Best Nashville Airport Food Options

In 2022, the best food in the Nashville Airport is a huge improvement compared to my 1st trip thru BNA in 1989.

Back in the day, there were no good places to eat in the Nashville airport. And the idea of a small, locally owned restaurant in the airport was just crazy talk.

Fortunately, BNA has flipped 180 degrees. Now, almost every place to eat in all the concourses are great, local Nashville restaurants.

As a local who’s flown through BNA hundreds of times, here are some of my favorites places to eat inside the Nashville airport.

Best Nashville Airport Music

• Restaurant: Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge
• Location: Concourse C, near Gate C5 & C7

Didn’t get enough of Music City’s country music on Broadway & 2nd Avenue South?

Make a stop at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge near gate C7. You’ll absolutely find great food at Tootsie’s at BNA. But what’s the main reason to come here?

Experience live music at the airport version of Nashville’s most famous honky tonk.

And just for fun, visit Tootsie’s retro website. It’s definitely not your typical corporate looking website.

Most Healthy BNA Food

The Urbanjuicer has been on the forefront of healthy eating in Nashville for years. With their new Nashville Airport location, The Urbanjuicer can fill you up with Acai Bowls, salads, wraps and their famous smoothies.

The Urbanjuicer is in the Terminal C food court near gate C14.

Visit their website here: https://theurbanjuicer.com/

Soul Food in BNA

• Restaurant: Swett’s BBQ
• Location 1: Concourse C Food Court, near Gate C13

Southern cooking doesn’t come any more authentic than at Swett’s BBQ in the Terminal C foodcourt.

And don’t call them Sweet’s.

It’s SWETT’s BBQ that has been putting smiles on locals in Nashville for 6 decades.

I got introduced to Swett’s at their original location near TSU back in 1989. The airport location stays true to the original, serving great southern food cafeteria style.

Hands down, I think Swett’s is the best Nashville airport food.

While there are some regular offerings, the menu changes a bit every day. If you get lucky, you’ll be able to sample my favorite: potato salad hash brown casserole!

Check out their website here: https://www.swettsrestaurant.com/

Nashville Hot Chicken in BNA

• Restaurant: Party Fowl
• Location: Concourse D, near Gate D2

Located in the new Concourse D (which only has Southwest Airlines gates), Party Fowl in the Nashville airport is one of a few local restaurants that specializes in Nashville Hot Chicken. While some may argue that Hattie B’s, Prince’s or Bolton’s is the best Nashville Hot Chicken, Party Fowl is your best option in BNA.

Depending on much HOT you want, you can get it from “Easy as Pie” (Southern Fried chicken) to “You’ve Been Warned” aka Poultry-geist.

You can get a chicken biscuit or omelet for breakfast or apple butter biscuits for brunch. Salads & wraps as well as beer is available all day long.

Party Fowl’s airport location isn’t listed on their website but it does tell their story and menus for their other locations.

Other Nashville Hot Chicken in BNA

The second option for hot chicken in the Nashville Airport is 400 Degrees in Concourse C. If your Southwest flight isn’t on the new Concourse D, 400 Degrees can give you that hot chicken fix near original Southwest gates ion Concourse C.

• Restaurant: 400 Degrees Hot Chicken
• Location 1: Concourse C, near Gate C15 & C17

Best Coffee in BNA

• Restaurant: Bongo Java
• Location: Concourse C, near Gate C5

Nashville’s oldest coffee house (since 1993), Bongo Java now has a location inside the Nashville Airport. It’s not the largest coffee shop in BNA but you do get authentic Nashville coffee here.

Bongo Java prides themselves on “direct from small-scale farms” coffee.

It’s right next to Tootsie’s and across from Gate C5.

Need to stock up on their coffee? You can buy it at the Bongo Java Website.

Other Coffee Shops in BNA

There’s no Starbucks but there are several other coffee shops in the Nashville Airport.

With locations in both Concourse C and Concourse D, 8th and Roast Coffee Co is one of 2 coffee shops with 2 locations.

• Restaurant: 8th & Roast Coffee Co
• Location 1: Concourse C, near Gate C9
• Location 2: Concourse D, near Gate D1

Another Nashville favorite, Barista Parlor is near the far end of Concourse C. It’s right in the middle of a lot of Southwest departure gates.

• Restaurant: Barista Parlor
• Location 1: Concourse C, near Gate C17 & C18

If you need some coffee before going thru the TSA security checkpoints, stop at Green Beans Coffee. It’s centrally located near the exit from Concourse C.

• Restaurant: Green Beans Coffee Co
• Location 1: Concourse C, outside of the security area

Best Beer in BNA

• Restaurant: Tailgate Brewery
• Location: Concourse C Food Court, near Gate C14 & C15

Craft beer and pizza are ready for you at Tailgate Brewery. Their BNA location is on the edge of the Terminal C food court between gates C14 & C15.

If you’re in Nashville for a few days, visit one of their taprooms listed on the Tailgate Brewery website.

Other Beer Joints in BNA

While there are several Nashville Airport Restaurants that serve beer, Little Harpeth Brewing is the best beer that you’ll find on Concourse B, near the Delta and JetBlue gates.

• Restaurant: Little Harpeth Brewing
• Location 1: Concourse B, near Gate B7

Best Fast Food

• Restaurant: Chik-fil-A
• Location 1: Concourse A/B Rotunda, near Gate B3

Other Fast Food in BNA

• Restaurant: Burger King
• Location 1: Concourse D, near Gate D1

Starbucks in BNA

Plagued by slow service and crazy long lines, the Starbucks at BNA was closed the last time we went through the Nashville Airport.

Read More About Nashville

Visiting Nashville? This is our hometown so here’s a local’s take on some of the things that you’ll want to know when visiting Nashville:

• Nashville Grand Hyatt Hotel Review
• Nashville Airport Priority Pass Lounge Review
• Hyatt Centric Nashville Review
• Best Food Near Nashville Airport (coming soon!)