style barbecue without traveling far from Bridgestone Arena.
Best For: Tennessee BBQ
🎵 The Stillery
The Stillery combines comfort food, drinks, and live music with a downtown Nashville atmosphere. The menu includes burgers, pizza, hot chicken, and other casual options, making it an easy pregame choice.
Best For: Nashville Atmosphere
🌮 Bakersfield
Bakersfield is a fun option if you're looking for tacos and drinks before an event, working especially well for groups that want something lively without going directly into the Broadway honky-tonks.
Best For: Tacos & Margaritas
🥂 Etch
Not every Bridgestone meal needs to be burgers and barbecue. If you're going to a concert, celebrating something special, or want a proper dinner beforehand, Etch is one of downtown Nashville's better upscale options.
Best For: Upscale Dinner Before an Event
🍷 Sixty Vines
Sixty Vines is another strong option when you want something nicer before heading to Bridgestone, particularly appealing for date nights and concerts when you want dinner and wine before walking over to the arena.
Best For: Wine & Dinner
Best Restaurants Near Bridgestone Arena by Occasion
If you don't want to sort through the entire list, here's where I'd start depending on what you're looking for.
| Looking For | Try |
|---|---|
| ⭐ Highest Sam Score | Ocean Prime, 9.3 |
| 🥩 Date Night / Special Occasion | Ocean Prime / Etch / Sixty Vines |
| 🌮 Tacos | Chilangos Tacos |
| 🍔 Burgers | Jack Brown's / NADC Burger |
| 🔥 Nashville Hot Chicken | Hattie B's |
| 🍖 BBQ | Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint |
| 🍕 Quick Pizza | Prince St. Pizza |
| 🥪 Cheesesteaks | The Philly Special |
| 👨👩👧 Groups & Families | Assembly Food Hall / The Stillery |
Where Should You Eat Before a Predators Game?
For a Nashville Predators game, I'd prioritize somewhere that's convenient enough that you aren't stressing about getting to your seats on time.
For groups, Assembly Food Hall is difficult to beat because of its location and variety.
If you want Nashville food, consider Hattie B's for hot chicken or Martin's for barbecue.
For burgers, Jack Brown's and NADC Burger are good options. And if you just need something quick, Prince Street Pizza works well.
Where Should You Eat Before a Concert at Bridgestone Arena?
For a concert date night, I'd lean toward Ocean Prime, Etch, Sixty Vines, or Bakersfield, somewhere that feels more like part of the night out.
For something more casual, Jack Brown's, Prince Street Pizza, and Hattie B's all work well.
How Early Should You Eat Before an Event at Bridgestone Arena?
Downtown Nashville can become extremely busy when Bridgestone Arena has a major event, particularly when it overlaps with weekend Broadway traffic.
For a sit-down restaurant, I'd plan on eating well before the event begins and make a reservation whenever the restaurant accepts them.
For quick-service restaurants, still give yourself extra time. Lines can become much longer immediately before Predators games and major concerts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What restaurants are closest to Bridgestone Arena?
Fifth + Broadway and the surrounding downtown blocks offer numerous restaurants within a short walk of Bridgestone Arena. Assembly Food Hall is particularly convenient because Fifth + Broadway sits directly across from the arena.
Where should I eat before a Nashville Predators game?
Assembly Food Hall is one of the easiest choices for convenience and variety. Hattie B's is a good choice for Nashville hot chicken, Martin's for barbecue, and Jack Brown's or NADC Burger for burgers.
Are there family-friendly restaurants near Bridgestone Arena?
Yes. Assembly Food Hall is particularly convenient for families because everyone can choose different food. Martin's is another casual option for families.
Where should I eat for a date before a Bridgestone concert?
Ocean Prime is my top personal pick for a date before a Bridgestone show, with Etch and Sixty Vines as other strong choices if you want dinner to feel like part of the date rather than simply grabbing food before the show.
Can I walk from these restaurants to Bridgestone Arena?
Many downtown restaurants are within walking distance of Bridgestone Arena. Always check the exact location before your visit, particularly if you're trying to arrive at the arena by a specific time.
The Sam Score
Every restaurant that receives a Sam Score has been personally visited and reviewed by me, food quality, value, service, and atmosphere all factor in.
Restaurants cannot pay for a Sam Score or a better rating. My goal with Eat With Sam K is simple: try the food myself and tell you whether I think it's actually worth your money.
As I visit more restaurants around Bridgestone Arena, I'll continue updating this guide with new Sam Scores and rankings.
Last Updated: August 2026
More Nashville Food Guides
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