Bites, Brews & BBQ: Best Restaurants in Clarksville TN

If you’re looking for the best restaurants in Clarksville, TN, I explored the local foodie scene and found some amazing places to grab a bite! From cozy cafés and bakeries to lively pubs and barbecue joints, I definitely didn’t go hungry!

I’ve organized my favorite restaurants in Clarksville, TN by vibe and experience for a quick TL;DR guide. But don’t worry—I’ll go into the details next, so you’ll have everything you need to pick the perfect spot to eat!

The Amsterdam Café

I absolutely adored this European-inspired cafe, from its locally sourced bites and artisan bakery to its seasonal teas, coffee, and fun, eclectic decor. (Don’t miss the bicycle chandelier on the entryway ceiling.)

The sourdough toasts are just as indulgent to look at as they are to eat. I went for the seasonal toast—October’s version came piled with whipped pumpkin cream cheese, thinly sliced apples, candied walnuts, and a drizzle of maple syrup. It was basically cheesecake for breakfast, and honestly, who’s stopping me?

Others in my group ordered the avocado toast, burrata toast (which I’m absolutely getting next time), and the Euro breakfast. From what I saw (and heard from very happy eaters), you really can’t go wrong here. Everything tastes as fresh and flavorful as it looks.

If I had to pick just one breakfast spot in Clarksville, this would be it—I can’t stop thinking about it. Absolutely fantastic!

LaCosta Cafe

I wandered into this cozy little café in downtown Clarksville, curious about their coffee blends. I’m not a coffee drinker, but when the barista told me about their Café Con Queso, I was seriously tempted to give it a try. It’s made with a block of cheddar cheese at the bottom of the cup, topped with a shot of espresso and steamed milk. Sounds unusual, right? But somehow, the cheese melts into the mix seamlessly.

Their pastry case was just as tempting—Quesitos (Puerto Rican cream cheese danishes) caught my eye, along with their El Criollo sandwich, a loaded sub with fried eggs, cheese, turkey, lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo. The Puerto Rican-style Pastrami, stacked with pastrami, caramelized onions, mayo-ketchup, and American cheese, also sounded amazing.

I decided to keep it simple with a bacon, egg, and cheese everything bagel. Since the café is kosher, the bacon options are turkey or beef, so I gave beef bacon a try for the first time. While it wasn’t quite to my taste, I happily enjoyed the egg and cheese on the bagel instead!

Silke’s Old World Breads

This beloved Clarksville bakery and café has racked up award after award—and for good reason. They specialize in artisan breads, delicate European-style pastries and cakes (including plenty of vegan options), hearty German breakfast plates, schnitzel, bratwurst, and so much more.

I couldn’t resist ordering one of their pizzas, especially knowing they make their own crust. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. The crust was perfectly chewy and flavorful and loaded with gooey, melty cheese. Absolutely delicious!

Parlor Doughnuts

I couldn’t resist stopping at Parlor Doughnuts on my way out of town. Their signature layered dough has a unique texture—crispy and golden on the outside, light and airy inside. With around 20 creative flavors plus seasonal specials, picking just one felt impossible—so I didn’t. I grabbed a dozen!

Since I wanted to bring the doughnuts home to my family, I also picked up a bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich for the road. It was buttery, flaky, and oozing with savory goodness.

Yada on Franklin

Yada is a Clarksville staple, originally on Strawberry Alley and now in a larger space on Franklin Street. Their wood-fired oven turns out Neapolitan-style sourdough pizzas, including the local favorite—the Kramer, topped with spicy chicken, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, green onions, house pepper sauce, and a honey drizzle.

Normally, I’d be all over the pizza, but since I had some the day before, I went for the Sourdough Grilled Cheese with bacon and a side of tomato soup—perfect for dunking.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, don’t skip the Tiramisu. It’s been featured on the Food Network for a reason!

The Mad Herbalist

The Mad Herbalist is part eatery, part tea lounge, and part blending lab—all housed in a charming historic cabin that feels straight out of a woodland fairy tale. Open for lunch and brunch (Thursday–Sunday), my visit here ended up being one of my favorite experiences in Clarksville!

Their tea menu is full of creative blends, which you can order hot, iced, or sparkling. I chose the sparkling version, and I’m so glad I did! The presentation was gorgeous, making the whole experience feel extra special.

The menu changes with the seasons, so there’s always something new and exciting to try. My favorite bite? The toasted rosemary focaccia topped with summer peaches, prosciutto, hot honey peach preserves, and crunchy pistachios—an unforgettable combo. But honestly, everything was delicious, and the fruit and brownie dip dessert tray was the perfect chef’s kiss finale.

After lunch, we got to create our own bath and body products—a fun, hands-on experience where we sniffed different essential oils and experimented with combinations to find the perfect scent. Surprisingly, “leather” was a popular choice in my group! (Give it a sniff if you go; it might surprise ya.) Once we settled on our fragrances, the staff mixed them up for us to take home.

Legends Smokehouse & Grill

This was hands down the best barbecue I’ve had in ages—I’m already dreaming about my next visit! The menu is packed with mouthwatering options, but there’s also a secret IYKYK menu that’s worth exploring. One standout is the Mamba Burger (a tribute to Kobe Bryant), piled high with a burger patty, brisket, bacon, Colby cheese, spicy mustard, and a homemade blueberry BBQ sauce.

But honestly, you can’t go wrong with the regular menu either. Tempting choices include the Pork-n-Roll—a cinnamon roll topped with pulled pork and BBQ sauce—and the Ooey Gooey, loaded with mac and cheese.

Since it was breakfast time (they’re open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner), I went with a bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich drizzled with BBQ sauce, plus a side of crispy tots. Every bite was perfection!

My more adventurous friend opted for the Abuelita Burger, stacked with a burger patty, pulled pork, fried plantain, Spam, fried egg, avocado, and two types of BBQ sauce.

We also sampled the 15 different homemade BBQ sauces at Legends Smokehouse. My favorite was the spicy one, but I also loved the blueberry, pineapple habanero, and peach bourbon varieties.

To top it all off, we tried some desserts—cinnamon sugar tacos, Oreo cookie pudding, and banana pudding. Everything was absolutely incredible!

Blackhorse Pub & Brewery

I’m always up for a good pub lunch, so when I came across Blackhorse Pub & Brewery on Franklin Street, I had to check it out. The cozy vibe inside, with its casual brick walls and fun, artsy murals, made it the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a meal.

I was craving a soft pretzel and pizza, so I decided to give it a go. The server recommended their beer cheese dip, and I’m glad I took their advice—it was delicious! I debated which pizza to try, with the Tunisian and Blackhorse Combo being fan favorites, but I finally settled on the Hot Hawaiian. The crust was perfectly chewy and packed with flavor. I loved everything so much that I took the leftovers back to the hotel—something I don’t usually do!

Strawberry Alley Ale Works

This lively spot in historic downtown Clarksville is a local favorite. We grabbed a table in the main-level restaurant, but there’s also an upstairs taproom where you can play darts, cornhole, shuffleboard, and other fun games while enjoying a drink.

Fun fact: The name “Strawberry Alley” has a sweet story behind it. Clarksville’s original city hall once sat atop a hill surrounded by vibrant strawberry fields. When plans were made to develop the area, the mayor’s wife was firmly against it—determined to preserve her beloved strawberry patch. Eventually, she agreed, but only on the condition that the space be named in honor of those fields. And so, “Strawberry Alley” was born. When the restaurant opened years later, it paid homage to that history by naming itself Strawberry Alley Ale Works.

I’m glad I showed up hungry because the appetizer menu was hard to resist. We started with the Pretzels and Beer Cheese—always a solid choice—and a plate of Potato Chip Nachos. These house-made chips were loaded with melty cheese, fresh pico de gallo, queso, black beans, and green onions, all drizzled with crema. So good!

For my entrée, I went with the BBQ Chicken Salad, and I loved it. It was fresh, flavorful, and just what I was craving. Around the table, other favorites included the rich and creamy Shrimp and Grits and the indulgent Chicken Bacon Mac and Cheese.

Old Glory Distilling

This grain-to-glass Tennessee whiskey and bourbon distillery in Clarksville has a lot going on. You can take a distillery tour, enjoy a tasting, and grab a bite at the on-site restaurant. The outdoor space is pet-friendly and perfect for relaxing, listening to music, and hanging out with friends.

We kicked off our afternoon with a distillery tour. Fun fact: Tennessee actually has more distilleries than Kentucky, but California tops the list with the most in the country.

During the tour, we learned about the distilling process and the new char barrels that give whiskey and bourbon their signature smokiness.

To be classified as bourbon, it has to be made in America, contain at least 51% corn, and be aged in brand-new American White Oak barrels. If it strays from any of these requirements, it’s considered whiskey instead.

To be a Tennessee whiskey, it has to be made in Tennessee, contain at least 51% corn and be filtered in a sugar maple charcoal barrel before aging.

After the tour, we moved on to a tasting, where our guide gave us a crash course on how to do it right. We started with the Tennessee Whiskey small batch, and he walked us through each step.

First, we swirled it around the glass to aerate it. Then, we took a sniff—keeping our mouths open because, fun fact, each nostril picks up different scents! To prep our palates, we swished the first sip around our mouths. It burned a little at first, but after that, every tasting went down so much smoother. It was such a cool experience!

For dinner, I went with a Bacon Burger and Charro Beans with Smoked Meat. The burger was piled high with melty cheese and thick-cut bacon on a perfectly toasted bun, while the beans were rich, smoky, and flavorful. Bacon is my happy place, and nothing beats a great burger! Although I didn’t try one, they have a fantastic cocktail menu featuring their spirits too.

Beachaven Winery

We stopped by for a tour and tasting at this third-generation, family-owned winery that’s been producing some of Tennessee’s finest award-winning wines. The winery’s story goes back to William Beach, a local county judge passionate about winemaking. His hobby eventually led to something much bigger—he played a key role in changing the Bible Belt laws after Prohibition, paving the way for today’s wine production and distribution in Tennessee.

The winery has a large lawn and picnic area, making it a perfect spot to enjoy live music and food trucks every weekend from April to October. Twice a year, it hosts Jazz on the Lawn—one of Clarksville’s longest-running outdoor music events—and it’s completely family-friendly!

We kicked off our visit with a tour of the production facility and bottling areas before heading to the tasting room for a flight. I had fun sampling a variety of dry wines and savoring the different flavors.

Before we left, we ventured down into the champagne cellar, where rows of riddling racks lined the walls. Our guide walked us through the slow fermentation process that gives the champagne its signature sparkle.

Dock 17

Famous for its gourmet burgers, brews, and brunch, this popular hangout next to the City Forum offers indoor and outdoor seating, cozy firepits, dart lanes, and shuffleboard. Plus, they host live music on Wednesday and Thursday nights, adding to the lively vibe.

The bar boasts an impressive selection of Tennessee brews, domestic favorites, wines, and creative specialty cocktails—like a Kettle Corn-infused Old-Fashioned and seasonal mimosa flights that are hard to pass up.

For dinner, I usually go straight for a good burger, but this time I went with the Napa Valley Salad topped with grilled chicken, oranges, grapes, and parmesan crisps. I also couldn’t resist a few bites of the Fried Green Tomatoes, Sweet Potato Fries and Corn Cobbettes our table ordered. ,

Final Thoughts

I had such a great time exploring all these amazing restaurants in Clarksville, TN, which is just 40 minutes from Nashville, by the way. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick breakfast, a relaxed lunch, or a fun night out, I hope I’ve made it easy to find where to eat in Clarksville. I’m already making a must-try list for my next visit, with The Mailroom and the brand-new Calle Taco at the top!

Some, not all, of my meals were covered by Visit Clarksville as part of a hosted media trip. For more info on the Clarksville area, check out https://www.visitclarksvilletn.com/